GFTU BGCM 2019 Minutes

too far from Quorn it was an easy decision for me to make. However, the

feedback that the SUE Executive has received from our National Women’s

Forum is that the GFTU access to course is somewhat limiting, especially to

minority groups. We acknowledge from Doug’s speech during the education

debate that the five day courses are oversubscribed, which is fantastic

news. However, who is attending these courses?

It is also worth noting that we are able to secure paid time off for our

members to attend. That is not an issue. The education programme is

delivered predominantly in block courses. This can be extremely restrictive

to a candidate wishing to apply to the course. Many men and women have

family commitments who are single parents or parent caring responsibilities.

For a candidate who has these responsibilities to make arrangements to

cover these responsibilities for a whole week or even three days can be

impossible. Opening up the scope of access to education in the GFTU will

encourage new individuals the opportunity to gain access to trade union

education and engage with a whole new generation of activists to be

qualified and empowered in dealing with employers, industry and politics in

a post-Brexit world. To open up the education access to all countrywide will

equip the GFTU for the future in addressing the increasing and progressive

power of the trade union movement.

Therefore, SUE requests that a feasibility working group is created to work

towards opening access and removing barriers to education at the GFTU,

especially those who are unable to travel to Quorn for block courses;

regional areas to be selected as pilots to deliver a new way to access trade

union education within the GFTU; expand the online learning pool modules

to look at the feasibility of a designated regional mentor to support members

when they are completing the online courses.

In the spirit of conference I would like to provide a quote. This one is from

Malala, the teenage activist who was shot by the Taliban because of her

pursuit for an education: “I raise up my voice not so I can shout, but so

those without a voice can be heard. We cannot succeed when half of us are

held back”. Thank you, conference. (Applause)

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