NATIONAL ROAD FREIGHT TRANSPORT CONFERENCE 2011.
REPORT
of the
TWENTIETH (83rd) ANNUAL
NATIONAL ROAD FREIGHT
TRANSPORT CONFERENCE
Held in the AMBASSADOR SPA HOTEL,
36-38 Esplanade, Scarborough,
YO11 2AY. Tele; 01723 362 841.
on
Saturday 21st March 2015.
Starting at 09:30am.
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NATIONAL UNION of RAIL, MARITIME and TRANSPORT WORKERS.
NATIONAL ROAD FREIGHT TRANSPORT CONFERENCE 2015.
NATIONAL UNION OF RAIL, MARITIME
AND TRANSPORT WORKERS.
Unity House, 39 Chalton Street, London, NW1 1JD.
GENERAL SECERARY MICK CASH.
THE REPORT OF THE NATIONAL ROAD FREIGHT TRANSPORT CONFERENCE 2015.
PRESIDENT; SECRETARY;
George Marshall. Andrew Hill.
556 Dewsbury Road, 9 Mayfield Road,
Beeston, Halton, Leeds,
Leeds, LS15 7SH.
LS11 8ER.
Mobile: 07958 625 435. Tele: 0113 260 0069
Mobile: 07944 589 151.
My Ref; 036601254.
Opening of Conference.
The Conference Vice President opened the conference by thanking everybody for attending.
Harassment Contact Person.
Nominations for the appointment of a Harassment Contact Person for the duration of this Conference was requested. Jimmy Walsh, Leeds Goods and Cartage Branch, was nominated by, Vic Winning, London Anglia Midland Road Transport Branch, seconded by Adrian Graham, Portsmouth Branch, and agreed by Conference.
Vice President Andrew Blackman Addressed Conference.
In the absence of the President the Vice President welcomed everybody and thanked them for attending. The vice president went on to highlight the problems, especially the importance of recruitment and retention.
Secretary Andrew Hill gave his Report.
The Secretary quoted from his report in the agenda, and updated it where needed.
Financial Statement and Auditors Report for 2014.
The Balance Sheet and Financial Status was given in the Auditors Report by Andrew Hill, Leeds City Branch. He started by apologising for a mistake in the agenda balance sheet, and said the correct balance sheet has been handed out. He went on to say as the agenda went out before the auditor’s had signed the balance sheet off it has now been signed off.
The balance sheet and Auditor’s Financial Report was proposed as a true record and carried unanimously by Conference.
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NATIONAL UNION of RAIL, MARITIME and TRANSPORT WORKERS.
NATIONAL ROAD FREIGHT TRANSPORT CONFERENCE 2015.
BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31ST DECEMBER 2014.
INCOME / £ / EXPENDITURE / £Balance Brought Forward / £329.32 / Stationary & Printing / £56.16
Postage & Phone / £29.76
Head Office Grant / £500.00 / Travel-Parking / £00.00
Head Office Payment / £0.00
Meeting’s Sundries Charges / £00.00
Donations / £0.00 / 2013 Conference Room / £100.00
Collected at conference / £00.00
President’s Honoraria / £40.00
Vice-President’s Honoraria / £00.00
Secretary’s Honoraria / £80.00
Other Income / £0.00 / Auditors [1] Honoraria / £20.00
E.C. Expenses [2] / £20.00
Charity donation / £00.00
Bank Commission / £00.00
Bank Charges / £00.00
SUB-TOTAL / £345.92
Bank Interest / £0.00
TOTAL / £345.92
Cash in Hand / £000.00
Cash in Bank / £483.40
TOTAL / £829.32 / TOTAL / £829.32
We the undersigned, hereby certify that we have examined the whole of the books including Cash Books, Receipt Books, and Bank Statements in connection with the above accounts and are satisfied that the return is a true and correct statement.
