TSSA Annual Conference 2023 Daily Updates
Session Two
Daily updates from TSSA Annual Conference
Session One:
1:45pm Introduction Session
2:30pm Conference Commences
1: Introduction to hybrid Conference
2: Minutes of 2022 Annual Conference (taken as read) (including formal closure of Annual Confernece 2022)
Moved: John Morris
Seconded: Edmund Kyberd
Carried
3: Announcement of Election Results
SOC: Cheryl O'Brien, Joe Kavanagh, Pauline McArdle, Luke Howard
4: Presidents Address (see below)
5: Remembrance of Deceased Colleagues
6: Stewards' Report on Attendance
TSSA delegates can enjoy their free copy of the Morning Star
Questions
Malcolm Wallace: The conference is closing at 12:30, not 17:30 because of the Irish Bank Holiday. Will we complete debating all our motions?
Joe Kavanagh for SOC: Yes. We only have one hour of business scheduled.
SOC Report
Item EM1: EC oppose both Amendments and Oppose/remit the motion
Item EM2: EC support
Item EM5: EC support
Item EM7: EC support
Item EM8: EC support
EM 7 & EM8 will be taken in closed session tomorrow afternoon.
Item 29: Amendment A has been accepted: NE General move NR North London Second. Amendment B stands
Point of Order
Jill Murdoch, Women in Focus moved Rerence Back on Appeals by Manuel Cortes and Luke Chester.
Peter Pendle spoke against the Reference Back
For: 18
Against: 32
Reference Back lost.
This means the Appeals go ahead
SOC Report: Moved, Seconded and carried.
Guest Speaker:
Liam Berney, Industrial Officer, ICTU
7: "Frozen" State Pensions Composite
Moved: Retired Members Group
Seconded: E-Mix
EC Support
Carried
8: Withdawn in favour of Composite item 7
9: Pension Protection Fund
Moved: LT Retired Branch
Seconded:
EC Support
Carried
10: NHS
Moved: Anglia South General
Seconded: Scotland Retired
Supported by: North East General
(Amended accepted)
EC Support
Carried
11: Care Costs
Moved: North East Operations
Seconded: Crewe & Cheshire General
(Amendment accepted)
EC Support
Carried
12: Menopause
Moved: North East Operations
Seconded: Wales No. 1 Branch
EC Support
Carried
13: Period Products (Free Provision)(Scotland) Act
Moved: West of Scotland General
Seconded: Lancs & Cumbria General
EC Support
Carried
14: Disability Awareness and Training
Moved: Lancs & Cumbria General
Seconded: Disability Working Group
EC Support
Amendment accepted
Carried
15: Hidden Disabilities
Moved: South Wales & Western Retired
Seconded: Quadrant Milton Keynes
EC Support
Carried
16: Labour Party
Moved: Future TSSA
Seconded: Kent Branch
EC Oppose
Carried (34 for, 16 against)
17: Transport Policy
Moved: TfL Central
Seconded:Anglia South General
EC Support
Carried
18: Transport Policy (Future of Rail Industry)
Moved: North East General
Seconded: Formally
EC Support
Carried
19: Transport Policy (Ireland's Railways)
Moved: Irish Committee
Seconded: West of Scotland branch
EC Support
Carried
20: Transport Policy (Disabled People)
Moved: Disability Working Group
Seconded: Midlands Retired
Supported by: Anglia South General
(Amendments A and C accepted)
Amendment B: moved by Women in Focus
Amendment Lost: 22 For, Against 25
Carried
21: Transport Policy (Integration)
Moved: Crewe and Cheshire General
Seconded: Lancs & Cumbria General
Supported: London Bus & Rail Operators
EC Support
Amendment A
Moved: Future TSSA
EC Support
Amendment Lost
Amendments B and C Accepted
Motion carried
Conference Adjourned
Sunday 4 June Morning session
Sunday 4 June Morning session
Session opened at 10:00
22. Transport Policy (TfL) Composite
Moved: TFL Central
Seconded: TFL Retired Members
Amendment moved by LT Retired.EC support
Carried
23. Withdrawn for motion composite motion 22
24. Transport Policy (Bus Funding)
Moved: London Bus and Rail Operators
Seconded: London South and West General
EC support
Carried
25. Transport Policy (Transport Policing in Ireland)
Moved: Irish Committee
Seconded: BTP Branch
EC support.
