GFTU BGCM Minutes 2017
in terms of education, trade union education, bringing the politics back into
trade union education. I think we were very fortunate at the BGCM, we have
had submissions from people like Keith Gildart, people from Leeds Beckett.
Leading in with that, we looked at personnel management and Steve delivered
a particularly useful presentation on performance management. Again, as
trade unions, and I think this was the point that Steve was making, we have
been locked into a kind of business model of performance management which
is really not necessarily effective or appropriate to our needs. That business
management model has negative connotations and performance management
does not in itself produce what we call productive labour, so we need to look at
new models. I must stress for those that did not attend and are looking forward
to attending the next conference and the progression of that in February, this is
not a sit down, be talked to and listen kind of event. It is very, very interactive
with workshops that are led by some of the delegates, by some of the members
of the EC, but it is very, very much your conference.
Following on from that we looked at organisational change and probably a
good example of that was given to us by someone like Gary of Nautilus. In a
changing workforce and a changing environment we have got to really be
prepared to look at our own organisational structure, how we organise. As I
say, Gary gave a great example of the mergers that they have effected
internationally. A big part that came out of the conference was shared services
and I think that led to a paper which was distributed to all affiliates regarding
shared services. There are some great opportunities for us to really act as a
strong collective, pooling our physical resources, our logistical resources and,
bearing in mind that was first mooted two years ago, I think first mooted with
the offer of the use of the offices at TESSA, I know there has been a fraternal
spirit in terms of trying to collaborate and save money, pool ideas, and that was
probably one of the key things that came out of that. So it was an integrated
programme that emerged and this is why the BGCM has been so important in
giving us that direction. It emerged out of the 2015 BGCM. You have seen the
progress over the last two years. That will continue and what I would urge you
to do, brothers and sisters, is to disseminate information regarding all the
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