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Annex E - Motions form

Advice on writing motions for your branch AGM

1. Please write your motion on the form below.

2. Motions normally begin by introducing the subject they refer to and start ‘Conference notes’, ‘recognises’, ‘welcomes’ etc. Although you should make it clear to the reader in a sentence or two what is the subject of the motion, do not go into great length; save that for the speech. Do look at the wording of motions that have been submitted in previous years, particularly those that were passed.

3. Motions then usually go on to issue an instruction eg ‘Conference instructs the GEC to’. You need to take account of the following points:

a. Unless your motion includes an instruction it will very likely be marked out of order and not debated. Try and be constructive.

b. Do be clear about what you want done and who you want to do it. Remember that your negotiators cannot themselves change policy or the rules, or implement them; they can only seek to change them, or the way in which they are implemented.

c. Beware of being too prescriptive about what you want done or when you want it done by. If you put in too much detail, your motion may be defeated because of the impracticability of just one aspect. Too much prescription may also make it impossible for your representatives to negotiate. On the other hand clear instructions can also be an aid to your representatives and strengthen their hands in negotiations.

4. Make sure that your motion is in the right category. For example if you are complaining about the delays in providing a crèche at your site then that should be a motion for the branch. If on the other hand you believe that the department should be giving more encouragement for sites to establish crèches then that should be a motion for group conference. Lastly you might be concerned about the guidelines issued by the government centrally, then that would be appropriate to national conference.

5. Make sure that the subject is appropriate as a motion to conference. Each year a great number of motions never get discussed because they:

a. Confirm existing policy.

b. Seek to reverse policy which was decided within the last two years (check by looking at previous motions).

b. Cover an issue that could be dealt with by correspondence.

c. Are ruled out of order (not debated) because they are incorrect (check with the annual report), unclear, lack a specific instruction, at group level contradict national policy, require a constitutional amendment and are not phrased as such, or are not relevant to group/national conference.

6. Motions that are libellous or constitute a personal attack will not be listed. Executive committees have a collective responsibility, so even if you believe that someone is not doing their job, the failure is on the part of the executive committee to ensure that they have done their job. Departmental officials may also not be responsible for the policy they are seeking to implement, which is set by the department.

7. Check the wording of your motion one last time. It is unlikely that you will be able to amend it at the AGM because it will have been published to members.

Motion for branch/group/national conference (delete as appropriate)

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Proposed by ........................... Signature ..............................................
Name in block letters ............................... Branch......................Ext .........

Seconded by ........................... Signature ..............................................
Name in block letters ............................... Branch......................Ext .........
 

Deadline Monday 25 January 20XX

Return to I Clark, PCS branch secretary, Waterloo training centre