1. About these Standing Orders

 

  • These Standing Orders have been designed to formalise the procedures of Lincoln Branch and apply to both meetings and elections. As such they cover a wider range of topics than previous Standing Orders.
  • In the event of a conflict between these Standing Orders and an ASLEF Rule, the ASLEF Rule is to take precedence and the relevant Standing Order is to be altered to comply with the Rule as soon as possible unless the majority of members present at a Branch Meeting consider that compliance with the Rule is not in the best interests of Branch Members, in which case the Standing Order should reflect best practice and Rule the minimum acceptable standard (as, for example, used in "Notices of Motion" below).
  • Standing Orders may be altered by a majority vote of members present at a Branch Meeting in response to a motion specifying the change.

2. Branch Meetings

  •  Meetings will be held as and when required by union business or branch members.
  1. If at all possible, meetings should be held at least bi-monthly.
  2. These meetings to be held in February, April, June, August and October.
  3. An additional Annual General Meeting will be held in December, at which all Branch Officers and Representatives (except LLC Representatives) shall be elected for the following year.
  • The date, time and location of the meeting must be agreed no less than 8 (eight) days beforehand.
  1. Meetings will normally be held on Sunday.
  2. Once the LLC room becomes available, meetings will normally be held there.
  • Any Notice of Motion must be signed by the member proposing it and should be handed to the Branch Secretary no less than 8 (eight) days before the meeting.
  • Details of the Motion must be shown on the Branch Meeting notice
  1. The "8-day rule" is so that the details can be shown on the notice.
  2. Notices of Motion will be accepted until 5 (five) days before the meeting, as required by rule 10.6(f), but cannot be shown on the Branch Meeting notice; this may mean fewer members are aware of the motion before the meeting - and in turn this may mean that potential supporters of the motion do not attend the meeting.
  3. Other motions may be submitted at the meeting if agreed by the Chair in consultation with the members present.
  • The Notice of the Branch Meeting is to be posted 7 (seven) days before the meeting.

3. Conduct of Branch Meetings

  •  Four members are required to form a quorum.
  1. If a quorum is not present thirty minutes after the start otf the meeting, the meeting is to be cancelled.
  2. The meeting is to be terminated if the attendance falls below a quorum by virtue of members leaving.
  • Meetings are to be no longer than 2 hours.
  • Agenda items at each meeting are to be:
  1. Minutes of previous meeting to be read and agreed;
  2. LLC report;
  3. Health & Safety Representatives report;
  4. Head Office correspondence;
  5. Any other business;
  • Plus
  1. Any notices of motion;
  2. Any elections;
  3. Reports as below;
  • The Branch Secretary's report is to be made at the Annual General Meeting.
  • The District Council Delegate is to give a report at the first Branch Meeting following a District Council meeting.

        Motions

  •  The mover of a notice of motion is to be allowed 10 minutes to speak, the seconder 10 minutes and each succeeding speaker 5 minutes.
  • No member may speak more than once except the mover who has the right to reply, immediately after which the question to be put.
  • The Chair shall on all questions have a vote as a member, but if he/she uses such vote he/she shall do so at the time of putting the question.
  1. If the voting is equal the Chair may then additionally use his/her casting vote.

        Election of Branch Officers

  •  Branch Officers, including the Health & Safety Represantive, are to be elected as and when required at the Annual General Meeting.
  1. Elections for LLC represantives shall be arranged seperately as detailed in the next section of these Standing Orders.
  • Canditates for all Branch posts must;
  • be based at Lincoln depot, and
  • be employed by the company concerned, if more than one company employs drivers at Lincoln depot, and
  • have a minimum of six months service with the company concerned.
  • The Health & Safety representative shall be elected for two years.
  • Branch Officers shall be elected for one year.
  • All Branch positions shall start on 1st January of the year after election and expire on 31st December of that year, with the exception of Health & Safety representative positions which shall on 31st December of the following year.
  1. i.e. if elected at trhe 2004 AGM, to take up post on 1st January 2005 and stand for re-election at the 2005 AGM as the post expires on 31st December 2005.
  2. A Health & Safety representative elected in December 2004 is to take up post on 1st January 2005 and stand for re-election at the 2006 AGM as the post expires on 31st December 2006.
  • The names of members standing for these posts must be listed on the Annual General Meeting Notice, along with the names of their nominator and seconder.
  1. These details must be given to the Branch Secretary at least 8 days before the meeting.

        Election of Local Level Representatives

  •  The LLC representatives shall be elected for two years alternately;
  1. i.e. if elected after the 2001 AGM: the term of office to expire at the end of 2003, or if elected after the 2002 AGM: the term of office to expire at the end of 2004.
  • Candidates for all posts must;
  1. be based at Lincoln depot, and
  2. be employed by the the company concerned, if more than one company employs drivers at Lincoln depot, and
  3. have a minimum of six months service with the company concerned.
  • Local Level Representatives will be elected by a ballot of all members at the depot rather than by election at a Branch Meeting unless there is only one candidate for the post.
  1. This will allow all members to have a say in the election of their representatives and officials, instead of only those who can attend the Branch Meeting.
  2. During the second week of November each year, the Branch Secretary will post a notice stating the name of the LLC representative whose post is to expire, whether or not they are standing for re-election and providing spaces for challengers to enter their details.
  3. Candidates for LLC positions must list their name and the names of their nominator and seconder.
  4. The nomination period will close on 30th November and if required an election will be held during the first two weeks of December.
  • LLC representatives shall take up their position on 1st January of the year after their election and shall stand for re-election in December the following year as their term of office expires on 31st December of that year.
  1. A LLC Rep elected in December 2004 is to take up post on 1st January 2005 and stand for re-election in December 2006 as their term of office expires on 31st December 2006.

       Election of DFC, Union Learner Rep, District Organiser and EC Committee Member.

  • If at Lincoln Branch there is more than one member wishing to stand for the above positions then this should be done by secret depot ballot.

        Election of delegate to the AAD.

  • We are with Boston, Ipswich and Peterborough.
  • Each branch has a right to nominate, if there is more than one branch nominating a candidate it goes to the block vote sytem.
  • If at Lincoln Branch there are two or more members wishing to stand for the above position this will be done by a show of hands at a Branch meeting.

        Members Standing for Any Elected Position.

  • Any member wishing to stand for any elected position within the Company Procedures (LLC, Health and Safety, Union Learner Rep etc.) should attend at least two (2) meetings a year plus the AGM in December.
  • If the Member standing for an Elected Position is off work for any valid reason or on Annual Leave and unable to attend the AGM, a letter explaining the reason for absence will be required addressed to the Branch Secretary.

        Discussion of Items Relating to Specific Staff Grades

  • Items on the subject of Footplate issues are to be dealt with by members in the Footplate line of promotion.
  • Items on the subject of Conductor/Guard issues are to be dealt with by members in the Conductor/Guard grades.
  • Any other items are to be jointly discussed; joint discussion to happen as often as possible, at the discretion of the Chair.

        Operation of Standing Orders duringg Branch Meetings

  •  If any doubt arises with respect to the operation of any Standing Order, the ruling of the Chair shall be decisive.

4. If a Branch Meeting cannot be held

  •  Should correspondence or business need an answer before a Branch Meeting can reasonably be held, the Branch Secretary is to contact the Branch Committee and, if they consider it necessary, as many members as reasonably possible to deal with the outstanding business in lieu of a formal Branch Meeting.
  • The date of this contact to be treated as the "date of the Branch Meeting" for all official purposes.

5. Disputes and Removal of Branch Officers or Representatives

  •  Any disputes regarding Branch Officers or Representatives must be raised at Branch Meetings for members to discuss and the issues to be resolved.
  • If Branch members are unhappy with any Branch Official or Representative, they have the right to call a Special Branch Meeting to remove him/her under Rule 10(h).
  • Any member requiring such a meeting must ask the Branch Secretary to arrange the meeting.
  1. As with any meeting, at least 8 (eight) days notice must be given in order that the Notice of Branch Meeting can be posted at least 7 (seven) days before the meeting.
  2. The only item which will be discussed at the meeting is the removal and replacement of the Officer or Representative. No other business can be conducted.
  • Removals of Branch Officers or Representatives will only be possible if at least one candidate stands for that post.
  1. It is not possible to remove an Officer or Representative and to leave the post vacant.
  • Removal of a Branch Officer or Representative shall be by a vote of the majority of the members present at the Special Branch Meeting. Election of a replacement (where more than one candidate stands) shall likewise be by a vote of the majority of members present at the Special Branch Meeting.
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