GFTU BGCM 2019 Minutes

together with a “We will do”, not “Let’s think about it, let’s talk about it, how do

we move from the idea, the concept, to the action?” that is lost. We had a

conversation and it emerged out of some of our players receiving vile social

media comments, death threats, literally in their homes while they were eating

dinner with their families. That is what modern communication can do. I said,

“Do you know what, it would be great if you could just switch it off”. So do you

know what we did? We switched it off for a day. We launched a campaign and

instead of a service union we became an organising union. We led a

campaign. We got it mobilised. We were ready to push the button four days

later where we contacted many of our high profile players, BME players, but

their colleagues also. We said, “We propose that you disconnect from all social

media for one day”. We did it. It is that simple.

I am just disappointed that we did not have a full conference to actually listen to that,

because that will stimulate some really, really deep and interesting conversations

and I really welcome having further conversations with you on that, Dave. Thank

you. (Applause)

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, Oshor, and thanks again, Dave. We are going to be

taking a lunch break in about 20 minutes if you can stick around with us and I

am sure people will want to have a chat with you. Thanks for taking the time to

come to see us. A stimulating and good debate, I think and hope. Okay,

colleagues, let’s move on with the agenda now. We are back to the motions

and we are going to hear Motion 12, so I call upon TSSA.

MOTION 12 – PUBLIC TRANSPORT

SIS KEELEY LIPSCOMBE (TSS) moved the following motion:

Conference notes that with the exception of Network Rail and failing train

operating franchises, Britain’s railways have largely been privately owned since

the mid-1990s. The Conservative Government claims that the huge growth in

passenger rail travel is due to private ownership and innovation but fails to

acknowledge record tax payer investment and support, many times that

received by British Rail, which, together with a 20% real terms increase in

fares, has underpinned profit extraction.

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