Unite give Notice of restart of Central London Branch Meetings.
Following 18 months without any branch meetings of the Central London Branch of what was under the T&GWU, the Cab Trade Section letters have been sent to remaining members giving a date for the re-launch of the 1/230 Branch. (6.30 pm Tuesday 15th July Transport House Theobalds Road WC1)
Although titled the "Central London Branch", which implies Green Badge only, it does in fact cover both Green and Yellow Badges in most of London as the only other branch in the Capital, is the 1/300 Branch based in Heathrow and so as only Green Badges can work the Airport the 1/230 is the only branch for everyone else licensed by the PCO/TfL.
Quite why notice of the restart of the branch meetings has been given now is not clear,( perhaps they hope everyone is on holiday?) but it is to be welcomed. Many members have been asking for the restart and complaining that although the existing branch officers were due to have been out office last December ( 2007) due to expiry of their allocated time in office ( 2 years) they had continued to behave and act as officers. This meant that they were writing and speaking as if they were giving the Branch's position on many issues such as the "Ethnic Knowledge," when if fact as there have have not been any branch meetings there could not be a branch position on these issues.
What is now needed is for the rank and file members who have been denied any input into the trade through the branch to attend in numbers. This meeting is a chance for the members to return democracy to the branch. This includes Yellow Badges, it's your branch too. There is much going on in the trade that will effect all badges holders and if you want to have a branch that reflects the rank and file membership's position on trade issues then you need to attend.
We need to bring the branch back to it's rank and file members and make the branch's officers, and others who hold positions through branch membership and votes account-able to the branch. We need to improve communications with the members so everyone knows what is happening in their name. A newsletter that actually contains trade and union news and is not a "stop me and buy one" sales flyer.
A branch where fellow members of the Cab Trade Section from out of town will be welcome to attend our branch meetings as guests and be able to pass on their experiences and knowledge of the trade outside London.
BE THERE IT"S YOUR BRANCH YOUR TRADE HAVE YOUR SAY. |