EC Meeting May 2018

EC Meeting

Wednesday May 16 th 2018

Edinburgh

General Federation of Trade Unions.

May 2018

Executive Committee, Edinburgh.

AGENDA

Commence 10.00am.

1

Apologies for Absence

2

Declaration of any other business.

3

Union updates.

4

Scotland today.

5

Report on the Youth Festival.

6

Minutes of the Previous meeting.

7

Matters Arising from the Minutes

8

Approval of the Minutes.

9

Draft End of Year Accounts and Management accounts.

10

General Secretary’s Report.

11

Any Other Business.

EC Minutes March 2018

General Federation of Trade Unions

Executive Committee Minutes

March 14th 2018

Quorn Grange Hotel, Leicestershire

In attendance: Bro. Doug Nicholls, (Gen Sec), Sis. Claire Ryan, (Minute Taker).

Bro. Ronnie Draper, Bro. Garry Elliott, Sis. Theresa Easton, Sis. Keeley Lipscombe, Bro. Alasdair McDiarmid, Sis. Yvonne Pattison, Bro. Neil Crew, Bro. Colin Kirkham, Sis. Angela Pratten, Bro. Osher Williams, Bro. Manuel Cortes, Bro. John McGowan, Bro. Ian Lawrence, Sis. Sarah Woolley, Bro. John Smith. Bro. Glyn Travis.

Apologies: Bro. Brian Linn, Bro. Robert Mooney, Bro. Steve Gillan, Sis. Bindu Paul, Bro. John Toner, Bro. Charlie Sarrell, Sis. Ellie Peers, Bro. Roy Rickhuss, Sis. Janie Nicholl, Sis. Claire Jones, Bro. Nick McCarthy, Sis. Christine Miller, Sis Christine Bond, Sis. Maddy Radcliffe, Bro. Freddie Seale, Sis. Philippa Childs. Paperwork circulated for the meeting: Minutes of previous meeting, Financial and Accounts Information, General Secretary’s Report, Union Building Conference Programme, Education Officers report, New affiliation application, Quorn redevelopment, New Services Win:Win Packs, Shout Out papers, Youth Service Bill, Union Building Conference Programme, General Secretary’s Speech European Conference, Brexit Article, Guardian Article, Vietnamese Article, EC Expenses Claim Form.

1. Declaration of Any Other Business.

No declaration of Any Other Business.

2. Apologies for absence.

Apologies recorded.

3. Minutes of the previous meeting.

Sis. Woolley asked if GDPR dates had been confirmed.

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EC Minutes March 2018

Bro. Nicholls confirmed that several dates had been scheduled for GDPR training and these dates would be circulated.

4. Matters arising from the minutes.

None declared.

5. Approval of the minutes.

These were agreed as a true and accurate record.

6. Around the Unions. Issues for affiliates.

Sis. Easton reported that she had attended a great exhibition of northern musicians working together and discussed the effect of sponsorship with the BA systems campaign and Greggs involvement. Sis. Easton confirmed that Elizabeth Murdoch had been given a place on the arts council.

Sis. Woolley gave an overview and an updated report on the McDonalds campaign.

Bro. Lawrence reported on the challenges against privatisation and was pleased to report it was moving on positively with two parliamentary enquiries currently running. Bro. Lawrence also welcomed the news that the labour party had confirmed commitment to scrapping ‘as and when’ contracts. Richard Berson was to address NEC the following week.

Bro. Travis reported that the challenge against pension discrimination and equality had been launched this week.

Bro. McDiarmid reported on the challenge against the introduction of the global 25% steel tariff and reported on the actions being explored to alleviate the impact of this. Social media support of this campaigned would be appreciated.

7. Union Building Conference reports.

Sis. Woolley gave positive feedback and offered to send her written report that had been previously sent to Bro Nicholls.

Bro. Williams reported that there were good contributions from younger delegates, a good gender balance and a great atmosphere of solidarity during the conference.

Sis. Pattison gave positive feedback and commented there was great enthusiasm throughout the conference and excellent international contributes.

Bro. McGowan reported positive feedback from his delegation. Good venue but commented that there was a lack of bar staff during the evening.

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EC Minutes March 2018

EC members discussed the event and agreed it was successful and that it promoted a good understanding of the GFTU.

EC members discussed the possibility of the introduction of a 24 hour legal helpline.

Bro. Cortes suggested meeting unions individually to broaden their knowledge of what services are offered and would favour a Brexit debate.

Bro. Nicholls reported on the non-affiliated unions that had attended the event and proposed to incorporate parts of the Union building into 2019’s BGCM.

EC members agreed to incorporate parts into BGCM.

8. New Services. Operations Manager.

Bro. Richards (GFTU Operations Manager) gave an overview of the shared services.

EC members discussed the working partnerships and the shared services. EC members discussed occupational health possibilities and companies that are used to ensure best possible service and prices.

9. Financial Position of the GFTU.

Sis. Cheung gave an overview of the ET and GFTU financial position.

EC members agreed to leave Albion as dormant.

10.New build and development.

Bro. Nicholls discussed the background and gave an overview of the possibilities of the New Build development.

