GFTU BGCM 2019 Minutes

see the trade union movement grow again and we will see us being a power in

bringing about much needed political change. Thank you. (Applause)

THE PRESIDENT: Dave, we have got a little gift for you. Thank you very much for

that.

The presentation was made amidst applause

THE PRESIDENT: We have got a new GFTU Executive, of course, after this

conference and I hope that we can cooperate with you fully in this new world of

work. Thank you for that talk to us. Any questions for Dave?

BRO CHRIS WILSON (Voice): Thank you, President, and thank you, Dave, for your

very, very interesting and informative and challenging contribution to an

important debate. Chris Wilson, I am currently the President of Voice, the

union for education professionals. I would like just to say a brief word and ask

a question about the percentage of workers who are in trade unions. You are

quite right to say the current figure is 25/26%. On research that we have done,

in 10 years’ time it is estimated that in the UK that figure will be 16% and that is

all trade unions, TUC/non-TUC affiliates, the lot. We are facing a real crisis of

falling numbers and one which has been made worse by the age profile within

the trade union movement.

Dave, I am sure you would have more up to date figures than I have got, but in

2015, which was the most recent I could find, 39% of all trade union members

were aged 50 or higher, 40%, four in ten, roughly of all trade union members

were aged 50 or higher. You talk about your four points, the common

bargaining agenda, which I would support; greater cooperation, of course;

manifesto and action we can take. All of those points are well made, but I need

to ask, I think, before any of those can be put in place, what do you think can

be done (1) to reverse the decline in trade union membership which is now

critical and (2) to make the pitch, the offer for young workers to join trade

unions? I take a more relaxed view. I do not mind what union they join. As

long as they are in something I think that is a step forward. I would welcome

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