GFTU BGCM Report 2019

BGCM Report 2019

ALL TOGETHER NOW

The Report of the Executive Committee May 2017-May 2019 to the Biennial General Council Meeting, London, May 19-21, 2019

Photos by Kevin Hayes

THANKS

With special thanks to partners who have played an important life in the GFTU and who offer services to affiliates: HMC Property Management and Development, Morrish Solicitors, TC Branding and Premex.

GFTU Biennial General Council Meeting 2019 | Page 3

CONTENTS

Our Affiliates ............................................................................................5 Standing Orders for the BGCM . ............................................................6 List of BGCM Venues ...............................................................................7 General Secretary’s Introduction ...........................................................9 Highlights 2017-2019 .............................................................................12 Implementations of Resolutions from BGCM 2017. ............................16 The Executive Committee and its Work ...............................................22 New Building, New Investment .............................................................23 Education Work ......................................................................................24 Cultural Work .........................................................................................28 Film Festival ............................................................................................32 Workable Books .....................................................................................34 Our History .............................................................................................35 Practical Support Work and Services to Affiliates . ............................36 International Work .................................................................................37 Poland Study Visit.........................................................................37 Venezuela Study Visit. ...................................................................44 Kurdistan/Turkey Study Visit. ........................................................47 Quorn Grange Hotel ..............................................................................48 Pension Scheme .....................................................................................49 GFTU Educational Trust ........................................................................50 Finances . ................................................................................................52 Executive Committee Members ............................................................53 Executive Committee Attendance 2017-2019 ......................................54 Affiliations, Donations, Partners . .........................................................57 Who’s Who ..............................................................................................58 GFTU Affiliates 1899-2019. ....................................................................60

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OUR AFFILIATES 2017/2019

Aegis

Association of Educational Physchologists (AEP)

Artists’ Union England

Bakers Food and Allied Workers’ Union

Bectu

CCISUA

Community

Artists’UnionEngland

GGCA

GMB Union

Institute of Football Management & Administration (IFMA)

League Managers Association (LMA)

Musicians Union

NAPO

NARS

National Union of Journalists (NUJ)

NAUTILIS International

PCS

PDA

Prison Officers’ Association

Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA)

Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA)

Prospect

Scottish Artist Union

Society of Union Employees (SUE)

Social Workers’ Union (SWU)

Transport Salaries Staffs’ Association (TSSA)

Voice

WGGB The Writers’ Union

GFTU Affiliates | Page 5

STANDING ORDERS FOR THE BGCM

1. The President shall maintain order and decide all points of order. 2. The President shall decide priority of speeches, according to the order in which a delegate catches his/her eye. 3. The President shall call for the terms of a motion, or an amendment, before any speech is delivered thereon. Except in the case of an emergency approved by the Executive Committee and the General Council no motion or amendment can be moved unless submitted in accordance with the terms of Rule 6 of the Federation’s rules. 4. In the case of a disorder arising, the President shall have the power to adjourn the meeting to a time he/she shall fix, and his/her leaving the Chair shall terminate the session. 5. Should there be equality of votes on any issue 6. When a report is submitted by a committee, a member of that committee shall have the right to move its adoption. 7. The previous question, or the motion to pass to next business, shall always have priority, and if carried, the next business must be taken. 8. The mover only of an original motion shall have the right to reply, but in his/her reply he/she must not introduce new matter. Other delegates can only be heard by permission of the meeting, and to clear up misunderstandings with regard to essential parts of their previous speeches. 9. If a delegate rises to a point of order, he/she must specify the rule or practice which he/she thinks is being violated. The delegate in possession of the floor must sit down while the point of order is being raised, and the objector must sit down while the President is giving a ruling. where the vote is taken by show of hands the President may, subject to the terms of Rule 7, exercise a casting vote.

10. Discussion shall cease if the motion ‘that the question be now put’ is carried by a two thirds majority. 11. At an adjourned debate the mover of the adjournment shall be first heard. 12. No amendment shall be proposed which would be tantamount to a direct negative of the whole proposal. 13. An amendment must be seconded in the same way as motions, otherwise it must drop. 14. When an amendment has been moved and seconded it must be stated from the Chair before the debate is allowed to proceed. 15. There can be only one amendment before the meeting at one time. 16. If the amendment is put and carried it then becomes the substantive motion to which another amendment can be moved before it is put and carried as the substantive motion. 17. If the amendment is put and lost the original motion is then open to the moving of another amendment which, if carried becomes the substantive motion. 18. No delegate can move two amendments of the same motion. 19. No delegate shall be permitted to move an amendment while a previously moved amendment is under discussion

