GFTU BGCM Report 2017

Resolution 14 (continued) East Coast Trains was commended by the Office of Rail Regulation as the most cost effective train operator as it received virtually no subsidy and has returned over £800 million in premium payments to the Treasury to date, more than any other operator. Despite the political dogma, most passengers and workers want a rail network that works in the social, economic and environmental interests of all citizens, not just those who want to turn a profit to line the pockets of shareholders. (3) As such, Conference calls on the GFTU to support the work of affiliates, community groups and passengers in campaigning for an alternative rail system that is both publicly owned and publicly accountable in line with the vision created by the Transport for Quality of Life’s “Rebuilding Rail” report. (1) This BGCM recognises that both the British and Irish trade union movements are distinctive in their organisation. Both have a combination of specialist trade unions organised around particular trades and occupations and industrial groups within larger general unions. (2) The BGCM reaffirms the important role that the GFTU plays in complimenting the work of the TUC by offering practical, educational, campaigning and other support for specialist unions and groups within general unions. This BGCM further notes the great number of workers organisations and associations not yet consolidated into trade unions and the tremendous potential that exists for supporting the development of trade unionism amongst the two thirds of workers not currently in unions. The GFTU, jointly with its affiliates, needs to develop a strategy to help nurture trade union growth among these workers. (3) The BGCM therefore believes that the GFTU could play an essential role in supporting affiliates in their attempts to build a stronger movement through freeing resources that are often duplicated. This should involve looking at the potential to: a) Pool and share resources including looking at the possibility of building a multi-union HQ and also sharing office space throughout Britain and Ireland; b) Negotiating shared services and facilities between affiliates, the GFTU and third parties to create economies of scale and other savings that individual unions’ could not otherwise deliver on their own; c) Develop a strategy that helps generate new income for both the GFTU and its affiliates; d) Develop a plan which delivers membership growth among affiliates and also looks to deliver a strategy to nurture trade union growth among unorganised sectors of our economy. e) Signpost affiliates to companies and service providers who are unionised and offering value for money and quality to trade union clients. The BGCM believes that the combined purchasing power for GFTU affiliates and the development of customised, but shared benefits and services could play a significant role in maintaining the strength of small and specialist trade unions and reaching out to new recruitment areas. (4) The BGCM calls upon the Executive to: 1) Produce a discussion paper for affiliates and potential new affiliates on where shared facilities, services and fund raising schemes could be considered and to consider some of the best practice and arrangements that unions have made that could be extended and shared; 2) Organise a working Conference as soon as practical and ideally within Resolution 15 Supporting Affiliates

Implementation

Implementation

In many ways the implementation of this resolution has formed the basis of the EC’s work over the last two years with many new initiatives and two highly successful events for affiliates held and a new suit of services offered. All elements of the resolution were implemented

Implementing 2015 Resolutions | Page 19