NATIONAL UNION OF RAIL,
MARITIME & TRANSPORT WORKERS
Unity House, 39 Chalton Street, London, NW1 1JD
AGENDA
OF THE
SEVENTY FIFTHANNUAL
NATIONAL BUS WORKERS INDUSTRIAL ORGANISING CONFERENCE
To be held on
Friday13 & Saturday 14th
APRIL 2018
Royal Esplanade Hotel, 16 Esplanade, Ryde, Isle of Wight, PO332ED. Tel 01983 562549.
NATIONALBUS WORKERS INDUSTRIAL ORGANISING CONFERENCE 2018
PresidentP RossiterSouth Devon Bus
Vice PresidentJ NicklesExeter No 2
SecretaryK MurphyNewport IOWNo 2
OfficerM LynchAssistantGeneral Secretary
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
L Rundall South Devon Bus
D Wright Salisbury No3
M Thomas South Devon Bus
P Simmons South Devon Bus
M Gale Poole & District
AUDITORS
I Hodge Exeter No 2
A Bradford Exeter No 2
AGENDA
1.Openingof Conference –Ryde Mayor, Mr H Adams
2.Election of tellers
3.Liaison Committee report
4.Secretary’s report
5.Auditors’ report
6.Consultative Committee report
7.Council of Executives’ report
8.Regional Organisers’ reports
9.Conference resolutions
10. Workshops
11.Elections
12 Resolutions for AGM
13 Date and venue for conference 2020
Guest Speakers
14. RMT National President S Hoyle
15.RMT GeneralSecretary M Cash
16.Wessex Reg Organiser M Tosh
17.Thompsons Solicitors R Williams
18.Council of Executives G Kite
19.RMT Organising Unit K Hall
20. RMT Education Officer A Gilchrist
21. RMT Assist General Secretary M Lynch
22. National Bus Safety T Kearney
23. South West Reg Organiser B West
Hours of Conference
Friday 13th 09.30 – 17.00 hours and Saturday morning if needed.
Conference Functions
Thursday 12th April. Free Night to enjoy the night life of Ryde.
Canthe Executive Committee meet at the Royal Esplanade Hotel at 18-00.
On Friday 13th April we have arranged An Evening Meal in Royal Esplanade Hotel, sitting 19-00 & served 19-30.With live music afterwards. A donation of £10 per head towards the meal is required.
RESOLUTIONS
1 SICK PAY – ACCIDENTS AT WORK
That this for Bus Workers requests the National Council of Executives to push for a policy with all bus companies with whom we have negotiating rights, that gives all their employees a right to full pay (not sick pay) from day one when they have been injured at work, when no fault of their own.
We also request that companies pay for any treatment which will help the employee get back to work quicker and regain their full health.
SOUTH DEVON BUS
Moved by South Devon Bus. FOR AGAINST ABSTENTIONS
2 BUS DRIVING – ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AS A SKILLED JOB
A private members bill was recently passed by government stating that any public servant who has been assaulted or spat on etc, the assailant’s sentence has been doubled, e.g.: 6 to 12 months imprisonment. Are bus drivers considered as public workers, WE DON’T THINK SO, as we are employed by the private sector. Therefore, this National Industrial Organising Conference of bus workers request that the NEC, through our parliamentary party, push to have bus driving acknowledged as a skilled job.
SOUTH DEVON BUS
Moved by South Devon Bus. FOR AGAINST ABSTENTIONS
3 CAB DESIGN – DETRIMENTAL TO DRIVERS HEALTH
That this conference is concerned, that, even though we have a member of our union on the national bus cab committee, designers have not taken into consideration the comfort of the driver as the cab size has shrunk considerably and has become uncomfortable which could lead to severe skeletal health problems. This National Industrial Organising Conference for bus workers calls upon the NEC to carry out a national survey of our bus branches and branches which contain bus workers to find out if this is a nation-wide problem and then to contact the appropriate authorities under the health and safety banner to have this problem resolved.
SOUTH DEVON BUS
Moved by South Devon Bus. FOR AGAINST ABSTENTIONS
4 Coach Sector Campaign
This conference believes that the COACH sector of our industry is suffering major problems with poor pay, casualization of labour and poor enforcement and avoidance of Health and Safety and welfare legislation. With no voice in rules, regulations and laws, governing the industry from the biggest stakeholder in the industry.
We can identify that there are at least 4,000 workers in the industry (based on subscriptions to a trade magazine) with a small minority of these workers currently in a Trade Union. If the issues affecting the industry are to be addressed this has to change.
In an industry were the work force is individualised with a majority of workers on self-employed agency and zero hours contracts we will have to adopt a strategy on how we can approach these workers and how the RMT organises these workers around their issues, under these circumstances the strategy should have a clear and achievable objectives with regular review of these and the tactics used with the first review date 6 months after the start of the campaign.
