Special Delegates’ Conference Report 21-22 April 2009

SOC PAPER SDC APRIL 2009 – 3

Report on 1st Session

Introductions

Conference was opened at 1335 by the Branch Chair, Mr Paul Winstanley who welcomed Delegates and guests to the 2nd SDC of recent months.  Those in attendance introduced themselves.

SOC Report

Mr Kevin Malam, Chair SOC presented the SOC Report and SOC SDC Paper 1, which were accepted by Conference.

Chairs Opening Address

In his address, Paul Winstanley told Delegates that this Conference was both a response to the desire to improve communications within the Branch and also to gauge the opinion of the membership in the matters being raised by NATS Management.  He stated that the issues involved were extremely important, more so than even the recent debate over pensions.  These matters affect all ATCOs, not just those currently within NSL.  No decisions have yet been made but he warned Delegates that they would be required to make difficult decisions, but that making difficult decisions on behalf of members is a privilege of a position of responsibility.  The BEC have submitted a number of motions designed to stimulate a vigorous debate, one which must take place in order to guide the BEC.  Paul once again stressed that that these are very serious issues which affect all ATCOs.

BEC Presentation

Stu Osman & Jon Waddington gave a presentation detailing the issues being raised by NATS and urged Conference to question thoroughly the rational being used by NATS to further their position.

Following a request, Conference agreed that Laurence King, (representing MACC) would be permitted to give a short presentation on the background to the European factors affecting the issues being raised.

Laurence informed Delegates that as employees of NATS they were in a very difficult position, being the only privatised, economically regulated ANSP in Europe.  In France there is one ANSP with 4000 ATCOs covering 5 centres and 80 airports throughout at the country.  In the UK there are 99 different licensed ANSPs.  The culture throughout Europe is so different that there is very little chance of NSL being able to take new business in Europe, simply because the business opportunities do not exist.  It is clear to the politicians that the FAB agreed between NATS & the Irish ANSP, whilst a political ‘headline’ has in fact achieved very little.

Laurence stated that the problems we were here to discuss were in fact as much political as business related.

Following the presentation Delegates raised a number of questions and gave opinion on the information they had received.

National Secretary

The National Secretary, Garry Graham told Delegates that we were in fact in a good position as members of a very strong Branch in a good Trade Union.  The UK skies are safe because of the skill and dedication of our members and as a united group this put us in a position of considerable strength.

NATS Presentation

Lawrence Hoskins, CEO NSL, introduced the colleagues who formed the NSL delegation.  The NSL team gave a presentation on the issues facing the business as they saw them and gave brief details of a number of the possible options they had considered as routes to improving the position for the future.

Following the presentation the NSL team answered a number of questions from Delegates.

Mr Mike Clancey, Deputy General Secretary, Prospect

The ATCOs Branch was delighted to welcome to the SDC Mr Mike Clancy, Deputy General Secretary of Prospect.  Mike’s address, which was warmly received by Conference, examined a number of similarities between the privatised energy market in the UK with the situation that NATS had been forced into.

The 1st session closed at 1830.

REPORT ON 2nd SESSION

Garry Graham, Prospect National Secretary

Garry addressed Conference, providing a detailed insight into the TUPE Regulations.

BEC Presentation & Open Debate

Conference spent some time discussing the presentation given by the NSL Management and the implications for the remainder of the Conference.

Consideration of Motions

Motion SDC 1 – Carried Unanimously
Motion SDC 2 – Carried
Motion SDC 3 – Lost
Motion SDC 4 – Carried
Motion SDC 5 – Lost
Motion SDC 6 – Carried
Motion SDC 7 – Lost
Motion SDC 8 – Carried Unanimously
Motion SDC 9 – Lost
Motion SDC 10 – Carried
Motion SDC 11 – Lost
Motion SDC 12 – Lost
Motion SDC 13 – Carried
Motion SDC 14 – Carried
Motion SDC 15 – Carried Unanimously

Consideration of Emergency Motions

Motion EM1 – Carried
Motion EM2 – Lost
Motion EM3 – Carried
Motion EM4 – Carried
Motion EM5 – Carried
Motion EM6 – Carried
Motion EM7 – Carried
Motion EM8 – Carried
Motion EM9 – Guillotined
Motion EM10 – Guillotined
Motion EM11 – Guillotined
Motion EM12 – Guillotined
Motion EM13 – Guillotined
Motion EM14 – Guillotined
Motion EM15 – Guillotined
Motion EM16 – Guillotined
Motion EM17 – Guillotined
Motion EM18 – Guillotined
Motion EM19 – Guillotined
Motion EM20 – Guillotined
Motion EM21 – Guillotined
Motion EM22 – Guillotined
Motion EM23 – Guillotined
Motion EM24 – Guillotined
Motion EM25 – Guillotined

Closing Addresses

Mr Garry Graham, National Secretary

Garry Graham told Conference how pleased he was with the way the SDC had been conducted.  Debate had been good and the issues had been aired.  He felt that as a Branch we were united, strong and confident.  He urged Delegates to return to their units and engage with members on that basis.

Mr. Paul Winstanley, Branch Chair

In closing, Paul gave thanks to the Conference organiser, Colin Valentine, the SOC Kevin Malam & Stuart Mann and Annette Cooper for her continued hard work in support of the Branch.

Paul thanked the various Guests, and the NSL team who attended on the first day of the Conference.

Paul went on to speak about the new ATCOs’ Branch web-site which was launched recently.  He stated that this site would enable the Branch to significantly improve communications with membership.  He gave the thanks of the Branch to Jon Menice and Matt Switzer who had devoted considerable time and effort into producing such an excellent facility.  He advised Conference that details of the decisions made over the past two days would be published on the web-site later today.

Paul went on to speak warmly of the work carried out by Hayden Evens and his team who handle all the personal cases on behalf of the Branch.  Paul advised Delegates that they would never guess the amount of work that this area generated and the Branch and the membership are grateful to Hayden and his colleagues.

Paul advised Conference that the hard work started now for all those gathered in the room.  The Conference had drawn a line in the sand that we stand shoulder to shoulder as one group of ATCOs working for one NATS.  Work starts here for Delegates to engage the membership and to demonstrate the leadership that those attending the Conference had displayed.

The 2nd Session ended at 1530.

Kevin Malam
Chair SOC
22nd April 2009

Click HERE to download the SDC Motions to become Policy.