Hotel, Catering and Ancillary Grades Conference Plan 2021/2022 Next Steps
Situation Since our first meeting at the end of June the Catering Grades exec committee, have met several times, in our first meeting we established due to the system showing only 1400 caterers nationally, there was no easy way to determine who the caterers were in the membership systems, part of the reason for this being companies often use the same grade name across stations and onboard and the system can not tell these apart. We decided we needed to complete a mapping exercise of the companies we determined had got the largest numbers of caterers in, these are: LNER Avanti West Coast DHL Cross Country GWR Tf Wales Greater Anglia Rail Gourmet Sodexo Scotrail RFA Stena Line. The companies were split between the committee and using staff rosters we were able to work a better figure for the members we had and the density of these within companies and depots. We are fully aware how large the task is of keeping this up to date and the need to ensure it is done ready for any attacks from the government. Under the 2021/2022, we have almost completed, Organising Actions 1 and 2 as detailed below: “1) Identify which members are represented by conference. -To identify which grades are auxiliary/catering staff. -To identify which companies they work for. - To establish how many we have in Total.
2)
Analyze and Breakdown this information. -Establish the amount of members per region -Establish Gender, Age Range and Race -Establish the amount of members per Company.”
Task Now that national mapping has been completed, we need to ensure: - the records are kept accurate -mistakes highlighted are corrected -recruitment is done in all areas -reps are recruited where missing -we establish an effective national communication network capable of responding quickly when needed. This is where our 3rd Organising action comes into play: 3) Look at how our members are organised, this needs to be done on both a company level and using existing organising structure. -Nationally – have we got full complement of Company Council Reps and who are they/which branch are they appointed by. -Locally – Have we got full complement of Local Level Reps, who are they and which branches -H&S – have we got full complement of H&S Reps who are they and which branch are they appointed by.
Actions Organising National Rep Meeting Through the branch network all reps have been invited to attend a national meeting, in attendance will be: Steve Hedley, Senior Assistant General Secretary Catering Grades Liaison Committee Org Unit The purpose of the meeting is to ensure that all reps are aware of these responsibilities to organise their members locally and are up to speed with how to do mapping, auditing and targeting of members for recruitment purposes.
There will be speeches from all parties present and a chance for reps to work with the org unit and do mapping exercises. Regional Meetings The members of the Catering Grades Liaison committee, will each attend special ‘Catering Campaign’ regional meetings, to explain the work hat has been done and next steps moving forward, the intention is for each regional council to set up a Catering Sub Committee. Meetings and Liaison member attending are shown below, also in attendance will be Steve Hedley and Org Unit: London & Anglia Regional Council London Transport Regional Council Manchester & North West Regional Council Midland Regional Council North East Regional Council North West & North Wales Regional Council Scotland Regional Council South East Regional Council South Wales & West Regional Council South West Regional Council Wessex Regional Council Yorks & Lincs Regional Council
Kathy Mazur TBC
14th Sept
Rob Barker Steve Smith Derek
29th Sept 16th Sept 30th Sept
Peter Steve Smith TBC Mandy Graham
23rd Sept 21st Sept 5th October 6th October 27th Sept 12th October 13th October
TBC Derek
Each sub committee will then be responsible for organising the Branches and Reps in each region and reporting back to Catering Grades Exec Committee. Communication needs to be 2 way, from the front line up and from Committee down, this way we can ensure that we are organised and ready to face any attacks thrown at us by the government or employers. The sub committees will also need to actively ensure we have full rep complement and monitor those reps are trained to required level, this should also include safety reps.
Campaign It was agreed by the NEC that: “The Union should hire a professional company to make a short catering campaign video. The video will highlight the essential role played by catering staff, the need to retain catering services and the buffet, and the poor working conditions, including long hours and low pay experienced by catering workers, particularly those which are outsourced, and how joining the RMT can help improve their pay, conditions, safety and work-life balance. The video could be used as part of recruitment and retention activities and to engage with the public. The Committee should meet with the company producing the video in advance of its production in order to brief it about the relevant issues to cover” It is intended that the film company will be involved with National Reps meeting that is planned, filming reps and committee members.
Conference 2022 Starting September liaison committee will start work on 2022 Conference in Swansea with is taking place on Saturday 23rd April 2022. This will be our first physical conference for 2years, and it is intended that social events will take place around it. The liaison committee will visit Swansea and confirm venues and possible accommodation as soon as possible. Previous Delegates will be kept in contact with and using the Sub Committees and rep network established, we would hope there should be a good turn out of delegates. We will also be setting up a Facebook page for further communication purposes
Charter The catering grades charter was produced many years ago and is now out of date, the grades have changed and well as many of the roles. -we need to look at the grades we currently have within catering and auxiliary -we need to asses the data in the charter, keeping what is relevant and updating what is not. -we need to ensure it covers the grades we represent both on land and water. -we also ask that analysis of the best terms and conditions from each company is done, and then put together as an ideal for all companies to work towards. -need to aim for it being ready by next conference.
We would hope to get this completed by next conference in April.
Next Steps/Timeline Moving forward we feel the liaison committee should meet monthly September & October
-Meetings to Take place both Nationally and Regionally -Sub Committee’s to be set up Regionally -Work on Short Film to start -Liaison Committee to visit and confirm venues for conference -Start work on Charter -Complete minutes from 2021 Conference
November
-Liaison Committee to meet as all Regional Meeting have finished -Complete and release short film -Complete Conference Facebook page -Start communication with previous delegates -Complete Conference Pack -Charter Work
December
-Agree Conference Pack -Set plan for 2022 leading up to Conference.