- Conference
- 2007 National Black Members' Conference
- Date
- 24 September 2006
- Decision
- Carried
Conference notes the processes and procedures used for a number of years for the submission of motions to the National Black Members Conference. The process currently sets specific dates for motions to be submitted to the Conference Office and currently this can be done by post or fax.
We live in a world that is becomingly increasingly more complex and sophisticated and the use of electronic communication is now common place. Today many legal documents are being communicated by e-mail, including many of our employers accepting job applications by email. Local government processes are also subject to e-government.
In the past years there have been occasions when motions submitted by post have gone astray or been delayed, which has resulted in those motions not being admitted onto the agenda. Electronic submission can save more time and be more efficient. Copies of the motion, can also be shared easily with other Black members in the region. Electronic signatures are widely accepted in many organisations and are currently accepted by UNISON’s conference office on faxed copies of form BM6. Environmental benefits would also be obtained by reducing paper use.
We call on the National Black Members Committee to work with the Standing Orders Committee to implement a system whereby motions can be submitted in an electronic form, still subject to appropriate time scales and verification of regional processes for agreeing motions.