We ask the National Executive to instruct the General Secretary to start an Organising campaign for this group of workers that will include identifying their all issues and promoting positive policies to deal with them. We will need to mount a political campaign and engage in all relevant industry consultations. We must also involve the Bus Workers Organising Conference, Regional Councils, Branches and Organising Unit in a Recruitment Campaign
using the industry media along with our in house propaganda, to promote RMT membership as a way to have a united challenge to the laws, regulation and policies that are currently negatively effecting the industry and people working in it along with the promotion of positive change.
York & District Branch
Moved by York & District Branch. FOR AGAINST ABSTENTIONS
5TELEMATIC SYSTEMS
That this RMT National Bus Workers Industrial Organising Conference calls upon the RMT National Executive Committee to consider and produce a guide for advice to RMT members advocates and representatives on the use of telematics equipment and data in disciplinary cases. These telematics systems are now becoming more common place in the bus industry and they are being introduced under the guise of a fuel saving tool and to improve driver performance, however they are being used in disciplinary cases. The legal position in relation to the use of telematics systems need to be looked at in a similar way that CCTV use has. Are these systems being used for overt surveillance and if so workers should be informed of the extent and nature of any monitoring that is taking place and the reason for it.
These systems are recording driver’s actions on a second by second basis and then a profile of the driver is being held on their personnel record. If telematics evidence is gathered using overt surveillance methods, workers should have access to the information, be afforded the opportunity to explain or challenge the data and be allowed to make representations before any disciplinary or other action is taken by the employer.
NOTTS & DERBY
Moved by Notts & Derby Bus. FOR AGAINST ABSTENTIONS
6 COUNCELLING FOLLOWING SERIOUS INCIDENTS
That this National Industrial Organising Conference for bus workers calls upon the NEC to negotiate with all bus companies where we have members, a policy which would mirror the Chain of Care and Support programme, which for example is used at Mersey Rail, which would give our bus members the care and appropriate help following incidents such as near fatal/fatal, suicide and serious incidents while on duty.
SOUTH DEVON BUS
Moved by South Devon Bus. FOR AGAINST ABSTENTIONS
WORKSHOP.
After Lunch Kevin Hall from the RMT Recruitment & Retention unit, will be conducting a workshop for the delegates on Recruitment & Retention & Branch Plans.
7 Expert Advice and Consultation Advisory Service
This national bus workers industrial organising conference request that the NEC contacts the relevant authorities and government departments to press for better communication's between members of the transport industries by having a designated person to contact i.e. in the Transport Police, Driving and Vehicles Standard Agency and Health and Safety Executive and these to be made into a working parties with regular consultation This year we have had requests for advice regarding urgent matters concerning the safety of all concerned and the responses have been inadequate at best, these have taking months of chasing organisations and individuals for clarity, with advice that was more like calamity. We are expected to be professionals, but the government departments are failing in there duty to protect staff working in the transport services where profit dictates safety, someone needs to make decisions regarding safe operations from outside of a company viewpoint, especially in times of emergencies.
Everyone has the right to go to work knowing that they will be safe and they want the reassurance that decisions are not made by people who only understand business requirements, and that it is imperative that these groups are formed quickly, professionals must be supported by government legislation that is backed up by experts selected from the relevant departments.
Exeter Bus Branch
Moved by Exeter Bus. FOR AGAINST ABSTENTIONS
8 Highway code rule 223 change
This national bus workers industrial organising conference request that the NEC contacts the relevant government departments who write the legislation for the highway code and change rule223
currently this rule is to vague and gives no protection to moving vehicles, passengers or pedestrians.
Buses, coaches and trams.
Give priority to these vehicles when you can do so safely, especially when they signal to pull away from stops. Look out for people getting off a bus or tram and crossing the road.
The rule should now be changed to the following;
Buses, coaches and trams.
Prioritymustbe given to these vehicles, especially in built up areas and areas where spend limits are below 30mph. These vehiclesmustnot be passed when they signal to pull away from stops inHome Zones and Quiet Lanes or any area where there are traffic calming measures in place.
Having applied higher penalties and fines for professional drivers who are involved in accidents where they are providing services carrying passengers. we are asking the transport ministry for protection from drivers who continuously put passengers in danger by passing vehicles and cutting in causing accidents, information providing awareness of the type accidents that are caused by drivers who consistently perform these types of dangerous manoeuvres, measures must put in place to increase penalties and fines in proven cases of drivers driving without due care and attention.
Now with penalties and fines being increased for professional drivers, more legislation should be provided to protectBus, coach and tram drivers from all other road users including cyclists and pedestrians.
