Minutes Gptu meeting 20/8/2009

Apologies; J.Healy, R.Phoenix.

1. John Carver stated that he did not wish to continue as Co-chair, but agreed to deputise for the Chair in future should the need arise. the meeting thanked John for his work for GPTU. John also stated that he wished to be replaced as a cheque signatory.
2. Minutes of 25/7/2009 accuracy: Unison Sec´s surname is Prentis
3. Matters Arising
   1. Reported that Optimum Population Trust had decided not to have stall at GP autumn conference. Conference Committee ahd discussed this and Eops Officer Maya Da Souza involved.
   2. Unison 4: banned from standing for union office for 5yrs. Sue Tibbles to send letter of support to Unison leadership.
   3. Minutes of second part of meeting on 25/7/2009 still neeed to be written up. John Carver´s notes appended here: "
      1. Andy suggested No2Eu was likely to continue. He also indicated that some, non-Lab. affiliated unions might run their own candidates. Agreed this would have to be treated on a case by case basis - unlikely that GP could formulate overall line given local parties autonomy in running candidates.
      2. Sue was to get list of local Trades Councils, and has already done this. Possible DPA problems on how we used this? Could we arrange to make this available to nearest local GPs, contact General Council of TCs?
      3. Point also made that GPTU should seek to have presence at AGC AGM.
      4. Agreed we should attempt a general trawl of existing GPTU members, asking them to give details of Union, branch, and local GP which we don´t at present know.
      5. A plug in Green Activist was also suggested. So was possibility of approaching GP to ask if approach to post-election new members to identify TU members could be made.
      6. Agreed that we should attempt to get an article on Vestas, SOAS, etc. in Green World.
4. Fundraising & finances
   1. bank acc&t £189 still no statements inspite of PM & JH visiting bank.
   2. agreed to reimburse P.Murry £46 for banner and £36.33 for webhosting
   3. Sue Tibbles to arrange sale of some items from GPTU Conference stall.
5. Conference
   1. Fringe. Speakers Anne Gray and Peter Allen. Anne to be contacted re coipies of her paper. The meeting would need publicity and at conference and on blog, facebook etc. Scheduled for 7pm on Saturday 5/9/2009.
   2. Sue Tibbles in charge of stall. Need for secure storage of sale items and cash box noted, lists requesting help to be posted to lists.
   3. Attempts to get TU stalls continuing but hampered by clash with TUC Conference. Agreed to write letter to Conferences committee asking to avoids such clashes in future.
   4. attempts being made to get a Vestas worker to speak at ´Just Transition´ plenary.
   5. Afghanistan, Co operatives, Rape Crisis Centres (with amendment), nationalisation of ports and Education working paper on agenda.
   6. Emergency motions on SOAS & other deportations and on Vestas being drafted.
6. Convention of Left 26/9/2209 Brighton . Caroline Lucas speaking. GL/GPTU stall. Contact http://www.conventionoftheleft.org/
7. Climate and Capitalism conference 12/9/2009 with Ian Angus and several Green Left speakers , Friend´s House, Euston Rd , London. contact "http://forums.redpepper.org.uk/index.php?topic=1183.0"
8. A discussion took place re whether GPTU ahd a default position to support workers in industrial disputes and comments made on GPTU/and GL lists re some (esp RMT disputes). A. Wheatley apololgised for some of his comments on this. Decided to draft a statement for consideration by October GPTU meeting,
9. Climate Camp 26 Aug - 2 Sept 2009, London (venue tba). Gptu invited to provide literature for Students´ tent. Contact http://climatecamp.org.uk/actions/london-2009.
10. Workers´ Climate Action Conference Start: 10 Oct 2009 12:00pm 6:00pm Location:TBC. GPTU spokesperson to be invited
11. next meeting 14/10/2009 RFH 6.30pm