J Rafferty. / Auditor. / 30-01-2015 / Signed J Rafferty.M Williams. / Auditor. / 11-02-2015 / Signed M Williams.
A Hill. / Secretary. / 02-01-2015 / Signed Andrew Hill.
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NATIONAL UNION of RAIL, MARITIME and TRANSPORT WORKERS.
NATIONAL ROAD FREIGHT TRANSPORT CONFERENCE 2015.
MINUTES OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING.
Held at 19:30hrs ON FRIDAY 20th MARCH 2015.
At the Ambassador Spa Hotel Scarborough.
1, The secretary went through the roll call.
2, No notification of any deaths of persons with allegiance to this conference have been received.
3, The Vice President opened the meeting by thanking everybody for attending. Then spoke on some of the problems we have faced this year.
4, The 2014 Conference Report was accepted as a true record and adopted. Proposed by V Winning London Anglia Midland Transport Branch, seconded by Andrew Hill Leeds City Branch, agreed by Committee.
5, Minutes of Liaison Committee Meetings held on 14-10-2014 and 14-01-2015 was discussed, and then passed as a true record. Proposed, A Hill, Leeds City Branch, seconded, Andrew Blackman London Anglia Midland Transport Branch, agreed by Committee.
6, The Secretary went through his report then the apologies;
Trevor Howard and Mick Williams, Leeds City, Jimmy Rafferty, Exeter Rail, Furqan Hijazi, Leeds Goods and Cartage,
And finally the accepted invites;
Steve Hadley, SAGS and Lead Officer.
Andy Budds, Council of Executives; and RMT Credit Union Ltd;
Tony Scott and Ranjit O’Mahony Thompsons Solicitors;
7, There was Correspondence from The London Widows and Orphan Fund to distribute and sell their raffle tickets.
8, 2015 Conference arrangements was discussed and agreed by Committee.
9, 2015 Conference Agenda, The secretary apologised for the wrong figures on the balance sheet in some agendas, the balance sheet with the correct figures on was given out. The agenda was debated and all the resolutions was accepted to go to conference.
10, Invitations for Conference 2016 have been received from the Wessex regional council, for the Portsmouth / Isle of Wight area.
Suggested date for 2016 Conference: Sat 12th March
(25-27th March 2016 is Easter) or 09th,16th, 23rd, 30th April.
This was discussed and the conclusion of the committee was to leave it open to Conference to decide. No invite as been received for Conference in 2017.
Sat 23rd April was seen as the most suitable date.
11, Honoraria, E.C. Expenses was distributed and signed for.
12, With no other business the meeting closed at 20:45pm.
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NATIONAL UNION of RAIL, MARITIME and TRANSPORT WORKERS.
NATIONAL ROAD FREIGHT TRANSPORT CONFERENCE 2015.
The Senior Assistant General Secretary Steve Hadley Addressed Conference.
Steve started by saying how pleased he is for been invited to speck at this conference. Steve continued by specking on the City Link situation.
He continued by stressing the importance of organizing to assist the retention of the membership by revisiting the workplaces and sites, this will not only maintain the membership but increase it. Steve then took questions from the floor.
Tony Scott and Ranjit O’Mahony from Thompson’s Solicitors; Addressed Conference.
Tony started by describing the support Thompsons gave the woman’s suffragette movement in their fight to give woman the vote, and continued by relating the role Thompsons Solicitors plays on behalf of this union’s members and there families.
Tony then spoke on social networking and the affects it can have in the workplace. Unacceptable use of social networking is a criminal act controlled by The Communications Act 2003 section 127 deals with “The improper use of public electronic communications network” he then described the wording in layman’s terms. “The Protection from Harassment Act 1997” was Tony’s next subject expressing the way it can work for and against members.
Ranjit who specializes in employment law started by clarifying the changes to the employment law tribunal system and the five areas mainly affected, 1; Tribunal fees, 2; ACAS early conciliation, 3; Collective consultation, 4; Whistle blowing, 5; Holiday pay. Ranjit explained in detail the changes to each of the five areas.
