Reflecting the week

Well, still ill and home sick today, chest infection not shifting although the cold is beginning to go. Probably be fit by Tuesday, sod's law, would love a week off work!!


Not a good week, conference is a terrible place to be ill. Didn't get any calls or emails done and very aware my poor Scottish BT Fleet chap is awaiting his outcome, so need to get that sorted asap.


Dreadful speech on 49, can only blame the combination of no sleep, chest infection and various painkillers - the only comfort is that I think 49 was going through anyway. Fair play to Coventry who did the work and also caught the mood of conference. Somewhat mixed messages though as we then almost immediately supported the emergency motion and some others that called on us to do a joint launch of a PM document based on the agreement and changes to the procedure from which we are withdrawing! To be serious though the main message is that enough is enough and branches have lost patience with BT, who need to find another approach smartish or we are on a collision course. Got some good campaigning ideas in my head to take to the team and executive. While I didn't want 49, got to admit a campaign against this nonsense is altogether more interesting than yet another attempt to polish the poo.


I did get the chance to informally talk to some senior managers about the mess that is PM and also the problems with sick absence. No easy answers on PM but hopeful they were listening on Bradford Factor. Seemed to be listening on both but frankly actions speak louder than nice words, so we'll see.


So, now we will be having executive elections no doubt and those will certainly be interesting. Bit of flack for those who published a tad early (rightly) and clearly not all clerks are enamoured of the new set up so I guess it's watch this space. I am more interested in the non BT seats, how they are going to be elected and who will stand. I hope the exec do the right thing and allow those members within each company to be the people who elect their representative and not allow it to be dominated, as it is now, by BT members. One constituency was described as a leap of faith, let's hope they can lose the controlling strings and leave the fate of the three non-BT to the people to whom they are most accountable for the elections they will be leading - their own members.


Right, another cup of tea and a nap, I'm knackered again x