Forestry Commission Trade Unions - www.fctu.org.uk
2008 Network Review
At its meeting held in February 2008 the FCTU Council endorsed seven recommendations for improving the management and support that is provided to all parts of the FCTU network. These recommendations are now being implemented by Sue Gillingwater (FCTU Network Manager) through the 2008 Network Review. Background to the review.
Updates
Area Committees - New Name for NOC's 16th Jul 2008
After a lengthy consultation we have decided to rename our regional committees to better represent the joint unions' name. The proposal to change name of the NOC's was endorsed along with several other recommendations by Council at its February 2008 meeting. The acronym ‘FCTU’ has quickly become synonymous with the work of the joint unions, which is being built on through our communications strategy, for example in the name of our website. Therefore, the name of the NOC's has been brought under the same label as FCTU Council and FCTU Office, their generic term has been changed from Regional to Area Committees: thus, the ‘England NOC’ will become the ‘FCTU England Committee’. Launch of Area Committees.
Background
In 2006, the FCTU Council agreed that as the National Organising Committee structure had been operating for nearly two years it was an opportune time to carry out a review to explore what additional support, if any, might be needed, and at the same time look at what could be done to strengthen the FCTU structure over all. The review took place during 2006 and the latter part of 2007 culminating in a report, which was presented to the FCTU Council in February 2008.
At the meeting, Council endorsed the seven recommendations contained in the report and a Project Initiation Document was subsequently produced to take forward the work streams needed to implement the following recommendations:
- It has been sometime since the Facility Time Agreement has been looked this is an opportune time to undertake such an exercise.
- Following the completion of Recommendation 1 a campaign is launched to once again raise managers’ awareness of its existence and their responsibility in complying with its content.
- There is a definite need to clarify the role and remit of the NOC so that members fully understand their responsibilities. Existing information, which is contained in the Constitution should be updated and modified so that it provides comprehensive guidance and information for both new and existing NOC members.
- To enable NOCs to have the capacity to develop and concentrate resources on trade union issues the role of coordinating and ‘managing’ the function of NOCs should be carried out by the FCTU office.
- Any training required to carry out existing or new NOC roles should be coordinated centrally by the FCTU office.
- The term NOC has never really fulfilled its purpose in describing this area of the joint union structure. A title is needed that stresses the unity and cohesiveness of the joint unions, a name that will be immediately identifiable and can be linked to FCTU GB Council and the FCTU office.
- Work should be undertaken to develop a communication strategy for each NOC considering all the above points. This area of work should form part of the FCTU Office support function.