National Delegate Conference 15-18 June 2010

Better support for activists

Irene Heggie

Delegates set out a four-point plan to recruit and support activists over the next year with a report to come to Conference 2011.

The plan included an call from Edinburgh's Irene Heggie to lobby for statutory rights to time off for stewards similar to the arrangements for Health and Safety reps.

"It is difficult enough to recruit stewards but by ofering them comprehensive training and support, they will quickly gain confidence to deal with members' cases", said Irene.

"And by facilitating time off to attend meetings they will have contact with other stewards".

"By implementing these procedures, this will help allevate the burden put upon Branch ecretaries and other Branch Officers", added Irene in her first ever speech to Conference.

The four-point plan includes:

- using the branch and region assessment procedure to build supports for officers with targeted training for exisiting officers and new activists, aong with a lobby for statutory time-off for stewards.

- amend the constitution if needed to maximise benefits to acti vists and the union and report on this next year

- monitor levels of increased participation in under-represented areas

- reports for 2011 from all regions on progress.

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