Public and Commercial Services Union

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Aviation group constitution

1. Name

1.1 The name of the group shall be the “Aviation Group of the Public and Commercial Services Union”, herein referred to as “the group”.

2. Composition

2.1 The group shall be composed of all those union members employed in National Air Traffic Services (NATS), the British Airports Authority (BAA) and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), save as the national executive committee of the union (“NEC”) may direct.

3. Objects

3.1 The objects of the group shall be to protect and promote the interests of the members in the group, and to further the objects of the union in relation to the members in the group. The group shall have autonomy in formulating policy specifically affecting members covered by it.

3.2 On matters which the NEC considers affect the union’s general interest policy decisions shall be subject to consultation with, and the final direction of, the NEC.

4. Management

4.1 The management of the group shall, subject to the over-riding authority of the NEC and of a membership ballot, be vested in the group executive committee (GEC).

5. Group executive committee

5.1 Elections to the GEC shall be held each year by postal ballot of all members in NATS, BAA and the CAA. The group secretary shall issue regulations for the conduct of the elections.

5.2 The GEC shall consist of a group president, group vice-president, group secretary (non voting), 4 group assistant secretaries, group treasurer, group organiser (together known as “group officers”), together with ten ordinary members.

5.3 The group secretary shall be employed by the PCS. All other officers and members of the GEC shall be elected by the whole membership. Seat reservations apply to some posts, save the group president, vice-president and treasurer and group organiser. Please see Section 6 of constitution on reservations.

5.4 The GEC may fill any casual vacancy among the group officers by either (a) appointing one of its own number, or (b) through a by-election. Any other vacancies will be filled by inviting the person standing highest on the list of unsuccessful candidates and who is available and eligible to serve. If an ordinary member vacancy arises the GEC will decide how and whether to fill the vacancy.

5.5 The duties of the GEC shall (subject to the over-riding authority of the NEC) be to:

a. Protect and promote the interests of the members in the group and to deal with all matters within its area of competence. Attached at annex D is a list of those membership responsibilities that fall to the GEC and those that fall to the NATS and BAA section committees and the CAA national branch.

b. Amalgamate, divide, or close existing branches or establish new branches, subject to the endorsement of the NEC.

c. Establish, subject to the endorsement of the NEC, such bodies as it considers necessary (on the basis of such rules as it may approve) to enable branches in the group to co-operate on issues of common concern; and to give assistance to such bodies as required.

d. Ensure that no branch or other body of the group shall enter into negotiations with an employer on matters affecting members in another branch without the prior approval of the GEC. Branches shall refer matters of interest that are not confined to themselves to the GEC for appropriate action.

e. Ensure that the most effective available arrangements are made for recruitment and retention of members. The group organiser shall report to each GEC meeting the last known actual membership, and an estimate of the potential membership, for each branch in the Group.

f. Keep such records, and render such returns and information, as the NEC may require.

g. Co-operate with the NEC on the conduct of the union’s affairs, and deal promptly with any matter remitted to it by the NEC for action.

5.6 Where either the GEC or the NEC considers that an employer is proposing a major change in members’ terms and conditions of employment, that change shall not be endorsed by the Group except with the support of the members concerned as determined by a majority of those voting in a ballot conducted on the same basis of voting as that laid down under rule 5.1.

5.7 The GEC may:

a. Prepare resolutions on matters within its area of competence, which shall be considered by the NEC.

b. Conduct a ballot of members in the group on any question relating solely to those members, subject to NEC authority.

c. Co-opt or invite to attend at its meeting such person(s) as it considers appropriate, without voting powers.

d. Establish such other sub-committees as it considers necessary and prescribe their terms of reference.

e. Section committees will be formed for the following areas; NATS, BAA. (See Section 7 of constitution on section committees).

5.8. The GEC shall establish such structures of the group as are necessary and which are practicable and sustainable, to represent the interests of women members, black members, young members, gay and lesbian members, and disabled members.

The quorum of meetings of the GEC and of any of its section committees shall be a simple majority of those entitled to vote. A record of attendances at GEC meeting shall be maintained by the group secretary and published in the annual group report.

There will be 4 GEC meetings held per year. Where possible section committee meetings will take place the preceding day. Extraordinary GEC meetings may be called in exceptional circumstances

6. Reservations

6.1 The assistant secretaries will be from each of the following areas: NATS (operational), NATS (non-operational), CAA, BAA

6.2 Ordinary members: BAA section will have 2 reserved seats, one of which will be for a member working in Scotland. CAA national branch will have 1 reserved seat. NATS section will have 1 reserved seat for a member from non-operational grades. In the event of any of those seats not being filled from within the reservation they may be filled from within the general membership.