Bro. Nicholls reported that VAT would not be payable on the house build and would be reclaimable on the hotel and nursery and spa options.

Bro. Nicholls reported that Unity Trust shares for £110,000 had been cashed in and the amount should be discounted from calculations regarding the new build.

Papers regarding income projections, new build costs and tenders were circulated and options were discussed in depth.

It was agreed to keep the option of a third building under review.

Bro. Smith discussed his involvement of previous design meetings and expressed feelings of professionalism that had been received from Tomlinsons.

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EC Minutes March 2018

EC members discussed the finance options to raise extra finances through unions or other loan options.

EC members agreed to write to all affiliated unions with a proposal of investment into the growth of the movement rather than banks with a potential interest rate of 2% giving a two week deadline for interested to be declared.

11. Application for affiliation.

Bro. Nicholls was pleased to report that the union ‘VOICE’ had applied for affiliation to the GFTU. EC members discussed concerns regarding ‘No Strike Action’ policies. No objections were raised.

EC Members agreed to affiliate VOICE.

12. General Secretary’s report.

Bro. Nicholls reported the possible new partnership proposal with for joint working with ‘Shout Out’ project. Bro. Nicholls proposed an initial £10k to sponsor a projects in 3 schools.

EC Members agreed to allocate £10k.

Bro. Nicholls reported that there had been a positive response to the International study visit to Poland.

EC members agreed to extending the deadline for applicants to Wednesday 21 st March and an email would be circulated to inform unions of this.

General Secretary’s report was discussed and approved by EC members.

13. Education Officers Report.

Education Officers’ report was discussed and approved by EC members.

14. Any other business.

Bro. Lawrence reported that the funeral comrade Simeon Andrews would take place on Monday 26th March at 11am at West Norwood Cemetery, Norwood Rd, London SE27 9JU, followed by a wake at The Rosendale, 65 Rosendale Rd, London SE21 8EZ.

The meeting closed 2.12pm

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GFTU Executive Committee May 2018.

General Secretary’s Report.

November-May 2018.

This report incorporates the Education Officers’ Report under paragraph 14.

1

Technical, Insurance and Legal.

1.1 As requested at the last Educational Trustees’ meeting, individual indemnity insurance for all Trustees has been increased to £1 million. 1.2 In researching the title deeds prior to the new build, our lawyers, Morrish and Co. discovered that in their view the sale transfer had incorrectly attributed the ownership to the Trust whereas it should have been in the name of two Trustees or more. Attempts to enlist the support of the Charity Commission to make this amendment failed. They would not get involved. I subsequently had discussions with the lawyers who recommended that they pursue the solicitors who acted for us during the sale and the vendor’s solicitors for allowing this error. I decided not to do this in the first instance, but to write instead myself to our previous lawyer hoping they could make the amendment without recourse to claims, counter claims and costs. I await their response. 1.3 There have been protracted discussions with our neighbouring farmer about the terms of access to his road during our new build year. A conclusion has been reached. 1.4 Licenses for the use of our Trust property and land by the GFTU and the GFTU Trading Company have been drafted and precise terms for these will be considered subsequently. 2.1 Following detailed consideration the GFTU decided to accept the tender from J Tomlinson for the new build work on the site. This is valued at £4.9m. There is additional work also to be undertaken. 2.2 The GFTU have generously agreed to fund the Educational Trust to enable this work to be undertaken. 2.3 This decision has been taken on the basis that the housing development will generate a minimum of £85k a year and the new hotel development some £256k per annum. business plans were requested for office rental, a spa or a conference centre in the new building. This were considered carefully and it was clear that the spa option was the most secure and lucrative. The GFTU did not consider it had the funds for this option and canvassed the affiliated unions to see if any loans were possible. To date around £500k worth of potential loans have been offered without prejudice and subject to detailed terms. The GFTU is keeping the viability of this element of the project under review. 2.4 The question of the nursery development was considered in great detail and alternative 2 New Build.

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2.5 The cost of new hotel offices was not factored into the overall build plan and quotations up to around £35k have been received for this work. 2.6 The GFTU will move into temporary office accommodation for 5 weeks during the new build period and will move into the existing nursery building. 2.7 The necessary environmental, wildlife, asbestos, utilities and ICT surveys have now been completed prior to the new build. No obstacles have been raised. 2.8 A new cost plan for the new build and programme plan have been produced. The GFTU will not be taking any loans for this project. It will be funded entirely from our financial investments. The build programme will be 50 weeks. 2.9 The form of the building contract is a design and build which in essence means that all of the liabilities are with the contractor and not with the GFTU or Education Trust. 2.10 From an educational point of view it should be noted that the new build adds two new classrooms to the GFTU offices. It will be the intention to get modern ICT equipment for these. 3.1 Following very detailed examination and external advice it because very clear that the option of building and running a new larger nursery was not viable. 3.2 Meetings were held with 4 potential buyers of the nursery or companies to run a new nursery for us under a license agreement. These too did not prove viable. 3.3 Redundancies of all nursery staff were therefore made. I am pleased to report however that all but one member of staff obtained alternative employment on or prior to the closure date. One remaining member of staff did not fund work immediately and we offered her some temporary work to deal with the nursery closure and I am pleased to report she has not found full time employment also. 3.4 The Operations Manager had a lot of work to do to effect a smooth closure and then to ensure that the building was left in good order and that all paperwork and records were secured and he should be thanked for this work. 3.5 The Operations Manager secured sales amounting to £1000 for some remaining equipment and this has been placed in the ET bank account. 3.6 The nursery fee management was not good and some £20K of fees remain outstanding. Detailed consideration to the prospects of debt collection have been given by the finance officer, Head of Finance and Operations Manager. It has been agreed to prioritise some recent debts. 3.7 The closure of the nursery also relieves the budget of the hotel by some £25k per annum for food supplies. 3 Nursery

