EC Meeting Papers January 2019

GFTU General Secretary and Treasurer selection.

1 Ben Marshall the outgoing President in 2017 urged the BGCM and the General Secretary and President to review the existing rule book arrangements for the selection of the GFTU General Secretary in the light of changes to the role. 2 The EC agreed in November 2018 to do this and recognised that if rule changes were required it would consider these by email or phone conference prior to the January 23 rd EC, (motions deadline 22 nd January). 4 Page 10 part III, Rule 15 h says that where illness or incapacity leads to a vacancy the Executive shall appoint an Acting General Secretary from within its ranks of 5 years standing of affiliated organisations, until the next General Council meeting and to take such steps as they deem necessary, if appropriate, for the General Council to appoint a General Secretary. 5 At Page 12 Rule 18 a, the rule refers to Appointment of the General Secretary and Treasurer and says that this shall be done by the General Council on a ballot vote. It goes on to say that when a vacancy is likely to occur the Executive Committee shall take such steps to fill the vacancy by inviting the affiliated organisations to nominate. It clarifies that Nominations for the position of General Secretary may be made by any affiliate of the GFTU (whether full or associate) and any member of 5 years standing in a bona fide trade union may be nominated. 6 While a vacancy under Rule 15 has to be filled from an affiliated union, a vacancy under Rule 18 a appears open to any bona fide trade union. 7 Under Appendix 1 in the Rules specifically referring to the appointment procedure of the General Secretary and Treasurer it sets out the process in more detail but says nominations are eligible as per the rules. This I would take to mean any bona fide union, not just an affiliate could nominate. 9 The rules distinguish between full and associate affiliates especially in the event of a tied ballot. We no longer make such a distinction. 10 It seems that there are two main questions for the EC. Is the EC satisfied that nominations should be eligible from any trade union and secondly does the EC believe that political election at a BGCM is appropriate? 11 A Job Description for the General Secretary was drawn up in 2011. It is still applicable and has not been amended. 12 The job role has changed since 2011. We have taken on a new social enterprise project and developed 50 new services for affiliates, expanded our education provision, profile, international work and range of affiliates. We have new partners and have expanded our staff team and professionalised services to affiliates such as accounting and education management. 13 Strategically we are moving our main investments from the finance houses to our own control. 14 The skills and senior management requirements of the post today are far in excess of those of 2011. 3 The existing rules say a number of things. 8 The election takes place at the BGCM or special conference.