GFTU BGCM Minutes 2017

helped social workers with issues around discrimination in employment and

their access to training. We have also helped social workers and the trainee

social workers and we have represented them in conduct hearings.

So that is a flavour of what we do in the Social Workers Union. Why social

workers need to join us. We have put that there. Recently I have been active

and I have organised a march along with my BASW colleagues, so we

marched from Birmingham to Liverpool. I think it was about 106 miles we

walked over seven days, but we organised it with a number of social workers

and service users, so it was a great opportunity to pay attention to Boot Out

Austerity. There is a website called Boot Out Austerity. We are trying to get

this movement on social injustice and for me that was a great opportunity to

meet our service users and visit food banks and speak to politicians, so it was

something I was very pleased to be involved with.

I just want to conclude now by really highlighting why I feel as General

Secretary the need for our union to be a member of the GFTU and I think we all

recognise those facts. I was just typing this morning thinking, “What is it about

the GFTU?” Of course, that list could go on, but I have got the

Education For Action. Our members benefit from the extensive training

courses offered by the GFTU. A sense of belonging. I think it was Doug who

highlighted that earlier, that I suppose in this room I am amongst likeminded

unions and that sense of sharing and together we can be stronger. The GFTU

is suited to our union size. We are still small enough that I think our voice is

heard within the GFTU, so that is very important to us. We have certainly

benefitted from the GFTU knowledge base and I have received ongoing advice

from the GFTU General Secretary and also the staff, so I have been thankful

for that. We have got access to the full training courses, day schools, even the

hotel if we want that. We have got study seminars, we have got ongoing

general secretary workshops which will be useful for myself, because, as I say,

I have only been in the job for eight months. Again, the GFTU campaigns for

and supports everyone in this organisation and overall the GFTU services the

needs of our union, because we are a specialist union and we have always

found the GFTU approachable, so thank you for that. (Applause)

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