DWP Group Conference - Day 1
The first day of the conference started with a sodden dash to the Conference Centre and ended with fringe meetings in gloomy corners whilst the sun had finally begun to shine here in Brighton. During the day your delegates to Conference were involved in several of the debates and sections on day one, and here is a summary of the motions and results.
The business of the day was preceded by the President's address to the delegates, appointment of tellers (Chris Wade amongst them and hoping for a quiet day), adoption of Standing Orders (including the inclusion of several Emergency Motions) and Group Secretary's report. The adoption of the Standing Orders led to the debate of several "reference backs" (requests to conference to change or amend to the classification, position or status of motions) and delayed the discussion of motions by a few minutes but nonetheless demonstrated the control over the business of the conference that the delegates have.
The following motions of interest to the branch were carried; A1 on the recession and EM1 on PDCS job cuts (Chris Wade intervened on behalf of the branch and spoke of the recent member's meeting which rejected "more work, less jobs"). Our branch's motion of payment of an honorarium to First Aiders was guillotined and not heard.
Awards of Life memberships, including some made posthumously were then given to several stalwarts of the union before a quick lunch break, which was shortened by the press of the morning's business.
Back to the motions, EM10 and A49 on pay (our branch's motions A60 and A61 were included in this composite motion), EM5 and A79 on recruitment and A80 on the grievance policy and EM14 on the results of strike action were also carried before the guillotine fell again and motion A97 (which we were to second) on CMEC and conditions of service was also not heard though we are to ask for this to be brought back to the Conference in the Guillotine section tomorrow. Motion A14 on the Canteen committee was also not heard and this will need to be brought back (again) next year (better luck next time Martin).
Before the afternoon break we had the chance to listen to the Union's General Secretary, Mark Serwotka, who spoke about the challenges for the next year, on jobs pay and protecting public services and the possibility of the Union standing candidates to oppose those politicians of all parties who seem hell bent on taking our jobs.
Returning to the debates, several rule changes were discussed with the tellers called into action to count votes for the necessary 2/3rd majority. Then, A246 a motion regarding BNP members working in the Civil Service, was passed unanimously following a speech by our Branch Equal Opportunities Officer (Gloria Hodgkinson) and before the conference ended for the day at 5.30 p.m. motions on PDS and people performance, A143 and on benchmarks and H&S KWO, A156 and A157 were all carried along with the important motions on Victimisation of Union representatives, employee relations in CMEC and Equality Officers.
By now the Sun was shining...where's that sun block?
Chris Wade.
