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ARMS constitution

Name

The Association shall be called “Associate and Retired Members” (ARMs) of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS).

Aims and objectives

  • To promote and protect Associate and Retired Members’ interests, needs and aspirations.
  • To campaign and co-operate with pensioner organisation and others, for the protection of pensions and other benefits which maintain or improve the quality of life of ARMs members. ARMs shall also work with other public sector pensioner organisations to protect existing benefits for pensioners and seek to improve public sector retirement provision.
  • To keep the ARMs membership informed of PCS benefits available to them.
  • To advise the PCS National Executive Committee of the needs and requirements of the ARMs members.
  • To be of assistance to the PCS as and when required including the recruitment of ARMs members.
  • To represent views of the PCS and ARMs in the wider pensioner movement both within the UK and the European Union.
  • To meet the TUC request from unions to organise Pensioner Sections.
  • To create a social contact between members.
  • To pay specific attention to the needs of members who reside overseas.
  • To maintain links and liaise with all PCS Branches and assist in Local and National campaigns, including Regional representation on the appropriate PCS Regional Committees.
  • To affiliate to and participate nationally and locally in such organisations having similar aims and objectives subject to the overriding authority of the NEC.

Membership of the association

Membership of the ARMs shall be confined to those qualified for associate membership as detailed in Rule 3.6(a) and Rule 3.6(b) of the PCS Rules.

In addition, those awarded Distinguished and Honorary Life Membership of the PCS as detailed in Rule 3.10 of the PCS Rules shall be deemed to be Associate members and shall be eligible to receive such benefits of the Association as shall be determined from time to time by the PCS National Executive Committee.

Regional structure

ARMs will be structured into 12 principal geographical Regions mainly based on PCS Regional structures, but one of which will be for members generally not resident in the UK.

Each Region shall elect at least once every two years in a manner determined and approved by the National Committee, a Regional Secretary to act as the main contact between the Region and its local groups and the National Committee, and shall also elect a Chair, a Vice Chair, a Treasurer , and up to two Auditors. Auditors may attend Regional Committee meetings by invitation but may not be an elected member of the Regional Committee.

Each Region shall arrange, in a manner agreed regionally, a Committee to co-ordinate its activities which is answerable to both the members in its Region and to the National Committee. Each Regional Committee shall budget for not more than 4 meetings a year.

The Regional Committee shall comprise of its officers plus no more than 4 members, but the Committee shall be empowered to co-opt members when specialist knowledge is required. Each Region shall arrange the creation of local groups within that Region. Each Region shall ensure that local groups function properly (and keep adequate financial records for submission annually to the Regional Treasurer).

Each Region shall hold an Annual General Meeting, to which all members in that Region shall be invited.

Each Region shall be supplied with an up to date membership list and advised regularly of any leavers and joiners by the ARMs Secretary.

Each Region shall be eligible to receive on request and in a manner to be determined by the National Committee an Annual subvention from funds agreed by the PCS National Executive Committee, and shall be empowered to meet any additional expenses by self-funding. These funds shall support both Regional and local activities. An annual statement of accounts shall be submitted to the National Committee. Full accounts will be kept which will be internally audited and may be called for full audit at any time at the discretion of the National Committee or the NEC. The Treasurer shall prepare a budget of expenditure and submit this to the Regional Committee and eventually make a bid for funding to the National Committee.

Each Region shall produce a detailed Constitution and Rules which shall be approved by its membership at a properly constituted General Meeting. This Constitution and Rules shall be subject to the approval of the National Committee and NEC.

The ARMs Forum and other meetings

There shall be one meeting a year held between one representative from each Region and the National Committee where matters affecting ARMs shall be discussed. This shall be called the ARMs Forum. The date for the Forum shall be published no later than 16 weeks in advance of the Forum. The items for discussion may be composited together by the National Committee in consultation with the proposers to ensure the business of the Forum to proceed in an expeditious manner. The agenda of the Forum shall be compiled by the National Committee from specific matters on ARMs issues submitted by Regions and the National Committee no later than 10 weeks before the Forum. It shall be for each Region to determine who it will send to the Forum. The agenda for the Forum shall be published no later than 8 weeks before the Forum.

If a matter has been raised at a Forum it may not be raised again for a period of two years unless there has been a material alteration in the matter or with the specific consent of the Chair whose decision on this would be final. There can be no reference back made against this decision.

There will normally be one further meeting each year between the National Committee and one representative from each Region.

The National Committee

There shall be a National Committee of 10 – the Chair and Assistant Secretary plus 8 ordinary members which shall be accountable to the membership in general through their Regional Committee and to the NEC.

