GFTU BGCM Minutes 2017

BRO TOM MACHELL (BECTU) seconded the motion.

He said: I am saying something which is directly related to the motion and

something which is indirectly related as well. Inspiration can actually be taken

locally as well. I was talking to Ronnie about this earlier, but my local trades

council, because of what the Bakers Union have been doing, because of their

campaign, have actually started a Sheffield Needs a Pay Rise campaign. It is

in its early stages, but the idea is to go out on to the High Street and get people

signed up to whatever the appropriate union happens to be. It is beginning to

spread. It has spread to Chesterfield. So what the American workers have

been doing has been an inspiration to us.

I am going to make no apologies whatsoever for shoe horning in something

more specific and local to myself and that is the picture house workers, BECTU

members who are organising across cinemas, not just in London. They are

fighting a number of things. They are fighting for union recognition. They are

fighting for a real living wage. Their dispute has spread. I think it is now five

cinemas. They have taken it down to Brighton. We talk about the future, we

talk about how we need to reinvigorate our movement, we talk about young

people. I was lucky enough to see them at our conference last weekend. We

are talking about people new to trade unions, we are talking about people in

their early 20s and in their 30s. We are talking about people organising their

fellow workers, we are talking about people recruiting hundreds to the union. In

my case, it is BECTU, but actually the bottom line is I really do not care what

union people are in as long as they are in the appropriate union. So these

things are an inspiration and it is interesting that the Americans have brought

us a lot of things, as well as a strange Labour Day that they have on a different

day, but never mind. The inspiration of those American workers is something

that actually should invigorate all of us and I am very happy to second this

motion which is apparently what I am doing. (Laughter and applause)

The motion was CARRIED unanimously

THE PRESIDENT: That moves us on to the Musicians Union Motion 9, Performers

and Mental Health, on page 60.

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