26th NATIONAL TRAIN CREWS & SHUNTING GRADES CONFERENCE – Portsmouth 2015
AGENDA OF THE 26th NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF TRAIN CREW AND SHUNTING GRADES
Queens Hotel Portsmouth.. Clarence Parade. Portsmouth. Hampshire P05 3LJ.
Phone 023-9282-2466
Thursday 9th April till Saturday 11th April 2015.
President: Paul Howes
Secretary: Mat Partridge
69 Forest Road East ,Nottingham,NG1 4JE
Tel: 07891198137
NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF TRAIN CREW & SHUNTING GRADES 2015
To Branch/Regional Council Secretary and delegates
Dear Colleague
The 26th national Train Crew & Shunting Grades Conference will be held at the
Queens Hotel Clarence Parade Portsmouth Hampshire.P05 3LJ
023-9282-2466
Accommodation is available on the following terms; Room Ref: 00686 – if guests quote this number when calling to book they will receive our Function Rate - £85 Double / Twin inc breakfast or £65 for a Single
Conference:
Opens at 14:00 hours on Thursday 9th April, then at 09:30 hours on Friday 10th & Saturday 11th.
An executive committee meeting will also take place at 12:00 hours on Thursday 9th April.
MAKE THE CONFERENCE A SUCCESS – SEND A DELEGATION FROM YOUR BRANCH OR REGIONAL COUNCIL.
I look forward to your Branch / Regional Council joining us in our efforts on behalf of our grades, by sending at least one delegate to the conference.
There is no deadline for the appointment of delegates – they only need to turn up with credentials stamped and completed for each day they attend. Credentials are contained on the last page of this agenda. Please feel free to copy as many as required.
Our conference has always seen lively and informed debate about key issues for our industry. Branches and Regional Councils are urged to consider the agenda and mandate their delegates as appropriate.
Amendments to agenda items must be received in writing to the conference minutes secretary by Tuesday the 1st of April 2015. Each delegate upon entering the conference will be given a copy of any such amendments. Emergency resolutions are welcome and will be accepted if they are submitted before the start of conference. Please submit in writing or email.
I look forward to meeting your delegates in Portsmouth
Yours Fraternally
Mat PartridgeConference Secretary
AGENDA
Thursday 9th April at 14:00
Friday 10thApril at 09:30
Saturday 11thApril at 09:30
- Opening of Conference by the President
- Civic address
- Election of Tellers (4 required) and Conference harassment officer
- Credential Committee report
- Financial report and balance sheet
- 2017 Conference: Invitations are requested from Branches
- The 2016 Conference will be held in Liverpool.
- Report of the Conference Executive Committee
- Reports and Decisions of 2014 Conference
- Address by Assistant General Secretary
- Guest speakers
- Resolutions
- Two Resolutions for the Annual General Meeting
- Election of 2015 Conference Officers and Executive Committee:
- Secretary
- President
- Vice – President
- Minutes Secretary
- Executive Committee (13 members). See Standing Order No.11
- Vote of Thanks
CONFERENCE OFFICERS AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 2013/2014
PRESIDENT / Paul Howes / SECRETARY / Matt PartridgeVICE PRESIDENT / Greg Harrison / MINUTES SECRETARY
GUARDS(2) / DRIVERS(1)
Regions 1, 2 & 4 / Steve Waters
Vacant / Regions 1, 2 & 4 / Graham Rodgers
Regions 3, 5, 6 & 7 / Paul Howes
Billy Kimm / Regions 3, 5, 6 & 7 / Vacant
Regions 8, 9, 10 & 12 / Steve O’Connor
Martin O’Czaja / Regions 8, 9, 10 & 12 / Jeff Slee
SHUNTERS (2) / LUL(2)
All Regions / Allan Jeyes
Paul Fairclough / Region 11 / Vacant
Vacant
LIAISON COMMITTEE
Andy Duncombe / Graham Rodgers
Greg Harrison / Vacant
Colin Waite / Paul Fairclough
FINANCIAL REPORT YEAR END 2014
INCOMECarried Forward(Bank Balance as at 31/12/13) / £866.33
Grant from Head Office / £600.00
Conference Income (various Branches) / £470.00
Total Income / £1436.33
EXPENDITURE
Conference Expenses / £470
Total Expenditure / £470
Bank Reconciliation / £966.33
Bank Balance 31/12/14 / £966.33
Uncleared cheques / £nil
Actual Bank Balance / £966.33
RESOLUTIONS FOR CONSIDERATION BY CONFERENCE
RESOLUTION 1:
SUBMITTED BY Bristol Rail Branch
CONSISTENT CHAIN OF CARE PROCEDURES
This Branch is pleased to see the good levels of chain of care practised by some TOCs on Traincrew following an incident or assault.
