Held at Castle Centre Barnstaple
Attendance:
Bindy Sumner, Mark Harper, Doug Lowe, Peter Edwardson, Colin Griffiths, Christine Pope, & Sue Harte
1. Welcome:
Meeting opened at 6.30pm
Mark welcomed everyone to the meeting and thanked them for coming. The meeting was not quorate.
2. Apologies:
Pauline Brennan, Elizabeth Jenkins and Jayne Dyson
3. Minutes of 2008 AGM discussed.
Matters Arising:
- Omission from list of elected officers - Doug Lowe elected 2008 as International Officer.
- Minutes agreed and ratified with above amendment
4. Annual report from the branch committee:
Mark Harper - Chair:
The Branch continues to develop and has recruited over 100 new members during 2008.
Pay Ballot:
- The turnout of voting members was less than 30% of which 60% voted to accept the 3-year pay deal.
- Feedback has been that some people felt the letter from UNISON, with the voting papers, was one-sided, a view, apparently, echoed at the Health Conference.
- The Branch presented reasons for and against the deal and invited members to a meeting to discuss. As a result branch voted to oppose the pay deal on offer.
- Government not re-opening pay negotiations as inflation has fallen.
- TUC organising campaign around Public Services and Pay with a meeting on 28 Mar 2009 - Mark hoped to attend.
- Proposed by MH to discuss further at next Branch Executive Meeting 10 Mar 2009. Seconded DL. All agreed.
Branch Organisation:
- Emphasis this year on organising branch further, including completion of mapping exercise, currently on-going, recruitment/training of new activists and maintaining high profile.
- With current economic climate, branch needs to be prepared to present strong representation where required in coming difficult times ahead.
- Unions have fought for NHS Terms and Conditions and these need to be safeguarded.
- Branch to look at increasing solidarity with other unions.
- Currently, members continue to be represented and given advice where appropriate; the awareness of branch activities, reps and location has been improved with recruitment days and we have increased the number of workplace contacts. Website, office e-mail and visits by Bindy to Community Hospitals have also improved profile.
- Need to build on good work and look to visiting other workplaces that are covered by this branch.
Branch Secretary Report - Pauline Brennan
Sue Harte read out Pauline's report in her absence. (opens in a new window).
Financial Report - Bindy Sumner
Please see report and summary of income / expenditure Addendum (opens in a new window):
- Any suggestions for use of funding this year welcomed by Bindy.
- Books available for inspection in Branch Office
- Additional funding will be sought to secure administrator's post beyond June.
International Report - Doug Lowe
- Columbian Solidarity Campaign discussed at September meeting, highlighting horrendous problems Trade Unionists face around the world including attacks and imprisonment
- E-mails sent to committee members re website: Labour Start which covers issues relating to Trade Unions worldwide. Recommended signing up to the website as Trade Union support does have an effect
- At last meeting discussion around the Palestinian situation - agreed at branch executive to affiliate to Palestinian Solidarity campaign, particularly relevant in view of recent events in Gaza.
- As Trade Unionists is was important to think of the wider society and world around us.
5. Election of officers:
All elected unopposed after nominations announced and open to the floor by the meeting:
Chairperson - Mark Harper
Secretary - Bindy Sumner
Treasurer - Bindy Sumner
Assistant Treasurer - Christine Pope
Welfare - Pauline Brennan
Education/Lifelong Learning Officer - Mark Harper
International Officer - Doug Lowe
Young Members Officer - Nathaniel Stevens
Auditors - Corinne Preece (NDHT) and Christine Pope
All other posts remain vacant.
6. Ratification of stewards and health & safety stewards:
Newly elected reps were welcomed. Reps all ratified by the meeting:
NDHT: Christine Pope, Nathaniel Stevens, Bindy Sumner,
Jayne Dyson (H & S), Elizabeth Jenkins (Community).
