Branch Secretary’s Report for 15 Feb 07 AGM

1. 2006 had a very difficult beginning, encapsulated by the terrible AGM in February. Anyone present will never forget it. However, out of the ashes of that period of implosion a determination to pull things back on track came through. Following hard work by a very committed band of experienced activists coupled with the enthusiasm of some new faces, the Branch is moving forward.

• The Branch Development Group has produced a plan to make the Branch more responsive to its activists and members. It should address the needs of our employed staff to increase their efficiency and also start to address our position with our associated employers, a difficult and expanding area for the Branch. More work has to be done during 2007, but a good start has been made.
• Devon County Council Job Evaluation has moved from stalemate, through a negotiated agreement, to the end stage of notification and appeals. The agreement was hard won but robust.
• Our Treasurer has been able to respond to and resolve the concerns raised by our auditors around the systems used to manage our finances and to produce a planned budget for 2007.
• We appear to have 2 settled Regional Organisers which produces consistent advice and support, our thanks to them. The Branch continues to have issues with Region, but we are now playing our full part, with members on several committees and our full quota of delegates attending Regional Council.
• Our contacts with Associated Employers such as Connexions, South West Highways, Dartmoor National Park Authority, Further Education Colleges, Devon & Cornwall Probation etc are improving. Hopefully these contacts will lead to greater participation in Branch activity and democracy.
• A change of Branch Secretary was accomplished without really being noticed and after a gap of 2 years we once again have a functioning Health & Safety Committee and Health & Safety Officers.
• With ICT a new Branch computer system is in place. That and increased use of the Website is improving communication.
• 6 General Meetings, 3 ballots and a day of action in support of our Pension negotiations have been successfully organised.

Many thanks to all those who worked so hard to achieve this. There is much remaining to do and the rest of us need to raise our game to match the efforts of those who have brought us to this point.

2. The Branch Admin Office is an area which continues to need attention. Hopefully the staffing issues are being resolved by the Development Plan, but issues around accommodation and RMS need urgent attention. The Branch needs to revisit its expectations of support from the office, to provide renewed clarity for staff. RMS continues to demand unrealistic amounts of time, without any support from Region, impacting badly on staff time available to support the smooth running of the Branch. The staff work very hard to deal with constantly changing priorities and the demands for instant action from both activists and members. My thanks for their commitment and efforts on our behalf.

3. Health & Safety has started to wake up agin and hopefully during 2007 it will move forward to the position it was in a short while ago. This is a vital aspect of our work and one where management are obliged to work with us. It is an area that demands the attention and support of activists across all our employers. We need more effort by our activists to come together at the committee meetings in order that the Branch may organise to support the health, safety & welfare of our members. Make 2007 the year where health & safety puts itself back on the map.

4. One large deficiency in our organisation and structure right across the board is the lack of activists making themselves available to support members who have difficulties, also to sit on negotiating groups. We are a lay organisation, dependant on volunteers coming forward. There is a need to encourage people to do so and then to support them when they do. There is excellent training available and paid time off to do it. Our current activists have very good skills which they are happy to share, so come on members, step forward, join them and learn some new skills. We need activists in every workplace, in every employer to effectively operate.

5. Another structural weakness is the lack of Branch Officers, particularly Education and Membership. We need officers to help spread the organising load and to ensure we are proactive in the recruitment and training of our members. If you are interested intaking a higher profile we will support you, give it a try.

6. 2007 is a year full of challenges. Massive changes will be taking place in both our associated employers and Devon County Council with modernisation, privatisation and amalgamation high on the Agenda. Further rounds of job evaluation are underway in different employers, Connexions may be leaving us to form their own Branch and Devon Ccounty Council job evaluation rumbles on. Nationally Pensions and Pay may demand action. We need to continue to organise and develop to build on the recovery in 2006 to ensure we are ready to meet these challenges.

7. Finally but not least, a big thank you to all those low profile activists and contacts in the workplace who spread the word and provide feedback. These people do an excellent job in resolving workplace issues, sitting on local committees and representing individuals, largely unseen and unsung. These activists are our foundation dealing with bread and butter matters. Thank you and please stay active.

8. Overall it has been an increasingly positive year. A few more activists together with a few more Branch officers would enable the Branch to really move forward. UNISON is a positive force in today’s workplaces, so step forward, join in, together we can make a huge difference. For now, a big thank you to all those involved in pulling the Branch round and putting in place the building blocks to produce a dynamic, forward looking organisation.

Colin Trudgeon
Branch Secretary
22 Jan 07