ticle on the NUM reprinted below.
The press Others have in recent davs been spreading rumours about the proposed rule changes.
Check the following details with your branch officials, who will have copies of the proposed rule changes. will find that: * It is not true that the rules will transfer power irom ine memnoets to the officiais.
The new ruies include a series of fresh areas of jurisdiction tor ine conference elected delegates lor a tional ballot of the membership.
For the first time, conference delegates members will have voting on whether to remove the nationai or. *ciais and area officials. In the mast this issue never cante before delegates or As in the old rules the authority of the union vested in conference. 'The government the union provided for in these rules.
cetween conference the NEC shall administer the Dusiles and affairs of the union and perform all duties laid down for it by resolution of conference, and it shall not at any time act con trary to, or in defiance of any resolution of conference * It is not true that the new rules will make it impossible to get rid of ofthe national executive and the national union in the Nottinghamshire NUM. Its May issue carries an arrule changes that we have As explained above, it will actually become easier for the membership 1o ECHOVE Otticials break democratically agreed union policy removal of national and area officers will be decided for the first time by conference and a membership ballot — not just a smali group on Disciplinary Committee. never consulted the old rule book. This states explicitly that no action by any branch or can take place without the previous sanction of the NEC. The same wording is adopted in the proposed new rule * It 15 not that delegates or officials can be indemnified for act, whether it is in line with union rules or not.
The indemnity clauses in the rules state explicitly that any act must have sanction of conference, or the NEC subject to con terence where the NEC Done lo uphold union ruies, before it earns incentuity. Benefits In fact, the national officials are the only ones under the old rules to have implicit indemnity under law. The new clauses are included because it is only fair that rank file delegates should have similar protection for carOHL the wishes of those who elect them. * It is not true that the DIODOSCU of Associate Membership will give them powers in the union, or allow them to act on behalf of the The proposed rule states that 'an associate member shall not be eligi ble to vote, receive benefit, attend meetings (except by specific invitation) nor hold any office in the Associate members exist for many other unions, t and as many under the How the Nottingham Miner portrays the nationa leadership in its 'Vote No' issue proposed NUM rules, the! nave no powers. * It is not true that Vot tinghamshire members could be place under the leadership of the Kent Area VL'M.
Both old and proposed rules on the rights of Con stituent Associations rule this out completely. Unde a new rule. dealing with Constituent Associations it is clear that the Notting hamshire NUM None members be taken out and placea lI another Constituent Ass* It is not true that the Notts pension fund I could be taken over by the national union.
No such powers proposed nor have they ever existed. The new rule states: 'Each Branch in accordance with the provisions of its rules, collect members contributions in excess of those provided for in these Rules for the purpose of provident, welfare and other benefits alla shall and autonomy over such