However this Branch is deeply disappointed that some levels of chain of care are inadequate. Members complain that they are not offered suitable arrangements to get home after an incident. Members are also concerned that there are often no follow-up calls, insufficient management support and that they feel under pressure to return to work before they are ready. Guards and other on-board crew are especially vulnerable to this kind of treatment after fatalities or collisions because Management feel that because they didn’t see something happen in front of their eyes that it doesn’t have an effect on them. Different colleagues react to these events in different ways. Some managers make members needing time off feel mentally weaker than their colleagues who felt able to return to work straight away. They can also feel victimised.
This Branch instructs the General Grades Committee and TOC Company Councils to produce a consistent chain of care document which should include, but not be limited to, clear and fair policies regarding:
- Contact with and support from a manager during and after an incident or assault
- Acknowledgement that different staff react differently to incidents and assaults
- Permitting all staff to have appropriate time away from the railway as required in order to recover from the incident or assault, and a phased and supported return to work as required by the employee.
Furthermore companies should be reminded of their obligation to have a duty of care to their employees.
RESOLUTION 2:
Submitted by Bristol Rail Branch
ADVANTIX REPLACEMENT: PROPER CONSULTATION
This Branch is aware that Advantix machines will be replaced with new technology over the coming months as Atos has declared the current equipment as life-expired.
While this Branch recognises that technology must move with the times, this Branch is concerned that the new technology will be brought in without any consultation from the RMT and may be introduced in such a way that it has a detrimental effect on our Guard and Revenue Grades.
It is vitally important to ensure that people who will be using this technology have the opportunity to play an active role its development so that the equipment serves everyone best.
This Branch demands that the RMT is able to play an active role in designing new on-board ticket machines that are fit for the future by negotiating with suppliers and design teams and work with them to ensure that the new technology is robust, user-friendly, fit for purpose and does not undermine the existing roles of Guards and Revenue staff.
This Branch further demands that consistent, suitable and sufficient training be provided to all relevant crews so that they can make the most of the new Advantix software once it is brought into circulation.
This Branch instructs the General Secretary, Lead Officers and Company Councils to work to achieve this.
RESOLUTION 3:
Submitted by Dover District General Grade’s branch
With the changing role of train crew in the future as our industry adapts to the introduction of new technology and new rolling stock, this conference feels that our Union should engage in meaningful dialogue with train operating companies to examine proposals to ensure that the safety of the travelling public remains crucial to the role of the person/s on the train and that the terms and conditions of said train crew reflect this responsibility.
Further, that this Union strives to establish a National working party with regular reporting and accountability to our national executive that ensures our on- board members remain proactive in any proposals to alter their job descriptions.
RESOLUTION 4:
Submitted by Edinburgh & Portobello Branch
This conference reiterates its complete opposition to Driver Only Operation in all forms up to and including Driver Door Operation and Driver Control Operation.
