London Ambulance Service

                                    UNISON Branch Committee

                                    21st March 2003

Present

Eric Roberts – Branch Secretary

Eddie Brand – Branch Chair

George Achilles – Equal Opportunity Officer

David Lamey – South West Sector

Michael Apps – Retired Members Officer

Gary Edwards – West Sector

Mark Belkin – Education Officer

Dave Smith – North East Sector

Bryan Arnold – Treasurer

Rob Sydney – Central East

Fred Phillips - CAC

Jenny Wade – South East Sector PTS

Karen Walling – West Sector

Jim Underdown – North West Sector

Joe Easterbrook – CAC

Claudette Mcnaughton – CAC

Andrea Shields – Central

Phil Thompson – Regional Officer

Apologies

Paul Leggett

Steve Harbord

George Achilles – Minutes

Minutes

Minutes from January 7^th agreed as true record.

Minutes from February 11^th agreed as true record.

Branch Secretary

The branch secretary tabled his report that included:

• Current legal/compensation information
• A verbal report on the progress of Agenda for Change. A presentation will be made at the AGM.
• Gary Edwards & Andrea Shields were nominated to be Branch Delegates at National Conference in Brighton. Agreed
• Information regarding the Anti-racist event in Manchester on 26^th April 2003 was circulated. Branch Secretary to write to stewards.
• A retirement grant request from Kenton was agreed.
• A request for financial support for a sponsored bike ride. Agreed to donate £300.
• A request to re-affiliate to ‘Mechanics institute museum’, a trade union history museum. Agreed.
• A rule change to go to the AGM concerning removing the post of vice-chair from the branch officer list was agreed.

Treasures Report

B.A. – Tabled report which will be put forward at the AGM. The Treasurer was thanked for his work throughout the year.

Membership

F.P. circulated names of new members – Agreed to accept new members. The new RMS system was debated and the committee brought up to date on progress.

Education

The plan to run in-house courses for stewards and health & safety reps was discussed. The Branch Secretary and Education officer will meet with regional education officer to agree the way forward.

The Branch Secretary gave an update on the joint project between the branch and the LAS to appoint 10 Learning Reps. Unison will be the lead partner in this educational opportunity.

Retired Members

M.A. gave a verbal report on the activities of the retired members section.

The retired member’s conference will be held in Plymouth in October 2003. Michael Apps was the nominated Branch Delegate and the secretary will write to members regarding visitors.

CAC

A report was given which included ongoing problems with the ‘police cad’ system. Staffing levels were again a cause for concern. The matter will be raised at the next DJCC.

PTS

A report was given regarding the PTS and the work of the PTS sub-group. It was noted that Darenth Valley has had their contract extended for 6 months.

Regional Officer

Returning officers report was tabled and agreed. To go to AGM

Staff Council

A general verbal report was given which included:

• Proposed annual leave agreement
• Paramedic registration update
• Proposed Personal Development Plan
• Paramedic Training – modular courses
• Alternative working for older members of staff
• Pay & Modernisation update
• Congestion charges
• LAS Estates strategy
• New ambulances. 

AOB

A problem concerning personal property being stolen from ambulances was raised. Union insurance will be investigated by the Branch Secretary.

Date of Next Meeting

To be announced.

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