Education for Action

Debunking Economics

Educational Principles

EA48

Days: 2

Date: 6 - 7 March 2019

Location: Quorn Grange Hotel

Enjoy two days at Quorn that will equip you, and your union’s Reps, with a greater understanding of the real economy and the nonsense that the employers and governments speak about it. Among other topics, the course will cover questions about: • What is a wage? • How are prices really set? • What is profit? • And, are the bosses entitled to it? • Why are public sector cuts completely unnecessary and dangerous?

Sometimes we’re scared of even the word ‘economics’. For more than forty years we’ve been told than only academics, boffins and super computers can really understand it. Television and newspaper statistics leave us cold. This is all quite deliberate and constructed in order to alienate us from thinking too much about what economics and the economy are really about. At the same time, the Labour Movement has tended not to engage with the subject and, by default, has left the way clear for the policies of Austerity and the Free Market to go unchallenged. However, it doesn’t have to be this way. People are, after all, the economy; and the economy is deeply political.

Functional Skills

Foundation Skills

Tutor: D. Nicholls

Working and Campaigning with the Third Sector

EA45

Days: 1

Date: 28 March 2019

Location: Quorn Grange Hotel

Advanced Skills

one another; with examples of TUs working with the third sector • Who are the like-minded and supportive organisations (finding out about the third sector, locally and nationally etc. e.g. who are the active environmental campaign groups etc.) • Building links and campaigning (building support at the workplace and in the community e.g. campaigning on green issues; also political activity) • Action points By the end of the course, participants will:

Can trade unions find common cause with the third sector (voluntary groups, charities, campaign groups etc.)? After all, both seek social change for their beneficiaries, and rely upon volunteers to organise and support those beneficiaries. Using environmental issues as an example, this one-day course looks at how trade unions can work with the third sector to improve local communities, promote well- being, and campaign for change. This one day course, held at Quorn, will look at establishing: • What do we mean by the third sector? • An explanation of the differences between charities and groups like Hope Not Hate & Kick Racism out of Football • Finding common cause (workplace issues that are social issues e.g. why are green issues both workplace and community issues? • How can TUs and third sector organisations complement

Arts &

Culture

• Have a greater understanding of the third sector • Be able to recognise issues that go beyond the immediate workplace • Be more confident in working with third sector organisations on matters of common concern

Tutor: D. Green

32 FURTHER DEVELOPMENT Internationalism Events How to Sign up EA59

Access to Politics

Days: 1

Date: 9 May 2019

Location: Quorn Grange Hotel

Therefore, this course aims to explain: • the differences (& similarities) between local and national government • the work of the national assemblies and the Scottish & Westminster Parliaments

This one day, practical course, held at Quorn is designed to provide an overview of the tiers of local government, national assemblies (at Cardiff and Stormont) and the Westminster and Scottish Parliaments. The GFTU is committed to helping the members of its affiliated unions get involved in politics at all levels. Standing for election in your local council ward, in the devolved assemblies or for a seat at Westminster are all good ways to make sure that your voice, and those of your fellow trade unionists, are heard in the corridors of power. However, many trade union members lack the confidence to stand for public office, even though they possess a wealth of organisational, negotiating and political skills that would make them ideal.

• what we mean by activism • what we mean by solidarity • what we mean by campaigning

The course will also provide an introduction to the art of public speaking and an overview of the skillset required for public office.

Tutor: TBC

edadmin@gftu.org.uk GFTU ET

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