Annual Report 2013
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prospect Latest revision of this document: https://library.prospect.org.uk/id/2014/00525annual2013 report This revision: https://library.prospect.org.uk/id/2014/00525/2014-04-07 annual report 2013 union for professionals INDEX Introduction 1 1 Membership, recruitment and organisation 3 2 Managing the union 5 3 Rights at work 9 4 Benefits and services 14 5 Training and skills 16 6 Awards 20 7 Other organisations 21 8 Finance 24 Financial statement and accounts 28 Statement of responsibilities of the National Executive Committee 28 Report of the auditors 28 Statement to members 40 Donations and affiliations 41 Schedule of investments 42 Prospect Benevolent Fund 44 Education Trust 46 9 Executive, officers and committees 47 Prospect branches 51 Pay settlements 2013 55 Prospect structure 57 ii Prospect Annual Report 2013 INTRODUCTION One defining theme of 2013 was the Prospect continued to take a leading role government’s promise to UK citizens that on professional and industrial policy issues austerity was worth the price and that affecting all its members, but most notably in they were now experiencing the ‘benefits’ energy, aviation, telecoms and public services. of spending cuts. For most people – and Another significant theme of 2013 was that it the majority of Prospect members – talk of does not matter if public services are privately recovery is exaggerated and lacks resonance owned. But government cannot be a bystander when they have to deal with rising costs and because public sentiment, particularly if it is falling incomes. aggrieved, will drag the political community It is also hollow when there are daily concerns into the spotlight. about our public infrastructure: everything Unfortunately this can create the worst from energy or aviation asset resilience to possible conditions: ineffective regulation, flood protection. Or our ability to sustain a spin over evidence, policy development on defence manufacturing industry or invest in the hoof and investment delay while the core the science base. Wherever we look, rhetoric infrastructure creaks – or in other words – about recovery belies evidence of long-term current energy policy. economic health and the everyday challenges facing working people. It was therefore vitally important for Prospect to maintain its capacity to campaign on Not only have we faced a harsh economic our well-established cross party basis. This climate, the Coalition’s deregulatory activists approach defines Prospect and is our abiding have set about their mission by introducing strength. We successfully re-mandated the adverse legal changes and attacks on trade political fund with a strengthened majority. union organisation. It seems that economic This reflected members’ recognition that we recovery is predicated on making it easier to need to actively press the political community dismiss staff and reduce their voice. for evidence-based change. Prospect faced up to these challenges and This approach also informs the Prospect started to adapt by changing how it works Pledge campaign, which has set the direction and stabilising membership. We have worked for our lobbying work into the 2015 general throughout the year to implement the election. However that is not to ignore the recommendations of the 2012 strategic review. enormity of the choice facing the people of Internally, we created two new teams: the Scotland in 2014. Prospect has been developing communications and research staff were our voice on the independence referendum brought together to ensure coherent delivery through the Scotland committee. of our major policy and campaign messages We continued to make a difference in the and enhance the support to branches and workplace, despite the pressures on facility sectors. time and our representative base. Examples A national organising, recruitment and of personal achievement by staff and development team was also established – one representatives on behalf of members can be visible aspect of our determination to build found throughout the union. We successfully membership by addressing retention and pursued bargaining issues across hundreds recruitment in a fresh and energised manner. of employers. We have used the law to best Prospect Annual Report 2013 1 effect, such as winning on equal pay at the QinetiQ, we have supported members through Intellectual Property Office. a period of great difficulty post de-recognition. That company’s choices remain unusual, but We have major campaigns underway, under we have not disappeared and will return to the umbrella of ‘Good Work’. We designed and offer an independent voice. delivered groundbreaking training on stress and mental health issues at work. We hosted Looking to 2014, Frances O’Grady, TUC general a well-received fringe meeting on women secretary, told Prospect’s national executive in male-dominated industries at the Trades committee that: “We are in a battle to win the Union Congress and launched a ‘Prospect hearts and minds of the public.” Pioneers’ calendar showcasing