| Newsletter:
March 2004
I trust that you all had a wonderful Christmas and on behalf
of the British Transport Officers' Guild I wish you a prosperous
2004.
On behalf of Amicus I would like to extend a warm thank you
for remaining a BTOG member.
2003 went well with the merger between AEEU and MSF hence the
new name Amicus. There is further news on mergers between UNIFI
and GPMU. This would make us the largest union in Britain.
UNIFI and GPMU will be conducting a ballot on the decision
on the merger by May.
Negotiation results for 2003
- Transport for London:
3.75% up to 5% to include PRP
- London Underground:
3.75% plus 0.75%
- Tube Lines:
3.7% plus 0.75% with a commitment to enter into negotiations
in September 2003 to reduce contractors working hours to 35
hours per week.
- Metronet Rail BCV
3.7% plus 0.75% with a commitment to enter into negotiations
in September 2003 to reduce contractors working hours to 35
hours per week.
- Metronet Rail SSL
3.7% plus 0.75% with a commitment to enter into negotiations
in September 2003 to reduce contractors working hours to 35
hours per week.
Annual General Meeting
On 7th November 2003 BTOG held its Annual General Meeting,
at the meeting many issues were discussed. Here are the minutes
of the meeting:
Matters Arising:
1. Future of the guild discussed, also rule 11, the guild has
904 members.
2. Pay deals discussed, all companies.
3. Details of branches and their locations discussed.
4. Details of the 2002, accounts discussed.
5. Discussion on the need for indemnity insurance for members,
6. The use of surplus funds for the recruitment of graduates,
7. Graduate training, general management subjects, non-union
courses, grants for training courses. Circulate to members that
there is help available to members whilst on training courses.
8. Accounts. There was an unidentified £4158.76 to be
explained, also sundry debtor £13,056.72p to be explained.
When new accounts are drawn up they are to provide a full state
of accounts.
9. Pensions (British Rail Fund) full state of play discussed.
10. Members Report. Concerns were raised as to recruitment
and the recruitment of graduates.
National Rail pension discussed.
A.E.E.U Holiday Club was recommended by the Committee and should
be advertised in the BTOG Magazine.
11. Subscriptions £9.20, not be to increased this year.
12. The future of the FPA and the Guild is secure.
13. A recruitment process to be advertised in the rail news,
rail staff and buses magazine.
It was noted that there is no process of advertising for TFL
staff and recruitment, avenues to be explored.
14. Any other Business:
14.1. It was requested that an estimated time of closure for
the meeting should be stated for an A.G.M so that travel arrangements
can be made.
14.2. It was requested that there should be a vote and election
of officers in the (LT Area)
14.3. There should be more feedback to all members and branches
nation wide, as to the National Committee meeting.
14.4. It was stated that there should be an election of President.
14.5. Communication between branches via a newsletter and the
use of email.
14.6. Mr David Stark discussed a letter that had been sent to
Alun Jones and Geoff Saunders to which he had not received any
reply, apologies given by Geoff Saunders and the matter would
be looked in to as soon as possible.
14.7. Back up and support to members to be updated.
14.8. Election of President took place at the meeting; Mr Keith
Richbell was re-elected.
Treasurer's Report
Here is Alun Jones response, BTOG Treasurer, to the 2002 accounts.
Income - Allocation - This is the 10% of the subscription income
(based on the main Amicus subscription rate) and therefore normally
this figure increases whenever there is an increase in the Amicus
subscription rate but if there has been a significant fall in
membership this decreases and this seems to be confirmed by
the fall in the political refund money also.
Expenditure - UK Affiliations - The change in this item is
entirely due to the MPA affiliation fee for 2001 not being paid
until 2002 and therefore the 2002 figures is the combined affiliation
fee for the two years.
Expenditure - Stationery / Publications - This figure has disappeared
as the main item in 2002 was a subscription for a CD ROM based
Harvey Employment Law and this was not continued as the reliability
of the updates reaching the National Secretary was poor.
Balance Sheet - Sundry Debtors - The sundry debtors figure is
almost entirely related to the quarterly payment from the Union
of the allocation from subscription income and the slight increase
reflects the fact that the preparation of these returns was
behind schedule in the late part of 2002. There is always at
least one quarter's payment owed by the Union in respect of
the final quarter of the year as of the 31st December.
On behalf of BTOG, Good luck with the future
For further information or contributions to the next newsletter
please contact:
Geoff Saunders, BTOG National Secretary
Tel: 020 8462 7755 ext. 388
Email: Christine.Edwards@amicustheunion.org.uk
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