Wednesday 29th July I attended my third Divisional Council meeting at the USDAW Redditch office.
The meeting started with me standing in as Chairman of the meeting due to our Divisional Council Chairman - Ian Bateman being on holiday.
Apologies were received from:
Ian Bateman - Holiday
Gareth Davies - Holiday
Ian Bateman - Holiday
Gareth Davies - Holiday
Minutes from the previous DC meeting
We then read the minutes from the previous DC meeting. These were accepted.
Minutes of the recent EC meeting
We then read through the minutes of the recent EC meeting. Maureen Bowen read through the items that were important. Andrea Watts also gave feedback from the meeting.
(1) An EC member will be leaving USDAW to work as an organiser for UNISON.
USDAW wishes them all the best in the new role.
(2) Louise Curtis - Head of the USDAW Legal department will be leaving USDAW.
(3) A former USDAW EC member - Mrs Creed passed away at the age of 73.
USDAW will be arrangements will be made for representation at her funeral.
(4) Reps are receiving there initial training faster and this is reducing the number of reps who step down as a rep or leave USDAW.
(5) There will be a TUC demonstration on 4th October in Manchester. This will coincide with the start of the Conservative Party Conference.
(6) Labour Leadership. Maureen and Andrea explained that a discussion had taken place regarding the Labour party Leadership and who USDAW should be supporting.
Maureen and Andrea explained that the reason that Andy Burnham MP ( Leader ) and Caroline Flint MP ( Deputy Leader ) were the preferred Candidates is due to the level of support USDAW has received from the two Candidates in the past and that it is believed that they will further help USDAW should they be elected as Leader and Deputy leader.
(7) Trade Union bill. Maureen explained that part of the Strike action bill is that any members who do not vote in the Strike Ballot will have there vote counted as a NO vote.
This of course is not right as due to a varying number of reasons people wont be able to take part in a vote - Illness, Holidays, Family emergencies and many other reasons.
The minutes were accepted.
(1) An EC member will be leaving USDAW to work as an organiser for UNISON.
USDAW wishes them all the best in the new role.
(2) Louise Curtis - Head of the USDAW Legal department will be leaving USDAW.
(3) A former USDAW EC member - Mrs Creed passed away at the age of 73.
USDAW will be arrangements will be made for representation at her funeral.
(4) Reps are receiving there initial training faster and this is reducing the number of reps who step down as a rep or leave USDAW.
(5) There will be a TUC demonstration on 4th October in Manchester. This will coincide with the start of the Conservative Party Conference.
(6) Labour Leadership. Maureen and Andrea explained that a discussion had taken place regarding the Labour party Leadership and who USDAW should be supporting.
Maureen and Andrea explained that the reason that Andy Burnham MP ( Leader ) and Caroline Flint MP ( Deputy Leader ) were the preferred Candidates is due to the level of support USDAW has received from the two Candidates in the past and that it is believed that they will further help USDAW should they be elected as Leader and Deputy leader.
(7) Trade Union bill. Maureen explained that part of the Strike action bill is that any members who do not vote in the Strike Ballot will have there vote counted as a NO vote.
This of course is not right as due to a varying number of reasons people wont be able to take part in a vote - Illness, Holidays, Family emergencies and many other reasons.
The minutes were accepted.
Minutes from other Divisional Councils
We took a look at the minutes from other Divisional Councils. These were accepted.
Central office circulars and press releases
We looked through a selection of circulars from central office and a selection of press releases. These were accepted.
Divisional officers report
We received the Deputy Divisional officers report - this was read out by Gavin Dadley due to Gareth Davies being on holiday.
Membership total - 434,894 nationally and 56,962 divisional.
Stand down - 124 reps since 1/1/2015
Who have signed up 1,280 new members.
Academy 1 - 6 organising officers were selected but due to personal reasons one has had to leave the academy programme. The 5 organising officers have so far signed up 291 new members.
.
Academy 2 - 3 organising officers who have so far signed up 344 new members.
We received the report from the Divisional officer and discussed a few items.
(1) A midlands USDAW member has been offered a position as organiser by UNITE which they have accepted.
USDAW wishes them all the best in her now role.
We received the report from the Divisional officer and discussed a few items.
(1) A midlands USDAW member has been offered a position as organiser by UNITE which they have accepted.
USDAW wishes them all the best in her now role.
(2) Membership week Monday 28th September to Sunday 4th October.
(3) 2015 Women Chainmakers Festival. We spoke about the festival and those who attended said we need to do more to represent USDAW at the event as there was no Stall.This led to the following idea below (4).
(3) 2015 Women Chainmakers Festival. We spoke about the festival and those who attended said we need to do more to represent USDAW at the event as there was no Stall.This led to the following idea below (4).
(4) USDAW will be 125 years old next year. Possible link in with the 2016 Women Chainmakers Festival and also the 2016 Birmingham Pride event.
(5) Thanks were given to those who attended the Parents and Carers spotlight day held at TESCO Redditch on Wednesday 24th June.
The Divisional officers report was read and all points noted/endorsed.
(5) Thanks were given to those who attended the Parents and Carers spotlight day held at TESCO Redditch on Wednesday 24th June.
The Divisional officers report was read and all points noted/endorsed.
Political forum and Equalities forum
There are DC positions on the Political forum and the Equalities forum.
The position on the Political forum was opened first.
Simon Wilmott expressed an interest in the position and, as no one else expressed an interest Simon Wilmott was elected up-opposed with the agreement of the Divisional Council.
The position on the Equalities forum was then opened.
Paul White expressed an interest in the position and, as no one else expressed an interest Paul White was elected up-opposed with the agreement of the Divisional Council.
This item was discussed, as the previous Divisional Council had suggested moving some meeting to Kegworth.
It was agreed to keep the meeting at the USDAW Redditch office as it was easier to get to for the majority of the Divisional Council members.
Date of the first 2016 Midlands Divisional conference
Due to the general election in 2015 the USDAW Midlands Divisional conference was moved to March.
We discussed the issues faced with having the conference in June bearing in mind we want to encourage as many people as possible to attend the Women Chainmakers festival which historically has taken place in June or July.
The decision was made to have the first Midlands Divisional conference of 2016 in March.
The date of the conference will be announced as soon as it has been booked.
Any other Business
we then moved on to any other business.
No other business was raised.
The meeting was then closed.
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