Communication Workers Union s1

COMMUNICATION WORKERS UNION

Circulated to the NEC No 44/17 National Executive Council Reissued 20th March 2017 (For the consideration of the National Executive Council at their meeting on 30th March 2017)

MINUTES OF THE DISABILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE HELD ON 15TH FEBRUARY 2017 IN CONFERENCE ROOM 1 at 10am

Present :

Linda Roy National Equality Officer Tony Sneddon Chair Jonathan Bellshaw Vice Chair Jill Coulson Peter Sharrocks Tony Pedel Mark Anthony Bastiani Richard Hirtsch Des Gibbons Ian Ward Jackie Gatward Jeffrey Till Elspeth Bettany

Apologies:

Chic McGlynn OUB Jacqui Stewart S/L Natalie Fleming On conference voice call

In Attendance: 1. Introductions

Tony Sneddon, Linda Roy welcomed everyone.

2. Attendance and Apologise.

As above

3. Minutes of the Last Meeting dated 1 st September 2016: DAC Paper No. 7/2016

Agreed and amendments noted.

4. Matters Arising from the Last Minutes (action point matrix)

Agreed

5. Policy Enactment

Tony Sneddon – we take ownership ourselves. We will get two members of the committee to assign to each motion.

6. Advisory Committee Protocol

Typo has been amended. T.S asked the Committee members to remember to have an input, add contributions and submit expenses in time. All members please keep up the good work.

7. Proportionality and Representation: DAC paper 4/17 – Proportionality Report

Amendments to be made on the first line of the table submitted. Linda Roy to up-date figures.

8. Working Parties Update

New work will start on Motions from the recent Equality Conferences.

9. Report back from Regional Meetings

Scotland Tony Sneddon OUB NI Natalie Fleming Not advised of dates NW Jill Coulson Cancelled last Equality meeting. Guest speaker was absent, poor attendance NE Tony Pedel Absent Peter Sharrocks Gave a report on Mental Health and 1st Aid courses being run in the NE Midland Des Gibbons Gave a report London Mark Bastiani Reported on ill Health issues and Motions SE Mark Bastiani No report. Do not have an Equality Committee and will hopefully have one in the near future Eastern Jeff Till No report SW Jonathan Bellshaw Verbal Update Wales Jackie Gatward Gave a report, difficult to get people to attend 10. CWU Disability Conference 2016

10.1 DAC Paper 1/2017: Equality Officers Experience – Feedback Report: Document noted

10.2 DAC Paper 2/2017: Equality Officers Experience – Feedback Report: Document noted

11. CWU Disability Conference 2017

11.1 DAC Paper 3/2017: Dates to be considered for 2017

The following dates were agreed:

22nd May 2017 - Joint Regional Equality Officers Chairs & Secretaries 23rd May 2017 - Equality Officers Seminar 31st May 2017 - BAME Officers Event 20th September 2017 - Women’s Officers Event 28th November 2017 - Joint Advisory Committee

Linda informed the committee that Rob Wotherspoon – Branch Sec of Bristol Amal, had asked if we could take the 4 Equality Conferences to Bristol this year. This follows the problem we had with signers last year when one of the Bristol delegates had to leave conference as there was no signers.

The Committee agreed to hold the Disability Conference in Bristol on 18th October 2017. The date of the Disability Advisory Committee meeting in October will be changed to 26th Sept 2017.

12. CWU Annual Conference 2017

LR informed the committee there will be a Social Event, at the Elstead Hotel which starts at 8pm -11pm and all are welcome to attend.

White Ribbon Fringe meeting will take place on the 24th April at the Hermitage Hotel, from 1-2pm. This meeting will be based on the White Ribbon Campaign on Domestic Violence. Each of the Chairs will speak on their Equality Strand on Domestic Violence. Guest speaker will be Mr Chris Green OBE, founder of the White Ribbon Campaign.

13. Budget Report

Linda Roy reported the budget is a 4% reduction of last year. TS asked for all committee members to get their expenses in on time.

14. DAC Members – RMG Network Committee

Des and Jill have recently attended Royal Mail Group Meeting and gave an update to the Committee. Discussion took place around disability issues, Jill and Des have invited the Committee to let them know of issues they would like to raise at the next meeting. Royal Mail are working with ATOS to make a short film regarding disabled staff. 15. TUC Disability Conference 2017: 18 th & 19 th May 2017

18th and 19th May are booked. Delegates have been elected; Tony Sneddon is being nominated to sit on the TUC Committee.

Motion on Mental Health submitted after consulting with Disability Chair and research department.

16. STUC Disability Conference 2017

This will be held on 18th-19th November 2017 at The Golden Bank Hotel. The STUC has written to 44 Football Clubs and only eight responded despite a 2nd letter.

17. WORD/DIF Magazine

Natalie sent out an email 4/01/17 and has had responses. Mark wrote two articles and is waiting for response from all. TS will need more articles from the Committee members. Discussions took place around an email from Chris Webb containing proposals on future publications.

18. A.O.B

Ian reported this as his last meeting after 8 years of attendance; the Chair and Linda Roy thanked him for all his years of input and wished him luck on his retirement.

Date of next meeting 14th June 2017 at 10am