7. Section committees

7.1 Section committees will be established for the following areas; NATS, BAA..

7.2 These section committees shall be responsible for membership issues specific to their employer, including the annual pay negotiations and settlement. Attached as annex A-C are constitutions governing the elections and responsibilities of section committees. Attached at annex D is a list of those membership responsibilities that fall to the GEC and those that fall to the section committees

8 Motions

8.1 Each branch is entitled to submit motions to the group for its consideration for appropriate action.

9 Group delegate conference

9.1 The group shall hold an annual group conference. Not less than four months notice shall be given to branches of the date of the conference.

9.2 A special group delegate conference may be called with the prior consent of the NEC either by the GEC or on the receipt by the group secretary of a written application by at least 2 branches together representing one quarter or more of members in the group. The GEC shall determine the timetable for the special delegate conference. Not less than one month’s notice shall be given to branches. Only business specified on the notice paper shall be dealt with.

9.3 Group delegate conferences shall be attended by:

(a) Delegates from branches within the group;

(b) GEC members;

(c) Three standing orders committee members

9.4 Branches may send observers to group conference, provided the expenses of doing so are met solely from funds raised by the branch’s own activities.

9.5 Branches may send delegates on the following basis:

Up to 100 members - 1 delegate
101-200 members - 2 delegates
201-400 members - 3 delegates
401- 600 members - 4 delegates
Plus one delegate for each additional 200 members

9.6 For the purpose of representation at group delegate conference, branch members shall be calculated on the same basis as for national delegate conferences of the union, as set out in the rules thereof.

9.7 Delegates shall be fully paid up members of the branch concerned, or in the case of branches grouped together, one of the branches concerned. No GEC member shall be eligible to be appointed as a delegate. The body electing a delegate shall be the only body entitled to instruct them.

9.8 The quorum shall be a simple majority of those delegates entitled to attend.

9.9 The group president, or their duly appointed deputy, shall preside. GEC members may not take part in any vote or election at the delegate conference, except that the president may exercise a casting vote if an equal number of votes are cast on each side of a motion.

9.10 Voting shall be by a show of hands except where a card vote is demanded by at least 5 delegates, or by the president. The basis of a card vote shall be one vote for each member of a branch.

9.11 The annual group delegate conference shall receive a report and statement of accounts from the GEC. The report and statement of accounts, together with the agenda and any conference papers, shall be circulated to branches within the same time limits as those set out in the union’s rules.

9.12 Motions may only be submitted by branches or by the GEC. Branch motions shall have been passed at a properly constituted meeting of members, and submitted on official forms signed by the branch chair and secretary (or in the case of absence, by another branch officer).

9.13 GEC motions shall have been passed at a properly constituted meeting.

10. Standing orders committee

10.1 For the purposes of considering the motions and other business submitted for the agenda of an annual or special delegate conference and making procedure business, there shall be a standing orders committee (SOC) whose report shall be laid before Conference.

The SOC shall comprise of three members, to be elected by ballot.

10.2 No SOC member may attend conference in any other capacity, or vote on conference business, or while so acting, be a member of the GEC.

10.3 SOC members shall normally serve for three years; one retiring annually and the senior member shall act as chair. In addition a member of the group executive committee shall be the secretary to the committee, but shall have no voting rights.

10.4 The SOC shall:

(a) Arrange motions into a convenient agenda, and construct composite motions, so as to provide for the efficient despatch of business.

(b) Ensure the president is supplied with copies of all motions as received from branches, and consult the president before rejecting any motion.

(c) Supply the group secretary with all necessary material to enable the booklet of motions to be issued according to the union’s rules.

(d) Consult the president and group secretary before making recommendations in relation to the conference timetable.

(e) Submit an agenda, timetable and such other recommendations as it sees fit, to conference for consideration.

(f) During conference, consult the chair of conference on all matters relating to the agenda, timetable and procedure, and report and recommend thereon as necessary.

(g) After consultation with the group president and the group secretary, refer any motion which may provide grounds for legal proceedings against the union or any of its officers or agents or printers, to the national president and the general secretary. SOC shall then exclude any motion from the agenda which the national president and the general secretary consider (after taking legal advice) may provide grounds for any legal proceedings. The decision of the national president and the general secretary shall be final and shall not be open to any form of discussion or challenge. A copy of the written legal advice shall be provided to the SOC, the group president, the group secretary and to the submitting branch.

10.5 The standing orders for the conduct of conference are set out at annex 1.

11. Funds

11.1 Group funds shall consist of the monies remitted by the NEC, together with such other monies as may be raised by the group through social activities. The group may not raise funds except on a voluntary basis, or expend funds except in accordance with the unions policies.

11.2 The group funds shall be administered by the GEC for the purposes of the group, subject to the over-riding authority of the NEC.

11.3 The financial year of the group shall run from 1 January to 31 December.

11.4 An account in the name of the group shall be opened by a bank approved by the NEC. Each cheque shall be signed by both (a) the group treasurer and (b) either the group president or other designated officer of the group.

