Next Branch Meeting

The next branch meeting will be held in Southampton at 12.30 on Monday 15th of August 2011.

Pete Skelly our regional organiser will be in attendance and give a report to the members.

We look forward to your attendance if you can make it, if not please let me know and I will ensure that you receive the full minutes to look at if you can access your email whilst away.

Safe seas comrades.

Daz

Branch meeting attendance

Good evening comrades, it was nice to see a good turnout at the last meeting on the 20th of July with 15 members attending many of which were new to branch meetings. The debate from the floor was superb covering many aspects with food for thought for many. The branch is developing and is certainly helped by the fact that we can have regular meetings due to my watchplans and being able to call on Tony George (Vice chair) in the absence of Mick Stubbs.

If we can continue to develop the branch the way we are heading and maintain these numbers it will be fantastic. well done to all.

Here is a picture of the last meeting, unfortunately some members had disappeared before i got the camera out.

I will be sending mail out to you all in the next few days.

Fraternally yours

Daz Procter

Branch Secretary

NEXT BRANCH MEETING

THE NEXT BRANCH MEETING WILL BE HELD IN FRATTON RAILWAY CLUB ON THE 21ST OF JULY AT 7.15PM.

I WILL BE SENDING OUT THE DRAFT AGENDA A FEW DAYS BEFORE AND LOOK FORWARD TO ANY AGENDA ITEMS BEING SUBMITTED BY YOU.

HOPEFULLY I WILL ALSO HAVE THE DRAFT OF THE NEWSLETTER I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON AND AGAIN IF YOU WISH TO SUBMIT AN ARTICLE PLEASE GET IN CONTACT.

THE DATES FOR THE NEXT 5 MONTHS ARE BEING CLARIFIED, AND GUESTS CONFIRMED. I WILL POST THAT INFORMATION LATER ON TODAY.

REGARDS

DAZ PROCTER

NEWSLETTER

THIS BRANCH IS LOOKING TO INTRODUCE A SHIPPING NEWSLETTER COVERING ALL ASPECTS OF OUR INDUSTRY. I HAVE CONTACTED VARIOUS REPS, REGIONAL ORGANISERS AND BRANCH SECRETARIES TO CONTRIBUTE ANY INFORMATION AND WOULD ALSO ASK THE SAME OF THE BRANCH MEMBERS.

IF YOU OR A FELLOW RMT MEMBER ONBOARD YOUR VESSEL WOULD LIKE TO CONTRIBUTE WITH CONCERNS, DEVELOPMENTS, NEWS ON A NEW ITEM OR ABOUT AN ASPECT OF GENERAL SHIPBOARD LIFE DO NOT HESITATE TO GET IN CONTACT.

I AM LOOKING TO GET THE FIRST EDITION OUT MID JULY SO ANY INPUT WOULD BE MUCH APPRECIATED.

BEST REGARDS

DAZ PROCTER

RECENT BRANCH NEWS

COMRADES OUR BRANCH CHAIRMAN MICK STUBBS WILL BE ATTENDING THE AGM IN FORT WILLIAM FROM SUNDAY UNTIL FRIDAY AND WILL BE GIVING THE BRANCH A DETAILED REPORT ON HIS RETURN, I AM SURE MICK WILL REPRESENT THE BRANCH AND SHIPPING REGION WITH HIS USUAL HIGH STANDARDS.

TONY GEORGE WAS RECENTLY ELECTED AS THE VICE CHAIR OF THE BRNCH AND WILL BE SITTING IN PLACE OF MICK WHEN HE IS AT SEA ON HIS DEEP SEA VOYAGES.

I HAVE RECENTLY BEEN ADVISED THAT I HAVE GOT A POSITION ON THE NATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND WILL REPRESENT THE SHIPPING REGION OF S3 ON ALL HEALTH AND SAFETY MATTERS IN SHIPPING SO SHOULD YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT ME.

THE BRANCH WILL BE ADVERTISING ALL FUTURE MEETINGS IN THE RMT NEWS AS WE ARE NOW LOOKING TO PLAN 6 MONTHS IN ADVANCE TO GIVE OUR MEMBERS AS MUCH CHANCE AS POSSIBLE TO MAKE THE EFFORT TO ATTEND AND SEE WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE BRANCH.

