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First Day's Proceedings Sunday 5Th June 2005

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First Day's Proceedings Sunday 5Th June 2005 1 FIRST DAY’S PROCEEDINGS former deputy general secretary, Steve Pickering, who is at the back of the hall. Welcome, Steve. Also SUNDAY 5TH JUNE 2005 arriving this week will be Des Farrell. David Haire and MORNING SESSION Neil Moore are here. GMB MEPs and MPs. Various members of the GMB Parliamentary Group at Westminster and in Congress assembled at 10.00a.m. Brussels will be here during the week. We have with us, of course, the shorthand OPENING OF CONGRESS writers, Karen Jobson and Michael Thear. Welcome. We also welcome our sign language interpreters, Tony THE PRESIDENT (Sis. M. Turner): Good morning and Beckett, Nigel Cleaver, Jo Ross and Caroline Ryan. welcome to Newcastle. Colleagues, we now start the Welcome to Congress. proceedings. There are a couple of announcements I want to mention Stevie Pryle and his team. that I have to make, and one is a safety Congress, if you had seen this hall a few weeks ago, announcement. There are safety instructions around we were never going to have a Congress. It is right hall. Please take note of them. We now have a video and proper that I thank certain individuals who have tape for safety instructions. made today and this week possible. They do not very often get credit. Sometimes they get flak. Stevie (The public safety announcement was made) Pryle and you, Rosie, do not stand in the dark. Stevie Pryle has turned this centre into a magnificent venue Colleagues, mobile phones. Would you please and he is back here without a penny and he won’t make sure that they are off or turned to silent. The accept any payment. Well done to you and your team, first one that goes off will have to put £10 in the Stevie. (Applause) kitty to go to a charity at the end of the week. So I The other person who I would like to thank will be watching you closely. So shop your neighbour. personally, who has no idea that this is coming, is the We want to build the fund up. man, on my left, Phil Wyatt for also coming back and Welcome to all of you, and that is very sincere. To helping this Union out of the mire. Thank you, Phil. all new delegates, we have been there before. (Applause) Of course, that includes all the other staff Although I am sitting up here, I have been a delegate at head office who have been heavily involved in the on the floor before, so I know how nervous you have organisation of this Congress. It has been quite a few been preparing your speeches, tearing them up and hectic weeks. Thank you to all of them. then somebody says that you do not need to come to Colleagues, I would like you now to check all of the rostrum. I promise you, do not be frightened. Say your documents, which comprise the Final Agenda. what you think and believe, to a point. We will be as This includes all motions remaining on the agenda, all helpful as we can. Do not be afraid to ask any of us if composite motions, Standing Orders Committee you are in doubt about anything. Report No. 1, SOC Guidelines for Congress business, I am now going to call Congress officially to order including time limits for speakers and the for the opening ceremony. I have asked the Northern Representation Statement. Can you please check that Region to form the Banner Party this year, which is you have all of those documents. Yes? For ever hold right. Congress, could you please stand for the your peace. banner ceremony. Congress, some of my family will be attending this morning. They are coming to Newcastle from (Congress stood as the Banner Party proceeded to Whitley Bay. I see they are here. I am very proud of the platform to the accompaniment of “Jerusalem”) them. They are at the back. They own half of Whitley Bay, I think. Welcome, family. Barbara, you are Let me thank the Banner Party. Well done. It is very supposed to be in Scarborough. nerve-wracking walking to the stage with the Banner. I call Billy Hughes. Congress, please be seated. Congress, I would like to welcome some guests BRO. W. HUGHES (Northern): Colleagues, on behalf of who we have here this week and others will be Tom Brennan, the Regional Secretary for the arriving. As they arrive I will tell you when they are Northern Region, and indeed the full membership of here. I would like to welcome the following ex the Northern Region, I welcome delegates this regional secretaries: Geoff Wheatley from the morning to the fair City of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Birmingham Region -- I understand that Ernie Hughes