NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF
SUPERVISORY, CLERICAL & OTHER SALARIED GRADES
70th ANNUAL CONFERENCE
BLACKHEATH 14th & 15th March 2015
CONFERENCE OPENED AT 13:00 SATURDAY 14TH MARCH 2015
WELCOME TO CONFERENCE
Jeff Slee, Secretary of Deptford Branch welcomed everyone to the Conference, and to
Blackheath. Jeff spoke about the history of Blackheath and the importance of the London
Marathon starting in Blackheath.
Tony Ray from Lewisham Trades Council welcomed everyone to Blackheath. Tony gave a
brief run down of campaigns they have been involved in, and also of the pending General
Election.
ELECTION OF TELLERS & HARASSMENT OFFICER
Tellers: Tim Record and Warren Levy were nominated and elected.
Harassment Officer: Graham Knott nominated and elected.
CONFERENCE PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS – SEAN HOYLE
Sean Hoyle welcomed everyone to the Conference. Sean talked about the roll out of Smart
Cards on the Railway which in turn will reduce the need for Ticket Offices. Sean went on to
pay tribute to the passing of Bob Crow which happened just over a year ago.
CONFERENCE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE REPORT – RICHARD WALKER
Richard Walker ran through the changes to the Agenda order. All resolutions submitted have
been accepted and agreed for debate.
AUDITORS REPORT
Robin Bishop advised that the accounts are all in good order.
CONFERENCE SECRETARY
Conference Secretary was pleased to announce we had 24 elected delegates this year. This
Conference only started with £50 in the bank this year. A big thank you to all Branches and
South East Regional Council for their donations and assistance in organising this Conference.
THOMPSON SOLICITORS – ANDREW HUTSON
Andrew Hutson spoke about the changes in the Law in relation to Personal injuries.
Thompsons has had successful cases recently. The Government have increased Court fees
to prevent claims going to Court. It is very important for RMT Members use Thompsons, not
these local firms who deduct 25% of your compensation. Currently the personal claims limit
is £1000, and if the Tories win the General Election it will be £5000 minimum. Various
questions were asked from the floor.
STATION GRADES CONFERENCE SECRETARY
Nobody turned up to address our Conference, a short discussion took place on this.
REPORT ON EDUCATION
Alan Pottage gave an overview of Education within the RMT. The training centre in
Doncaster is a big success. Alan spoken about organising courses within the regions. We
now have 82.700 members in the RMT, and education is going from strength to strength.
INVITES FOR 2018 CONFERENCE
Invites received from Feltham, the following was proposed and agreed:
2018
Feltham.
GENERAL GRADES COMMITTEE REPORT – ANDY BUDDS
Andy Budds addressed the Conference, and ran though the decisions and progress of
matters that were carried at the 2014 Conference.
ADDRESS BY THE RMT ASSISTANT GENERAL SECRETARY – STEVE HEDLEY
Steve started by saying he would like the Conference to grow in size. He is very pleased to
see the number of delegates’ rise each year since he has been attending. The Grades that
this Conference represents would be on the Managements list of grades to cut, especially
with Oyster and Smart Card technology. Steve gave an update on how the Organising unit is
now running. The Union although steadily growing has to concentrate on recruitment, and
membership in some areas is actually down. The DLR has 94% RMT membership, and as
such the Management listen. Steve also talked about the General Election and the
continuation of spending cuts. Members should vote for TUSC if they are standing in your
local area.
APPOINTMENT OF EXECUTIVE AND LIAISON COMMITTEE
Secretary
Kevin Hall, South Hants Branch
President
Michael Campbell, Feltham Branch
Vice President
Sean Hoyle, Portsmouth Branch
Minute Secretary
Richard Walker, Feltham Branch
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
London & Anglia
No Nominations
South West
No Nominations
South East
Richard Constable, Deptford Branch
Wales & West
No Nominations
Yorks & Lincs
Karen Ingham, Leeds City Branch
North East
No Nominations
TFL
James Parry, TFL No.1 Branch
Scotland
Ronnie Coates, Edinburgh & Portobello No 1
Midlands
No Nominations
Wessex
Mike Riley, Waterloo Branch
North Wales & West
No Nominations
Manchester & North West
No Nominations
AUDITORS
Robin Bishop, EPS Branch
Graham Knott, South Hants Branch
APPOINTMENT OF LIAISON COMMITTEE
The following were elected and nominated: Richard Constable, Karen Ingham, James Parry
and Mike Riley.
ADDRESS BY TERESA PEARCE MP – MEMBER OF RMT PARLIAMENTRY GROUP
Teresa gave a run down on the past 5 years of the coalition Government. Teresa sits on two
sub committees. Conservatives have said if they gain power in the General election they will
bring in new laws to make it harder for workers to strike. It will require a minimum of 40%
of the workforce for strike action. The RMT has a good name, and a lot of workers wish they
had a Union like the RMT to support them. Teresa supports the re-nationalisation of the
Railways. The recent debacle at London Bridge was talked about. Early Day Motion 863
Protection of Station Staff Jobs has been issued. The importance of keeping the Ticket
Offices open is a high priority. Teresa spoke about South Eastern and the abysmal service
they operate. Various questions were asked from the floor.
