Southend Trades Union Council

MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY 4 NOVEMBER 1997

1.1 Present:

Charles Horn UNISON
Ann Joss BIFU
Una McMurtrie FTAT
Ian Pope PTC
Dave Rossi MSF
Derry Thorpe MSF
Clare Wormald UNISON

Guest: Graham Steel - Bargaining for Skills East

1.2 Apologies for absence: Mike Humphrey PTC

1.3 The Secretary advised that Mike Humphrey has found it difficult to attend meetings, due to his commitments as a member of the PTC's NEC, and has expressed his willingness to stand down as President.

It was agreed that Dave Rossi should take over as the President.

2.1 The minutes of the last meeting, on 1 October 1997, were agreed as an accurate record.

2.2 Matters arising

Ann Joss advised that the Lloyds Bank credit card business has been transferred under TUPE to FDR. Staff are alarmed at the threatened loss of traditional Bank benefits. For the first time BIFU is involved jointly with the Staff Association in negotiations with management.

3.0 Guest Speaker - Graham Steel, Bargaining for Skills East (BFSE)

3.1 Graham explained the role of BFSE, whose Project Workers are employed by the TUC and work to the Trade Union appointed Directors on TECs.

3.2 Their current areas of work are :­

a. work with Trade Unionists in raising the issue of training in the workplace and confidence building;
b. assisting in negotiations on developing a highly trained and skilled workforce, especially those facing compulsory tendering;
c. to secure co-operation between Unions and the TEC and to overcome the resistance to Union involvement on the part of some TECs;
d. assist with training skills analysis for Shop Stewards.

3.3 Graham has specialist knowledge on European funding issues and has been involved in trying to make funding documents more Union friendly.

3.4 Graham outlined the work of BFSE and SERTUC in relation to the Government's New Deal for the Unemployed and the Social Partnership. With regard to the New Deal, value added contracts extending the existing training courses are being sought.

4.0 BRANCH REPORTS

4.1 BIFU

Ann Joss gave details of the current industrial dispute in Barclays Bank. The Bank is refusing to go to ACAS, and there will be a further day of action on Friday 7 November.

4.2 It was agreed that the Council should send a message of support to BIFU members involved in the dispute.

4.3 MSF

Dave Rossi reported that the HVCA pay negotiations have now been settled with a 3 year deal up to 2000. There is concern that the new Assembler grade may be a threat to apprenticeships. Overtime will be calculated on a weekly rather than daily basis.

4.4 Dave is now involved in the NACE pay talks, to date there has been a weak Union input.

4.5 PTC

IP reported that the merger of CPSA and PTC has been approved in the membership ballots in both Unions. The new Union, PCS, will come into being on 1 January 1998.

5.0 FINANCE

6.0 CORRESPONDENCE

6.1 Pensioners Action Association - notice of their next meeting to be held on 2 December 1997.

6.2 SERTUC Conference on European Monetary Union - 29 November.

It was agreed that Ann Joss and Ian Pope should attend on behalf of the Council.

7.0 OTHER BUSINESS

7.1 It was agreed to invite a speaker from the NUS Stop the Fees campaign to address the next meeting.

7.2 It was agreed to defer a decision regarding a donation to the appeal for the Socialist Worker newspaper to the next meeting.

7.3 Next meeting: Wednesday 3 December 1997

October 1997