Over 60 members attended the branch’s 2010 Annual General Meeting (AGM) in early February. The AGM is the highest decision making body in the branch, split into three meetings across each of the three areas of North West Ambulance Service (NWAS). Every member can attend and take the opportunity to nominate & elect their branch officials, review the branch’s accounts and discuss, evaluate and direct the branch’s work: past, present and future.
This year, members voted to support a change in the branch’s rules which will allow elements of next year’s AGM to take place online, at a ‘virtual’ AGM supplementary to traditional face to face meetings.
It was felt that this would enfranchise members unable to attend meetings due to shift rotas or travel difficulties. Details of what form the ‘virtual AGM’ will take are to be discussed and decided upon over the coming months.
Members at all three AGM meetings also heard reports from the Branch Secretary, Health and Safety Secretary and Treasurer detailing the branch’s achievements over the past 12 months and the challenges facing us in the future.
Manchester Area Meeting, 3rd February 2010
Report By James Bull
The recent workforce redesign negotiations were high on the agenda at the Manchester Area AGM, held at UNISON’s regional headquarters at Arena Point in the city centre. A number of nominations were received for new stewards in the area, too, increasing the number we currently in Greater Manchester.
Theresa Griffin, our full time regional officer, gave an introduction to UNISON’s Million Voices campaign, which is calling for a more progressive response to the aftermath of recession and fighting job and spending cuts in public services. It seems likely that the future will bring significant challenges for public sector workers, with all three main political parties advocating public spending cutbacks of varying severity in the coming months. This will undoubtedly bear dire consequences for the delivery of services and the security of jobs and conditions in the public sector, and UNISON plans to vehemently resist this. Members can sign up to their campaign and ‘add their voice’ here.
The meeting also noted significant progress made in the area of communications, with matters magazine now publishing quarterly, our online members forum growing weekly and a brand new branch website currently in development and going live in June 2010.
Cheshire and Merseyside sector AGM, 5th February 2010
Report by Ian King
The Annual General Meeting for the Cheshire and Merseyside sector of the branch was held at Warrington Ambulance Station this year. Apart from the usual formal procedures such as election of officers and reps, several of the current burning issues were discussed. The ongoing situation of the workforce redesign was one such issue, with clarification of how the three trade unions arrrived at final acceptance following the original ballot returns. You can read more about this in a four page article in the winter edition of our members magazine, available here. The controversial PES response bagwas ’handled’ again with news of a much welcome more user friendly replacement on the way with a similar design to the original Cheshire and Merseyside bag. The branch also agreed to arrange health and safety meetings amongst the staff reps to improve communication of important issues across the whole region, and to recognise good practice.
The perrenial poor turnout of staff was evident again which is dissapointing because this is a good opportunity to voice any concerns and gain answers personally from the officers who are negotiating with our senior managers on a daily basis. Obviously the more we can put into these occassions the more we will get out of them.
It has to be noted that an excellent buffet was enjoyed on the evening and we sincerely hope there will be more people to share the occassion with next year!
Lancashire and Cumbria Sector AGM 10th February 2010
Report by Mike Oliver
The Cumbria and Lancashire AGM was held at the UNISON Resource centre in Carlisle. This was held in the afternoon and was preceded in the morning by a regional stewards meeting. As a result of this the AGM was well attended with 20 stewards making the journey to Carlisle, as well as the Branch Secretary, Assistant Branch Secretary,Treasurer and Teresa Griffen our Full Time Officer. After the election of officers and the customary reports Teresa Griffen addressed the meeting, in particular UNISONS million voices campaign. The main topic of questions to the Branch from the members was the recent Workforce Redesign agreement. This provoked a lively debate. Other discussions included the future redevelopment of planned care.
AGM 2010 Report
This year, members voted to support a change in the branch’s rules which will allow elements of next year’s AGM to take place online, at a ‘virtual’ AGM supplementary to traditional face to face meetings.
It was felt that this would enfranchise members unable to attend meetings due to shift rotas or travel difficulties. Details of what form the ‘virtual AGM’ will take are to be discussed and decided upon over the coming months.
Members at all three AGM meetings also heard reports from the Branch Secretary, Health and Safety Secretary and Treasurer detailing the branch’s achievements over the past 12 months and the challenges facing us in the future.
Manchester Area Meeting, 3rd February 2010
Report By James BullTheresa Griffin, our full time regional officer, gave an introduction to UNISON’s Million Voices campaign, which is calling for a more progressive response to the aftermath of recession and fighting job and spending cuts in public services. It seems likely that the future will bring significant challenges for public sector workers, with all three main political parties advocating public spending cutbacks of varying severity in the coming months. This will undoubtedly bear dire consequences for the delivery of services and the security of jobs and conditions in the public sector, and UNISON plans to vehemently resist this. Members can sign up to their campaign and ‘add their voice’ here.
The meeting also noted significant progress made in the area of communications, with matters magazine now publishing quarterly, our online members forum growing weekly and a brand new branch website currently in development and going live in June 2010.
Cheshire and Merseyside sector AGM, 5th February 2010
Report by Ian KingIt has to be noted that an excellent buffet was enjoyed on the evening and we sincerely hope there will be more people to share the occassion with next year!
Lancashire and Cumbria Sector AGM 10th February 2010
Report by Mike Oliver
The Cumbria and Lancashire AGM was held at the UNISON Resource centre in Carlisle. This was held in the afternoon and was preceded in the morning by a regional stewards meeting. As a result of this the AGM was well attended with 20 stewards making the journey to Carlisle, as well as the Branch Secretary, Assistant Branch Secretary,Treasurer and Teresa Griffen our Full Time Officer. After the election of officers and the customary reports Teresa Griffen addressed the meeting, in particular UNISONS million voices campaign. The main topic of questions to the Branch from the members was the recent Workforce Redesign agreement. This provoked a lively debate. Other discussions included the future redevelopment of planned care.