A vote of thanks was made to Teresa
RESOLUTIONS
Resolution No.01
In the name of; Feltham Branch
Proposed by; Brian Woods
Seconded by; Mike Riley
“This Conference calls upon the General Secretary to write to all Train Operating Companies
to ensure all Ticket Office Staff in unrestricted grades are a minimum C02 Grade”.
Result : Carried unanimously
AGM: No
Resolution No.02
In the name of; Feltham Branch
Proposed by; Brian Woods
Seconded by; James Parry
This conference calls upon the General Secretary to write to Train Operating Companies to
ensure that where Gate Line Staff who are in the Revenue Protection Grade and are Ticket
checking trained should be at least a Revenue Protection Assistant Grade”
Result : Carried unanimously
AGM: No
Resolution No.03
In the name of; Feltham Branch
Proposed by; Brian Woods
Seconded by; Graham Knott
“This conference calls upon the General Secretary to write to all Train Operating Companies
to ensure that when Platform staff are asked to do planned inspections of Stations they
should be a minimum Supervisory b grade if they are in an unrestructed grade”
Result : Lost (8 For, 10 Against, 2 Abstentions)
AGM: No
Resolution No.04
In the name of; Feltham Branch
Proposed by; Brian Woods
Seconded by; John Weeson
“This conference calls upon the General Secretary to Train Operating Companies to ensure
that if any Ticket Office in the future is asked to sell Oyster cards or top up oyster cards
they should be given a grade and not an allowance as this affect there pension when they
retire”
Result : Carried (For – everybody except one)
AGM: No
Resolution No.05
In the name of; Hull Branch
Proposed by; Peter March
Seconded by; Ronnie Coates
“This Conference congratulates the union over the on-going campaign over the Northern
Rail and Transpennine Express franchise proposals and the attack on our Clerical and
,Supervisory members that are under direct attack which is linked to the McNulty report and
is down in black and white in the prospectus proposals for the Northern Rail and
Transpennine Express refranchising in that they propose Ticket office closures and doing
away with back office functions and Station Supervisory roles amongst many other culls.
This conference also congratulates Relief Regional Organiser North Craig Johnston for an
excellent led campaign in raising awareness to the public over the plans by this nasty
government (being polite) to cut thousands of Railway Jobs, many of which are covered by
this conference.
The only issue this conference has is that more emphasis is put on the "Role of The Guard"
than that of Supervisory and Clerical jobs in this campaign. The RMT is an all grades union
and as such we believe equal emphasis should be put on the many Supervisory and Clerical
jobs that are under threat as well as threats to other grades
Result : Carried unanimously
AGM: No
Resolution No.06
In the name of; South Hants & Eastleigh Workshop Branch
Proposed by; Graham Knott
Seconded by; Stuart Hurdle
“This Conference calls upon the General Secretary to update and re-design Clerical Grades
charter and application forms, booklets and posters in order to increase recruitment within
these grades. As an all grades union, the RMT is the only effective union that will defend
clerical, supervisory and admin grades.”
Result : Carried unanimously
AGM: Yes
Resolution No.07
In the name of; South Hants & Eastleigh Workshop Branch
Proposed by; Graham Knott
Seconded by; Michael Campbell
“This Conference calls upon the General Secretary to write to Train Operating Companies to
ensure that where restructured Gateline (CSAs) are used to cover other non restructured
grades work, all other means of cover have been exhausted and that these staff have been
provided the correct level of training. Additionally these staff should also be paid the correct
salary and enhancements if they are used to cover these duties”
Result : Carried unanimously
AGM: Yes
Resolution No.08
In the name of; Deptford Branch
Proposed by; Richard Constable
Seconded by; John Weeson
“This Conference is appalled at the way in which some companies will not give more than 20
minutes paid breaks to clerical, supervisory and salaried grades, even when some shifts can
last up to 12 hours.
Under Health Safety Legislation a 20 minute break should be accrued in the first 5 hours,
this can be in 5 minute slots but must total 20 minutes that then leave another 6 hours and
40 minutes without a break.
This conference calls upon the General Secretary write to all companies that is in breach of
Health & Safety Legislation, where in their terms and conditions of service such breaks are
not allowed and with pay.”
Result : Carried unanimously
AGM: No
PHIL BORMAN CREDIT UNION
Phil is the assistant Treasurer of the RMT Credit Union, and gave a brief talk o the
advantages of being a member of the Credit Union.
VOTE OF THANKS – GRAHAM KNOTT
Graham opened saying it was a pleasure and an honour to give the vote of thanks at this
70th Conference. Graham said it was good to see numbers were up at the Conference.
Thanks were expressed to the President for conducting the Conference in a calm,
professional and orderly manner, and the secretary and minute secretary. Thanks were also
given to the other speakers, especially to those that are new to the Conference and for the
many important resolutions submitted and debated that have made this 70th Conference a
great success. Graham also thanked the host branch for organising the social events.
Graham closed saying that he was looking forward to meeting in Great Yarmouth next year.
Conference Closed at 1655