NOTES OF GPTU MEETING at SWANSEA GP Conference 23/3/07

 

1. Explanation of GPTU group
2. Apologies for the lack of AGM minutes from Scarborough : >brief resume of that meeting: two speakers- Climate change J H (?) on campaign for the repeal of the of the anti-trade union laws and support for Trade Union Freedom Bill
3. GPTU banner taken to various demonstrations over the year including:
   • Stop the War,
   • Keep Our NHS Public local campaigns,
   • dispute by RMT cleaners,
   • NHS national meeting at Friends Meeting House, London
4. Emergency motion passed today in conference, to press office for releaseto unions, media etc.
5. Saturday joint meeting of Green Left and GPTU 6 pm with Derek Wall and Welsh T&G
6. fundraising through Workers Beer Company- Neil Walsh co-ordinating. Thanks were given to Neil for his work as both Treasurer and fundraiser via WBC.
7. Website-Peter will be webmaster as currently doing training
8. Costing for a new banner needed
9. Noel Lynch'e email-Job evaluation schemes in public sector (and?) public interest disclosure
10. UCU members privatisation of language teaching in universities: Anne to issue a draft statement from GPTU using UCU's statement issued already as the basis.
11. Joseph Healy - reports on what GPTU is doing to Regional Council such as supporting NHS day of action etc.
12. GPTU perceived as London-centric so frustration of Northern GP folk. Northern GPs urged to form their own local GPTU groups
13. Diary of forthcoming events where GPTU could have a presence:
    • Health Focus groups taking lead on NHS issues ( not enough campaigning on this by national party, need to get party support for NHS national march in June)
    • climate change and anti war
    • GPTU banner to Exxon event, April
    • 1 May May Day march
    • Sat 19 May Levellers Day, Burford Oxfordshire
    • June National NHS Day of action to be confirmed
    • Robert Tressell event, Sussex
    • July Tolpuddle Martyrs, Dorset link with SW region
    • lSeptember Burston School Strike Rally East Anglia
14. Elise Benjamin raised an issue about councillors who wish to join a trade union. Could have joined MSF before merger to Amicus. UNISON say councillors are not salaried so no eligible. Aiming to get an Oxford City Council ruling to say that allowance is treated as a salary. No legal representation or support for councillors. A councillor had tospend £40,000 of own money to clear his name GPA of Councillors- verbal support for Elise to GPAC
15. Workplace bullying motion on Sunday to support
16. Finances report:
    • Approx £:70 in bank account
    • Workers Beer Company explained. Reported people let Neil down at last minute on various events in 2006 unfortunately.
17. Election of officers:
    • Chair John Carver TSSA Hounslow GP
    • Treasurer Neil Walsh, Prospect, Southwark GP
    • Secretary Peter Murry, UCU
    • TUC Liaison Officer Sue Tibbles UNISON, Oxfordshire GP
    • Joseph Healy and Richard Mallender- TU link with GPRC & GPEX
18. TU Conference: one day conference possibly York or Lancaster Link in Lancaster with John Whitelow, Last year's TU Conference -approx 30 people attended, possible Green Left/GPTU joint meeting proposed in summer or early autumn. Could raise money at the joint GL/GPTU meeting? If not a conference as such, could be a travelling circus of speaker meetings around the country of 2 hours per evening Suggested topics:
    • privatisation of education,
    • TU freedom bill etc.
    The cost is the main difficulty. Possibility of outreach group
19. Election of Derek Wall to principal speaker was most welcome news as promotiong trade unions as there had been a slightly uneasy relationship with some elected representatives of the party, and example of this was an issue about crossing picket lines etc. Derek is a part time lecturer at Birkbeck. Aim to work closely with Derek in future.
20. 4 April next GPTU mtg, Queen Elizabeth Hall, 6.30 pm
21. 14 April GL AGM, Brighton
22. AOB: UCU ---??? Trevor Phillips