MINUTES GREEN PARTY TU GROUP AGM: 16/2/2008 Reading GP conference

(From notes by Sue Tibbles)

1. SECRETARY´S REPORT
   1. Paul Cooney and Peter Tatchell spoke at a fringe organized by GPTU at the Brighton Unison conference.
   2. GPTU members had visited the William Morris museum and GPTU supported campaigns its closure/cutbacks.
   3. GPTU members had supported the GMB Remploy strikes; Joseph Healy had spoken at a strike meeting in Brixton, (also attended by Cllr Becka Thackeray). A letter had been written to P.Hain to protest against closure of Brixton factory, (see blog).
   4. GPTU had supported RMT demos outside City hall, (esp. Cllr Romayne Phoenix) and welcomed the news that at least one GP AM had agreed to greet such demos in future.
   5. GPTU supported London Federation of GP´s affiliation to the Campaign against Tube Privatisation and invited a CATP speaker to London Federation AGM.
   (See http://gptu.net/catp/catp.shtml).
   6. Supported NHS demo (see pixs on Blog)
   7. Supported Campaign Against Climate Change demo 9/12/2007
   8. Wrote letter to GMB protesting against their support for Heathrow expansion invited to meeting with Mick Rix attended by P.Murry and D.Welch for GPTU. See notes of meeting on blog. PM hoped to get more detailed documents re GMB case to show to GP transport group.
   9. Involved in organizing Campaign Against Climate Change TU conference 9/2/2008. This event had been addressed by Caroline Lucas, Jean Lambert and Derek Wall and seemed to be judged a success, (see pixs on Blog).
   10. Circulated petition and other publicity supporting Karen Reissman.
   11. Circulated supporting Birmingham local gov't privatisation dispute: Green left planning for public meeting in Birmingham.
   12. Support for European TU Congress opposition to privatisation of health care
   13. Spokespersons appointed: Romayne Phoenix, Paul Cooney, Phelim Mac Cafferty, Elise Benjamin.
   14. Marc Schleiman remained as GPTU friend on GPRC, but there might need to jobshare.
   15. Possibility of GPTU reps giving presentation to next GPRC meeting.
   16. 2000 leaflets purchased from Hillingdon Green print, Further leaflets arranged by Romayne Phoenix and paid for by Campaigns Committee. The meeting expressed its thanks.
   17. Blog and website now up and running.
   18. Successful Fringe at Reading Conference on migrant workers addressed by Jean Lambert and Moyra Rushby of the Refugee Health Network. Moyra did not take expenses. Thanks to Payam Torabi for helping to organize this.

 

2. Treasurer's Report
   1. It had not been possible to contact the Treasurer recently; the Secretary estimated the position as follows:

       

      Rec'd from GPEX May 2007 £300

      Stall hire GP Conference autumn 2007 £35

      Leaflets from Hillingdon Greenprint £ 55

      Balance £210

      Stall hire Reading conference £35

      Alan Wheatley: Conference admission and travelling £18

      Income (commission of sales of D.Wall´s books) £15

      Projected balance £172

       

      Banner in process of being ordered.

      Venue Hire for Brighton

       

      NB the above does not include donations of Webspace, photocopying, postage etc from GPTU members and supporters.

    

   2. Agreed to apply for increased grant from GPEX for 2008/9
   3. Specialist leaflets needed on particular disputes/issues
   4. Saleable items (mugs, Tshirts, stinky toys etc)

 

3. Committee election

   Chair: John Carver (Hounslow GP) elected unan.nem. con.

   Secretary: Peter Murry (Brent GP) elected unan.nem. con.

   Acting Treasurer: Joseph Healy (Southwark GP) elected unan.nem. con.

   TU Liaison: Sue Tibbles (Oxford GP) elected unan.nem. con.

   Spokespersons: Romayne Phoenix (Lewisham GP), Paul Cooney (Huddersfield GP), Phelim Mac Cafferty, (Brighton GP) and Elise Benjamin. (Oxford GP)

 

4. Campaign Against Climate Change TU Conference 11am March 1st ULU Malet St London WC1.Maximum Green attendance requested. Romayne Phoenix might be nominated to an organizing committee, GPTU agreed to support. Aim to get CCC to hold stalls and fringes at TU conferences and another conference of its own in about 1yr´s time.

 

5. Paul to investigate possibility of fringe at Unison conference in Bournemouth.

 

6. Next meeting Wednesday 19th March 7.00pm venue to be confirmed.