4

Third Age Challenge Trust

4.1

We have deregistered this company, which was a subsidiary of the Trust.

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5

ET Trading Company

5.1 The draft accounts of our Trading Company, which primarily manages the hotel have been completed. 5.2 It should be noted that there have been cash flow problems at the hotel over the last two years and an accumulated debt of some £194k to the GFTU has arisen. A strict repayment schedule has been agreed over the next eighteen months and the first repayment amount has been paid. 5.3 There was a serious case of fraud against the company by an energy broker. The Head of Finance has had a serious amount of work to do to report this to all relevant authorities. Fortunately nearly all of the money that was removed due a fraudulent signature has been repaid. Ofgem, the police, fraud team and so on have all been informed. 5.4 The Hotel General Manager and Events Organiser have held meetings with all wedding couples. A condition with the contractor for the new build was of course to minimise any disruption to business. This will be the main focus of the weekly site meetings and the Hotel Manager’s role over the year.

6

Staffing

6.1

Ros Hartshorn has joined the team as Education Administrator.

6.2 Advertisements have been placed and circulated to the TUC and unions for two finance officers, a part time union support worker and a hotel and grounds site manager.

6.3

Supervisions with the staff I supervise have been held and minutes produced.

7

Accounts and Finances

7.1 The ET has been audited and the final accounts await the completion of the Nursery audit and accounts as they are fully consolidated accounts and take longer than all others. The draft accounts will be circulated to Trustees shortly by email and approved at their next meeting. In the meantime the latest management accounts are attached for the GFTU’s information. 7.2 Some £228k reduction on the GFTU portfolio was recorded in the last quarter with the dip in the markets. This again proves the difficulty of relying on money market investments. The GFTU draft accounts and management accounts are attached.

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Potential New Partnership

8.1 Dr Andy Hodder of Birmingham University who is an expert in youth involvement in unions, social media and unions and the union organising agenda has usefully proposed that he could edit a resurrected digital version of Federation Viewpoint and assist us with training activities.

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Federation News/Viewpoint

9.1 The Trust formerly funded along with the Institute for Employment Rights, the publication Federation News a successful balance of academically rigorous and popular articles. I then changed this to Federation Viewpoint but became unconvinced of its impact. However several academics and trade unionists have indicated that there is a need for a resurrection of such a publication perhaps as a digital version.

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10

Grants and Requests

10.1 We receive random and intermittent and very varied requests for funding, especially from students. We do not have a systematic and professional process for dealing with these. I propose that we ask the Education Officer to produce a set of protocols for discussion at our next meeting. 10.2 Just by way of reminder in 2018 we are supporting the Tolpuddle Martyrs Radical Film Festival, Workable Books publications Class Songs, and A graphic novel on the history of the Labour Movement, Edda Nicolson’s PhD, The Durham Miners’ Gala. 10.3 We are partners to the coalfields research project at the University of Wolverhampton and partners to the funding bid for work on radical poetry at the University of Manchester. 10.4 We have received a request for funding for the Birmingham People’s Centre and the People’s History Hub. Attached. 11.1 The agreed strategy of the Educational Trust is to supplement the previous exclusive source of funding for education by the GFTU through the creation of new funding streams. 11.2 The ownership of Quorn Grange and now the significant new building on site are the current main income generators. 11.3 However, it should be borne in mind that there is considerable untapped potential for fundraising directly to the education work of the trust and indeed to our interest in arts culture and heritage. Are we in a position to form a sub group to consider further funding potential? streams that directly benefit the Trust. Our most successful income generator at the moment is the expansion of the Finance functions of the GFTU to provide accounts and audit services for affiliates and others. We have just won a new tender to do all of the accounts and finance work of one national union. 11.5 We also generate income through the Education Team managing affiliated unions’ education work. 11.4 Additionally we should bear in mind that the GFTU has opened up actual and new funding 11.7 In addition, the most extensive range of support services for affiliates has now been launched. You can see this on the GFTU website. It is called win:win. Basically all unions using our services get discounts and the providers put commission into the Trust. Some services such as the ethical shop are publicly available. 11.8 The Operations Manager and I had a full day meeting to develop a strategy to see how we can get this offers taken up and start generating new income streams. 11.9 These other income streams are significant for two reasons, firstly they help our charitable objectives, secondly the new build plan we have designed does not entirely solve the long term financial issue we have been trying to resolve. To full balance our books and ensure that we are not spending each year out of the family silver, we require around another £100k a year. 11 Fundraising 11.6 We are seeking to expand such work.

