GFTU BGCM 2019 Minutes

Conference, thank you and I look forward to serving you as President over the

next two years in a committed and effective fashion. Thank you. (Applause)

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much, Oshor. Thank you for that powerful

speech. To give a vote of thanks I call Jackie Thomas from Community.

VOTE OF THANKS

SIS JACQUELINE THOMAS (Community): President, conference, Jacqueline

Thomas from Community and you will be pleased to hear that my voice is a lot

better today. Conference, I am extremely pleased to be given the opportunity

to give the vote of thanks to the people who have worked extremely hard for

this conference to make it such a success. Often it is easy for us to forget the

work that goes on behind the scenes at an event like this. I would like to

express thanks to the hotel staff for ensuring our every need has been met

throughout the course of the last few days. I would like to thank the GFTU

staff, especially, Ian, Claire, Daniella and Tim for all the planning and

preparation, both prior and throughout the conference which has helped make

it so prosperous.

I would like to give thanks to Jane Norman for taking the record of conference

that I am sure will form the basis of another GFTU course and its proud history

in the years to come and at this point I would also like to thank Ade for his

visual recording of the conference. (Applause) I would like to thank Alison

Stoecker from John McDonnell’s office for assisting in the Parliamentary

reception last night which I think we all thoroughly enjoyed. Conference, of

course, let’s not forget the contributions from our guest speakers that have

raised so many important points. Thank you all for taking part. The causes that

you spoke on are vitally important to the trade union movement and I am proud

that the GFTU and affiliates support them.

My own General Secretary, Roy, has asked me to include a special thanks at

this point to Ronnie Baker from the Bakers Union who has played a key part in

bringing the curtains to a close on conference! Conference, let’s pay tribute to

the Chair, John, who did a sterling job in keeping us in order. (Applause) I am

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