GFTU BGCM 2017

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country at that time. 60 years after the creation of the NHS it faces its toughest time. This spirit of resilience and rebuilding is with us today and we can celebrate that there is a renewed confidence that the GFTU will support all of our affiliates in prospering and growing and doing things better. Practical support for members and affiliated unions is grounded in our sense of history, now advanced in our education programme. It is bolstered by our recognition that in campaigning, organising and educating trade unionists need to get more than bread on the table, our imaginations must be stirred too and the roses of art and culture must be nurtured throughout the movement to inspire us again. There is no avoiding the GFTU’s long held belief that science, technology and manufacturing renewal remain the central priorities if the economy is to benefit us all. I for one believe that the coincidence between our membership of the EU and the destruction of our manufacturing base was not in fact a coincidence. I see new opportunities now. In the coming period I believe that we must do much more work to assist the complex processes taking place to rebuild manufacturing and high tech industrial production. We should become prominent in this as an organisation again.

Our generation must leave the GFTU stronger for future generations and I am confident that through the important discussions of this BGCM we will do so. The historic strength of the GFTU lies in the determination of small groups of unions achieving great things. We have determination and ambition. It has been a great privilege to work with you all.

Doug Nicholls, March 2017.

General Secretary’s Report | Page 9