BRANCH  OFFICIALS

AT  WAKEFIELD  COLLEGE

KATE  BURLAND  Branch Secretary

Kate can be contacted at Wakefield  on Ex. 2316

k.burland@wakcoll.ac.uk

MEL HENSHALL Thornes representative

I have been at Wakefield College since 1992, so have experienced incorporation, inspections, increased workloads and issues of all kinds.  I have been hourly paid, fractional, agency and full time so I have some experience of the varying needs of lecturing staff at the college.

  Now based principally at Thornes in the Sport and Public Services department, I am on the Academic Board and JSCC so can hopefully keep informed of current issues affecting us all. 

  Obviously, pay and conditions, as well as workloads, are on-going factors that need attention, but job evaluation and the 14-19 curriculum are factors which will be affecting us all. Natfhe has a big part to play in this and I welcome your views and comments on these or any other matters you wish to discuss.

  Mel can be contacted at Thornes  on Ex. 2814

CHARLIE GILKESON Whitwood Representative and H&S

Charlie works for the Technology Sector and has worked in a number of locations within the College over the last 27 years, and has always been involved with the branch committee at Whitwood. Charlie takes responsibility for Health and Safety within NATFHE and is also the editor of the NATFHE Web Site. 

Charlie can be contacted at Whitwood  on Ex. 2465

PETER BADGER Membership Secretary

Peter can be contacted at Wakefield on Ex. 2331

STEVE O'NEIL Part Time Representative 

JOHN GIDDINS

John Giddins is the Regional Branch Organiser for Natfhe. John along
with Iain Owens Regional Official and Martyn Moss the Regional Support
Officer are all based at the new Regional Office in Manchester.
John taught at Doncaster College for 18 years and was Branch Secretary
there until 1997. Johns' experiences at Doncaster leave him well placed
to understand the issues facing FE lecturers - overworked - underpaid
and undervalued.        
John's role in Natfhe is to help and support branch officers in
improving branch organisation and recruitment of new members. He
summarises the importance of this below.

"The first thing we need to do to increase our effectiveness on the
ground at Wakefield College is to increase the number of members we have
in the branch. If every one of our members recruited one of their
colleagues we would instantly double our bargaining power. Although
negotiation, meaningful consultation and the use of law when necessary
are our preferred methods of advancing your interests the real power of
trade unions are the number and activity of our members. A strong well-
organised branch where Natfhe membership is the norm is the key to
successful outcomes when negotiating. So please do your best to
encourage your colleagues to join for your own as well as their
interests."

John can be contacted at the Regional Office on 0161 772 7012 
or by email at jgiddins@natfhe.org.uk