EC Papers September 2018

General Secretary’s Report September 2018

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Tributes.

1.1 Professor Joyce Canaan partner of Dave Rogers of Banner Theatre passed away after a long and brave battle against cancer. I had known Joyce for 30 years and she assisted the GFTU with the revival of our education programme and our Liberating Arts festival. I attended her funeral and wake. 1.2 Sarah Ansell a history teacher and lifelong trade union activist who assisted the GFTU with thinking through our new history modules passed away also after a long and brave struggle against cancer and I attended and spoke at her memorial. I had known Sarah since 1976. She made an exceptional contribution to NUT, then PCS, then Northampton Trade Union Council.

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Staffing

Claire Smith has joined us as Senior Finance Officer concentrating on managing the POA contract.

Steve James has joined us as Finance Officer concentrating on managing the Hotel accounts.

Jayne Pacey has joined the GFTU team part time as Union Support Worker providing initially back up admin support for one union’s recruitment campaigning.

Michael Liggins has joined the Hotel team as Site Manager.

Alex has left food and beverages in the hotel for another similar appointment to further his career.

Katheryn has left the food and beverages service at the hotel to move house.

Georgia has returned to food and beverages in the mornings.

One performance and one sickness absence matter are under review in the hotel.

The Operations Manager has issued a consolidated set of policies and procedures by way of new handbooks.

Sue Tomkins of payroll has been to hospital for a hand operation and we have wished her well.

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New Build.

There have been, inevitably some may say overspends. I have analysed these in detail and discussed them with the Project Manager, contractors, senior management team, President and Vice President and hotel directors. These include the surprise find of dumps of asbestos on site, bat licenses and surveys, new hotel offices unplanned for, some remedial work necessary to retain business and so on. They also include an extra payment of £60,000 to the contractor. The effect of these overspends means that they reduce the amount of reserves at the end of the project. The effect of this is that we had less to allocate to a potential new third building. This was a factor leading to the decision recorded below.

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