Standing Orders | Page 6

LIST OF BGCM VENUES 1899-2019

No. of Delgates

Year

Place

Chairman

* *

1899 1900 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951

London

58 48 66 71 77 70 68 76 82 96 91

Mr W.J. Davis Mr Pete Curran Mr Pete Curran Mr Pete Curran Mr Pete Curran Mr Pete Curran Mr Pete Curran Mr Pete Curran Mr Pete Curran

Birmingham Nottingham

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Glasgow Leicester

Dublin Bristol Cardiff

Southampton

York

Alderman Allen Gee, JP Mr Pete Curran, JP, MP Mr Pete Curran, JP, MP Alderman Allen Gee, JP Alderman Allen Gee, JP Alderman Allen Gee, JP Mr James O’Grady, MP Mr Joseph Cross, JP Mr James O’Grady, MP Mr James O’Grady, MP Mr James O’Grady, MP Mr James O’Grady, MP Councillor T. Mallalieu, MP

Oxford

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52

Blackpool Swansea

114

97 92

Dundee London

128

Cork

81

Liverpool

102 108

Derby Leeds

91 94

Gloucester

Leicester

112

Scarborough Leamington

99 99 66 64 63 58 59 60 48 44 52 44 54 43 43 46 44 54 52 54 53 49 48 49 44 45 49 49 46 50

Mr Joseph Cross, JP

Bangor

Councillor T. Mallalieu, JP Councillor T. Mallalieu, JP

Dumfries

Bridlington

Mr Alfred Short, MP Mr Alfred Short, MP

Bournemouth

Blackpool

Mr F.W. Birchenough, JP Mr F.W. Birchenough, JP

Dover

Llandudno Yarmouth Southport Morecambe Aberystwyth Blackpool Southport Hastings Llandudno Scarborough Glasgow Skegness Blackpool Llandudno Blackpool Southport Morecambe Morecambe Scarborough Llandudno Morecombe Llandudno Scarborough Dundee Blackpool

Alderman Alex Hutchinson, JP Alderman Alex Hutchinson, JP

Mr J.F. Sime Mr J.F. Sime

Mr C. Kean, MBE, JP Mr C. Kean, MBE, JP

Councillor W. Aucock, JP Councillor W. Aucock, JP

Mr W. Saxon Mr W. Saxon Mr J. Frayne Mr J. Frayne

Mr A. Naesmith, JP Mr A. Naesmith, JP Mr John Lee, OBE, JP Mr John Lee, OBE, JP

Mr Albert Taylor Mr Albert Taylor Mr H M Moulden Mr H M Moulden Mr F Dickinson Mr F Dickinson

103

Councillor F Worthington, JP Councillor F. Worthington, JP

68 70

Mr A. Knowles, OBE, JP

BGCM Venues | Page 7

LIST OF BGCM VENUES 1899-2017, CONTINUED

No. of Delgates

Year

Place

Chairman

53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99

1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017 2019

Morecambe

70 65 72 71 69 75 68 66 74 71 75 69 78 79 85 78 83 87 80 79 86 84 75 79 82 86 82 91 75 75 70 73 70 65 57 54 58 58 57 44 52 45 44 44 46 34 48 40 50

Mr A. Knowles, OBE, JP Mr A.C.C. Robertson, JP Mr A.C.C. Robertson, JP Mr C. Heap, OBE, JP Mr C. Heap, OBE, JP

Great Yarmouth

Blackpool

Scarborough

Blackpool Blackpool

Mr A.E. Head, JP Mr A.E. Head, JP

Morecambe

Brighton Blackpool

Mr J.H. Wigglesworth, OBE

Mr A.G. Tomkins, CBE Mr A.G. Tomkins, CBE

Scarborough

Blackpool

Mr R. Driver, JP Mr R. Driver, JP

Morecambe Blackpool Llandudno Scarborough

Mr F. Titherington, JP Councillor L. Jackson

Alderman J.W. Whitworth, JP

Dundee

Mr E.D. Sleeman Baillie R. Doyle, JP

Morecambe Scarborough

Mr F.C. Henry, OBE, JP Mr F.G. Hague, JP Mr J. Browning, JP Mr A. Howcroft, JP Mr J.K.W. Arnold

Weston-Super-Mare

Eastbourne Scarborough

Southport

Weston-Super-Mare

Mr E. Tullock

Douglas, IOM Bournemouth

Mr H.L.G. Gibson, MBE, JP

Mr T. Whittaker

Edinburgh

Mrs M. Fenwick, MBE, JP

Torquay

Mr D. Hill

Scarborough Eastbourne

Mr D.R. Coates

Mr J. Martin, MBE, JP Mr H.M. Wareham

Southport

Bournemouth

Mr L.R. Smith

Weston-Super-Mare

60

Mr J.J. Quinn, MBE, JP Mrs A. Spencer Mr C.P. McCarthy Mr D.A.C. Lambert Mr J. McChristie