Carried
26. Transport Management (Train Cancellations/Compensation)
Moved: London Bus and Rail Operators
Seconded: Retired Members Group
EC support
Carried
27. Transport Management (Northern Ireland
Moved: Northern Ireland
Seconded: Network Rail London South
EC support
Carried
28. Management Ireland
Moved: Belfast Branch, Irish Committee
Seconded: London Bus and Rail Operators
EC support
Carried
42. Anti-Trade Union Laws and Minimum Service Levels
Moved: Network Rail London South
Seconded by Lancs and Cumbria General
EC support
Carried
43. Anti-Trade Union Laws and Minimum Service Levels
Moved: North East General (Steve Coe)
Seconded: Retired Members Group
EC support
Carried
44. EU Retained Law Bill and Employee Protections
Moved: Women In Focus
Seconded: Network Rail London South
EC support.
Carried
Chair welcomed 1st time and young delegates
Conference adjourned 11:00
Session 3 11:15
29. Merger Talks
Amendment A supported by EC and accepted by Network Rail North London
Moved: North East General
Seconded: North London Branch
Amendment B. Moved: WIF, seconded London South West General. EC oppose. NE General Branch spoke for amendment.
Carried with amendments
30. Merger Talks
Amendment A accepted
Moved: Lancs and Cumbira General
Seconded: DWG
Amendment B moved: London & Southern Retired, seconded: London South & West General.
Amendment B lost
Motion Carried
11:45 Chair paused the next motions to allow time for the strategic plan to be considered.
Discussion of TSSA Information Paper on `Strategic Plan’
Peter Pendle (Acting Interim Joint General Secretary) explained how the direction of travel document came about, and gave a narrative about the sections within it.
Discussion continued on the floor and online.
Session adjourned 12:30
Sunday 4 June Afternoon
Conference re-comenced 14:00
Discussion of the strategic plan continued.
31. Merger Talks
Moved: Kent Branch
Seconded: London Rail and Bus Operators
EC support
Motion carried
14:30 Guest Speaker Baroness Helena Kennedy, K.C.
Please note that this afternoon's session relates to incidents of harassment and sexual harassment of TSSA staff and members, and you should bear in mind that the items could be triggering.
Confidential support line and online service
Freephone 08088010754
Email: helpline@thesurvivorstrust.org
Appeal by Manuel Cortes against the EC decision to dismiss him heard
Appeal lost
Appeal by Luke Chester against the EC decision to dismiss him heard
Appeal lost
16:15 Conference adjourns
16:45 Conference resumes.
Treasurer's Report, carried
35. Appointment of Auditors
Moved: Interim Treasurer
Supported by EC
Carried
EM6. Motion on Appointment of Assurer (Emergency motion)
Moved: Peter Pendle
Seconded: North East General
WIF: spoke against
Carried
EM7. TSSA Reports and accounts
Moved: London and South Retired
Seconded: WIF
EC supports
Carried
Return to debate about the Strategic Plan.
Delegates invited to submit any further contributions for the Strategic Plan via email to Peter Pendle
Session closed by Interim Joint General Secretary Peter Pendle.
Session adjourned 18:00.