This Conference recognises the ongoing threat to the guards grade across the combining routes ands applauds the efforts made made by those participating in the campaign to save railway jobs on the Northern and TPE campaign. Conference agrees that this 2015 conference is to be the stepping stone of resistance towards all forms of D.O.O Including both D.C.O + DDO and agrees the only way to halt this threat of eradicating the grade is to enter into a full blown dispute If TOC’s do not agree to remove D.O.O/D.C.O/D.D.O of their agenda. Further conference agrees to work towards a situation where we see guards returned to services that are D.O.O
CONFERENCE OFFICERS AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 2015/2016
POSITION / NOMINEE / NOMINATED BYPresident / Paul Howes / Crewe no 1 Branch
Vice President / Greg Harrison / Crewe no 1 Branch
Secretary / Mat Partridge / Crewe no 1 Branch
Minutes Secretary
Guards Region 1,2 & 4 (2 off)
Guards Region 3,5,6 & 7 (2 off)
Guards Region 8,9,10 & 12 (2 off)
Driver Region 1,2,& 4
Driver Region 3,5,6 & 7
Driver Region 8,9,10 & 12
Shunting Grades (2 off)
LUL Region 11 (2 off)
REGIONS:
1Scotland
2ManchesterNorth West of England
3North WestNorth Wales
4North East
5Yorkshire & Lincolnshire
6Midlands / 7South Wales & West
8South West
9South East
10LondonAnglia
11London Transport
12Wessex
Where there are two positions (Guards, L.U.L.) these shall not be held by delegates from the same Branch.
CONSTITUTION AND STANDING ORDERS
1. The Conference shall be known as the National Train Crews and Shunting Grades Conference.
2. The objects shall be the efficient and complete organisation within the National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers of the grades covered by Conference and the propagation of the maintenance and improvement of all conditions affecting their grades.
3. Conference activities shall be confined to matters germane to their grades and conform to national policy as laid down by the decisions of the Annual General Meeting or Council of Executives.
4. An affiliation fee will be paid to Conference as per 1983 SGM Decision No.5.
5. Each Branch or Regional Council affiliating will be allowed to appoint Delegates to attend. All Delegates must be employed in the grades concerned.
6. The expenses of all Delegates attending the Conference to be paid by their respective Branches or Regional Councils.
7. The Conference shall elect its own Officers annually. They shall consist of President, Vice-President, Secretary and Minute Secretary.
8. All Officers and Executive Committee must be duly elected Delegates from affiliated Branches or Regional Councils and shall be in attendance at Conference unless excused.
9. No accredited Delegate shall be eligible to hold Office as an Officer or Executive Committee member if he/she is a serving member of the Council of Executives.
10. The President shall not hold the Office of President for more than three Conferences in succession, and shall not be eligible for re-election for the following three Annual Conferences.
11. There shall be thirteen members of the Executive Committee comprising a composition of Train Crew and Shunting
Grades on the following basis
Combined Regions 1, 2 and 4 Two Guards and one Driver;
Combined Regions 3, 5, 6 and 7 Two Guards and one Driver;
Combined Regions 8, 9, 10 and 12 Two Guards and one Driver;
All Regions Shunters; Two representatives
L.U.L. Two Representatives.
Where there are two positions (Guards, L.U.L.) these shall not be held by delegates from the same Branch.
12. There shall be a Liaison Committee of six members, which shall comprise the President, Secretary and four members of the Executive Committee. The latter four members to be selected on the following rolling basis
One Driver Representative – Regions 1, 2 and 4 combined,
following year Regions 3, 5, 6 and 7 combined,
following year Regions 8, 9, 10 and 12 combined;
One Guard Representative – Regions 8, 9, 10 and 12 combined,
following year Regions 1, 2 and 4 combined,
following year Regions 3, 5, 6 and 7 combined;
One Shunter Representative
One L.U.L. Representative.
This cycle to be repeated there from.
13. Voting for the Officers and Executive Committee shall be by ballot at Conference.
14. Conference shall open an account with Unity Trust plc in the name of the Conference which shall be operated upon by means of cheques signed by the President and Secretary.
15. Conference Secretary shall within five days of receipt of moneys pay these into the Conference Account and shall not retain in his/her hands more than £10 for current expenditure. He/she shall also by a date to be determined render to every Branch and Regional Council and to the General Secretary a true accurate account of receipts and expenditure for the twelve months ended the previous 31st December.
16. The Balance Sheet to be included in the Agenda.
17. Conference shall after consultation with the General Secretary fix the date for its next meeting.
18. Conference shall meet on the Thursday, Friday and Saturday and shall commence at 14.00 hours on the Thursday.
19. The Conference Executive Committee shall meet prior to Conference to consider the arrangements for the Conference, also the Agenda. The Council of Executives’ member and National Officer to be requested to attend.
