GFTU BGCM 2019 Minutes

MOTION 14 – DISABILITY HATE CRIME

SIS DEBORAH LAWSON (Voice) moved the following motion:

That this Biennial General Council Meeting notes with concern the prevalence

and growth of disability hate crime.

Council acknowledges the good work which has already been undertaken by

GFTU affiliates, and others, in this area, but affirms that more can be done; not

least in terms of education, rooting-out those ideas and attitudes that have led

to irrational prejudice or hatred because of how someone looks, the beliefs you

have, or the way you live. Instead this Council seeks to celebrate our unique

and equal value in diversity.

Therefore, this BGCM requests that the Executive Committee:

a)

prepares an activist tool-kit, to help union representatives to challenge this

particular expression of prejudice

b)

prepare resources for circulation among affiliates working especially in the

education sector

c) share good practice among affiliates with a history of campaigning in this area

d)

lobby politicians with the need for effective and wide-ranging legislation.

She said: President, General Secretary, conference, guests, you know I am

Deborah Lawson, General Secretary of Voice, Education Professionals, and I

am moving Motion 14. It is good to be here for the first time. It is good to be

proposing a motion. I am a little bit nervous, only because I actually did not

discover this was being debated this afternoon until noon today. My mistake.

All I will say is my CV says that I am motivated by deadlines and, let me just tell

you, I got very motivated at lunchtime!

Yes, Voice is a diverse union and we are united in wanting to challenge

discrimination in the workplace and, indeed, in wider society. We recognise

and applaud the work of GFTU and affiliates on this and we now seek to take

our place in the wider trade union movement making our contribution to

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