Monday 5 June
9:30 This morning's session opened
Emergency Motion 3. Rule Alteration
Moved: North East General
Carried
32. Merger Talks
Moved: Lancs and Cumbria
EC oppose
Remitted
33. Merger Talks
Moved: WIF
Seconded: North East Branch
EC support
Carried
EM1. TSSA Organisation
Moved: North East General
Seconded: Kent branch
Amendment A proposed. EC oppose amendment A. Fell
Amendment B proposed by WIF. Seconded London & SW General. EC oppose. Carried
EC opposes motion
Carried
Conference adjourns 10:40
Conference returns 11:00
EM8. Kennedy and Conley Reports
Moved by Future TSSA
Seconded Anglia South General
EC supports
Carried
37. TSSA Communications
Moved: Crewe and Cheshire General
EC supports
Carried
38. TSSA Democracy
Moved: Future TSSA
Seconded: Crewe and Cheshire General
EC supports
Carried
39. TSSA Diaries
Moved: Midlands Retired
EC supports
Carried
40. TSSA Organisation
Moved: Kent branch
Seconded:
EC supports
Carried
41. TSSA Member Benefits
Moved: London & Southern Retired, as amended
Seconded: Kent Branch
EC supports
Carried
45. Enough Is Enough
Moved: TfL Central
Seconded: West of Scotland General
EC supports
Carried
46. Race-Pay Disparity
Moved: E-Mix
Seconded: Milton Keynes Quadrant Branch
EC supports
Carried
47. Dying to work
Moved: DWG with amendment
Seconded: Lancs and Cumbria General
EC supports
Carried
48. StrikeMap
Moved: Scotland Retired
Seconded:
Amendment: Anglia South General
EC supports
Carried
49. Food Labelling
Moved: LT Retired
Seconded: NR London South
EC supports
Carried
50. Press Freedom
Moved: Anglia South General
Seconded: Kent
Amendment: Kent
EC oppose
Carried
51. London Freedom Pass
Moved: LT Retired
Seconded:
Carried
Em2. Climate Change Emergency
Moved: North East General
Seconded: London South and West General
EC Support
Carried
EM5: Illegal Migration Bill
Moved: Network Rail London South
Seconded: Lancs & Cumbria General
Carried
52: Rule Alterations
Moved: Executive Committee
Seconded: Formally
Carried
Conference Closed
Next year's conference: Cardiff
President's Address Annual Conference 2023
Conference my name is Marios Alexandrou. I am the Executive Committee member for LT Division and interim President.
This is the first conference at which we have had Interim President, Interim Treasurer and Interim Joint General Sec.
Since the last conference in Sheffield to celebrate 125 years of association, so much has happened. At Conference last year we had the Reel News video of Claire Laycock, which was the driving force behind Baroness Helena Kennedy KC's report, which highlighted number of things that had taken place which should never have happened in first place.
The merger with the IBB who pulled out stating that felt we were not good fit - we still don’t really know what really happened. I contacted the IBB and asked them to confirm it was given in writing. They supplied us a letter which stated that they felt we were no longer a good fit, which was dated 3 days before the date on which we were told that they informed the GS & President.
Then we had the merger with the GMB which sat uncomfortably with a number of us on the EC when we found out in the January of this year, especially as informal talks had started in the Sept without the knowledge of the wider EC. The EC had initially agreed to a Special Delegates Conference before any merger. Just something was not sitting right with us on the reasons why we were merging with GMB as the more and more we started looking at Finances we realised we could stay independent. The merger was then paused/stopped.
We had Manuel Cortes stating in October that he would be standing down as GS, we were under the impression that he would be gone by December. This later turned out not to be correct and we found out he would be on Gardening leave till May.
In Feb of this year Baroness Kennedy presented her report to the EC, which EC fully accepted the recommendations and President and Treasurer both resigned. I advise you to Read her report it if you have not already, I personally was disgusted and sickened by what I read and also the verbal report from her. You will also be hearing from Baroness Kennedy tomorrow before the appeals.
Nicola and I both became the Interim President and Treasurer as we had made it clear that we would not be standing as National Officer.
Very difficult decisions were made on the people mentioned in HK report, which I am sure you are aware of, if you have not read the report do, please do and also Conley report
It has been difficult, and I have worked 18/20 hour days 6 days weeks and also still doing my full time job.