our diversity. Prospect and others are fighting for an When we feel under pressure, we need to economic recovery that is real and sustainable. remind ourselves about the positive difference We will need to be even smarter at proving our we have made to members who needed value in this harsh environment. That depends our advice or representation. We should be on the dedication of staff and representatives proud of the work we do and highlight it with and from what I have seen in 2013, we can look determination. ahead with confidence. Collectively we remain undiminished by Mike Clancy the external environment. Some challenges General Secretary will appear intractable in the short term. In 2 Prospect Annual Report 2013 MEMBERSHIP,RECRUITMENT 1 ANDORGANISATION 7. The rest of the organisers work directly RECRUITMENT AND with pitches and regional teams. They are RETENTION managed by the appropriate National Secretary but within the overall strategy of 1. Prospect’s total membership at the end the head of NORD. Learning Services also come of 2013 was 115,636. The changes on the 2012 under NORD’s remit. figures are shown below: The head of NORD intends to revitalize 2. Membership 8. Prospect’s recruitment, retention and organising work through a clear and Prospect members as at 31 December 2012 118,617 deliverable strategy which includes culture Plus new members 6,740 change, training and support, leadership, Less members died, left or written off 9,721 reporting, accountability and strategic interventions and resourcing. Prospect total at 31 December 2013 115,636 9. At the end of 2013, the head of NORD 3. The total of 6,740 new and reinstated initiated a membership retention working members in existing areas was an group. This discussed processes, staff improvement on the figure for 2012. training and actions to reduce the number of leavers. Given that almost half of leavers 4. The number of leavers in 2013 are under 50 years old and therefore seeking remained high at 9,721, although this was new employment elsewhere, there are real an improvement on 2012. Membership opportunities to reduce losses and close the resignations are low and the key reasons for gap between joiners and leavers. leaving are redundancy, severance and, to a lesser extent, members moving employer for 10. In addition, Prospect launched an online career development and promotion. system to survey new joiners as to: q why they joined ORGANISATION q what they want from Prospect 5. A new organising structure was q how they heard of Prospect. established following the appointment of 11. The union will also launch a ‘Member Mike Graham as head of a new National Recruit Member’ initiative in March 2014. The Organising, Recruitment and Development aim is to significantly improve recruitment team (NORD). figures. 6. The central NORD structure consists 12. New recognition arrangements were of four organisers, including one senior negotiated with: organiser, who report to Mike Graham. This q Cavendish (previously known as team leads on key campaigns and some new Babcock) Nuclear Services greenfield site initiatives. They also support work in Prospect’s regional teams where and q Isle of Man Social Care NJC staff. when additional resources are required. 13. A number of other new recognition agreements are in progress. Prospect Annual Report 2013 3 RETIRED MEMBERS’ GROUP 14. The RMG National Committee met four times in 2013. The work of the committee and representatives continued to be dominated by the impact of the economic downturn and austerity measures on the most vulnerable in society. The RMG continued to contribute to policy work and worked with other stakeholders to promote retired members’ interests. 15. The conditions in which a card vote at national conference may be appropriate has been an issue for the RMG National Committee and national conference for a number of years. An NEC working group was established and discussions with senior RMG representatives continued. As a result, the NEC proposes to bring forward a rule change to Prospect’s 2014 biennial national conference. 16. ‘WiseEye’, a dedicated publication for retired members, was launched in 2013. In line with a more general review of communications, four dedicated publications for retired members will be produced each year – two editions of WiseEye and two updates. These will be sent to retired members via Profile. These and other Prospect publications can be read and downloaded from the union’s website. 4 Prospect Annual Report 2013 MANAGING 2THEUNION 6. Political activities used to be defined SUBSCRIPTIONS as giving direct support to people in public 1. On 1 January, subscription rates and office – MPs, councillors and candidates. The thresholds for members covered by the 1984 Trade Union Act widened that definition Prospect banded structure and for retired to include spending on literature, documents members were increased by 2.5% in line with or film, “the main purpose” of which could be Resolutions 48 and 50 from the 2012 biennial interpreted as seeking to persuade anyone national conference.