NORTH WEST REGION

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

FIRST MEETING OF REGIONAL COMMITTEE HELD ON SATURDAY 10^TH MAY 2008 AT 11.15 AM IN THE MECHANICS INSTITUTE, MANCHESTER

1.5.08	Present (as in personal capacity)
	Ian Allison	Unite
	Andy Ford	Unite
	Mark Hoskisson	Unite & Secretary Liverpool TUC
	Alec McFadden	Unison/Unite & President Merseyside TUC
	Dave Lunn	PCS
	Emily Kelly	PCS
	Sarah Robinson	PCS
	Geoff Brown	UCU & Secretary Manchester TUC
	Helen Mayall	UCU
	Chris Rea	NUJ
	Christian Burke	NUJ
	Jason Travis	NUT
	Gavin Hartley	PCS
2.5.08	Apologies
	Roger Bannister
	Raph Parkinson	Unison
	Dave Swanson
3.5.08	Absent Without Apologies Trevor Wongsam Jim Cressford Steve Acheson Graham Bowker
4.5.08	The Chair, Ian Allison opened the meeting and circulated an Agenda which had more items than the original draft agenda sent out by Acting Secretary, Alec McFadden, this Agenda was agreed.
5.5.08	Press Release from Founding Conference – Alec. This had been picked up by the Morning Star, Socialist Worker and Socialist Party. No coverage in the Local Press. It was agreed that the Secretary should send out regular Press Releases.
6.5.08	Founding Conference Report Ian felt it was a positive comradely conference with almost 70 in attendance. Six out of the seven workshops operated with report backs. In discussion six of the committee voiced positive views before Chris stated that the only negative points were:- Lack of clarity of the role of NSSN. Lack of women and black delegates in attendance. All Points Noted.
7.5.08	Election of Officers Alec asked if the draft officer position were agreed or if any changes needed to be made. Emily requested that the Women’s Officer be altered to Equalities Officer andthat only one Vice Chair was needed but felt it necessary to have an Assistant Secretary to assist with the minutes. After a brief discussion both points were agreed and the Election took place with each position being agreed unanimously.
	Chair	Ian Allison
	Secretary	Alec McFadden
	Treasurer	Chris Rea
	Vice Chair	Karen Reissman
	Assistant Secretary	Dave Lunn
	Youth Officer	Steven North
	Equalities Officers	Emily Kelly /Sarah Robinson
8.8.05	Finance Report Alec reported that thanks to the sponsorship of £320 from Palmyra Chambers the conference broke even with almost all delegates paying the two pound fee. Salford Unison had elected three delegates but fees paid to one delegate to claim back. Greater Manchester County TUC and Merseyside County TUC both sent delegates and donation. £552.10 in bank at present time with £350 to come out. Signatories are Alec McFadden, Mark Hoskisson, Pam Thorbinson (Alec’s Secretary) and now Chris Rae (new Treasurer) should be added. Report Agreed.
9.5.08	Report from National Steering Committee No report as meeting taking place in London (today 10^th May). This will be a standing item.
10.5.08	Disputes and Campaigns Bolton NUT. Strike Withins School. A report was given by Mark (in absence of Jason NUT). The official dispute is all about the teaching staff at Within School retaining their employment at Bolton Council. A strike had been held on Bolton Council to honour the contract of employment of Teachers at Withins School and take their responsibility for education in Bolton seriously. A further rally will be held at 4.30 pm on Tuesday 13^th May comrades were urged to attend to show support. 24^th April Public Sector Strike Action. A comprehensive report back and discussion took place on this item. A series of well attended strike marches and rallies had taken place in Manchester, Liverpool and Preston with speakers from NUT, PCS, UCU and FBU. Most schools had been closed and the members taking part were confident to build on the action and the local TUC had played a positive role. It was agreed to seek to establish Public Sector alliances in each county in the North West linking with local Trade Union Councils, County Associates and Public Sector Trade Unions. Shelter Dispute. It was reported that a two day strike had taken place on 24^th & 25^th April, Ken Loach had joined the picket line and called on funders to boycott Shelter and send donations to the Strike Fund. Abortion Rights. Emily gave a detailed update. A lobby of parliament had taken place to try and prevent amendments to present abortion legislation and a further lobby and rally will take place on 20^th May in Parliament. The campaign is going well. Karen Reissman Campaign – Geoff Brown. A lobby of Parliament took place on 7^th May with around 150 supporters with all Hospital Trusts, Unison Branches taking part. Six MPs were lobbied on the case and the call for Karen to be reinstated if Employment Tribunal finds in her favour. Problems did occur with one local MP, Ivan Lewis. May Day – Christian opened the debate reporting on the Manchester 2008 May Day and putting the point for planning for 2009. Merseyside, Manchester, Burnley & Preston 2008 was important because of the Euro Elections, Merseyside and Burnley tended to be both political and family events. Mark suggested discussion should take place to consider one regional event similar to London, no agreement was reached and this will be on future agendas.
11.5.08	Local Election 2008 Report Alec presented a six page detailed report on the Local Election results with particular importance to the votes on BNP across the North West and Britain. Searchlight, the anti-fascist magazine, Daily Mirror and TUC had organised a ‘Hope Not Hate’ campaign, against the BNP but with the Labour vote sinking to only 24% the BNP now have 55 councillors including one on the London Assembly. The BNP vote reduced in most areas, but is still above 14% in key areas. The Euro Election takes place in 2009 under proportional representation with only 7.5% needed to get one Member of European Parliament. The BNPs first priority is the North West and we need to make stopping the BNP one of our priorities. A good discussion took place with PCS comrades stating the case for no BNP member to be allowed in a Trade Union. The following was agreed. The NWSSN will campaign with the TUC, Local TUCs and broad based anti-fascist organisations to stop the BNP gaining any seats in the Euro Parliament in 2009 and we agreed no fascist should be allowed to join any Trade Union.
12.5.08	National Conference Ian circulated the National Leaflet advertising the National Conference in London on 28^th June and urged all present to get the maximum representation at the Conference. £5 per delegate. He explained that all monies will go to the National Organisation and each region must raise its own funding. It was agreed that Ian would draft a model regional letter for the North West.
13.5.08	Work with Trade Union to building NWSSN Unite – Leaflets circulated to all quarterly Shop Stewards Meeting with no opposition, however Amicus leadership not supportive. It was agreed a delegation meet the Regional Secretary of Unit to discuss NSSN, Chair, Secretary plus Pat Coyne. Unison – Steve and Alec will link with other Unison Shop Stewards to try and building Resolution to National Conference has not been accepted on to conference agenda. PCS – Dave expects PCS to agree at its National Conference to affiliate to NSSN and will request that all Shop Stewards in the North West be circulated with Conference leaflet and information. GMB – Alec will raise with Regional Secretary and Officer. UCU – Geoff to circulate and raise with Regional Officer. CWU – Alec to circulate through Regional Secretary. NUJ – Chair & Christian have already sorted. RMT – Supporting NSSN. ASLEF – Alec to speak at next Regional Council. FBU – Geoff and Mark to deal with.
14.5.08	Any Other Business NWSSN agreed to hold a joint meeting with Fighting Union’s in June in Manchester. Date and time to be agreed.
15.5.08	Date of Next Meeting Saturday 19^th July, PCS offices in Liverpool

Alec McFadden

Secretary

14^th May 2008