Nicola and I have been working hard to return the association to place which we are all proud to be members, which also Professor Conley stated that Association has really good Staff and members and things we have done we should be proud of.
Since Peter Pendle has been on board as Interim Joint General Sec he is now helping us to get the association back to place which we can grow.
We still have long way to go, and we have been talking to Baroness Kennedy and her team and other bodies to make sure process put in place.
The EC agreed to appoint Interim HR Manager and 2 OD’s who are now part of Senior Team.
We have a Crisis team who are made up of Senior Management team, GMB staff reps and EC members and they are working on recommendations which a tracker has been published on TSSA website so all members and staff can see what has been achieved, so of these have already been completed but others will take while.
Since last year’s Conference the Association had successfully taken strike action on NR and TOC’s which eventually, we got settlement which members voted in Favour to accept.
We still have ongoing issue with TFL Pension fund which could force us in to strike action on TFL.
You will have noted that Manuel and Luke who were both dismissed are appealing to Conference over their dismissal, they have been informed that they will be sent link and time of their appeal, we cannot have them at Conference because of the actions and number people who have been affected by their actions. If you need to speak with anybody, we have increased the number of Diversity Reps who are staff and EC members who you can talk to, and they are Josie Kranendonk, Will Boisseau, Rob Jenks, Paul Corcoran, Melissa Heywood and Nicola Jukes.
As of 1st July you will have a new President Melissa Heywood, Treasurer Mary Sithole and following EC members Barry Love for Ireland and Catherine Poole who's replacing me, Jayson-Mark Gill, and also Paul who's retained his seat for another 3 years - good luck, and hopefully by September we will have a newly elected General Sec. And of course, we have Mary Sithole, our new Treasurer, who is joining us online.
The following have completed their terms on EC, Nicola Jukes, Paul Cocoran and me. This has been a time of great change. Previously, the EC were treated like mushrooms: kept in the dark and fed rubbish. We have recently found out that staff were not allowed to talk to us. That has changed. The EC is now open and transparent.
I know for certain that Nicola and I are both looking forward to the rest as it has been a turbulent time.
But I am proud to say that I leave at end of June knowing the Association is now in far better place and has a bright future and will remain independent.
Election Results announced at Annual Conference
Standing Orders Committee
Name Branch
Cheryl O’Brien Wales No1
Luke Howard LT Retired
Joe Kavanagh Midlands General
Andy Bain Network Rail North London
Pauline McArdle Lancs & Cumbria General
All Elected Unopposed.
Scrutineers
Name Branch Votes
Steve Floyd London Bus & Rail Operators 161
Kieran Crowe Midlands General 159
Elected
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cheryl O’Brien Wales No1 94
TUC Congress
Name Branch Votes
Sarah-Jane McDonough Euston
Fliss Premru TfL Central
Women candidates elected unopposed;
Frank Ellis Lancs & Cumbria General 173
Simon Turp South East Metro 33
(Number of candidates dependent on gender requirement in conjunction with President & Treasurer).
TUC Women’s Congress 2024
Name Branch
Sarah-Jane McDonough Euston
Fliss Premru TfL Central
Nicola Jukes North East Operations
Andi Fox North East Operations
Cheryl O’Brien Wales No.1
All Elected Unopposed
Labour Party
Name Branch Votes
Jill Murdoch North East General 126
Andi Fox North East Operations 111
Sharon Simmonds TfL Central 106
Elected
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Paul Beadle Euston 97
Fliss Premru TfL Central 95
Dave Merrett North East General 65
Hilary Hosking Anglia No.3 33
Womens Labour Party
Name Branch Votes
Pauline McArdle Lancs & Cumbria General 129
Cath Murphy Crewe & Cheshire General 96
Elected
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jill Murdoch North East General 48
Hilary Hosking Anglia No.3 6
Fliss Premru TfL Central 1