Held at - Castle Centre, Castle Street, Barnstaple
Present: Pauline Brennan, Mark Harper, Doug Lowe, Christine Pope, Nathaniel Stevens, Colin Griffiths and Sue Harte
Apologies: Jayne Dyson, Peter Edwardson and Bindy Sumner
Minutes & matters arising
- Sue Newcombe has terminated her employment with the Trust
- Branch Assessment - undertaken with Regional Officer, Mike Cracknell currently collating information and will refer back to branch with recommendations
- Branch Training, 8 April cancelled. Training to be re-scheduled later in the year to run alongside local government.
- Membership Service Days - Volunteers still required for 25 March and 1 April for Community and NDDH events. Bindy accompanied Helen at the Tyrell on 4 March.
Minutes agreed.
Branch Secretary's Update
Correspondence
- A letter querying the legality of our branch vote in the NEC nominations (i.e. were we quorate) received from Head Office and responded to by Branch Secretary. Copies of our Rules and amendments sent to them confirming compliance.
- Women's Event Day - Event was well supported 2 years ago - discussed running similar this year. Agreed to contact Vicky Burroughs at Region with view to support and facilitating. Sue to e-mail.
- Health Care Conference 2009, 20 - 22 April, Harrogate. Bindy Sumner and Helen Elliott to attend as delegates.
- Bullying in the Workplace Campaign. Discussed and agreed to defer to next Branch Executive Meeting on 19 May 2009. Considerations include time and availability to reps to run campaign and possible staff survey to identify and target problem areas.
- AGM - poorly attended despite advertising in wards and on notice-board NDDH, community hospitals and information given out with diaries. Also on website and disseminated by reps and workplace contacts. Discussed ways of encouraging more members to attend incentives eg buffet and guest speaker. Also look at viability of mail shot for 2010.
- Pay Deal - 2009 talks not being re-opened due to economic recession.
- Nomination papers received from Region for Deputy Regional Convenor, Standing Orders Committee and South West Committee. Addresses of candidates read out and discussed.
- Voting for Deputy Regional Convenor: Belinda Burton 5 votes. Nick Olgard 1 vote. Quorate agreement for Belinda.
- Voting for Standing Orders Committee. - Roger Spray 6 votes (unanimous) - quorate agreement.
Branch Secretary's Correspondence cont'd
- South West Committees - Nomination and election forms received. Anyone wishing to be considered for election to the various committees to contact branch office by 6 Apr at latest. Sue to e-mail info re seats available on the relevant committees.
- South West Regional Council Meeting, Sat. 16 May at Croyde Bay. Two delegates from branch can attend plus observers. Please contact the branch if you wish to attend.
Branch Officer Updates:
International Officer, Doug Lowe -
Nothing new to report.
Treasurer's Report:
Bindy Sumner, via Sue, wished to advise:
- Branch Accounts currently healthy
- Building Society Account - new signatories and access to the account nearing completion.
- Corinne Preece, UNISON member and employed by Trust in Finance Department, has agreed to audit the branch end of year accounts.
Chair, Mark Harper:
- Approximately 50 people attended and supported Nigel Behan at his Disciplinary Hearing, after he was suspended by his employer for 3 months. Nigel has been fighting privatisation of services within his organisation.
- Affiliations. Discussed the importance of solidarity in the local area. In the past, branch has affiliated to Barnstaple Trade Union Council. Merits of affiliations discussed - MH proposed, CP seconded, all agreed.
- Letter of support - Teacher from Saudi Arabia - persecuted for organising union in his school, now in UK facing deportation. Mark proposed writing letter to Home Office, supporting case for remaining in UK. Mark to compile, all agreed to sign.
- Letter of support 2 - Workers from Dundee occupied factory after being denied redundancy as management refuse to pay. Mark to compile letter - all agreed.
- London event 28 Mar 2009 - Putting People First, Jobs, Justice and Climate. Mark is hoping to attend but needs another person to accompany him to hold branch banner. Coach travel provided by SW Region.
Negotiating Updates:
NDHT - Bindy Sumner:
- Car Parking - on-going hot topic, causing serious concern to staff. Rumours re clamping and release fee circulating. Two Porters out overseeing car parking in the morning leaving shortage of porters to staff duties in the hospital. Mark compiled car parking survey - will circulate asap. Incident forms are being completed.
- E-Rostering - on-going
- Inclement Weather - policy to be discussed at JNCC.
- Pathology - on-going. Mike Cracknell, Regional Officer involved.
- Individual - large volume of cases and contact to office on-going.
DPT - Mark Harper:
- Nothing major to report.
SODEXO - Pauline Brennan:
- Agenda for Change - Pauline meeting with Helen Eccles, Regional Officer and Dave Johnson, National Officer and lead for Private Contractors in Exeter tomorrow (11 March) to decide way forward. Reported that 75% of Sodexo sites now on Agenda for Change. Branch has approximately 35% density of Sodexo members. Many employees are part-time on very low income and finances reflect reluctance to join.
Any Other Business:
Membership Service Days:
4 Mar 2009 -
Tyrell Hospital - 10am-12.30pm - Bindy attended with Helen Eccles, Regional Officer
South Molton Hospital - 2.00pm-4.00 pm - Helen Eccles - no rep from branch available.
Urgently needed - reps from branch to go to the next Service Days, on
25 Mar 2009 - Bideford Hospital - 10am-12.30pm &
Holsworthy Hospital - 2.00am-4.00pm
1 Apr 2009 -
North Devon District Hospital - 11.30am-1.30pm &
Torrington Hospital - 2.30pm-4.00pm
Reps - please contact the branch office to offer your support and availability to attend above.
Health and Safety – North Devon Healthcare Trust has new H & S Officer, Michael Cousins.
Next Branch Executive Meeting:
Tuesday, 19 May 2009, 6.00pm-8.00pm at the Castle Centre, Barnstaple
