- Conference
- 2018 National Retired Members Conference
- Date
- 11 June 2018
- Decision
- Carried
“Conference notes that:
1)Rule D7.5 does not describe the Branch Retired Members’ Secretary (BRMS), plainly, as a member of the Branch Committee, rather it says BRMS “may attend and speak at all (its) meetings as determined by the Branch Committee rules …”; and,
2. This formulation is not used for any other member of the Branch Committee.
Conference is concerned that, read in isolation, this leaves unclear whether BRMS counts towards the quorum and has the same rights, duties etc. as other Committee members and it leaves the impression the position may vary from branch to branch.
Conference is in favour of amending the rule to make the matter as clear here as it is in rules G2.1.4 and G4.1.1.
Conference observes that the Retired Members’ Organisation may submit a total of two motions and/or amendments to rule to National Delegate Conference each year. It therefore agrees that, should this motion be carried and subject to the result of the ballot to select two motions and/or amendments to rule for National Delegate Conference 2019, to submit the following amendment to rule:
Rule D7.5
Delete ‘may attend and speak at all meetings of the Branch Committee as determined by the Branch Committee rules’ and substitute:
‘is a branch officer and a member of the Branch Committee’
Conference instructs the National Retired Members’ Committee:
a)Should this motion be carried but the rule amendment not be selected in the ballot for submission to National Delegate Conference, to ask the National Executive Council (NEC) to submit a similar amendment to rule and to urge branch retired members’ sections and regional retired members committees to make the same request of their branch or region.
b. Should the rule amendment be carried at National Delegate Conference, to ask the NEC to make a corresponding alteration to the first paragraph of section 11.3.1.1 of the Code of Good Branch Practice.”