Just before lunch, Congress heard from Leroy Rosenior from Show Racism the Red Card; this is fabulous, click on the picture to go to the GMB Video channel.
This has been backdated to (roughly) the time of the event. …
Just before lunch, Congress heard from Leroy Rosenior from Show Racism the Red Card; this is fabulous, click on the picture to go to the GMB Video channel.
This has been backdated to (roughly) the time of the event. …
I spoke on the use of biometric data for entry control and effort monitoring. The branch’s motion was carried. We all agree this should not be done. …
I seconded a motion on knife crime, I made a plea for hope, an end to austerity, a life time access to education and respect for the work of the Parliamentary Youth Violence commission and its integrated early years approach. …. …
I finally got to move Motion 289 on Campaign for Labour Law Reform, this had originally been marked as existing policy but we got it remarked. It’s terms are reported in the Clarion, I don’t know how they got the words, and my speech is on the YouTube channel. …
The national committee of the GMB is called the Central Executive Council, and it produced a statement on the subject of Brexit. The statement opposes a No-deal Brexit and calls for a final say public vote on any Tory deal to,
.. decide whether this is better than our current deal with the EU.
I was called to speak on the statement and my speech is on YouTube, as is the whole debate.
The statement was made available on the morning of the debate; I wish I’d had more time to consult members & colleagues. …
Two speeches worth watching, or watching again, Esme Choonara from London on NHS Pay, and Stephen Alexander from the Midlands & East Coast Region on taking back schools from Academy Trusts. …
GMB Congress 2019 is a rules revision conference and one important rule change passed earlier in the week was to restrict the number of motions and rule amendments that a single branch can propose to three motions and two rule amendments.
One of our delegation spoke against the rule change arguing that restricting the number of motions would diminish Congress because branches would be choosing not to send motions, the difficulty that large branches with multiple employers in representing all their members was mentioned. A video of the debate is here.
On reflection, the idea that 2500 motions would be proposed is foolish, there were 435 motions on the order paper when there was no restriction. (I understand that one branch put in a shed load, but they obviously thought it important.)
I would add that, since the CEC, through its power to recommend “support with qualification” can uniquely move amendments to every motion, this change (of restricting a branch’s voice) will increase the CEC’s power over the agenda and the results. Also the CEC can table non emergency business, as special reports after the closing date for motions and so amending these is procedurally difficult. No system is perfect, but I agree that this is a retrograde rule change. …
I have been at GMB Congress 19 since Saturday lunchtime and shall produce some blog articles, which I shall syndicate on our branch website . The proceedings of Congress have been posted on the internet via YouTube; they can therefore be discussed by me, without “disclosing the business of the Union”. I have used the tag, gmb19 for these articles. …
Where did Labour’s votes go?
Anyone that wishes Labour well should study this, also available here! …
I didn’t win again, but in another part of the business a comrade asked for a motion to be voted on via secret ballot. This is what the rules say
C15.I.2.M.ii Ballot votes shall be held at meetings to select candidates and where otherwise provided for in the Party constitution; and where requested by any member supported by at least two others.
The Chair was advised that the request for a secret ballot required the agreement of the meeting, I have looked and can’t find such a rule. The purpose of this rule is to avoid intimidation and coercion. I did ask where this was defined, but got no answer.
We have now set a precedent that secret ballots can only be agreed by the whole meeting. It’s a charter for bullies. …