I have almost forgotten the number of times over the years that I have heard politicians dismiss huge public demonstrations against their policies as being ‘unrepresentative’. The TUC rally against Austerity and The Trade Union Bill last Sunday also coincided with the People’s Assembly event. It resulted in the biggest public gathering (outside of Old Trafford and the Etihad Stadiums) that Manchester has seen -possibly since the early part of the last century.
There were a good number of Napo people in Manchester, some of whom I was delighted to be able to meet during and after the March which contained a massively diverse mixture of people from all walks of life including so-called ‘A-list celebrities’ who were later berated by Government Ministers (who live in nice houses) for err.. living in nice houses. I am not sure how that squares with the oft quoted and by now insidious claims by Cameron and his acolytes that the Tories are the party for everyone, irrespective of material or social status presumably?
As I said at a pre-rally event just before e the March, while we still have the legal freedoms of peaceful assembly and the right to association then we should nurture and protect them as if they were going to be taken away tomorrow, which is exactly what this government is intent on doing, starting with its pernicious Trade Union Bill.
Support the TUCG rally!
Those who can make it to Parliament next Tuesday evening 13th October for the TUCG rally against the Bill are welcome. Assemble on the Green at 5:00 for a short warm up event then over to the entrance at 5:30 for the main event at 6:00.
See also BR 97-2015 Napo Briefing on the TU Bill for more background 5.10.15
AGM set to make some big decisions
As always happens in the run up to an AGM, we receive some enquiries from a few members who are leaving it late to decide about making the trip, as to what happens to the Agenda if any part of Conference is inquorate.
As things stand we are still receiving applications and there is still time to apply online and secure your attendance at the reduced rate so please head to the Napo website and you will find the straightforward link.
The Officers have made it clear, and I support them in this 100%, that there is no way we are going down to Eastbourne to sit around twiddling our thumbs because of a rule that says we need 5% of our membership present to make any sort of decision. A number of members have told me that they are worried that the quoracy rule is itself becoming a barrier to engagement, and fails to reflect the world we are in where facility time has been cut and the fact that work commitments mean people are not always able, year after year, to take three days out of their commitments.
We are of the view that any periods of inqouracy (should there be any), will not prevent debates and decisions being taken and later ratified by the NEC once the necessary procedural aspects are put in place.
A conference is a conference, and we are there to do the members' business. If you are debating whether to come along then don’t dither, sign on today!
I am as always looking forward to spending precious time with members at the AGM next week.
More next week before we head off to Eastbourne.
- ilawrence@napo.org.uk's blog
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