Ranjit and Tony then took questions from the floor.
Andy Budd from the Council of Executives gave the E C and Credit Union Reports.
Andy went through the resolutions from last year’s Conference and the
General Grades Committee / Council of Executives decisions.
He then spoke on the Union’s Credit Union. Andy then answered questions from the floor on both reports.
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NATIONAL UNION of RAIL, MARITIME and TRANSPORT WORKERS.
NATIONAL ROAD FREIGHT TRANSPORT CONFERENCE 2015.
Election of Officers and Executive Committee 2015-16.
PRESIDENT:
Nominations of George Marshall, 5votes and Andrew Blackman 3votes was received.
George Marshall Leeds Goods and Cartage Branch was elected.
VICE PRESIDENT:
Andrew Blackman, London Anglia Midland Road Transport Branch.
Elected unopposed.
SECRETARY:
Andrew Hill, Leeds City Branch.
Elected unopposed.
AUDITORS (2):
Jimmy Rafferty, Exeter Rail Branch.
Mark Broadfield, Leeds Goods and Cartage Branch.
Elected unopposed.
HANDLING (2):
Jimmy Walsh, Leeds Goods and Cartage Branch.
Vacancy.
Elected unopposed.
DRIVING (3):
Graham Keeble, Leeds Goods and Cartage Branch.
Vic Winning, London Anglia Midland Road Transport Branch.
Douglas Reader, London Anglia Midland Road Transport Branch.
Elected unopposed.
WORKSHOPS:
Vacancy.
CLERICAL & SUPERVISORY:
Maurice Hamilton, Leeds Goods and Cartage Branch.
Elected unopposed.
Election of Liaison Committee 2015-16.
Handler Grade.
Jimmy Walsh, is willing to stand for the Handler grades.
Jimmy Walsh, was elected unopposed to the Liaison Committee for the Handler Grades.
Driver Grade.
V Winning, is willing to stand for the Driver’s Grade.
Douglas Reader, is willing to stand for the Driver’s Grade.
Graham Keeble, is willing to stand for the Driver’s Grade.
Graham Keeble 5votes, V Winning 2votes, Douglas Reader 0votes.
Graham Keeble was elected to the Liaison Committee for the Driver Grades.
Workshops Grade.
The Workshop grade member is elected unopposed, but the position is vacant.
Clerical Grade.
Maurice Hamilton, is willing to stand for the Clerical grades.
Maurice Hamilton, was elected unopposed to the Liaison Committee for the Clerical Grades.
Nominations for the two remaining places was requested;
Nominations of Vic Winning 10votes, Andrew Blackman 8votes, Mark Broadfield 0votes, Doug Reader 0votes.
Vic Winning and Andrew Blackman was elected.
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NATIONAL UNION of RAIL, MARITIME and TRANSPORT WORKERS.
NATIONAL ROAD FREIGHT TRANSPORT CONFERENCE 2015.
Elected Officers for Conference,
Executive and Liaison Committees 2015-16.
PRESIDENT: G Marshall, Leeds Goods and Cartage
Liaison.
VICE PRESIDENT: A Blackman, London Anglia Midland Road Transport. Liaison.
SECRETARY: Andrew Hill, Leeds City. Liaison.
AUDITORS (2): Jimmy Rafferty, Exeter Rail.
M Broadfield, Leeds Goods and Cartage.
HANDLING (2): J Walch, Leeds Goods and Cartage.
Liaison.
Vacancy.
DRIVING (3): G Keeble, Leeds Goods and Cartage.
Liaison.
V Winning, London Anglia Midland Road Transport. Liaison
D Reader, London Anglia Midland Road Transport.
WORKSHOPS: Vacancy. Liaison.
CLERICAL & SUPERVISORY:
M Hamilton. Leeds Goods and Cartage. Liaison.