11.10 £10k has been generated for the Trust by undertaking an education review for PCS.

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11.11 £10k has been generated for the Trust by undertaking an organisational review for the GGCA. This kind of contract work for affiliates benefitting the Trust is opens new and welcome opportunities.

12

New Educational Trustee

12.1 I am very pleased that all Trustees approved by email the proposal for Jill Westerman to join us as a Trustee and we look forward to welcoming Jill at our next meeting.

13

Project 120

13.1

The GFTU celebrates its 120th year next year.

13.2 A sub group has met to consider how this could be best celebrated. Notes of our meeting are attached. I hope that the Trustees may be able to support this plan recognising that this will require perhaps in the region of £20k from the Trust next year.

13.3

Any additional ideas are welcome.

13.4 Since this meeting I am pleased to say that all partners are signed up to the project. Also it has been news to me to discover that the Modern Records Office and the Working Class Memorial Library both have significant GFTU Holdings. 13.5 Warwick Modern records Office have suggested that they produce an online digital exhibition of the GFTU which I have welcomed on our behalf. 13.6 It is of course equally in the Trust’s interests that the year leads to increased GFTU affiliations as well as a successful record or the GFTU. 13.7 During recent work on this we have discovered there are additional GFTU archives at the Modern Records Office and the Working Class History Library. Three potential partners have expressed interest in supporting our work. 14.1 The Union Building Conference at Yarnfield (23-25 February) was well attended by delegates from GFTU’s affiliated unions. There were presentations around the Educational work of the GFTU and the shared services offer to our affiliates, as well as contributions from international speakers and a podcast from John McDonnell, the Shadow Chancellor, stressing the vital roles of working class education and the youth service. The event also provided a valuable opportunity to showcase the GFTU’s ‘Trade Union Education’ book. 14 Education Work. 14.2 Work is ongoing with the publication schedule for Workable book titles for 2018. The volume on Trade Union Education is gaining traction; through its use as a course text on Level 4; its dissemination through some Education Officers; and its appearance on some PGCE reading lists. TSSA, in particular, have actively promoted it and ordered copies for their officials. 14.3 The relationship with Northern College continues to strengthen, and is proving to be extremely beneficial for both parties. Northern are attending the Education Officers’ meetings organised by the GFTU and contributed a session at the Union Building Conference in February. 14.4 The GFTU’s Next Generation Youth Festival was held on 20-22 April and brought together delegations from the PCS, Nautilus, Community and Bakers’ unions, in what was a very successful

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and enjoyable event. Two young members Thanks are due to Sarah Woolley and Charlotte Appleyard for both planning the event and for all their hard work over the weekend. 14.5 The first part of the ‘Learning to Teach in Trade Union Education’ Level 4 course was held at Quorn (13-14 April), tutored by R. Chiosso and A. Smith with S. Woolley & J. Callow. 15 PCS officers attended what was a new departure for both the GFTU and Leeds Beckett University. The feedback was very positive and the second session will be held on 18-19 May. 14.6 The Learning Pool site is being redeveloped and made available to affiliates, with new materials being added and developed all the while. This enables distance learning to be offered to our affiliate members alongside the more traditional taught courses. The Education Officer and Operations Manager have, to date, had two training sessions on the system. 14.7 The draft 2018-19 Education Programme is being finalised, and is attached to this report. The idea is to provide learning pathways (coded as Foundation, Developing and Advanced skills sets) that will take Reps on a journey from literacy and numeral skills right through to degree and postgraduate levels. 14.8 The Education Officer and Operations Manager met with the Social Workers’ Union to discuss shared services and educational provision, together with the appointment of a part-time administrative support worker who would primarily service the SWU’s increasing remit and requirements. 14.9 The GFTU is to produce (among other projects) an illustrated commemorative brochure to mark its 120th anniversary. Affiliates are invited to contribute 800-1,000 on any aspect of their union’s past, present or projected future – and their relationship to the GFTU ‘family’. 14.10 Five Leaves bookshop in Nottingham and the Secular Hall in Leicester are keen to explore the hosting of joint events with the GFTU. This might be one means of resolving the problem with the Sunday Schools, which continue to register minimal interest. 14.11 A paper on Posted Labour Directives 96/71/EC and 2014/67/EU has been submitted to Formac, as part of the GFTU commitment to the 2018-19 programme. 14.12 Tutor recruitment is ongoing, with an aim to making the pool wider and more reflective of wider society. Three more tutors have been recruited since February. 14.13 The GFTU is planning to participate in conjunction with The Race Equality Council, in Leicester, with a programme around the life and achievements of Walter Tull, in order to mark Black History Month in October (1888-1918). The idea is to reach out to community groups and schools, utilising local author Michaela Morgan’s ‘Walter Tull Scrapbook’. 14.14 Course recruitment is still an issue, though not quite so threatening as in past months. EA27 ‘Suing an Employer’ received 2 applications; and – surprisingly – EA09 New Reps Development only had 4 applications. However, the EA53 Course on Parliament was heavily oversubscribed. 15 delegates (from NAPO, GMB & PCS) spent two days in the Commons and the Lords, meeting with Shadow Cabinet Ministers, MPs and Lords. The course responses were extremely enthusiastic. 14.15 The Trust has offered a comprehensive range of GDPR training options on a cost basis and revenue will come back into the Trust. Please see the GFTU website for details of these courses.

