1.0 BRANCH OFFICERS
The Branch Officers will consist of:
a) Branch Chair
b) Branch Secretary/Branch Treasurer
c) Principle Health & Safety Representative
d) Equalities Representative
The Workplace Representatives will be led by a Branch Convenor.
1.1
a) The Branch Convenor shall be elected by all those Branch SE/6102 members so eligible under the Unite Rule Book.
b) The election shall take place and be completed no later than 31st March every third year and the elected candidate shall take office on 1st April for 3 years. This takes effect from 1/4/2017.
c) The Branch Convenor shall be responsible for the Branches liaison with members and ensuring that reps act in accordance with the highest standards expected by the membership. As such, they shall be responsible for the conduct and discipline of the representatives. Any complaints about representatives, subsequent investigation and recommended discipline action will be the responsibility of the Branch Convenor and conducted in accordance with the Unite the Union rule book.
d) The Branch Convenor shall appoint a nominated deputy to act on their behalf during any absence.
e) The position of Branch Convenor can only be filled by a Gatwick Union/SE6102 workplace representative with 3 years concurrent experience.
f) The Branch Convenor may additionally occupy the Branch Chair or Branch Secretary officer position.
g) The Branch Convenor must be a signatory, together with the Unite full time official assigned with responsibility to SE/6102, to all negotiated agreements which impact upon their community, for such an agreement to be binding upon the membership. The Branch Convenor must liaise on any issue that might impact on any other community or the union as a whole.
1.2
a) The Branch Chair is a non-industrial position and shall be directly elected from the elected workplace representatives by all those Branch SE/6102 members so eligible under the Unite Rule Book, by means of a show of hands at the annual branch meeting.
b) The election shall take place and be completed no later than 30th June every third year and the elected candidate shall take office on 1st July for three years. This takes effect from 1/7/2012.
c) The Chair shall not cast a vote on issues raised at the Branch SE/6102 Committee except in the event of a tied vote. In these circumstances s/he shall cast her/his vote in favour of maintaining the status quo.
1.3
a) The Branch Secretary shall be responsible for the organising, running and administration of the branch. They are the point of liaison with Unite at a Regional and National level in respect of Branch administrative matters.
b) The Branch Secretary shall be directly elected from the elected workplace representatives by all those Branch SE/6102 members so eligible under the Unite Rule Book, by means of a show of hands at the annual branch meeting.
c) The election shall take place and be completed no later than 30th June every third year and the elected candidate shall take office on 1st July for three years. This takes effect from 1/7/2012. Normally the Branch Secretary will also hold the position of Branch Treasurer. However, prior to the commencement of each new electoral term, the Branch Committee may decide to separate the responsibility of Treasurer. In this eventuality the Branch Committee may appoint a treasure from within the elected representatives.
d) Should the Branch Secretary and Branch Treasurer role remain combined, then if required the Branch Committee may nominate from within the workplace representatives, someone to act as Branch Finance Officer to assist the Branch Secretary. Should this occur the member will come from the elected workplace representatives.
e) The Branch Treasurer shall be responsible for the financial integrity of the branch and shall liaise with the regional and national Financial Officer of Unite accordingly. They are also responsible for presenting accounts to auditors, authorising payments to reps etc.
1.4
a) The Equalities Representative shall be responsible for ensuring the different strands of Unite’s equality agenda are recognised and are an integral part of the Branches principles.
c) The Equalities Representative shall be directly elected from the elected workplace representatives.
b) The election shall take place and be completed no later than 30th June every third year and the elected candidate shall take office on 1st July for 3 years. This takes effect from 1/7/2012.
1.5
a) The Branch will have a Principle Health and Safety representative who shall be responsible for organising the Health and Safety agenda on behalf of the Branch Committee.
c) The Principle Health and Safety representative shall be directly elected from the elected workplace representatives.
b) The election shall take place and be completed no later than 30th June every third year and the elected candidate shall take office on 1st July for 3 years. This takes effect from 1/7/2012.
c) Due to the specialist nature of this role, candidates must have had prior experience and training in Health and Safety.
1.6
a) Workplace Representatives shall be elected by the relevant membership drawn from the Gatwick Fleet cabin crew community.
b) Only fully paid up members with 2 years branch membership are entitled to seek nomination for election. No photographs should be submitted and no use of any campaign media is allowed, this includes internet forums, social networking sites such a Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, WhatsApp etc., as well as emails, SMS, mail outs, voting cards or drop files for personal electioneering. This is to ensure an equal playing field for all candidates and to avoid any US political style personal electioneering. For the avoidance of doubt this includes third party distribution of material and or information. Failure to comply with these rules from the opening of nominations to the closure of the ballot will result in candidates being ineligible to stand in the election.
c) Workplace Representatives will be elected for a three-year period commencing 1st July 2012, and then every three years thereafter. In event of interim workplace representative vacancies mid-term, elected workplace representatives may be selected from the list of unsuccessful candidates from the previous election, or a new interim election can be held, as deemed appropriate by the Branch Committee.
d) All workplace representatives shall liaise with, and are accountable to, the Branch Convenor when acting in their capacity as workplace representative. Any agreement, resolution or accord reached with the company by a workplace representative must be sanctioned by the Branch Convenor or nominated Deputy. It is the responsibility of the rep to ensure that the Branch Convenor is updated accordingly.
e) The Branch Convenor and Branch Committee are responsible for the industrial strategy and direction of the branch. They shall be the final point of reference for the company in respect of any industrial matter affecting LGW BA cabin crew and shall liaise at the highest level within both Unite and similarly with the employer. The Branch Convenor shall have the final say on all industrial matters affecting the branch.
1.7
a) The SE/6102 Branch Committee will comprise of representatives being the Branch Convenor, Branch Chair, Branch Secretary/Treasurer, Principle Health & Safety Representative. Committee members will not be afforded substitutes and in the event of any absence only a proxy vote will be valid. For any issues of practicality, such as a shortage of experienced workplace representatives, the Branch Committee may at their sole discretion, opt to wave the requirements for Branch positions. The Branch Committee may also nominate selected workplace representatives to attend the Branch Committee on a permanent or temporary basis.
b) The SE/6102 Branch Committee shall meet at least on a quarterly basis at a venue to be determined by the Committee.
1.8
a) The SE/6102 Branch shall meet at least annually at a venue to be determined by the Branch Committee and will be attended by the Branch Committee as detailed above.
b) Unless otherwise decided by the Branch Committee, all Branch meetings shall start at a convenient mutually agreed time and end after the conclusion of AOB on the Branch Agenda. All AOB items must be submitted and received in writing by the Branch Chair/Branch Convenor at least 7 days before the date of the meeting.
c) Voting on general matters as determined by the Committee, may be put to the Branch meeting and decided by a show of hands. On issues of a substantial nature, voting may be by means of a consultative postal/electronic ballot of the membership.
Where an issue is deemed by at least a two-thirds majority vote of the Branch Committee to be of such an extreme importance and urgent nature and where a postal/electronic vote would be impractical or inappropriate, a decision could be placed before Branch meeting for an immediate decision.
1.9
a) This Constitution may be amended and is subject to approval by the Branch and the Regional Committee/Executive council as per Rule.
b) The Executive Council shall issue standing orders to regulate the conduct of Branch meetings and business and may amend the standing orders from time to time. Those standing orders may only be varied in respect of a Branch with the prior approval of the Executive Council.
c) The Branch’s ability to deliver an industrial agenda on behalf of its members is critical and the allocation of the positions is essential to that. The Branch Convenor and/or their deputy, through the Branch Committee, are responsible for ensuring that this best represents the member’s interests.
1.10
a) A SE/6102 newsletter shall be distributed whenever required. The publication, distribution and editorial content shall be the responsibility of the Branch Committee.
b) Representation at Industrial Forums shall be the Branch Convenor and their appropriately designated delegation.
c) Where a ballot on an industrial matter has taken place, then any proposed change will only be agreed, in principle, by the unanimous decision of the Branch Committee. Any such proposals may also be subject to ratification by consultative postal/electronic ballot of the membership.
d) The Unite SE/6102 branch adopts a zero-tolerance approach to company attempts of union busting. To this end the members of branch SE/6102 instruct the branch committee to register an immediate failure to agree and/or escalate a failure to agree on any and all items under discussion whenever union busting techniques are identified. Examples of union busting techniques include, but are not limited to, the separating of meetings into pre and post 2010 contract cabin crew.