Forestry Commission Trade Unions - www.fctu.org.uk
PCS Group Conference 2008
Our 2008 Group Conference was held on the 6th and 7th of May at the Ramada Fairfield Manor Hotel, just outside York.
Conference Report
21st June 2008
According to feedback from delegates (delegate feedback paper), our 2008 conference was one of our most successful in recent years, dealing with motions from branch AGM's as well as revising our policies on PMS, performance related reward and operational pay.
Motions to Conference: One of the main purposes of conference is to debate the motions submitted from branch AGM's; the results of the motions debates are available here (results of motions). Action plans for taking forward each of the accepted motions have been drawn up by the GEC and will be circulated via the minutes of the forthcoming GEC meetings.
Performance Management / PRP: One of our main goals on this area has already been achieved through the removal of the current performance pay system (see pay 2008). However a broader review of the performance management system will take place during 2008 and the output of our discussion at conference will be taken forward by our representatives on this group (PMS/PRP feedback paper).
Operational Pay: Conference has instructed the GEC to take forward a survey of members' attitude towards operational pay/status and to make recommendations on any necessary changes. This will be taken forward by Steve Holdsworth (group treasurer), and progress will be reported through the minutes of GEC meetings.
Administration Support: Delegates also discussed what additional support the union might give to members in administration based roles. A record of that discussion has been produced (admin feedback paper) and will be taken forward by Allan Mackenzie (group president).
Guest Speakers: Conference was pleased to welcome Simon Hodgson, Janice Godrich and Jean Lindsay as our guest speakers; a short summary of their presentations has been produced (guest speaker notes).
Conference Photos: Pictures of the venue, delegates at work and our guest speakers: photo gallery.
Pre-Conference Information
Introduction
Conference is one of the most important events of the union calendar as it is the main opportunity for members from around the FC have to meet and discuss issues of concern. The conference is the main policy making body for our group and is responsible for agreeing the union's position on many key issues such as pay. It is also your opportunity to speak to, and hear directly from, senior figures from both the union and the FC: previous conferences have been addressed by Mark Serwotka and Janice Godrich from PCS, as well as Lord Clark and Tim Rollinson representing the FC.
Our main guests this year will be PCS National President Janice Godrich, the new HR Director Jean Lindsay; and Simon Hodgson, FE England Chief Executive.
This year we shall be strengthening the decision making role of conference by asking each branch to nominate its own delegates who will then be able to speak on behalf of all of the branch's members. The process of agreeing our policy begins at the branch AGM's and further information can be found in our Quick Guide to Conference Motions.
If you are interested in how the union functions or have an issue that you would like to union to take forward, then attending conference is the most effective way to do this.
Invitation to Attend
A number of delegates have already been nominated to attend conference by their branch AGM; however we still have a few places left and should therefore welcome applications from anyone who many not have been able to attend the recent meetings. (If you would ordinarily be at work on 6th and 7th May, then you can claim up to two days of facility time or flexi-credit to cover your attendance at the conference.)
If you would like to find out more about conference then please speak to one of your local reps; or to reserve a place now please complete the application form and return it to the group office at Silvan House by no later than Friday 4th April.
Conference Programme and Papers
The programme for this year's conference has now been finalised.
This year conference will consider several topics that are very relevant to many of our members, firstly Operational Status, secondly performance Management, and thirdly what additional support we might be able to give to members working in admin roles. It is intended to devote the first afternoon of conference to these subjects punctuated by talks from PCS President Janice Godrich and Jean Lindsay, the new HR Director. Our guest at dinner will be Simon Hodgson, the Chief Executive of FE England.
Our second day will be debating formal motions, which cover a wide range of aspects that are of concern to our members in the branches. You will find the venue comfortable, relaxing and informal and the program put forward by the conference organisers should have something of interest to every delegate.
The conference provides one of the few opportunities for us as union members to get together from all parts of Great Britain to discuss the challenges that face us in the Forestry Commission today. The conference has the ability to direct the future policy of the Forestry Group and therefore add value to the decisions being taken by the FC.
Conference Papers: Programme | 1 Motions | 2 Group Review | 3 Operational Status | 4 PMS/PRP | 5 Admin Support