20. Nominations, items and other matters for the Agenda shall reach the Secretary ten clear weeks prior to Conference. Amendments to reach the Secretary fourteen days prior to Conference. The Agenda to be dispatched to Branches six weeks prior to Conference.
21. The Conference President and Secretary shall be empowered to arrange meetings of the Executive Committee as deemed necessary.
22. The Executive Committee shall be empowered to arrange special meetings of the Conference as deemed necessary after application by a minimum of 12 Branches/Regional Councils.
23. Four Tellers shall be appointed from Delegates in attendance and shall not be candidates in elections.
24. A Harassment Contact Person shall be appointed from delegates in attendance to act as a first point of contact for any member present at conference who feels they may have been harassed for any reason.
25. On each day, every Delegate must present his/her credentials to the Executive Committee members appointed to receive them.
26. The venue of the Conference shall be voted on from invitations from Branches or Regional Councils and shall be for two years in advance.
27. Invitations to guest speakers shall be at the discretion of the President and Secretary.
28. Mover of the resolution shall be allowed not more than five minutes and subsequent speakers three minutes only (President and Secretary excepted).
29. When the final resolution has been discussed, a vote will be taken among Delegates to decide which items should be progressed to the Annual General Meeting.
30. The Conference Secretary shall be responsible for all correspondence, affiliation fees etc. He shall also submit Grade Reports on behalf of Conference to the “RMT News”.
31. The Reception committee shall be granted a sum of £100 from the Conference Funds.
32. The foregoing rules shall not be amended or rescinded without the consent of the majority of representatives voting at a National Conference. Amendments or addenda can only be submitted every third year, except amendments or addenda submitted by the Executive Committee of the Conference
.
Last updated April 2009
STATEMENT TO ALL MEMBERS ATTENDING RMT CONFERENCES
The General Secretary has written “As part of the continuing process of ensuring that the Union’s equal opportunities policy applies throughout the structure, I shall be glad if you will ensure that delegates to your Conference are reminded of our policy,” as follows
Members will be aware that this Union has a policy of equal opportunity. Harassment and discrimination on the grounds of age, gender, marital status, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, disability, religion, or sexual orientation will not be tolerated.
All members are expected to adhere to this policy whilst attending the conference and breaches of the policy will result in disciplinary action being taken. This is expected throughout the period of the conference, both within the conference hall and outside.
Harassment has many forms but the key to recognising this sort of behaviour is that it is considered offensive or unwelcome by the recipient and it is often persistent. Some forms of unacceptable behaviour are detailed below
• Racially or Sexually abusive language or ‘jokes’ and name calling
• Display of offensive written or visual material including graffiti
• Unwanted touching, leering or even physical assault
• Threats or insulting or abusive behaviour or gestures
• Persistent requests for social contact, even when it has been made clear that this is not wanted. This includes sexual propositions and unwanted comments on dress or appearance
• Use of patronising/offensive titles or nicknames
• Open hostility to any member, including organised hostility
• Any member who feels they have been harassed on any grounds can take action through the special procedure, as set out in the following guidelines. In the event of such harassment, the grades conference secretary should be the initial point of contact.
RMT Guidelines on Harassment and Discrimination at Conferences and Courses
• If an individual feels that they have been harassed for any reason, they should raise it in the first instance with the Conference harassment contact person, at the earliest opportunity. If the individual feels unable to raise the matter directly, they should ask a friend or colleague to do it for them.
• The role of the first contact person is to counsel the complainant and explain the avenues open to her/him. If the complainant wishes to take the matter further, the first contact person must raise it with a senior union officer (at least A.G.S.) immediately.
• Complaints of harassment or discrimination may result in informal or formal action, depending on the expressed wishes of the complainant.
• When a complaint has been made, the senior officer must immediately set up an investigation with a view to reaching a conclusion within 4 - 6 weeks. This investigation will involve interviewing witnesses and the parties concerned. A female member will be involved where requested.
• The Officer conducting the investigation will present his or her findings to the General Secretary as soon as they are drawn up and the General Secretary will put them before the Council of Executives, stating whether or not the investigating officer is recommending disciplinary action. The Council of Executives will then decide whether or not charges should be brought.
• The General Secretary will inform both parties concerning any proceedings to be initiated, and appropriate charges will be framed.