Newcastle-upon-Tyne is a wonderful city but it is only is arriving -- Billy Smith from the Liverpool, North surpassed by the people who live here, affectionately Wales & Irish Region and John Cope, who was my own known as ‘Geordies’. I am sure, during the week, you ex-regional secretary, who has a new job, I will come across those people and you will be understand. welcomed with open arms. I welcome our former national officers and Let me say that in your wallets you have a 2 discount booklet. These are for reputable firms. Liverpool I would urge you to use the discount that is available. No. 3 - Derek Sutcliffe will count Birmingham. It is no good looking for Poundstretcher because it is not included. London This week the Northern Region is using Congress, No. 4 - Christopher Roffey will count Lancashire. hopefully, to raise money for their hospice in the Northern Region. I hope that you will support this Midland worthwhile charity. We have a stall selling raffle No. 5 - John Needham will count Liverpool. tickets with wonderful prizes. They cost 20 pence a ticket but, as a special discount for the delegates Northern here this morning, I am offering 5 for a pound. No. 6 - BernieTaylor will count London. Newcastle is well-known for its beer, Newcastle Brown Ale, and the Toon Army. Unfortunately, the GMB Scotland beer has a little bit more kick in it than the football No. 7 - Charlie Lunn will count Midland. team, but we will not go down that road now. I would like to mention our Acting General Southern Secretary, Paul Kenny, who is a very, very generous No. 8 - Jack Cheeseman will count Northern. man. He is the salt of the earth. You name it, he has done it and been it. What a lass our worthy President South Western is. Ah, she is a canny lass. Look at our illustrious CEC No. 9 - Jean Richards will count GMB Scotland. members. These people are very, very important. They do a grand job for the organisation as a whole. I Yorkshire am only hoping that, by the end of the week, these No. 10 - Don Morgan will count Southern. very important people get together and decide to make a donation to our charity. Thank you very much. Let me stress, colleagues, that Tellers must remain in That is an end to the commercials. (Applause) the Congress Hall at all times whilst Congress is in session and the delegates must be in THE PRESIDENT: Well done, Billy. You never fail. You their allotted seats when a vote is taken. did not disappoint me. Colleagues, I am going to get a rucking from THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much, Debbie. There someone but I will do it now. I did not welcome the are buckets along the side of the hall for Tellers in general member auditors, David Boyle, Ed Hamilton case they need them. and Les White, who will count the votes this week. Welcome. You have been doing a smashing job. PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS AND VOTE OF THANKS ROLL CALL THE VICE PRESIDENT (Bro. M. Sage): Conference, it now gives me great pleasure to ask our President, THE PRESIDENT: I ask Debbie Coulter to call the roll. Mary Turner, to address Congress. (Applause) (The Deputy General Secretary called the roll.) THE PRESIDENT: Congress, I want to begin by saying a few words about some of the Platform party. On my Would Regional Secretaries please notify us of any immediate right is my friend and colleague, your further alterations to the Congress office. national Vice President, Malcolm Sage. Malcolm has been a pleasure for me to work with over the past APPOINTMENT OF TELLERS two years. I can honestly say that he has been a real rock and a voice of studied calm whilst the Union THE PRESIDENT: We now come to the Appointment of sailed through some stormy waters. Malcolm will be Tellers. The Deputy General Secretary will now report checking that we all keep to the time limits laid down those Tellers who have been appointed. for us by the Standing Orders Committee. He will also be moving the CEC Statement that is on this THE DEPUTY GENERAL SECRETARY (Sis D. Coulter): afternoon’s agenda as well as introducing one of the Thank you, President. The following delegates have CEC’s special reports later this week. been appointed as Tellers: If Congress agrees, I will also be asking Malcolm to take the Chair once or twice to allow me to meet Birmingham some of our guests and to speak in the public No. 1 - Mick Coghlan will count South Western. services debate on Tuesday. On Malcolm’s right is our Deputy General Lancashire Secretary, Debbie Coulter. Debbie has been leading No. 2 - Les Morgan will count Yorkshire.
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