Scarborough Eastbourne Scarborough Bournemouth

55

Llandudno Plymouth

Mr M. Murray

Mr K. Edmondson, JP Mr A. Hitchmough

Douglas, IOM Bournemouth

Mr R. Marron Mr A McCarthy

Blackpool

Torquay

Mr T Pye

Cardiff

Mr M J Leahy Mr D Farrell Mr G Oakes Mr D Nicholls Mr J Marino Mr J Mann, MBE

Edinburgh

Belfast Oxford

Manchester Leicestershire Leicestershire

100 101 102 103

Mr J Fray

Stratford upon Avon

Mr B Marshall Mr John Smith

London

GCM’s 1899 to date 6. * Special Conferences

BGCM Venues | Page 8

GENERAL SECRETARY’S INTRODUCTION

New generation We have continued our central endeavour to build a new generation of younger leaders and we launch in our 120th year a new book on working class history designed specifically to appeal to young workers and make them aware of how democracy and rights have been established by our Movement.. We have funded a schools project called Shout Out to inject political and trade union awareness back into schools following the deliberate removal of youth work from young peoples’ lives and the decline of citizenship education and community organisations. We have produced a special statement on the need to revitalise political education generally and this is under discussion in a wide variety of organisations such as the World Transformed and colleges. Our annual young members’ weekend is one of the most stimulating events in the Movement and many participants have gone on to begin a lifetime career in leading positions. Our priority campaign has been in fact to rebuild the Youth Service and this year has seen more successful GFTU campaigning on this issue than probably on any other. We chaired Parliamentary Roundtables and lobbies, helped draft potential new legislation, supported a youth event on the day of the presentation of a ten minute bill, assisted the first All Party Parliamentary Group study of the Youth Service and produced a major submission to the Labour Party consultation on this matter.

The biggest division in the country is between those in trade unions and the twenty six million who are not. If the social and economic balance is to be tipped back in favour of workers again, trade union membership and activity levels must increase. Everything about the GFTU is designed to support the strengthening, rebirth and growth of trade unions. Practically political We believe in the politics of practicality. Building services and support for unions to save them money and time and share best practice is politically very important. Never has the GFTU offered so much to unions and never has it had such a busy two years. We inherit a strong past and are building a strong future. Our two year cycle ends with the affiliation of the Pharmacists Defence Association which has just won its important and unprecedented 8 year campaign to remove a sweetheart company-union from Boots the chemist and to gain recognition for itself. The pharmacists join us as the Gibraltar General Clerical Association and VOICE did over this period. Trade union resurgence amongst the 26 million unorganised workers will not develop overnight, it is a long process and requires practical support and determination and a welcoming place in the trade union family for new organisations. Reach out and recruit Because the GFTU supports growing and specialist unions in such an attentive way more organisations are looking to join us. Some are dealing with the brutality of the gig economy, some are dealing with highly specialised and advanced areas of work that are now under threat and need a stronger union presence. Our most fitting celebration of our incredible 120 years of solid work for unions is to offer more, reach out more and recruit more affiliates. That is what we are doing. The GFTU Is pioneering and imaginative. Over the last two years we have found new ways of training trade union trainers using the very best education techniques developed in youth and community work. Bread and roses We have reconnected the trade union concerns for social justice and campaigning with the very best of art and culture to deepen our understanding and inspire others to join us. Our Liberating Arts event was not just of significance to our cultural unions, but made a major statement about the role of our art and culture in social progress and winning our rights.

Doug Nicholls, General Secretary, GFTU

Photo courtesy of Ade Marsh Photography

Mutual benefit In 2015 we adopted at the BGCM a policy of providing mutually beneficial services to affiliates across a broad range of practical areas. We wanted to create champagne provision at lemonade prices and attracting small commissions into the Educational Trust to sustain free education for affiliates. We have done this effectively and ten more services will be launched at the BGCM. Some unions contract their education management, financial accounting and admin services to us. It is cheaper for them, quality is assured and in a virtuous cycle our Trust benefits financially. Economies of scale

