FBU organisation and structure review

Conference notes the contents of the Executive Council Policy Statement to Conference 2019 (issued to all Members in March 2019) which addresses, among other issues, the issue of National Officers and Head Office. It commits to report further to Conference on progress made by the task and finish group in addressing this aspect of the organisation and structure review.

Conference further notes the position detailed in the Executive Council Policy Statement regarding National Officers which followed the decision of Conference 2017 to instruct the Executive Council to appoint a temporary National Officer.

Conference notes that the task and finish group further considered how this arrangement had worked and took evidence from current national officials in post and from the temporary National Officer.

Conference agrees that the flexibility afforded by the current arrangement gives some encouragement that this could provide a blueprint for the future. This has been a new and different way of delivering work for the Union on a national basis and as a result the issues are complex and therefore the process of reviewing is not complete.

However, Conference is aware that this is not something that can be entered into without further work from the task and finish group, as well as further consultation with Head Office Officials, both permanent and temporary.

As a starting point for this further work, and recognising that the following needs to be developed, Conference resolves the following as a further interim position;

1. The current situation with two elected National Officers based in Head Office shall be maintained

2. The elections for these positions shall remain suspended for reasons previously agreed, aside from when a vacancy arises

3. The position of a third National Officer, as set out in the Rule Book, shall be left vacant whilst the task and finish group complete their work and until Conference has the opportunity to further consider on the structure of Head Office

4. The Executive Council shall appoint two Officials who would operate under similar arrangements and Conditions of Service to the current temporary National Officer

5. The Executive Council shall consider the individual merits of each case and make an assessment, in consultation with the Officials concerned, what working arrangements would best suit the individuals concerned

6. These positions would be open to any fully paid-up Member of the Union with at least five years’ continuous membership

7. The Executive Council shall have licence to appoint other Officials on a temporary basis to fulfil specific roles that have been identified from time to time

8. The Executive Council shall make the necessary arrangements for these measures to be introduced and will report further to Conference in 2020, including with any necessary rule changes.