Minutes of Meeting held on Wednesday 4th September 2002

1.1 Present:

1.2 Apologies for absence:

1.3 The meeting opened at 7.40pm with Dave Rossi, STUC President, in the Chair.

2.1 The Secretary advised that he had received no response from Trade Union Friends of Searchlight to our invitation to address this meeting. It was agreed that the invitation should be repeated.

2.2 The minutes of the last meeting on 3rd July 2002 were agreed as an accurate record.

3.0 Reports

3.1 AMICUS - MSF Section

DR mentioned the recent meeting of National Officials of MSF & AEEU in the construction sector. It was agreed to formulate a strategy for recruitment in the sector, especially in London.

It was pointed out that SERTUC are running an "Organise the City Campaign" during September in the City of London where historically membership density is low.

3.2 PCS

RH advised that a pay offer in the Dept. of Work & Pensions has been put to PCS members in a ballot. The package includes increases up to 6%, performance related pay and the extension of London Weighting to all offices in Essex and Kent.

Rachel also mentioned that the meeting on 28th July with Mark Serwotka, PCS General Secretary, had been a great success. The High Court had declared that his election was legally valid and upheld all 5 counts of his case.

IP gave details of the 3 year pay deal now offered to PCS members in the Inland Revenue. He also reported that in the Ministry of Defence, the Government has imposed a 4 year deal after adding the total votes of members in PCS, PROSPECT and FDA to obtain a small majority in favour. The majority of PCS members (65%) had voted to reject the offer.

3.3 TSSA

DG advised that the local Branch is continuing to meet, but there is some concern that the Union’s Officers seem disinterested in local issues.

3.4 UNISON Day of Action 17th July

DG mentioned that the Southend Labour Councillors had boycotted meetings at the Civic Centre on the day. The strike action had been well observed, Council Managers had been shocked at the level of support.

The Secretary had sent a message of support to SBC UNISON, on behalf of Southend TUC, which had been read out at the rally of striking members.

3.5 Pensioners

DT advised that as part of the campaign against age discrimination, Pensioners’ groups have leafleted throughout Essex. Derry has written to the 17 M.Ps in Essex, with 11 replying. The Rayleigh MP, Mark Francois, had forwarded a response he had received from the Pensions Minister, Ian McCartney, concerning the Government’s proposals on age discrimination. However, the proposed Age Discrimination Commission will only deal with employment issues.

On 2nd August the Annual Pensioner’s March & Rally had been held in Southend. There were 200 present at the Hall, with 50-60 on the March. The rally received press coverage, including a report in the Evening Echo. The NPC will be holding a national march & rally in London on 11th November.

Derry also drew attention to the proposals from Postwatch for the payment of all benefits via bank accounts. There is also concern over a proposal that pensioners should draw their pensions from "hole in the wall" machines using plastic cards, which will adversely affect those elderly people living in rural areas.

4.0 Finance

5.0 Correspondence

6.0 Other Business

6.1 The Essex CATC is planning to hold a meeting at the Essex Records Office to mark Health & Safety week in October.

6.2 RH said that the Burston Rally had been well attended, with 20 people going up on the coach organised by the Southend Labour Party.

6.3 The Southend Stop the War Coalition is holding a public meeting at the Labour Hall, with Jeremy Corbyn MP as the speaker, on Thursday 12th September.

6.4 Next meeting: Wednesday 2nd October 2002

6.5 The meeting closed at 8.35pm.