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14.16 In terms of approximate course breakdowns – 75% are male, 25% female; and 12% defining themselves as disabled.

The following courses have run, since February:

Northern College – Shop stewards Stage 1 – 14 attended, 1 no show, 1 cancellation (5-9 February)

Northern College – Health & Safety Stage 1 – 17 attended (19-23 March)

TSSA – Reps Intro – 12 attended - 1 no show, 2 cancellations – (6-8 March)

EA53 – Getting the Most out of Parliament – 15 attended (21-22 March)

TSSA – Health & Safety Next steps – 6 attended – (20-22 March)

TSSA – IR Next Steps – 7 attended – (20-22 March)

TSSA – Preparing for Retirement – 14 attended – (24 March)

EA78 – Principles & Practice of TU Education – 15 attended (12-13 April)

EA11 – Experienced Reps Development – 8 attended, 1 cancelled (16-17 April)

Northern College – ULR 2 – 11 attended, 1 cancelled 2 no shows (16-20 April)

Northern College – Negotiating Skills – 13 attended, 4 cancelled (23-27 April)

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Workable Books.

15.1

This is our partnership venture with New Internationalist.

15.2

A sales meeting has been held about the first two publications.

15.3 The Mary Quiale Club is holding a special event with performances on May 19th to celebrate our publication Workers’ Play Time. This is a great example of keeping our history and culture alive. 15.4 We are producing a publication of songs and images has been produced along with Dave Rogers of Banner Theatre and some subsidy will be necessary, probably around £3,000 to ensure this is printed to full standard. Heroes in the Evening Mist, the posthumous last novel of William Ash is ready for publication. I am working as the history advisor with two award winning graphic novelists, Sean Wilson (based in Japan) writer, and Robert Brooks, (based in Poland). This publication will be ready in September and again given the lack of interest in this project by the Arts Council of England and so on will require a small subsidy again around £3,000. 16.1 We are committed to art at Quorn. I have donated temporarily some more tapestries and we have also been successful in getting a commitment to a large lump of granite to turn into an eye catching sculpture on site in 2019 after the new build. We have had discussions with the Artists’ Union of England about this. 16.2 We will ensure that the new GFTU office on site reflects the imagery and culture of the movement more than is currently possible. 16 Art at Quorn.

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Other work with affiliates.

17.1

I attended and spoke at the McDonalds strike day in Watford.

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17.2 I held a full day meeting with the National Association of Racing Staff to consider some future education proposals.

17.3

ASLEF have visited us at Quorn to review our recent work.

17.4 Thanks to Bro. Cortes of TSSA an extremely positive meeting with the British Pharmacists Association was held at Quorn.

17.5

The British Dietetic Association will be visiting us at Quorn.

17.6 I was invited to attend the CWU Conference in Bournemouth and continued very productive discussions with their General Secretary and leadership team. 17.7 A named position/s have been reserved for the GFTU on the new Friends of Ruskin Council being proposed. 17.8 As instructed I wrote to all TUC affiliates seeking support in principle for our Trailblazer partnership. We need two more unions on board to make this happen.

17.9

I attended the Youth Festival and delivered two workshops.

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Campaigns and other.

18.1 I chaired the highly successful Roundtable in Parliament for a statutory Youth Service.

18.2 A report of that Roundtable from myself was published in Youth and Policy . Attached.

18.3 Support was given to the recent fundraising dinner for the Durham Miners’ Association.

18.4 The Freedom for Ocalan Campaign is able to now appoint a Coordinator. I drafted employment materials for this position. The GFTU administers the website for this campaign. More and more unions are affiliating and the Freedom for Ocalan campaign will be the main international theme at this year’s Durham Gala.

18.5

I have been asked to address the Derby Silk Mill Rally in June.

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Doug Nichols GFTU 84 Wood Ln, Quorn Loughborough LE12 8DB

02/05/2018 Re: GFTU Education Trust Sponsorship of The People’s History Hub Dear Doug I am writing to ask if it could be put to the GFTU Education Trust that they consider financially supporting the People’s History Hub , which is a three year, multi-media, public education project, that will create a comprehensive, online digital educational resource, making the hidden history of the struggle for legal, economic and social justice, widely accessible to activists, trade unionists, students, teachers and interested citizens. The People’s History Hub is receiving widespread support, both moral and financial, from across the labour movement and our active partners currently include the Working Class Movement Library in Manchester, The Sheila McKenchie Trust, GMB North West, SWTUC, Midlands TUC, UNITE Education, Dr Michael Sanders of Manchester Uni, Dr Keith Gildart of Wolverhampton University, Dr Lee Humber of Ruskin College Oxford, John Newsinger of Bath Spa University, and Les Kennedy of the Tolpuddle Radical History School. The first stage of the project including producing over 40 tailor made video documentaries and subject-pages will cost £45k a year for three years. As part of our fund raising strategy we need to raise £5k per year for three years from trade union sponsors. We are asking for a minimum sponsorship of £500 a year for three years from our core trade union sponsors (£1500 in total). The GMB and UNITE are already on board. However as the People’s History Hub so closely aligns with the aims of the GFTU Education Trust we would ask you to consider sponsoring us for £1500 a year for three years (£4500 in total).

