Conference 2007: Motions

Conference 2007 considered the motions set out below. The motions were either:

Passed as policy or a rule change
Passed but not as policy
Remitted to the NEC
Fell or wihdrawn

Walter Wright

President 2006 - 2007

The following motions were passed as policy or a rule change:

1	Job Roles This Conference instructs the NEC to negotiate as a matter of priority with Nationwide the BM/CSM role and package as this has been outstanding for several years. South & London
2	Job Roles There are selling roles within Nationwide that do benefit from an individual bonus.There are roles that do not attract an individual bonus remuneration package which are the Branch Manager and the Customer Service Manager. It is not fair for a points target to be attributed to the above two roles. The issue is that these roles may be threatened with a PEP or PDC. Surely if you are required to obtain sales points as part of your role, there must be a bonus remuneration as part of your overall Nationwide package. Therefore, this Conference requests Nationwide to review the above two roles so that individual bonus structures can be introduced as soon as possible. South & London
3	Job Roles Conference believes that the current SFC role needs to be reviewed. The sale of NIG to Legal and General and the merger with the Portman Building Society provides an opportunity to ensure that: There is a clear definition of job roles for SFCs. The target structure and demands on SFCs are reflective of the job role and achievable when allowing for the essential 'non selling' side of the role. The total remuneration package is fairand reflective of the job role within current business needs. Saturday and Evening working is adequately rewarded. East
4	Job Roles This Conference requests that Nationwide review the configuration of consultant roles within the branch network, along with the target structure. Following the changes that were brought about by BOFT, there are consultants facing performance managementwhere their failure to hit target can at least in part be put down to an error in judgement when allocating roles. This is a situation that can not be allowed to continue as Nationwide hasalready lost, and may continue to lose, consultants who are more than capable of fulfilling the requirements of their role if given the opportunity to do so. East
5	Recrutiment, Training & Development Conference instructs the NEC to negotiate with Nationwide a full review of the CR3 role to ensure staff are rewarded for additional duties undertaken within the role not required by CR1 & 2. South and London
6	Recrutiment, Training & Development This Conference requests that Nationwide ensure a fair and transparent selection processfor any future selection of employees across the Group in relation to merger or departmental changes. South and London
8	Recrutiment, Training & Development The Conference insists the Union demand Nationwide P&D remove any previous application history from internal applicants' job applications. Swindon
9	Performance Management This Conference requests that Nationwide ensure, within this performance year that the performance management system is fair and equitable to all staff employed by Nationwide Group. South and London
10	Performance Management This Conference requests the NEC to instruct Nationwide to look at a fairer and more robust way of assessing individual performance in the Group. South and London
13	Diversity This Conference requests that Nationwide look at appointing more women and ethnic minorities into senior management positions. Ethnic Advisory Committee
16	Uniforms This Conference requests that Nationwide reviews the policy of the material used in corporate clothing, looking at style, fit and usability in the workplace to ensure a professional image for women and men in time for the next roll out. South and London
17	Rule Change This Conference, wishing to ensure that the Union has the most effective structures in placefor representing members, particularly given the many changes to the Nationwide Groupsince the last Conference; recognising the rights of those members who find themselves transferred to employers outside the Nationwide Group through no action of their own; wishing to re-emphasise the importance the Union attaches to advancing Equality within the Union, Nationwide Group, and elsewhere; and seeking to remove a number of ambiguities and generally improve clarity; resolves that from 4th October 2007, the Rule Book dated 5th October 2005 shall be revoked, and the Rule Book in Annex A shall be adopted in its place. NEC
17	Rule Change - amendment to motion 17 In the final sentence, change "Rule Book in Annex A shall be adopted in its place." to "Rule Book in Annex A shall be adopted in its place, with the following changes: Add a new paragraph (ii) to 2(c) (and renumber existing 2(c) to 2(c)(i)): If the process of electing Representatives and/or Officers begins after the members of a Predecessor Union approve a transfer of engagements to the Union but before the transfer takes effect, the members of the Predecessor Union will be eligible to nominate candidates and vote, and (if otherwise qualified under these Rules) to stand for election, if the term of office is due to begin on or after the agreed transfer date. If the Certification Officer declines to approve the transfer, this provision will cease to have effect. Failure of the Certification Officer to approve the transfer by the agreed date will not cause any vote held under this provision to be invalid." NEC