Exeter Bus Branch
Moved by Exeter Bus. FOR AGAINST ABSTENTIONS
9To investigate the effects on Drivers reaction time when cold in order to get the government put into law a minimum temperature that all companies must comply with.
The North Devon Bus Branch asks the RMT to set aside funds and to organise an investigation into the effects of COLD on a driver’s reaction time.
During the winter it is not unusual to be given a bus in which cab heating is very poor or even non-existent.
Reaction times when driving under the influence of drink or drugs is well documented and is considered so dangerous that under current law a driver will quite rightly lose his licence to drive.
In a recent study entitled “The Cold Driver: Driving performance under Thermal Stress”, showed that a driver exposed to 41ºF (5ºC) for 30 minutes resulted in significantly increased error in driving performance.
Drivers often spend significantly longer than 30 minutes at these temperatures and lower!
Time and time again these faults have been reported only for them to be ignored or paid lip service to!.
The fix is simple! - Merely maintain the vehicles as they should be and not down tom a budget!.
The Government and Companies are happy to let this problem continue.
Employers have a responsibility under duty of care to risk assess all potential hazards!
Where is the risk assessment for driving when cold?.
This hazard has the potential to cause a serious, even life threatening accident for our members and passengers and should be investigated with urgency.
Please support this resolution in order for us to obtain the necessary information to force government and companies to stop ignoring this important problem.
North Devon Bus.
Moved by North Devon Bus. FOR AGAINST ABSTENTIONS
NATIONAL BUS WORKERS INDUSTRIAL 0RGANISING CONFERENCE
CONSTITUTION
- NAME
The name of the Conference shall be “National Bus Workers Industrial Organising Conference”. - OBJECTIVES
To promote co-ordination and organising of the work of all RMT branches having bus workers membership, insofar as membership activity for the Union and interest in the national demands for improved working conditions are concerned. - MEETINGS
The meetings shall be annually in April. Each annual conference to decide the place for the next meeting. - REPRESENTATION
Conference to be composed of duly elected delegates from branches with bus membership. Each branch with less than 100 bus members may send two delegates. Branches with more than 100 members may send two delegates for the first 100 members with one additional delegate for every 100 members or part thereinafter. - AFFILIATION
Affiliation fees are paid direct from Head Office, in accordance with the 1983 SGM decision. - OFFICERS
There shall be a President, Vice-President, Secretary (who shall also be Financial Secretary), two Auditors and five Executive Committee members, all of whom shall be elected at each annual conference, excepting that the President’s position shall be filled by the Vice President elected in the previous year. All officers shall hold office until the next annual conference and shall remain members of the Union for that period; they shall be eligible for re-election. The Auditors shall not be deemed officers. - EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
The President and Secretary shall be empowered to call a meeting of the Executive Committee should they consider it necessary; and the Executive Committee may call a special conference in such action is warranted. Expenses of officers and Executive Committee members shall be paid from conference funds at the rate of fares, lost time and out-of-pocket expenses. - CONFERENCE AGENDA
Notices for receipt of items for the agenda and nominations for official positions shall be sent to branches not less than 16 weeks prior to conference. Items for the agenda shall reach the Secretary not less than 1 week prior to conference. The preliminary agenda shall be published as soon after that date, seeking amendments which shall reach the Secretary no less than four weeks prior to conference. Each item for the agenda to be written on separate sheets of paper. The Executive Committee and Auditors shall meet the day. - BANKING
All funds of conference, except working balances, shall be kept in the Unity Trust plc. All payments over £5.00 to be paid by cheque, signed by the President and Secretary
CONFERENCE INFORMATION.
Delegate’s Expenses
Delegate’s expenses can be funded from the Branch/Regional management funds and it is their responsibilities for helping each delegate financially and it is there branches who decide how much there delegate’s gets paid.
Delegates allowance for attending conference is £35 per delegate up to a maximum of seven delegates i.e. £245 per branch, for payments into branch accounts they must apply to Head Office. Delegates give the F/C 6 form to their branch secretaries
The FC/6 Form must be filled in and handed to the conference secretary for signing along with your delegate credentials slips.
The FC/6 forms will be distributed by the Conference Secretary.
London Widows Orphan Fund Summer Draw 2018
The Conference Secretary has been given 50 books with 4 raffle tickets = £1 for a book or 25p each. Fill the counterfoils in with your name and address and return them to the conference secretary with the money. The draw will take place at the LWOF meeting on Wednesday the 11th of July 2018 at Unity House and all winners will be notified.
We hope you will continue to support the fund so we will be able give each family a gift and hopefully take the families of our late colleagues on at least a day trip this summer.