MINUTES GPTU 1 August 2007

 

Apologies: N.Walsh

 

1. Minutes of last meeting (4/7/07) Agreed for accuracy

    

2. Matters arising

    

   1. Banner quote still needed (action: Joseph Healy )
   2. Northern meeting still in process of being organised.
   3. Sue Tibbles will be putting a more detailed report on the Brighton Unison meeting on the GPTU blog at http://gptublog.blogspot.com/.
   4. Motion re the suspension of Karen Reissmann sent to Unison and employer; formal reply from latter.
   5. Burston event: Joseph Healy to contact Chris Cotton.
   6. Statement in support of CWU (adapted from Brighton GPTU statement) on GPTU website at http://gptu.net/pssess4X/3c/hpage.shtml (London list and G.Left list to be notified of website)
   7. Whole Food Markets is setting up stores in UK (see Independent 3/6/2007) and is believed to have a no-union policy. First store in Kensington High St. Does Planet Organic have a similar policy? Does USDAW know? Contact Martin Wicks.
   8. Further info needed re Ecosocialist gathering in Paris.
   9. Further info needed re TU groups in other GP´s.

    

3. BRIGHTON GPTU REPORT 31/07/2007

   At Brighton and Hove GPTU Group last meeting, we decided to have a fringe meeting at TUC this year (10th- 13th Sep) at a hotel/ Friends Meeting House somewhere near the Brighton Centre hopefully on the Tuesday evening because I have our work fringe on the Monday night. I'll get some info together for any GP members who're coming to TUC as a delegate (I'll be working for that entire week at Congress). Best wishes Phelim Mac Cafferty

4. Alan Wheatley (GP Disability Spokesperson) on disability, benefits and earnings. Points raised included:
   • Alan explained that disabled claimants where being squeezed by the Gov´t´s benefit fraud campaign and by the Welfare to Work scheme.
   • Disabled Job Seeker Allowance claimants felt harassed by gov´t.
   • No union for unwaged workers currently existed in UK.
   • Community Care and Poverty websites were useful sources of info on these issues
   • Shortfall of Learning and Skills council provision for adults with learning difficulties
   • Useful to have more info re GP members´ incomes.
   • PM & AW to liaise to prepare more detailed briefing paper with a view to drafting conference motion. Also to consider organising demo in support of Remploy, Brixton.

    

5. Finances and Fundraising

    

   1. Sue Tibbles had spent c. £90 on the Brighton Unison meeting (Inc £20 travelling to PT) PM & NW had signed cheque to ST for £65 which she had not yet received. This effectively exhausted current funds.
   2. Sue Tibbles to liaise with Neil re taking up Workers´ Beer work
   3. Possibility of Oxford vegan cake stall.
   4. Letter to GPEX amended as follows.

       

      Dear GPEX

       

      I am sure that you are aware the Green party has had a Trade Union group (GPTU) for about ten years now, this group is a part of the party in the same way as its other sub groups (e.g.; Education and Transport), ie it exists to keep up to date on developments in its particular fields of interest and then to suggest (via conference motions) possible change to GP policies. Also the group seeks to:

       

      • Encourage trade unions to fund the Green Party and /or GP electoral candidates.
      • Provide a forum for Green Party members who are trades unionists and can often be isolated by the dominance of the traditional left in TUs
      • Encourage TUs to take on Green policy concerns
      • Give the Green Party a visible presence as serious political organisation at TU events leafleting, running stalls and meetings and taking the GPTU banner to TU marches and demonstrations.
      • Assist GP in its electoral work by encouraging trades unionists to vote for GP candidates and encouraging TU members and branches to make statements of support for GP candidates

       

      GPTU has recently been active in all these areas , it holds regular monthly meetings, it has run fringes at GP conferences, it has run its own conferences, it has produced a leaflet which it has distributed as described above, it runs an active email list, it has set up a blog and website. Its latest activities include running a Fringe meeting at the 2007 Unison conference addressed by Peter Tatchell and Paul Cooney; and the setting up of a new local GPTU group in Brighton., (which is planning a fringe meeting at the TUC conference in September 2007).GPTU also hopes to run a Northern meeting either later this year or early next year as focus for the establishment of a northern GPTU group. We have so far kept going by donations from members and officers and some fundraising via the Workers Beer Company, but in order to continue our activities on behalf of the party we need to appeal to GPEX for funds. We would argue that any money allocated to us would be well spent in that it would facilitate the further recruitment of new GP members, the support of existing members, fundraising for the party, the promotion of the aims and objectives of the party and will help win votes for GP candidates in local, national and regional elections.

       

      Signed on behalf of GPTU:

       

      J. Carver (Hounslow GP) Chair P.Murry (Brent GP). Secretary S.Tibbles (Oxfordshire GP) TU Liaison Officer J.Healy (Southwark GP) & Cllr. M.Schleiman (Luton & Beds GP) GPRC Liaison

    

6. Sue Tibbles to forward media contacts.
7. Conference
   1. Further info awaited on stall & fringe
   2. Agreed to redraft migrant workers´ motion for future conference subject to advice from Alde Fisher & others.
8. RMT/B.Crow proposal for independent political action. B.Crow was now speaking of standing anti-privatisation candidates in elections based on his shop stewards network. A formal GP response was needed to this proposal.
9. Patio heaters. P.Murry had exchanged emails with J.Essex re redraft of PH leaflet, explained that GPTU objection was to ´no tipping´ or any other action which would penalise workers.
10. Recent activities
    1. PM and other GP members had attended RMT Metronet lobby of Downing St. D.Wall had not had chance to speak but might at future such event.
    2. Support for CWU letters to Morning Star, TSSA Journal, RMT Journal, London freesheets.
    3. Oxford CWU: Back worker suspended (possibly to provoke dispute). Peter Tatchell would be writing letter of support and there should be a green presence at rally.
    4. Lewisham council passed motion of support for CWU stall
11. GP Policy Approval Committee now supports the European Campaign against Privatisation of Public Services.
12. Can any GP elected members be invited to TUC conference?
13. SERTUC regional Council had discussed London Met Uni dispute: more info needed
14. Ditto SEEDA
15. Problems re booking accommodation in Liverpool for GP conference noted.