Minutes GPTU 23/5/07

Apologies: Sue Tibbles

1. Minutes of 4/4/2007
   1. Agreed for Accuracy
   2. Matters Arising
   1. Old GPTU account; Joseph Healy to contact Ian Wingrove.
   2. Motion of censure against VH moved, will be considered at July GPRC.
   3. Joseph Healy reported back that the Welsh TGWU Sec had addressed the GP/GLeft fringe at Swansea conference, praised GP for anti-racist work in Wales.
   4. Joseph Healy to get banner quote
   5. Further Info needed on ESOL cuts, suggestions that GLA may fund to prevent some cuts in London.
   6. Northern GPTU members report that it will not be possible to organise conference/event until October. The meeting hoped that they would proceed with this and report back.
   7. GPTU had issued statement in support of PCS strike on 1/5/2007.
   8. Visit to Wm Morris Museum, separate email reminder sent (meet 11am WALTHAMSTOW CENTRAL station).
   9. New Leaflet available as MS publisher file from P.Murry

       

2. Remploy: P.Murry & Joseph Healy had asked Derek Wall to make statement in support of Remploy TUs. GPTU had been supportive of Remploy TUs in the past; did this mean that there was a communication problem in GP re TU issues? Remploy TU statement re current strike circulated, info on progress needed.

    

3. Stall at Unison conference: Brighton GPTU group is offering very active support to GPTU fringe

   NB THE MEETING WAS DELIGHTED TO HEAR OF THE FORMATION OF THE BRIGHTON GPTU GROUP.

4. Leaflet UCU Conference? 31 may Bournemouth list to be circulated to see if any UCU and/or Bournemouth area GP members would like to do this.

    

5. GLeft AGM 2 June 10-5 Grayston Centre, London (Old St Tube) agenda items are being requested.

    

6. Papers for All (migrant workers) campaign

   Anita Ceravolo explained the campaign to the meeting; it was currently drafting a document in migrant workers´ languages with the aim of building a migrant led campaign

   At present the campaign had the following aims:

   • Regularisation for all migrants. No one is illegal.
   • The closure of all detention centres, because moving country is not a crime.
   • An end to all deportations & the externalisation process turning countries on the edges of the EU into holding camps.
   • Full labour rights for all workers, independently of their migration status. Stop pitching workers against each other.
   • End the apartheid system of benefits, healthcare, housing and legal representation, and the
   • deliberate policy of destitution for asylum seekers whose cases have been refused.
   • Official recognition of rape as torture and persecution.

      

   The meeting endorsed the campaigns´ aims and agreed to draft a motion, initially for circulation to GPTU members for comment.

7. GP Conference Motions on Minimum Wage/ The meeting endorsed the Mayor of London´s call for a London Minimum Wage of £7.20 per hr and agreed to draft a motion calling for a national Minimum Wage of £ 7.20 per hr for 7.20 per hr, initially for circulation to GPTU members for comment.

    

8. The meeting agreed the following motion initially for circulation to GPTU members for comment.

    

   "The Green party condemns Margaret Hodge´s statements on prioritisation of housing for ´ established British families´ as it encourages racism and divisiveness. We endorse Sian Berry´s statement advocating a sensible housing policy as a real solution to the problems of homelessness and extortionate home prices."

9. Fears that J.Kovel´s Eco-socialist international gathering could turn into an academic conference, GPTU felt this was not what was needed.

    

10. Investigation needed as to whether other GP´s (internationally) had TU groups.

     

11. GPTU banner to ENOUGH! (End Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories) demo 9/6/2007 1.30pm Lincoln´s Inn Fields.
    
    
12. Date of June meeting to be finalised with Sue Tibbles on 26 may and circulated via GPTU list ASAP.