19	General This Conference instructs the NEC to reinforce that all levels of management provide full support and encouragement for all Union Representatives thus ensuring full attendance at Union Meetings. North
24	Pay & Benefits This Conference notes that many messages have been given by Nationwide and NGSU regarding clarification of overtime payments. This Conference requests that with immediate effect Nationwide ensures that whenever overtime has to be worked, payment or TOIL is granted according to the Personnel Manual. South and London
27	Pay and Benefits At present the in-charge payment does not reflect the responsibility undertaken by the deputy. This Conference believe that the present rules regarding in-charge payments are unfair and requests the NEC discusses with Nationwide a full review as soon as possible. South and London
28	Pay & Benefits This Conference requests Nationwide management reviews holiday booking policy so that it becomes fair to all staff regardless of status and job role. South and London
31	Terms & Conditions This Conference requests the NEC to instruct Nationwide to immediately review and rewrite the Information Security Policy to reflect individual circumstances, in order for people to understand their own responsibilities. South & London
33	Terms & Conditions This Conference recognises that applying a flexible approach to working hours is beneficial to employees, the varying flow of work in the business and the diverse activities of differentbusiness areas. The National Executive Committee are therefore instructed to work withNationwide to review the current Flexi-Time Scheme with a view to increasing it's flexibilityto meet both the needs of employees and the business. NAC
34	Terms and Conditions Conference instructs the NEC to undertake with management a review of the Saturday working before bank holiday policy with a view to amending it to read 'Members who work a Saturday prior to a bank holiday weekend - may take days holiday or 20% of their working week whichever is the lower thus ensuring a fair and consistent arrangement for full and part time staff. North
36	Rule Change Under the provisions of Rule 28(a), this Conference moves that Rule 27 (or, in the event of the Motion adopting the Rulebook contained in Annex A having been passed, Rule 21 in that Rulebook) be amended by adding a new clause as follows:(e) A company may be established to fulfil the role of Corporate Trustee for the Union. In such a case, the provisions in (a) to (d) shall be read, to the extent permitted by law, as referring to the directors of the company.' NEC
37	Internal Matters This Conference notes that as a result of the tight budgetary process operated by the National Executive Committee, subscriptions did not need to be increased until July 2007 following the last increase on 1 July 2005. Conference nevertheless recognises that, in order to maintain the services provided to the membership an increase may be required prior to National Conference 2009. This Conference therefore instructs the NEC to consider the Union's accounts at its first meetings in 2008 and 2009 and, if required, agree an increase that will ensure the continued viability of the Union and which will apply until at least 1st January 2010. In considering the increase the NEC should be aware of the effect that raising subscriptions has on recruiting and retaining members from all parts of the Nationwide Group. NEC
40	Internal Matters The Conference insists that Union Representatives who sit on EIC committees consult withthe Area Councils/Constituency Representatives prior to their attendance at these meetings to ensure the Area Councils/Constituency Representatives' views are represented. Swindon
EM1	Emergency Motion This Conference requests that the security system, that Lending Control Account Mangers use through Peoplesoft, is put in place immediately for all of the Society's lone workers. South and London
EM2	Emergency Motion This Conference requests thatfollowing the many problems that have occurred with the Portman merger, that the Union discusses and fully investigates with Nationwide the procedures (and their implementation, including training) for future mergers to avoid similar occurrences and staff/member dis-satisfaction. South and London
EM3	Emergency Motion This Conference fully appreciates the increased starting salary announced to member Account Administration and Telephone Channels recently. However, we are concerned that this was not discussed with the Union and while recognising the need for the increase, it has not been rolled out to all areas. It does not recognise or reward those who are already competent in associated roles. We therefore request that the NEC engages in a review with the Society to ensure that existing employees' service, and efforts that have already been awarded, are not lost and diminished. NAC
EM4	Emergency Motion This Conference urgently requests the NEC to review training and security procedures that are in place for ex Portman co-existence branches and expedite full training programme immediately. West
EM5	Emergency Motion This Conference urgently requests the NEC to review current overtime pressure in co-existence branches with a view to agreeing arrangements that ease the pressure and stress caused to staff. West