! © Public Domain Arts & Media CIC

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The GFTU Education programme, Education For Action 2016-18, makes it explicit that ‘seriously neglected’ history of trade unions and the working class movement is a priority for the trust and the history of the movement will also be particularly relevant as we approach the 120th anniversary of the founding of the GFTU itself. Many UK citizens in the post World War Two generation were inspired by AL Morton's 1938 classic book, A People's History Of England, which told the history of those who had fought in previous generations for legal, economic and social justice. For the 30 years of the post-war political consensus, this strand of British history was commonly taught in schools and was often portrayed in popular culture, particularly on television. But since 1979 this history has disappeared from our schools and almost completely from our mainstream, popular culture. However, many UK citizens today, especially those under 35, have had little or no opportunity to engage with the history of the struggle for legal, economic and social justice, and as a result the idea that achieving and maintaining economic and social justice involved political ‘struggle’ is becoming increasingly remote from public consciousness. The impetus to set up the People’s History Hub arose from the collective experience of a group of activists, academics who had been trying to discuss the history of the struggle for economic and social justice with both students in Higher Education and commissioners in the theatre, film and television industries. It was clear to us that for many people under 35 there was almost a complete ignorance about even the most famous incidents in this people’s history such as Peterloo and Tolpuddle. The multi-media, digital resources on the People’s History Hub aim to make this history publicly available to all citizens, in an online, shareable, digital format, suitable for the age of social media. The Hub will be made up of online, digital ‘subject-pages’, which will display tailor-made, bite-size, video documentaries, plus written text and images that tell the story of historical events such as ‘The Suffragettes’, ‘Peterloo’, ‘Tolpuddle’ or ‘The Peasants Revolt’, along with biographies of important historical figures such as John Lilburne, Mary Woolstonecraft or Eleanor Marx. Groups of subject-pages will also be grouped into collections under broader subject headings such as, ‘The History of Parliament’, ‘The English Civil War’, Trade Unions’, ‘Slavery’ etc. Each subject-page will also carry links to more in-depth histories, digital versions of source documents and other relevant online resources, allowing The People’s History Hub to also become a central, on-line access

! © Public Domain Arts & Media CIC

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point for people’s history material created by other organisations and institutions. The People’s History Hub is targeted as an educational resource for the 14 - 24 age group but as it is a free, open, online resource, it will be available to all UK citizens and indeed many millions across the globe. A representation of the history of progressive ideas for the digital era has never been more needed. Never have young people been asking so many questions and needing so many answers. Since the 2008 financial crash the Neoliberal 'end of history' era has itself come to a crashing end. Trump, Brexit, Sanders, Corbyn, Le Penn, Syrizia, Podemos, Momentum... the democratic political world is once more alive with possibility and equally fraught with dangers. History makes clear how recent and how fragile the concepts of economic and social justice really are. The aim of The People’s History Hub is to create the ‘go to’ online resource for this largely hidden aspect of the UK’s history. We believe that in order to do this we need to create a ‘critical mass’ of videos, webpages and digital resources that cover as many of the key people and events in this history as possible. We have initially identified over 200 potential subjects for the People’s History Hub but the truth is there is an almost unlimited treasure trove of thousands of rarely told stories that we could cover. The only limit to the size and scope of the People’s History Hub is our capacity to research, write and produce the digital content. Unfortunately producing high-quality digital resources such as video, graphics, images and text, is time-consuming and expensive. Subjects have to be researched, images and footage gathered and licensed, text and scripts written, videos shot & edited, voice-overs recorded, websites designed and built. Then all these digital assets have to be uploaded to the web and managed on an on-going basis. Realistically, with the financial resources likely to be available to us we feel that Public Domain Arts & Media CIC could produce and publish roughly 40 subject-pages in the first three years of the project. This could potentially be more but it is difficult to predict the complexity of research, script-writing, rights acquisition and video production. It is not impossible that we could create as many as 2 subject-pages a month but this cannot be guaranteed. Thus we are guaranteeing to produce 12 subject-pages in year one, and 14 each year in years two and three, giving us a total of at least 40 subject-pages by the end of the first three years of the project.

! © Public Domain Arts & Media CIC

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We believe this would represent that ‘critical mass’ which will lead teachers, lecturers, public educationalists, trade union tutors and members of the public to the site in sufficient numbers to attract further funding allowing us to hopefully go on to produce the hundreds of pages we dream of creating. I sincerely hope the GFTU Education Trust will be able to support this important public education project that will hopefully help to inform and

inspire the next generation of trade unionists. I look forward to hearing from you in due course.

Yours Sincerely

Chris Jury Crea3ve Director Public Domain Arts & Media CIC https://publicdomainproductions.org.uk/

! © Public Domain Arts & Media CIC

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GFTU 120

1

Organising group.

Doug Nicholls, Michael Sanders, Oshor Williams, Edda Nicolson, Alice Prochaska, John Callow.

Stefan Dikers archivist at Bishopsgate Institute to be asked to assist.

2

Organisation

The group will organise its next meetings unless considered otherwise by Skype and Email.

All planning documents, calling notices, draft articles etc will be circulated to the group in advance for consideration and comment.

3

Purpose

The purpose of GFTU 120 is to:

Celebrate and record the history and current relevance of the GFTU:

To present the relevance and heritage of the GFTU to potential new affiliates:

To engage affiliates and a wider public in appreciating the importance of trade union history.

4

Proposed annual plan 2019

January

Launch the year with articles in various journals and newspapers, seek coverage of the year. Present list of all unions who have affiliated since 1899.

February

Disseminate articles for general journals and union journals.

March:

GFTU 120 Conference, Friends Meeting House Manchester.

April

Judge creative writing competition. Publish Federation Viewpoint.

May

BGCM to celebrate history and debate unions of the future.

June

Hopefully launch exhibition at Bishopsgate Institute. To run for the rest of the year.

July

Trade Union Film Festival

September

Social and materials at TUC.

October

Reception in Parliament.

November

Publish Book on GFTU History.

December

Attract reviews of book.

5

Commemorative material for the year and beyond.

1 2 3 4 5 6

Commemorative issue of Federation Viewpoint. Book on history of GFTU to arrive from Conference. Comprehensive list of unions who have affiliated to GFTU.

Commemorative plate to be costed.

120 th anniversary Badge.

Display materials.

7 8 9

T Shirt. Banner. Tote Bag Coasters

10 11

Possible a film.

6

Special events:

March Conference.

A call for papers on GFTU history to be made and these to be published as a book with Workable Books.

Creative Writing Competition.

Shout Out to be asked to promote this on their school tours, with pri\es of £300, £300 and £200 and possibly judging by the WGGB EC. Presentations of winners to BGCM.

BGCM

To look at past and future.

June

Exhibition of engaging GFTU artefacts at Bishopsgate.

Trade Union Film festival

HOME Cinema and Theatre, Manchester.

Social Event TUC

To have commemorative materials.

Parliamentary reception

Parliamentary reception for affiliates and non affiliates with invited guests and trade union linked MPS. To focus maybe on some key parliamentary reforms we require.

Photographic record of the year to be retained.

Special year long hash tag on twitter to be created.

Potential Radio Documentary.

7

Partners.

In order to achieve the maximum impact and potential funding we will seek to work with:

Bishopsgate Institute

Warwick Modern Records Office.

People’s History Museum

University of Wolverhampton.

Society for Socialist Labour History.

Mary Quiale Club

Mary McArthur Fund.

Working Class History Library

People’s History Hub

Ruskin College

Northern College

Scottish Labour History Society.

Ron Curran

TUC Library

Mechanics Institute and Manchester TUC.

Writers Guild of Great Britain.

Workable Books.

8

Funding.

In order to achieve proper events and commemorations as above the GFTU and GFTU ET could be considering £15-20k excluding the parliamentary reception.

Funding support will be sought from:

Barry Amiel Trust

English Heritage Lottery Fund.

Co Operative Community Trust

Crowd Funding.

Consideration of funding for transport and so on needs to be considered further.

9

Media Partners

Morning Star

Red Pepper

The New Statesman

Momentum

WEA

IWCE

Womans Hour.

Jacobin

Daily Mirror

10

Responsibilities and Actions.

Who

What

Indicative Costings.

Notes

Time/Deadlines.

GFTU EC

Approve plan

May EC 2018

Doug

Overall co ordination Convene skypes if needed Approach Workable Books about book concept Prepare designers for Viewpoint and materials Approach Potential Funders Badge design and stamping Approach Bishopsgate re involvement and exhibition. Contact suppliers re Tote Bag, coasters and commemorative plate. Approach WGGB re involvement in writing Approach potential Banner makers Approach Potential Partners

End April 2018

Hard copy and digital.

End April 2018

Mid May 2018

Mid May 2018

£1,500

Numbered for collectors.

December 2018

End April 2018

£2,000

June 2018

£1,000

£3,000

June 2018

Contact Philosophy

Football re T Shirt designs. Approach designer re logo for the year Speak to GFTU Operations Manager about Crowd Funding and Twitter. Contact journalists re special articles. To provide Mike with Morag Livingstone and Chris Reeves Contacts. Create hash tag Edit book that flows from Conference Meet HOME film studio to consider trade union film season To investigate potential of radio programme affiliation of all GFTU affiliates since 1899. To assemble as many related photographic and visual images as possible To co ordinate the June onwards exhibition. To produce list of dates of March Conference

April?May 2019

April 2019.

