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Conference 2009

This year's conference took place on Tuesday 19 May 2009 in Brighton.

Below, along with a view of conference from a DSA Nottingham delegate, are copies of the key speaches together with details of all the motions discussed showing the voting results.

A delegate's view of conference

Conference week was a great week. It was really good to learn how all the matters raised at our BEC's finally go to our AGM then to our group and national conference and seeing it all happen and meeting different people and reps involved in similar work, and some in totally different projects from areas all over the UK. I would recommend this as some of the best training available to a rep.

The group conference seemed to go really well with some interesting topics from across the DfT and it really gave the message we all face similar problems together such as pay, privatisation and more so than a lot of other departments the sexism that still takes place with pay.

Listening to various people in the group it made me realise that the work we do as a department is vital to the safety and good management of the backbone of industry and leisure, the transport network of air, rail, road and sea is a major factor in any developed country and it was quite scary to hear stories from all agencies telling how the government is selling up parts and cutting back others with something as vital to the economy as the transport network.

I also gave my first pair of motion speeches at the group conference, one on the shared service centre and another on privatisation that I hope went ok! I really enjoyed this even though it was scary it was also really confidence boosting and something I have always wanted to do.

Maybe with a bit more practise I’ll do a national motion one day!

National was amazing, it was my first time attending (as an observer) national this year and just entering the room with 100's and 100's of PCS delegates and the flags and banners took me back a bit, just a little different to our normal meetings!

I can't even begin to go through all the motions as there were literally hundreds (hopefully you have had a change to read over them in the motions booklets) but of the talks that really stood out I have to say my favourite were the Palestinian speakers talking of their occupied land in Gaza, whatever you believe and whoever you support you can't help realising how lucky we are just to live and work in a stable place.

As a group we should offer our support to anyone trying to make a positive difference to their homeland, security and jobs as these people in war torn countries are just the same as us, all they want is a secure place to bring up a family and live, a chance to be educated and work, and a right to a private life and personal choice.

I must add that my only problem with the national conference was a member of our branch (I won't name names) showed up wearing a Forest top on the podium but some people believe it or not still support them!

Glyn Davies - ETR Nottingham branch
 

Group president's conference speach

Group secretary's conference speach

Presentation Sue Philp

Emergency conference motions (with voting details)

Conference motions (with voting details)

Records of last year's conference can be found in Conference 2008.