Mr R Hedley

BCS-RH-VW-MI-GMB2 01603 222418

29^th November, 2002 01603 219050

bob.hedley.edu@norfolk.gov.uk

To: Headteachers of all

Norfolk Schools

Dear Colleague,

Letter from GMB

I wrote to you on 17^th April, 2002 commenting upon a letter sent to all Headteachers from the GMB trade union. The GMB had requested to visit your school and facilities to meet with non-GMB members about an issue which was not under discussion between GMB and the Council. In those circumstances, I strongly advised against agreeing to that request and the attendant accommodation and time off facilities which may have been implied.

Since that advice was issued, we have been in discussion with GMB recognising, of course, that as a recognised trade union for support staff along with Unison and T&G, they have the right to request reasonable access to current and potential future members. Accordingly, I am now enclosing a letter from GMB which represents these discussions and outlines a way forward to which I have no objection. In practice, it is for the school to decide on the way forward and, of course, any attendance would be on an entirely voluntary basis.

The next stage will be that you will be contacted either by Shaun Graham or Dave Kent of GMB to arrange a meeting. It may be some time before they are able to visit your school and I have asked that when they contact you, a copy of this letter and its enclosure, is sent as a reminder.

Yours sincerely,

Bryan Slater

Director of Education Enc: