Candidates Election Statements

Transcription

1 Candidates Election Statements Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA) Election of Executive Committee Scotland Please read carefully before casting your vote. D0900_P4

2 Margaret Anslow Statement Dear Members I am re-standing for Election to the EC as a long time trade unionist who strongly believes in a publicly owned and SAFELY run Transport SERVICE. Very few of the industries our union serves have survived the cutbacks and bullying & harassment tactics of the Tories. And now our own union s survival is under attack, as our resources & members both reduce in numbers every day. A reduction which will see in the next 18mths to 2yrs our union gone forever, either through merger, take over or should the membership so desire by voting to fold/close the union. During this time of crisis & change it is the experience of time served EC members like myself which will carry us through to our new future, especially as the term of office will only be for that short time & not 3yrs. Turbulent winds of change will hit our union, but I believe strongly with my long, varied & experienced trade union background I am best placed to continue to fight your corner. I care deeply about our membership & detest any form of injustice; it s why I became a rep in the first place. Biography I have worked in the Rail Industry since 1994, when I started my railway career as a signaller. Since then I have worked in various departments of Railtrack & later Network Rail, including Ops & Customer Services, Safety & Standards, Asset Knowledge and Maintenance, including accident & incident clerk, clerical administrator and currently as a Data Clerk or asset records police keeping our asset data base Health & Safety compliant. I became active in TSSA shortly after joining the railway: - Health & Safety Rep since 1997 Company Council Rep since 2000 Equalities Rep since 2006 Executive member for Scotland since Feb 2008 Branch Secretary since 2000 Secretary TSSA DWG since 2013 TSSA & TUC courses attended STUC Health & Safety Stage STUC Health & Safety Stage STUC Health & Safety Stage STUC Equalities Rep training TSSA Women s Negotiations Course TSSA Negotiations Course TSSA Champion Reps Training TSSA Senior Negotiations Course TSSA Discipline & Grievance TSSA Contract Law TSSA Stress & Bullying TSSA Environmental Rep Other Union Training Courses ITF International Women s Leadership training course

3 Conferences & Congresses attended Attended Annual Conference 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 & 2012 Attended STUC Congress 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 & 2012 Attended STUC Women s Congress 2008 & 2012 Attended Scottish Labour Party Conference 2012 Awards and other Political/tTrade Union Council Positions- TUC Health & Safety Rep of the Year award Transport section award 2003 STUC Equalities Rep of the Year award 2007 ITF International Women s Leadership training course 2008 Member of the Scottish Women s Convention since 2010 Member of Scottish Parliament of the Scottish Parliament Labour Trade Union Group since 2011 Member of STUC Women s Committee Women s Officer (Falkirk East CLP) Prior to joining the railway I worked in various jobs in both England & Scotland, including various administrative, call centre, and receptionist work after having proudly served my country in the RAF for 4 yrs from leaving school, during the Falklands War, as a Telegraphist. I have also served on numerous voluntary & community based committees since leaving school in various capacities, such as Treasurer (SATRA) Treasurer (Mothers & Toddlers Gp) Chairperson (Mothers & Toddlers Gp) Branch Secretary CAMRA Health & Safety Adviser CAMRA Girl s Brigade Officer Member of Scottish Divisional Council, the seat I am now standing for Member of TSSA since

4 Stephen Lawrence Statement I am a lifelong union activist with a good track record representing colleagues at every level, local, company and nationally. I am also active representing the TSSA in the wider labour movement through the STUC, Labour party and the Scottish Parliament. Campaigning effectively is vital to protect TSSA members and I have a strong track record here. I fully support TSSA members working in the travel trade and believe the TSSA must demonstrate effective support for our members here. Rail refranchising will have a profound impact on our members in Scotrail, Networkrail, and the Infrastructure Businesses. Our Caledonian-Macbrayne members are under attack as a result of privatisation and the TSSA must continue to fight to protect these vital jobs. The TSSAs future now hangs in the balance. Members in Scotland need a strong voice on the Executive Committee, which I will provide. If elected I would commit myself to protecting the best interests of every member in Scotland. Biography I am employed in the railway industry in Scotland. I am currently a Senior Resource Coordinator (train crew supervisor) in First Scotrail s time office at Edinburgh Waverley. I have been in the role for 13 years, prior to this I worked in the clerical grades for 20 years, in many functions parcels, ticket office, admin support, rostering and freight. I have a wide knowledge of the TSSA s role and function in Scotland, having been an LDC rep prior to privatisation, since then a LLC rep, ULR rep, and presently Coordinator for FSRs Company Council for our union. I have been active at branch level having been Chair and presently Correspondence Secretary of Edinburgh TOCs branch 843. I helped re-surrect this particular branch when it became dormant. I am also secretary of the Scotland divisional council. 4 Please see over

5 Karan Park Statement The position of Executive Committee member for Scotland is the most senior voluntary position (for Scotland) within the TSSA. I believe this post and the activity of the post holder should rise to the responsibilities of this post and the challenges we face together. If I am elected onto the Executive Committee then I pledge to: Invigorate the TSSA within Scotland; by this I mean that I will assist you in ensuring that all Branches are fully functional and play an active role within the TSSA. Ensure that all members of TSSA feel that they are part of a collective organisation which fights to deliver respect for workers. Ensure that TSSA representatives are given the support and development they need to make their workplaces stronger. Our workplaces and our communities face some of the biggest challenges we have seen in generations. Being union is about standing together; standing together in our workplaces, our communities and with other unions. Vote for me and vote for change, but more importantly have a voice about you and your families future and that of our union. Biography Hello, I am Karan Park and I am a single working mum of two, currently working as a Team Expert at Serco in Dingwall. I am a member of the Labour Party; I became a TSSA member in 2005 when I started with Vertex. I then went on to become a Workplace Rep in 2007 dealing with members issues, representing them at disciplinary/grievance meetings, absence review meetings and negoiations. I have attended NRTS and many courses over the years, including TUC Stage 1, Negoitation Skills for Women, Employment Law Contracts and Pay Negotiations. I became more involved with the Union in 2009 when I became Lay Tutor. As well as tutoring at NRTS I have tutored courses such as Reps Induction, Women s Negotiation Skills and have also tutored at a FutureTSSA training weekend. Prior to becoming a Rep my Branch had disintergrated, I championed in getting it back up running and currently hold the position of Vice-Chair. As well as attending Branch meetings, I regularly attend Scottish Divisional Council meetings and also attend their annual weekend training school. In 2011 I attended Annual Conference as a first time delegate, this year I will be attending Annual Conference as a member of the Local Reception Committee. In November of last year I attended the STUC s Women s Conference in Perth as a first time delegate which was an amazing experience but my biggest highlight was when I attended my first ever march. I travelled with the TSSA delegation to Brussels in September 2010 to march against the Austerity Cuts. Meeting other unions from all over the world was awe-inspiring. We may not have been speaking the same language but we were, without a shadow of a doubt facing the same problems. 5

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