Transcript of 1st day of Conference 2008

Community's Biennial conference is happening now in Bournemouth

Read the conference motions here.

There are two fringe meetings being held at 17:15

Underpaid and over here: Migrant workers in the UK

Chaired by Terry Meakin, Community. Speaker include:

  • Ewa Mahey, Community migrant worker liaison worker,
  • Nigel Costly, TUC South West regional secretary,
  • Nick Graff, Smart group recruitment solutions.

Opportunities and challenges for union organising in the new millennium

Chaired by Lee Cash, Community director of organising. Speaker include,

  • Paul Nowak, TUC National Organiser,
  • Dr Emma Wallis, Communitas

 

17:07 the conference adjourns until tomorrow.

17:06 The motion is carried.

17:02 Richard Green responds on behalf of the NEC.

17:00 Geoff Waterfield seconds the motion.

16:53 Ian Crichton from region 2 moves motion 7 - energy policy

16:51 The motion is accepted by the conference.

16:50 Helen Elliott responds on behalf of the NEC in support of the motion.

16:47 Pat Wiggins seconds the motion.

16:41 Rajinder Sagoo moves motion 6 - Manufacturing and Globalisation

16:40 The motion is accepted by the conference.

16:37 Pat Keenan responds on behalf of the NEC.

16:35 John Pitman seconds the motion.

16:28 Steve Bevan moves motion 4 - Migrant workers.

16:27 The motion is carried.

16:26 Steve Gilbert of Region 5 seconds the motion.

16:23 Paul Mills moves motion 25 - School buses.

16:21 The motion is accepted by conference.

16:19 Karl Mills seconds the motion

16:16 Paul Mills moves motion 24 - Maximum speed zones,

16:15 The motion is carried

16:15 Les Walker seconds the motion without speaking.

16:14 Steve Pearson moved motion 23 - Local Broadcasting Services

16:13 the motion was carried.

16:08 Gareth Jones seconds motion 22

16:00 Jan Bownes moves motion 22 - the equality of access to public services.

15:35 Conference adjourns for a tea break

15: 15 p.m. Denis McShane, MP is invited to speak to the conference.

15:12 The motion is remitted

15:09 Joe Mann asks on behalf of the NEC to remit the motion.

15:08 Roger ? seconds the motion

15:05 John Brigden moves motion 21 - the Labour government.

15:00 Glyn Whelbourn spoke in favour of the motion.

14:55 Joe Mann introduces the chapter on influencing public policy.

14:52 The motion is carried by the conference

14:50 Deputy General Security Peter Crowe responds on behalf of the NEC in support of the motion.

14:47 Roger Forsey from Clarks International speaks in favour of this motion.

14:44 Paul McKenna seconds the motion

14:40 Kevin Edwards moves motion 4 - Rights for Temporary Workers.

14:39 Motion carried

14:37 Robert Mooney responds on behalf of the NEC

14:33 Andy Laing of region 1 seconds motion 3.

14:30   Brian Sneddon moves motion 3 - employment for Blind and Visually Impaired people

14:25 p.m.

Roy Rickhuss introduces a portion of chapter 7

14:00 Conference reopens after lunch and President Keren Bender introduces Neil Kearney of the International Textile, Garment and Leather Worker's federation.

Neil explains how the real cost of cheap clothes in Britain is abused workers in third world countries.

Neil shares tales of the abuse of workers which is quite shocking.

Neil asks Community members to ask question of high street shops about how they source their products.

You can do this through the clean clothes campaign or labour behind the label, more information is in the textile section of the website and the Global Unions page of our equality section.

Break for Lunch

During the Lunch Break there are two fringe meetings:

You control climate change

Hosted by Community Health & Safety officer Rob Sneddon with Keynote speakers

  • Michael J. Leahy, General Secretary of Community
  • Alan Whitehead, MP
  • Katherine Liddle, Corus
  • David Moore, Carbon Trust

and

Unions 21 - What are we here for?

Hosted by the Community Research Department's Matt Ball with keynote speakers including

  • Denis McShane, MP
  • Paula Turtle, USW Canada

The motion was carried

12:37 Tristran Learoyd speaks in favour of the motion.

12:35 Richard Green speaks in favour of the motion.

12:32 Nick Parkes speaks in favour of the motion.

12:30 Joe Monks seconds the motion.

12:20 a.m Motion 14 - Drug and Alcohol Misuse

Moved by Neil Walters

11:45 a.m.

Roy Rickhuss chaired an extended debate on Drug and Alcohol with Rob Sneddon, John Mann MP and Neil Walters, drug and alcohol campaign coordinator in Corus Port Talbot

11:40

Stephen Pearson also spoke on the Health & Safety chapter.

11:38

Geoff Waterfield thanked Rob and Community for their work on JAPAC.

11:30

Rob Sneddon introduces the Health & Safety chapter of the report.

The motion is carried with a large majority.

11:25 a.m.

Ashokkumar Patel seconds the motion.

11:20 a.m.

Paul Richardson moved Motion 2 - Community services delivery on behalf of Brenda Clarke whose employer required her to work.

10:45 a.m.

Tea Break

10:40 a.m.

National officer Roy Rickhuss introduces Chapter 5 - the member service centre.

10:35 a.m.

The motion was remitted at the request of the NEC.

10:30 a.m.

Motion 1 is seconded by John Formstone of Region 8.

10:25 a.m.

John Brigden of Region 8 moves motion 1 - Restructuring Community.

10:20 a.m.

Director of Organising Lee Cash reports on the efforts of the organising department to grow the membership and represent the membership.

 

10:00 a.m.

Community General Secretary Michael J. Leahy, OBE, introduces the changes that Community has undergone in the past two years.

9:30 a.m.

Conference is opened on schedule by the worshipful the mayor of Bournemouth.

9:20 a.m Tuesday 27th

The Community conference will be opened by the worshipful lord mayor of Bournemouth Councillor Anne Filer.

The Conference today will be chaired by Community President Keren Bender.

Also on the platform will be Vice President Gareth Davies, General Secretary Michael J. Leahy, Deputy General Secretary Peter Crowe, National Officers Roy Rickhuss and Joe Mann as well as representatives from the NEC.

Late mail:

Minister for Scotland David Cairns had intended to attend our conference. Unfortunately his partner has fallen ill and David will be unable to attend.