EC Meeting July 2017

Conference notes that the ‘gig’ economy can and should be fairer and acknowledges the role trade unions have had in securing that in recent months. Conference believes that the ‘gig’ economy can play a pivotal role in providing a path back to work for those who struggle to gain access to traditional employment such as new parents or disabled workers. C Conference notes Uber’s new partnership with Lingoing that aims to attract a greater number of deaf and hard of hearing partners onto the Uber app and takes advantage of the use of accessible technology. Conference believes that the systems operating in the UK to support traditional employment, whether through employment law, tax systems or the welfare state, contradict the needs of ‘gig’ workers and ‘gig’ employers and further excludes those who struggle to access work. Conference believes it is crucial that trade unions engage with digital platforms such as Deliveroo to make meaningful and timely interventions that provide fairer working conditions. Conference calls on the GFTU to:

A Work with organisations, companies and commissions that are providing thinking and resource on shaping the ‘gig’ economy to ensure it is fair for everyone.

B Work with Government to rethink employment law, tax systems and the welfare state to the benefit of ‘gig’ workers.

C Encourage trade unions to modernise traditional structures and models to ensure that members that are not based in workplaces can participate fully in union activities

ACTION

Motion 3 NAPO

Representatives, Training

1. The GFTU plays a critical role in helping small unions train representatives.

The formation of a training co-ordinators network to help shape, develop and test the representative training programme is welcomed as positive and should be encouraged and supported. 2. This BCGM thinks that there is scope for the GFTU to broaden it’s impact by using this network to identify best practice and sharing best practice in training for union activists where the focus is on softer skills, vital to successful union organizing, but not traditionally central to representative training - such as active listening, overcoming deficit thinking through positive communication, and writing effective campaigning materials. 3. Similarly the GFTU should promote identifying common recruitment and organising challenges and support active learning around best practice and overcoming these challenges. For example, managers are critical union gatekeepers across the public sector

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