BEST REGARDS

DAZ PROCTER

Next Branch Meeting

NEXT BRANCH MEETING

THE NEXT BRANCH MEETING WILL BE HELD ON THURSDAY 16TH OF JUNE IN FRATTON RAILWAY CLUB AT 7.15PM.

UPDATES WILL BE GIVEN BY RFA CONVEYNOR AND P&O CONVEYNOR ON CURRENT RESTRUCTURING / HARMONISING OF TERMS.

ALL NEW MEMBERS WILL BE GIVEN FREE RMT GIFT.

WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE AND HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS.

Tolpuddle Martyrs’ Festival

Friday 15^th July to Sunday 17^th July 2011

Join the Branch at the Tolpuddle Martyrs’ Festival, a great tribute working class solidarity and our trade union forefathers.

The Tolpuddle Festival commemorates an historic episode in the struggle for trade union rights in Britain and around the world. In 1834 six farm labourers from Tolpuddle were arrested on a charge of taking part in an illegal oath ceremony. The real offence was that they had dared to form a trade union to defend their livelihoods. For this they were sentenced to seven year’s transportation to the penal colonies of Australia. The sentences provoked an immense outcry, leading to the first great trade union protest. The campaign won free pardons and the Martyrs returned to England.

For further information on Tolpuddle, see www.tolpuddlemartyrs.org.uk.


Details of numbers and travel arrangements etc will be discussed at the next branch meeting on the 24th of May 2011.

Best regards
Daz Procter

POLITICAL COURSE.

"POLITICAL SCHOOL"

ANY BRANCH MEMBER WHO IS INTERESTED IN ATTENDING THE RMT POLITICAL SCHOOL WHICH WILL TAKE PLACE FROM SUNDAY 23RD OCTOBER - FRIDAY 28TH OCTOBER 2011 LET ME KNOW A.S.A.P.

MYSELF AND MICK STUBBS HAVE BOTH DONE THE COURSE AND WE WILL BOTH HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS COURSE, IT IS INFORMATIVE LIKE NO OTHER COURSE I HAVE EVER DONE.

THE COURSE WILL TAKE PLACE IN DONCASTER AND CONCLUDES WITH A VISIT AROUND THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.

IT GIVES A GREAT INSIGHT AND PROVIDES CONFIDENCE INTO HOW WE CAN FIGHT BACK POLITICALLY FOR THE BENEFITS OF MEMBERS AND BEYOND.

ANY MEMBER INTERESTED PLEASE CONTACT ME FOR FURTHER DETAILS.

REGARDS

DAZ PROCTER

Legal services

LEGAL SERVICES.

COMRADES, IT HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE BRANCH THAT NOT MANY SEAFARERS ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE USE OF THE FREE LEGAL SERVICES.

THIS INCLUDES A FREE WILL SERVICE, CONVEYANCING AND FREE LEGAL ADVICE ON A WHOLE HOST OF TOPICS INSIDE & OUTSIDE OF THE WORKPLACE.

PLEASE VISIT THE WEBSITE (www.thompsons.co.uk) FOR LOTS OF INFORMATION ON EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS, CRIMINAL RIGHTS AND PERSONAL INJURY CLAIMS.

THE NEW REGIONAL OFFICE IS NOW BASED ABOVE THE THOMPSONS OFFICE AND WE WILL BE ASKING THEM TO GIVE US AN UPDATE AT FUTURE MEETINGS WHERE POSSIBLE TO BRING YOU UP TO DATE WITH ANY CHANGES THAT COULD AFFECT US.

SO, WHEN YOU NEXT NEED ADVICE OUTSIDE OF WORK ISSUES OR THE USE OF A SOLICITOR, GET IN CONTACT WITH THEM AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SERVICES ON OFFER AS PART OF YOUR MEMBERSHIP.