Nominations for election to the National Committee shall normally be called from the membership once every two years via the Winter issue of the ARMs Newsletter preceding the election.

All candidates shall be permitted to submit an election address up to 150 words and a C.V. of up to 100 words. All candidates must be nominated and seconded by two other Associate members. The election addresses and ballot papers shall normally be issued to all members in the Spring issue of the ARMs Newsletter preceding the commencement of the term of office.

Candidates shall be declared elected in order of votes cast in such a manner that not more than one half come from any PCS Group (current at the time the election closes).

The Chair and Assistant Secretary shall be elected by the whole ARMs membership. A Vice Chair of the National Committee shall be appointed by and from the National Committee.

The Chair shall preside at all meetings at which he/she is present, except at sub-committees, unless appointed to the Chair.

The Chair shall sign all minutes of meetings, supervise the workings of the ARMs and its Officers, and have the right to inspect all ARMs books and documents at any time.

In the absence of the Chair, the Vice-Chair shall chair all National Committee meetings or in the absence of both the Chair and the Vice-Chair, those present will nominate a chair.

The Chair of any meeting shall have, in the event of an equality in any vote, an additional casting vote which should normally be in favour of the status quo.

ARMs will be serviced by an Officer of the PCS appointed by the PCS General Secretary who shall act as Secretary. The Secretary shall keep a proper record of the proceedings of the National Committee, minutes of all Committee meetings, National meetings and Forums and deal with all correspondence for ARMs. He/she shall act generally under the instructions of the Committee and acquaint its members with matters of general and particular interest with the least possible delay. The Secretary will impartially advise the National Committee on matters of National PCS policy and other matters, but is unable to vote on any matter.

The Secretary shall also carry out the duties of Treasurer who shall administer funds according to the directions of the National Committee. The National Committee shall prepare statements of account to 31st December each year and publish an annual report of finances to the membership within 4 months of the end of the accounts year. The Treasurer shall also prepare any budget forecast required by the National Committee and the NEC and prepare the annual bid to the NEC.

The National Committee shall normally meet not more than four times a year in a venue which is both convenient to the members of the Committee and be cost effective to the union. A quorum shall consist of at least 5 members present and voting.

The National Committee shall be the immediate managing body of ARMs subject to over-riding authority of the NEC.

Reasonable expenses to National Committee meetings and any other expenses incurred with the approval of the National Committee may be claimed by the member and this will be reimbursed from ARMs funds. Expenses incurred by Regions shall be authorised at that level and reimbursed from Regional funds. PCS rules on expenses will be applied.

The Chair shall be empowered to invite the attendance of any member of the NEC or Secretariat but such invitation shall not entitle the said member to vote at the meeting.

The National Committee shall set up such sub-committees from within itself and outside as may be required from time to time to attend to the business of the Association. The Chair and the Secretary to the National Committee shall be ex-officio members of all sub-committees, if they so wish.

The National Committee shall have power to appoint delegates or observers to non PCS Conferences and meetings which the National Committee considers to be in the interest of the membership. All such delegates or observers shall report back to the National Committee who will normally make the reports available to Regions in particular and the membership in general.

The National Committee shall produce an annual report during the first quarter of its year which shall normally be circulated to members via the Newsletter.

Benefits of membership

All Associate members shall be entitled to all the benefits of membership in accordance with PCS Rules and by decision of the National Executive Committee.

Activities

In meeting the Aims and Objectives, the ARMs nationally will affiliate to such organisations as are appropriate and are agreed by the PCS National Executive Committee.

Local Groups will: -

  • provide an opportunity for social activity;
  • be available to assist local PCS branches;
  • be available to assist as appropriate in local and national campaigns;
  • encourage ARMs members to maintain their links with their former Branches as outlined in PCS rules;
  • be entitled to affiliate and participate locally, to such organisations as the Union is affiliated nationally, any costs to borne by local funds which are raised or provided by the Region.

Communication

ARMs members will receive copies of the appropriate PCS publications plus the Associate & Retired Members Newsletter as and when published.

ARMs constitution and rules

These rules shall be altered only by the approval of two-thirds of members present and voting at a properly constituted Forum. Full details of the amendments to be debated will be passed to all Regional Committees no later than 8 weeks before the Forum in order for them to advise their membership, take soundings and mandate their representatives.

The National Committee shall have the power to interpret any of these rules or any alteration thereto, and also give rulings on any matters on which the rules are silent.

A copy of these Constitution and Rules and any subsequent variation shall be supplied to the National Committee, Regional Committees and to any member of ARMs upon request. A current copy of this Constitution and Rules shall be placed on the ARMs website.

The Constitution and Rules and any subsequent amendments and interpretation are subject to the over-riding authority of the NEC.