My Ref: MRP32/1
3rd February 2021
Circular No: NP/049/21
TO: The Secretary,
All Retired Members’ Branches and Regional Councils
Dear Colleagues,
NATIONAL retired members’ ADVISORY CONFERENCE 2021
Arrangements have been made for the 2021 National Retired Members Advisory Conference which will take place on Tuesday 20th April 2021. As a consequence of the current pandemic this conference will be held remotely via Zoom conferencing. Details will be forward to delegates.
Nominations
The Advisory Conference consists of a maximum of four delegates per Region. Retired Branches, or where applicable Regional Councils, are invited to nominate retired members as delegates. Four nomination forms are enclosed herewith.
Nominations are also sought for the National Advisory Conference Liaison Committee which consists of two delegates per Retired Member Branch, or where applicable Regional Council. Two nomination forms are enclosed.
Please also find a nomination form for internal conference positions and external committees.
The closing date for receipt of nominations is Wednesday 24th March 2021.
May I please bring to your attention to Rule 4 of the National Retired Members Advisory Conference Constitution:
“Each Retired Members Branch shall have the right to nominate four delegates, who shall be retired members or have been resettled under ill health or PT&R.
In the event of a Regional Council having more than one Retired Members Branch, two nominees from each Branch shall be permitted, subject to a maximum of four nominees per Regional Council.
A Regional Council which does not have a Retired Members Branch may, if it so wishes, nominate four delegates.”
Therefore only Retired Member Branches or a Regional Council without a retired member branch can nominate delegates to the Conference and Liaison Committee.
Nomination forms received which are not supported by a Retired Members Branch or a Regional Council will not be accepted.
I would therefore advice branches in a region which does not have a Retired Members Branch to go through the appropriate Regional Council to ensure retired members can attend the conference and Liaison Committee.
Resolutions
I would also like to take this opportunity to seek resolutions for inclusion on the Conference Agenda. Resolutions, which must deal with issues directly relating to pensioners, should also be submitted by Wednesday 24th March 2021.
The Conference is entitled to submit two resolutions, which must deal with issues directly affecting pensioners, to the RMT’s Annual General Meetings. Two representatives of the Advisory Conference may attend the Annual General Meeting to move the resolutions.
Meetings
I am aware that many retired member branches have not met since the first lockdown in March 2020 and it is therefore difficult to seek the nominations and raise resolutions. However, while I appreciate its impossible to have normal meetings I would encourage Branch Secretaries to try to use video conferencing and phone options where possible so you can not only seek nominations etc and but also keep in touch with your branch members.
If you would like any assistance with this please contact the secretary of the Retired Members Conference Paul Norris on 020 7529 8806 or at p.norris@rmt.org.uk who will be happy to help.
I would also ask that the nomination forms and resolutions are sent directly to the secretary via his email address if possible but if you’re unable to do this please send them to Head Office accordingly.
Yours sincerely,
Mick Cash
General Secretary