The following motions were passed but not as policy:

7	Recrutiment, Training & Development This Conference requests that Nationwide's management ensure that all Call/Admin Centre employees are recruited and trained to the standards required by Nationwide customers, both external and internal. This is to enable them to support Retail within timescales originally set when back office procedures were first removed from branches. South and London
15	Uniforms This Conference requests Nationwide to allow a nominated uniform wearing member of stafffor each area the opportunity to preview new uniform prior to catalogue launch to ensuregood fit for all. Ethnic Advisory Committee

The following motions were remitted to the NEC:

11	Performance Management This Conference instructs the NEC to review with Nationwide the structure of PDCs. We believe that PDCs were designed as a tool for Enhancing Performance and are being used as primarily the first step in the Capability Procedure. South and London
14	Diversity This Conference request that Nationwide provides external training for all managers on Diversity from the new financial year. Ethnic Advisory Committee
25	Pay & Benefits This Conference instructs the NEC to negotiate boundaries of the London Allowance so that all branches within an area receive the same payment by the end of this financial year. South and London
29	Pay & Benefits This Conference believes that Senior Financial Consultants with Nationwide Retail should be paid for working Saturdays. This would bring them in line with all other staff members within Retail. The Personnel Manual states 'If you are a Senior Financial Consultant (branch) (SFCs) and have opted into the bonus scheme you will not receive additional pay for workingon a Saturday morning in your SFC role as this will form part of your normal working week,i.e. 35 hours if full time.' The historical rationale that Senior Financial Consultants had a distinct individual bonus scheme is no longer as compelling as CCs,SCCs, FCs and SBMs within Retail all have bonus schemes in place but are paid for Saturday working. North

The following motions fell:

12	Performance Management This Conference notes that in 2006 Motions 7 and 8 were passed (2/3 majority) but to dateit would appear that there has been no progress made. This Conference therefore requeststhat the Group send instructions to all managers that with immediate effect members' involvement in union duties be positively reflected in appraisals and a proper adjustmentto targets made. South and London
18	General This Conference recognises the success of the EIC structure particularly in Retail. This Conference also recognises unfortunately that attendance at EIC meetings is largely dependent on the goodwill of local management. This Conference therefore instructs the NEC to negotiate with Nationwide arrangements that will ensure the representatives who attend EICs are given priority as an area resource. South and London
20	General This Conference instructs the Union to resist any attempt by the Society to introduce the useof RFID devices to track employees in any of the Society's premises for whatever reason. Swindon
26	Pay & Benefits This Conference instructs the NEC to discuss with Nationwide a review with increasing the inconvenience/dirt money allowance which is paid on a daily basis as this has not been reviewed for the past ten years. South and London
30	Pay & Benefits This Conference requests that Nationwide reviews the Car Ownership Scheme to reflect the usage of the car rather than the privilege and status, taking into consideration miles travelled on an annual basis in order to select the most suitable car. South and London
32	Terms & Conditions This Conference requests Nationwide reviews the maternity policy to bring it into line with the forward thinking of the NHS and Civil Service who pay their employees 6 months full maternity pay. South & London
35	Terms & Conditions This Conference insists the NEC renegotiate the smoking policy with the Society to restrict the policy to minimally comply with the 2006 health act and to remove the threat ofdisciplinary action from employees if their smoking is not covered by the provisions of the 2006 health act. Swindon
38	Internal Matters This Conference insists the Union consults with Area Councils/Representatives to gather their views prior to the Union agreeing a joint statement or policy change with the Society. Swindon
39	Internal Matters The Conference instructs the NEC provide Constituency Representatives with copies of anyjoint statements along with a question and answer sheet referring to that joint statement at least 24 hours prior to the general release of that joint statement. Swindon

The following motions were withdrawn:

21	General This Conference proposes that Nationwide subsidises local council parking tariffsfor its union membersthat do not have access to free or subsidised parking. North
22	Pay & Benefits This Conference requests a full explanation of the reasons behind the changes in Payscales across the Society and Subsidiaries following the merger with The Portman. South and London
23	Pay & Benefits This Conference requests the Society to calculate corporate bonus on total annual income as opposed to basic salary. East