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NATIONAL UNION of RAIL, MARITIME and TRANSPORT WORKERS.
NATIONAL ROAD FREIGHT TRANSPORT CONFERENCE 2015
RESOLUTIONS.
Resolution No.01.
In the name of; This Conference Executive Committee.
Seconded by; Leeds Goods and Cartage Branch.
That this Grades Conference fulfilled the wishes of the Unity Trust bank (the bank) by placing on record;
(a) This conference request “the bank” to continues to act as banker for the account of this conference,
(b) This conference requests that the Conference President (Insert name after election) and Conference Secretary (Insert name after election) continue to be the signatory for cheques drawn on this account.
Won; For…ALL……. Against………NONE……
Resolution No.02.
In the name of; The London Anglia Midland Transport Branch.
Seconded by; Portsmouth Branch.
That this grades Conference requests this union to sponsor and man with volunteers a stall at as many Truck Shows across the country as possible.
For a determined effort to recruit new members into the Road Freight Sector of this union.
Due to the closure of City Link and other company contracts in the last year, we have grave concerns about the dwindling membership of the Road Freight Sector of the RMT union.
Won; For…ALL……. Against…… NONE………
Resolution No.03.
In the name of; The London Anglia Midland Transport Branch.
Seconded by; Leeds Goods and Cartage Branch.
That this Grades Conference requests the General Grades Committee to write to all union representatives covered by this Conference the importance of attending all branch and as many Regional Council meetings they can get allocation for.
This is where problems are discussed and sorted not in the company workplace or between members at tea breaks.
Won; For……ALL……. Against…NONE……
Resolution No.04.
In the name of; This Conference Executive Committee.
Seconded by; …………………………………………
That the Executive Committee of this Grades Conference requests the delegates (after listening to any points the members attending from Head Office have to say on this subject) to discuss, consider and vote on the following.
This Conference requests the Union Executive Committee to start proceeding to close this Conference.
Lost; For……NONE………. Against……ALL……
Resolution No.05.
In the name of; This Conference Executive Committee.
Seconded by; …………………………………………
This Conference requests the Union Executive Committee to start proceeding towards merging this Conference with other Grades within this union.
Lost; For……NONE……. Against…ALL………
Resolution No.06.
In the name of; This Conference Executive Committee.
Seconded by; …………………………………………
The delegates of this Conference request all departments of Head Office to unite with the members of this Conference in a concerted effort to substantially increase the membership in the grades which attend this conference. The membership figures to be available at next years Conference.
Won; For…ALL…. Against……NONE…
Emergency Resolution No1.
In the name of The Leeds Goods & Cartage Branch.
Seconded by; London Anglia Midland Road Transport Branch.
We request that this conference ask that funding for the conference and delegates be looked at as in these times of spiralling costs and dwindling attendance its time that we as a union look at seriously investing in this conference and its delegates.
Won; For……ALL……… Against……NONE…….
Resolution to go to the AGM.
As only two resolutions was put forward to go to the AGM as follows;
Resolution No2. Recuitment.
Resolution No3. Rep’s attending branch Meeting.
Venue and date for 2016 Conference and beyond.
The Secretary stated the suitable dates for 2016 conference are;
Sat 12th March, (25-27 March 2016 is Easter) or 09th, 16th, 23rd, 30th April.
Conference selected Saturday 23rd April 2016.
Conference 2016 as only had one invites which is from Portsmouth Branch.
The 2016 conference will be in the Portsmouth area on one of the above dates
The conference has no invite for Conference in 2017.
Any Other Business.
The question was asked if more notice can be given for the dates of the Liaison meetings.
Closing of Conference.
The Vice President closed Conference, thanking all delegates for attending and wishing everybody a safe journey home, and see them all next year in the Portsmouth area.
Conference closed at 14.40pm.
Andrew Hill. Conference Secretary.
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NATIONAL UNION of RAIL, MARITIME and TRANSPORT WORKERS