BEST REGARDS

DAZ PROCTER

BRANCH SECRETARY

NEXT BRANCH MEETINGS

THE NEXT BRANCH MEETINGS WILL BE HELD IN SOUTHAMPTON (VENUE TBC) ON APRIL THE 19TH AND MAY 24TH. A VENUE AND TIME TBC. WE ARE HOPING TO HAVE GUEST SPEAKERS FROM THOMPSONS & RMT OFFICIALS SO WATCH THIS SPACE FOR UPDATED INFORMATION. BEST REGARDS DAZ PROCTER

Cuba Garden Party

CUBA GARDEN PARTY

TUESDAY 21ST OF JUNE

THE BRANCH WILL BE SUBSIDISING UPTO 15 BRANCH MEMBERS WITH A FREE TICKET (WORTH £15) TO ATTEND THIS EVENT IN LONDON FROM 7PM TO 11PM. THE EVENT WILL INCLUDE FREE ALCOHOL, FOOD, MUSIC, GUEST SPEAKERS AND THE COMPANY OF LIKE MINDED PEOPLE.

TO BOOK YOUR FREE TICKET PLEASE CONTACT ME ASAP TO AVOID DISAPOINTEMNT.

BEST REGARDS

DAZ PROCTER

NEW BRANCH SECRETARY

TO ALL BRANCH MEMBERS, PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT I WAS RECENTLY ELECTED BY THE MEMBERS PRESENT AT OUR MEEETING ON THE 1ST OF APRIL TO TAKE OVER AS BRANCH SECRETARY WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT AS OUR BRANCH SECRETARY (MARK CAREDN) WAS RECENTLY ELECTED BY THE MEMBERSHIP TO BECOME THE ASSISTANT NATIONAL SECRETARY FOR THE NEXT 5 YEARS. MARK WILL REMAIN IN CLOSE TOUCH WITH THE BRANCH AND WILL CONTINUE TO ATTEND AS MANY BRANCH MEETINGS AS POSSIBLE AROUND HIS NEW FULL TIME POSITION WITHIN THE UNION. MY CONTACT DETAILS ARE ON THE PAGE - DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT ME IF YOU HAVE ANY ISSUES OR ALTERNATIVELY USE THE FREEPHONE NUMBER. I LOOK FORWRD TO SEEING YOU AT THE NEXT BRANCH MEETING. DAZ PROCTER

Education courses

RMT Seafarers Workplace Introductory Courses 2011

Recently the Council of Executives agreed the introduction of a range of new education courses and materials for use across the union. As part of this process a three day Workplace Reps Introductory Course has been developed as an ice-breaker for new or potential Workplace Reps into the RMT Trade Union Education Programme. These courses are specifically devised to be delivered at a local level with the intention of equipping new Workplace Reps to fully benefit from subsequently attending courses at the National Education Centre in Doncaster.

Ordinarily, and in future, those wishing to take the first steps in the RMT Education programme should attend these Introductory courses in their respective Regions. However as a one off opportunity two Workplace Reps Introductory Courses have been organised for our Seafarer members at the Education Centre in Eastbourne. These courses are as follows:

Introductory Course 1 – Monday 13.00hrs 9^th May 2011 – Wednesday 12.30hrs 11^th May 2011

&

Introductory Course 2 – Wednesday 13.00hrs 11^th May 2011 – Friday 12.30hrs 13^th May 2011

The courses will set out to ensure those attending understand fully the Trade Union they belong to, in terms of its structure, how it functions, what you can contribute, and how members are at the forefront of the decision making as well as the proud history of your Union. The courses will also have a contribution from a senior RMT Officer and will be led throughout by your own RMT Lay Tutors.

Your Union will meet your reasonable travel expenses to and from the course as well as all your accommodation and meals. Those wishing to attend should try to get release from work with pay and where this is not possible assistance to the agreed maximum level will be considered.

If you wish to attend then please contact Daz for a form.

If you require any further details on these courses please contact the National Education Officer at a.gilchrist@rmt.org.uk

Next Branch Meeting

“SOUTHAMPTON SHIPPING BRANCH”

INVITES YOU TO THE NEXT BRANCH MEETING ON APRIL 1^ST IN PORTSMOUTH @ 7.30PM IN FRATTON RAILWAY CLUB.

“MAKE YOUR POINT AND THEN ENJOY A PINT!!!”

MANY ITEMS TO DISCUSS INCLUDING:

RFA UPDATE TO SDSR

P&O FERRIES PAY AND HARMONISATION

ROLES WITHIN BRANCH & REGION

“YOUR PRESENCE AND POINTS OF VIEWS ARE IMPORTANT SO PLEASE MAKE THE EFFORT TO ATTEND”