Mike

Mike to arrange venues, speakers

All arrangements and call for papers etc to be circulated and ready June 2018.

£500

A number of potential films

have been suggested

Edda

To produce articles on GFTU history and formation throughout, but particularly on formation for Jan 2019 To speak on GFTU history at March Conference and other events. To investigate potential of Alice and her appearing on Womens Hour To provide contact details to Mike To check out potential journalists for the year. To speak at March Conference and contribute to publication and perhaps speak on other occasions. Perhaps produce entries of GFTU notables from the Dictionary of Labour Biography as a small pamphlet to promote GFTU and Dictionary. To edit Commemorative magazine

January 2019 and throughout.

End May 2018

John

Arrange call for copy and assemble visual material

Deadline for Copy December 30 th , Deadline for publication Arpil 2019 End April 2018

End May 2018

Alice

Keith

Jan 2019

GFTU Management Accounts YTD Mar 2018

GFTU Budget Full Year 2018

Budget YTD Mar 18

Actual YTD Mar 18

Variance YTD Mar 18

Budget left to spend/achieve for the year

Notes

Income source

Accounts Processing Services

109,700 42,000

27,425 10,500

10,856

(16,569) (3,866)

98,844 For shared services provided 35,366 Recharge for services provided-QGH (5,400) Recharge for services provided- QGN 30,908 Contribution is for full year 2018

Recharge for services provided- QGH Recharge for services provided- QGN

6,634 5,400

0

-

5,400

Contributions

194,500

48,625

163,592

114,967

Sponsorship/Commission

0

- -

0 0 0

- -

- -

Investment Income -TU Unit Trusts Investment Income- Zeneca Investment Income- RBS Investment Income- Unity Trust Managed Investment Income BM & CAM

8,000

2,000

(2,000)

8,000

-

-

-

4,000

1,000

0

(1,000)

4,000

215,000

53,750

-228,772

(282,522)

443,772

Bank Interest Received

- - - - - - - -

- - - - - -

- - - - - -

Misc Income- intercompany recharge

Gift Aid-GFTU Gift Aid- Albion Gift Aid-QGH

Customised Course Fees

Union Confenrance Building / BGCM Grant/Arts Festival/Spon'ship/Project

6,875

6,875

(6,875)

-

-

Other Income

12,000

3,000

-

(3,000)

12,000

Extra Ordinary Income

-

Total income

585,200

146,300

-35,415

(181,715)

620,615

Expenditure Staffing Salary And NIC

156,607

39,152

36,607

(2,545)

120,000 Staff salaries have been split between GFTU & ET

Salary for shared Service

-

-

-

Pension

13,010

3,253

6,162

2,910

6,848

Redundancy & Severance

-

-

-

-

Staff Welfare

860

215 457 500

553

338 668

307 703

Essential Car user Allowance

1,828 2,000

1,125

Staff Travel and Subs

380

(120)

1,620

Staff Travel shared Service

-

-

-

-

GS Travel HOE Travel

1,500

375

1,705

1,330

(205)

-

- -

-

-

Other employment costs Training and development

800

200

(200)

800

- -

- -

- -

Agency

-

Pensions Recovery Payments

70,000

17,500

35

(17,465)

69,965

Pension Scheme Cost

- -

- -

- -

Pension prior year adjustment

Total

246,605

61,651

46,567

(15,084)

200,038

Premises Rent and Rates

300 250 800

75 63

497

422

(197)

Repair and maintenance

-

(63)

250

Utilities

200

1,248

1,048

(448)

Health and Safety

-

-

-

Insurance

500

125

1,862

1,737

(1,362) Insurance is for full year

Depreciation

7,500

1,875

779

(1,096)

6,721

-

-

Total

9,350

2,338

4,386

2,049

4,964

Administration Stationery, Postage Courier & delivery cost Telephone & mobile IT, website, maintainence

1,600

400

962

562

638

-

-

700

175

216

41

484

4,000 2,000

1,000

53

(947)

3,947

1,333 Used KM Bizhub 654 Mono Copier charge

Printing & Copying Office relocation

500

667

167

- -

- -

Total

8,300

2,075

1,897

(178)

6,403

Management fees Executive Committee Expenses Conference expenses (BGCM/EC) Conference expenses (other)/Speakers

2,000

500

3,625

3,125

(1,625) 12,750

12,750

3,188

-

(3,188)

2,000 Parliament

3,000 8,500

750

1,000

250

Accountancy and audit

2,125 2,500

700

(1,425)

7,800 6,400

Legal & Profession DDA Compliance

10,000

3,600

1,100

-

-

-

Investment management fee

60,000

15,000

(15,000) (1,000)

60,000

Pension scheme levy

5,500 5,000

1,375 1,250 8,750

375 400

5,125 4,600

Pension scheme audit and accounts Pension scheme legal & professional

(850)

35,000

4,433

(4,317)

30,567

Total

141,750

35,438

14,133

(21,304)

127,617

Programme and Event Gift Aid Payment/Grants

100,000

25,000

(25,000)

100,000