GFTU BGCM Minutes 2017

from the academic world who is a youngster to come and join our Executive, if

that was appropriate. I just really think the more partnerships we can have with

more universities and more education providers the better and the stronger this

movement will be. You are very welcome, thank you. That is all I have to say.

(Applause)

BRO ROBERT MOONEY (Community): I think it is probably worth mentioning that

my own union Community have started a recruitment scheme for young

working students in Scotland. We have been to universities and colleges, we

have recruited ambassadors, two ambassadors in each college and university

in Scotland. I have employed somebody for two years and his sole job is to

recruit working students and I went along with him to colleges and universities

and it amazes me the amount of young people that do not even know what a

trade union is. Since January we have recruited 200 young students. A lot of

them are really, really active. It is so refreshing considering that only 4% of

Community’s membership was under 27 last year, so I think it is a great

partnership, so thanks very much. (Applause)

SIS SARAH WOOLLEY (Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union): Kind of on the

same theme, but focusing on one aspect of the booklet. This year we held our

annual youth festival at the beginning of April. We had around 20 delegates

there and I am going to come back to that a bit later on, but I would like to

thank Nautilus for all their work that they have put in to get a good

representation of their young members there. There were loads of them and

they were fantastic and they brought a different kind of political view, shall I

say, to the weekend and they utilised the space on the agenda to hold their

own meetings as well, so they effectively killed two birds with one stone. We

had amazing weather, especially ordered, of course, a bit better than today,

and the weekend was comprised of sessions covering campaigns, media,

politics, international solidarity, ACAS and young workers rights,

apprenticeships and, of course, the compulsory debates about what is

happening in and around the UK and the world on an evening.

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