Colin Griffiths and Helen Elliott undertaking training commencing March
DPT: Mark Harper, Penny Giles, Billie Voice, Colin Aitken,
Peter Edwardson
PCT: Pam Lang (temporarily inactive)
Sodexho: Pauline Brennan
7. Confirmation or election of reps to other bodies:
- National Health Conference 2009 - delegate nominations: Bindy Sumner and Helen Elliott. Observer: Colin Griffiths
- National Delegate Conference 2009 - delegate nominations: Christine Pope and Bindy Sumner.
All of the above proposed MH, seconded (DL) all agreed.
Collective bargaining/campaigns/caseload
NDHT:
Decontamination:
Proposed outsourcing of Sterile Services Department was cause for concern. Bindy Sumner took lead on this, working with Graham Parish and Sue Orwin from other Trusts. Proposals totally untenable and outsourcing prevented. Further information available from Bindy.
Physios and Occupational Therapists: Changes have been implemented - unions negotiated and result was 3-year pay protection.
Community Services Review: On-going
E-rostering - raised number of problems and contact from members, including issues around working nights and days in same week. Linking with RCN on concerns raised.
Pathology - dispute over proposed changes to on-call payments. Regional Officer currently involved
Medical Secretaries Review - Angie White, Bindy Sumner and Christine Pope involved with this - positive result and new members recruited
Community Hospital Visits - Bindy visiting regularly; new members and workplace contacts recruited
GP surgery and other employers also visited and members recruited. Hope to build on this during the coming year
Theatres - changes - Bindy involved in negotiations with HR and members
ODAs - Mark involved in negotiations - resulted in successful compensation for members and pay protection to 2010
NHSP - lot of problems reported from members - loss of paperwork, pay and inability to recruit employees. Trust now has additional pool of nurses
Sickness Absence Policy - Absence down to below 4%. Back to work interview should be supportive. Self-certification negotiated - staff cannot self certificate during annual leave, need GP certification. Also looked at mitigating circumstances for chronically ill staff under auspice of Disability Discrimination Act
Individual Caseloads - Large number of members contacted the branch or individual reps during 2008 for advice, signposting or representation. Cases are logged, wherever possible. Particular mention for Christine Pope who undertook a difficult case and achieved excellent result for member.
PCT
Request from Region to ascertain how many PCT members are in branch with options:
- Branch as a whole to amalgamate with another branch. Put to floor - all opposed.
- PCT members only to transfer to another branch eg Exeter or Torbay
- PCT members to create separate County Branch
- Status quo not an option.
Further discussions followed - Agreed all PCT members should be contacted to determine their views and ascertain their preferences. Proposed DL, Seconded BS.
DPT
- Crisis Team at Night - RCN and UNISON united in dispute - secured Band 6 for members.
- Forest Hill - UNISON negotiated following announced closure and secured jobs or redundancy packages for all members affected
- Reception Office - improvements made as result of Unison intervention to ventilation.
- Number of individual cases - logged in branch office file
- Sodexo - Please see attached report (opens in a new window) from Pauline Brennan
8. Amendment of Branch Rules - Quorate Numbers for Branch Meetings
- Branch Executive Meetings - Minimum of 4 elected reps to constitute quorum attendance. When attendance falls below 4 elected reps, agenda items requiring action or decision to be circulated to all elected reps/officers requesting response by specific timescale. Proposed MH, seconded BS. All agreed
- AGM - 5% of membership to constitute quorum attendance and voting at AGM and any other General Branch Meetings. Proposed MH, seconded BS, all agreed.
Any Other Business
Membership Service Days - dates as follows:
- 4 Mar 2009 (Tyrell am, South Molton pm)
- 25 Mar 2009 (Bideford am, Holsworthy pm)
- 1 Apr 2009 (NDDH, Raleigh Galley am, Torrington pm)
- One rep to accompany Regional Officers at each venue. Volunteers required.
Possible events, including Women's Day (successful 2 years ago) and Bullying in the Workplace campaign - agreed to discuss at next Branch Executive Meeting on 10 Mar 2009.
Meeting Concluded with Mark expressing appreciation for the good work undertaken by the Branch and the on-going development and growth. He thanked everyone for attending.
Branch Executive Meeting to be held Tues 10 Mar 2009, 6.00pm at Castle Centre, Castle Street.
