Report - Fire Brigades Union
Report - Fire Brigades Union
Report - Fire Brigades Union
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SECTION G — INTERNAL ADMINISTRATION<br />
could be adopted to be utilised within their brigades in the<br />
near future.<br />
Northern Ireland RDS annual general meeting was attended in<br />
October, which gave a great opportunity to discuss the<br />
importance of branch organisation in this current climate. This<br />
AGM was very well attended with firefighters from most parts<br />
of Northern Ireland in attendance.<br />
The FBU national organiser also attended further meetings<br />
throughout the extended trade union movement and<br />
represented the FBU at the Public Sector Group organising<br />
subcommittee and at the Stronger <strong>Union</strong>s conference 2010.<br />
The Public Sector Group organising subcommittee in June<br />
was the first meeting of its kind and was attended by<br />
representatives from Unite, Unison, ATL, NAPO, and<br />
NASUWT. The main theme was the organising challenges<br />
faced by public sector unions and tactics to deal with any<br />
future attacks from government. There was a clear message<br />
from all representative bodies that senior management was<br />
using the budgetary constraints as an excuse to attack trade<br />
union facilities. In turn this was being used in order to<br />
encourage officials to resign their union position.<br />
The Stronger <strong>Union</strong>s 2010 conference took place at Congress<br />
House in July. The main focus of the day was organising in<br />
the current political climate. The event was also attended by<br />
regional officials from Regions 9 and 12. The conference was<br />
opened by TUC deputy general secretary Frances O’Grady,<br />
with supporting speeches from Sally Hunt, general secretary<br />
of UCU, and Dave Prentis, general secretary of Unison. The<br />
workshops attended by FBU representatives included: 21st<br />
century organising and Speaking up for public services.<br />
Several meetings looking at membership issues were<br />
arranged during 2010 at head office. Attendees at these<br />
meetings included the assistant general secretary, national<br />
officer, FBU national organiser and staff from the head office<br />
membership and IT departments. Issues discussed included<br />
membership initiatives, membership database information<br />
requirements and ideas around simplifying membership<br />
application.<br />
The FBU national organiser has continued to attend <strong>Union</strong><br />
Learning meetings and has worked with RELOs and ULRs to<br />
expand opportunities for the current RDS recruitment and<br />
retention campaign. Where possible all future regional<br />
recruitment drives will be assisted by the relevant RELOs and<br />
ULRs who can promote both FBU education and <strong>Union</strong> Learn<br />
opportunities as well as assisting with access on to the more<br />
difficult branches.<br />
The national retained AGM was attended in late November<br />
and an opportunity was provided to present delegates with an<br />
update of the RDS national organising campaign. Further to<br />
this, RDS members were encouraged to become involved in<br />
all recruitment and organising initiatives within their own<br />
regions whenever possible.<br />
A CSNC meeting was attended in late 2010 to discuss<br />
opposing cuts which are facing members working in fire<br />
control. General issues around membership and recruitment<br />
and organising were also discussed. Committee members<br />
were keen to produce an organising strategy specifically<br />
aimed at members working within fire control rooms and it<br />
was initially agreed that a document will be produced in time<br />
for annual conference 2011.<br />
A meeting was attended at Congress House with TUC<br />
national organiser Carl Roper and head of the TUC Organising<br />
Academy Liz Blackshaw to discuss any potential opportunities<br />
for further FBU involvement in the Organising Academy. A<br />
number of options were discussed around how the TUC could<br />
assist with any initiatives concerned with organising. National<br />
officer Sean Starbuck outlined that the FBU was looking at a<br />
more internal-based training package for organisers in the FBU<br />
and this might include expanding the role of the brigade<br />
membership secretary. TUC officials outlined potential courses<br />
that may be amended to suit a more internal-based training<br />
idea and national officer Sean Starbuck agreed to take these<br />
options back to the executive council for consideration.<br />
The organising work which has been progressed by the FBU<br />
national organiser has continued to be a vital resource for the<br />
FBU throughout 2010 and all brigades are encouraged to<br />
utilise the FBU organiser to assist with building and<br />
strengthening the FBU for the future.<br />
G17 Political fund<br />
The political fund continues to be used to support campaigning<br />
political work as well as some of the union’s political education<br />
and international campaigning.<br />
In addition, donations were made totalling £86,000 to the<br />
following candidates for the general election on 6 May 2010.<br />
David Anderson MP<br />
Celia Barlow MP<br />
Roger Berry MP<br />
Roberta Blackman-Woods MP<br />
Dawn Butler MP<br />
Katy Clark MP<br />
Michael Connarty MP<br />
Rosie Cooper MP<br />
Jeremy Corbyn MP<br />
Ian Davidson MP<br />
Andrew Dismore MP<br />
David Drew MP<br />
Robert Flello MP<br />
Nia Griffith MP<br />
David Hamilton MP<br />
Kate Hoey MP<br />
Kelvin Hopkins MP<br />
Tony Lloyd MP<br />
Rob Marris MP<br />
Kerry McCarthy MP<br />
John McDonnell MP<br />
James McGovern MP<br />
Austin Mitchell MP<br />
FBU Annual <strong>Report</strong> 2011 121