BRANCH MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY 18 FEBRUARY 2003 @ 2PM IN THE PICASSO ROOM, St CLEMENTS HOSPITAL

Present:  Arthur White, Cliff Dawson, Ray Hill, Julie Harrison, Jamie Starling, Annette Petty (Chair + Minutes)

Apologies:  Philip Bloyce, Ian Talbot, Matt Robinson, Judith Wilson

1.      Minutes of the previous meeting

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 21 January were agreed as a true and accurate record.

2.   Matters Arising

i)        Page 2 5a  SHC has donated £200 to the Unison Welfare General Secretary’s Branch Appeal.

ii)       Page 2 5c  Judith Alderton has confirmed Julia Hunt’s appointment as Steward for Learning Disabilities at 3 Walker Close.

iii)     Page 2 5.f  Annette to remind Ian Talbot to organise the flyers/posters and get them distributed to all the stewards/reps for the Branch Meetings week commencing 24 March. Ray Hill at Bartlet is holding their Branch Meeting week beginning 10-14 March.

iv)     Page 2 5h  RMS have confirmed that “Focus” Magazine can be posted to members at work - Paul Taylor to confirm members details to Annette. Annette to email S F at LHP to ask for a printout of all unison members in Julie’s Department and obtain a consent form for Julie to sign.

v)      Page 2 5i  Kall Kwik have quoted £6.35 + VAT to produce a Unison badge for each rep/steward. Annette to forward a complete list after Branch AGM’s and Branch Meeting in April.

vi)    Page 2 5j  Linda Bird emailed the Branch to thank everyone for all their kind wishes and flowers she received following her recent period in hospital.

3.   Stewards Reports across the region

a)   Julie Harrison                                                                                                                                                                              Awaiting restructuring plans which are still pending with Human Resources in Coburn House.

b)   Ray Hill                                                                                                                                                                                              Julie Cracknell, new H&S Steward at Felixstowe General, has forwarded her nomination form to the Branch and Annette has posted a copy of the Unison Courses for her to apply for the Stage I H&S Course.

d)   Arthur White                                                                                                                                                                                          A nursing auxillary at Patrick Stead is being asked to work permanent night shifts - Arthur to obtain the staff members contact and forward to Philip Bloyce to check out as Sue Mayhew and Julie Todd do not have any information regarding the issue. There are approximately 6 domestic staff at Beccles Hospital that are still requiring harmonisation with their contracts. Annette to ask Philip to contact Arthur regarding the matter.

e)   Cliff Dawson                                                                                                                                                                                           A meeting has been arranged for the 26 February at 1100 with the Manager at Eccles Road to discuss staff levels and equipment. There are H&S issues and a Risk Assessment needs to be carried out there. Reply awaited at Princethorpe Road from the staff.

b)   Jamie Starling                                                                                                                                                                                      No Report

4.   AOB

a)      Judith Wilson was ratified as a new Steward for Sudbury CMHT, and Julie Cracknell, as new H&S Steward at Felixstowe General (Glyn to inform H&S Meeting on 4 March). Annette to notify Judith Alderton at Bury St Edmunds.                                                                                                                     

Confirmation received for the nomination of M McGahey at the NEC Elections 2003. 

c)            The following information was passed around the meeting for perusal:-

• Another nomination form for NEC elections - SHC Branch already forwarded their nomination

• Socialist Health Association inviting SHC Branch to become an active part of the association which we already are.

• Unison Labour Link - Regional Forum 26 February at Cambridge - Ray Hill is attending

• Promoting Harmony Unison Event - 26 April, Manchester

• Unison Eastern Student Nurse Representative Week-End Event - 9/11 May, Croyde Bay, Devon

• Unison Welfare National Seminar & AGM, Nottingham, 23/25 May

• Compass Works Council - Nominations

• Bargaining Information System - Initial Branch Questionnaire to be completed by SHC Branch

• Suffolk Common Ground - Winter Newsletter

• New Horizons - Welfare Newsletter Winter/Spring

• National Women’s Committee Annual Report 2002

      Payline - Log on to the future - Labour Research Department

      Agenda for Change - Attached is a list of Unison Briefings taking place in the next 2 weeks across the County. Please can you all ensure that you attend one of the briefings to get everyone up to speed with the latest developments.        

      Date/Time of Next Meeting

The next meeting will be held on Tuesday 18 March 2003, at 2pm, Picasso Room, St Clements Hospital - Please can you send any agenda items to Annette in advance of the meeting.

ADP