Members of the JSTU Bxecutive Council are considering changes. in the structure of the union which would bring it more completely under their control, A number of proposals have been made, nany of which do not make any change in the union rules necessary, and have therefore already been put into practice. The main suggestions being sonsidered by the £.C . are theses
(1) The union should have a full-time Executive Council. This is one of the most sweeping changes that has been proposed and there mgy be delays before it is implemented,
(2) Executive Council members should have extra powers so that they can act as chief officers in the union's territorial areas.
(3) Industrial branches should be established instead of the present system of area organisation, Each branch would have a fuiltime secretary who might act as chief negotiator in his particular industrye
(4) Financial control should be improved by appointing -professioneal accountants as area treasurers (this is airoady permitted by the union rules but has rarely been implemented).
These major changes, for which there is no provision in the union rules, cannot be implemented without a rules revision conference. The next conference is not due until 1965, but a special one could be called if circumstances warranted it.