11.5 The group treasurer shall maintain appropriate records of the group’s financial activities, which shall be made available for inspection at each GEC meeting. An accounting statement shall be prepared in respect of each quarter which shall be presented for approval to the next convenient GEC meeting; on approval it shall be signed by the president, and a copy sent forthwith to the national treasurer.

11.6 The group treasurer shall prepare an annual budget for estimated expenditure for approval by the GEC. On approval, the statement shall be forwarded (together with any explanatory notes and supporting schedules) to the national treasurer by the date laid down by the NEC.

11.7 The group treasurer shall prepare annual accounts for the preceding year, in the form prescribed by the NEC, and present them to the GEC for approval. Following approval by the GEC, the treasurer shall submit them to the national treasurer as soon as practicable (not later than 28 February).

11.8 The cost of expenses necessarily incurred in attending meetings of the GEC, or of its sub-committees, or for other authorised purposes, shall be reimbursed from group funds within limits determined by the NEC.

12. Group rules

12.1 In the event of any conflict between these group rules and the union rules, the latter shall prevail.

12.2 These rules may not be amended except by a motion at a group delegate conference supported by not less than two-thirds majority of votes entitled to be cast by delegates present. Any such amendments shall be subject to the NEC endorsement and shall not be effective until then.

12.3 The group president shall rule on any matter on which these group rules are silent, or on any question as to their interpretation. Any such ruling may only be challenged by a branch or ordinary member, in writing to the group secretary stating the reasons for the challenge. A challenge by a branch must be passed at a properly constituted general meeting. A challenge shall only be upheld by the GEC on a majority of not less than two thirds of those present at voting.

Annex A National Air Traffic Services (NATS) Section Committee

1. Objectives

1.1 Section 7 of the group constitution refers.

1.2 The section committee shall be responsible for membership issues that specifically effect members in NATS - see annex D.

1.3 The section committee may establish any sub committees as it considers necessary, and prescribe its terms of reference.

1.4 The section committee may prepare resolutions on matters within its areas of competence, which shall be considered by the group executive committee.

1.5 The section committee may conduct a ballot amongst members in NATS centre, on any question relating solely to members in NATS

2. Committee

2.1 Elections to the section committee shall be held each year by postal ballot of all members in NATS. The committee secretary shall issue regulations for the conduct of the elections.

2.2 The section committee shall consist of a: committee president, committee vice-president, committee secretary, 2 assistant committee secretaries (1 operational grades and 1 non-operational grades), committee organiser (together known as “committee officers”), together with 8 other members which will contain one reserved seat for a member from non-operational grades.

2.3 The committee secretary shall be employed by the PCS. All other officers and members of the committee shall be elected by the membership within NATS

The committee may fill any casual vacancy among the committee officers by either (a) appointing one of its own number, or (b) through a by-election. Any other vacancies will be filled by inviting the person standing highest on the list of unsuccessful candidates and who is available and eligible to serve.

2.5 The committee is able to co-opt persons onto the committee where they feel it is appropriate

2.6 The committee will meet 4 times a year, wherever possible the day before the GEC

Annex B British Airports Authority (BAA) section committee

1. Objectives

1.1 Section 7 of the group constitution refers.

1.2 The section committee shall be responsible for membership issues that specifically effect members in BAA - see annex D.

1.3 The section committee may establish any sub committees, as it considers necessary, and prescribe its terms of reference.

1.4 The section committee may prepare resolutions on matters within its areas of competence, which shall be considered by the group executive committee.

1.5 The section committee may conduct a ballot amongst members in BAA , on any question relating solely to those members in BAA

2. Committee

2.1 Elections to the section committee shall be held each year by postal ballot of all members in BAA. The group secretary shall issue regulations for the conduct of the elections.

2.2 The section committee shall consist of a: committee president, committee vice-president, committee secretary, 2 assistant secretaries, committee organiser (together known as “group officers”), together with 4 other members on the basis of 1 seat for members from, Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Scotland.

2.3 The committee secretary shall be employed by the PCS. All other officers and members of the GEC shall be elected by the membership within the BAA.

The committee may fill any casual vacancy among the group officers by either (a) appointing one of its own number, or (b) through a by-election. Any other vacancies will be filled by inviting the person standing highest on the list of unsuccessful candidates and who is available and eligible to serve.

2.5 The committee is able to co-opt persons onto the committee whereof they feel this is appropriate

2.6 The committee will meet 4 times a year, wherever possible the day before the GEC.

Annex C Deleted

Annex D

Membership responsibilities that fall to the GEC and those that fall to the section committees

List of those membership responsibilities that fall to the GEC:

General aviation industrial issues
PCS aviation policy
General aviation campaigning issues
International
Training and education
Organising strategy
Applying PCS national policies in the aviation sector
Participation in national PCS forums

List of those membership responsibilities that fall to section committees;

Employer based and terms and conditions,
Employer based industrial issues
Employer based technical issues
Employer based staffing and grading issues
Employer based recruitment and organisation
Employer based health and safety

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