General Secretary’s Introduction | Page 9

with New Internationalist to create a publishing imprint. This now has four excellent publications available. We encourage trade unionists not just to read them but to promote them and suggest new books to publish. Internationalism The GFTU once did all of the international solidarity work of the trade unions. We have kept this tradition alive recognising that smaller unions generally cannot sustain international departments. We led the way on solidarity with the Kurdish people and highlighting the savagery of the Turkish regime against the Kurds and its own progressive people and trade unions. We organised a major Kurdish cultural festival. We addressed an international conference on these matters and sent a delegation to Turkey to study things more closely. At a time of great difficulty for Venezuela we elected two younger members from our youth festival to go on a study visit there. We maintained close connections with the Vietnamese unions and Chinese unions and held our own international study visit to Poland. Educated Trade union education had to change so we changed it. The intellectual underpinning for the changes followed a lot of debate and the publication of a ground breaking book we instigated. One of the most important aspects of this was to develop a training programme for trade union trainers. This has started well. Given the importance of trade union education we have worked with many academic institutions and established new partnerships. We have also commissioned a feasibility study into the future finding and sustainability of our education programme. There has never been a properly systematised training programme for full time trade union officials. Unions asked us to lead on the development of a trade union officials’ apprenticeship. We have done this. Great work has been done by around 10 unions on this. The GFTU will be the awarding centre for this work. Constructive training can now develop from the launch of the new programme in January 2020 to produce a new, better equipped cohort of officials. Whether unions pay into the apprenticeship levy or not they can benefit from this development. While our practical support for unions has flourished and our international work developed and our education offer expanded we have also implemented the biggest decision of recent years. Investing in the future We decided to invest our money in the development of ten houses for rent, twenty five new bedrooms and expanded conference facilities and a new GFTU Office with two new learning rooms on the Quorn site. Our investments in the money markets, with another £500,000 drop in value this year, has proved too precarious and unpredictable for long term financial planning for the GFTU, so we have decided to invest in the real economy creating jobs and a quality facility for affiliates and their families and new funding streams

© ReportDigital

for small unions often lacking some infrastructure and resourcing can be achieved through the GFTU. We tailor make training and support to individual union’s needs. Many GFTU affiliates have high membership density levels and comprehensive collective bargaining structures. However, this of course is not the case throughout and across the economy. In addition employment and trade union law is stacked against us. This is why at our union building conference over this period we focussed on a detailed consideration of the Institute for Employment Rights Manifesto for Labour Law. Pay up Workplaces are blighted by casualization and by pay systems heavily weighted in favour of the employers and increasing levels of exploitation. We are doing increasing work to support unions in more effective pay bargaining. Adding depth You don’t know where you are going unless you know where you came from, so an important part of our work is to keep history alive. We have special courses on this and will launch our new graphic novel on our history at the BGCM. We are sponsoring a PhD student to look at the GFTU’s own history and we have published a book of incredible plays about key moments in trade union struggle. We consciously want to add depth and thought to trade union work which is why we have teamed up

General Secretary’s Report | Page 10

through the Quorn site. We will be asset rich and poorer in cash terms at the end of this project. Hence we must find a more sustainable source of long term education funding and we must get more buy in for our services, more use of our facilities and more affiliates. In managing our finances we have to keep constant and close attention on our pension scheme and detailed consideration has been given this year to changing the composition of the Trustees and the investment plan. The Educational Trust which we fund has been invited to consider more ways of generating revenue and has been recipient of our largest ever loans and gift aid to develop Quorn. This work is also overseen at Quorn by the Trust’s wholly owned subsidiary company which scrutinises in detail the operations of the hotel. We are delighted to offer affiliates and their members cost effective residential opportunities with excellent standards. Democratic management I have been on the GFTU Executive since 1995, I know this last two years have been our busiest by far and our most successful. We manage our enormous workload democratically. We have a democratic culture rooted deep in the origins of the Movement.

Our BGCM is the GFTU for three days every two years. It sets policy and decides as much as it can. It elects an Executive on which every affiliate is entitled to be represented to carry out the GFTU business between BGCMs. The Executive meets every other month. Between those meetings there are occasional Finance and General Purposes Committee meetings as required. Between all that are the weekly meetings of the General Secretary, President and Vice President. The dedication and wisdom our President and Vice President should be appreciated and they are elected by virtue of length of service and commitment. As ever our collective endeavours are ably assisted by our professional staff to whom great thanks. We have set a new foundation for growth, construction works at Quorn will end soon, but then the building of the GFTU for a new phase in its development will begin. I hope that existing affiliates and new ones will take the best of this opportunity and keep the GFTU thriving for another 120 years.

Doug Nicholls, March 2019

GFTU Biennial General Council Meeting 2019 | Page 11

HIGHLIGHTS 2017-2019

Prison Officers Association (POA) make first use of Quorn for training. Biggest ever GFTU Education Offer launched. New Partnership with Leeds Beckett University signed.

Youth Festival attended by overseas trade unionists from Ehtiopia and Latvia. Union education officers hold meeting at Somerville College Oxford.

April

2017

Project restoring Spanish Civil war banners sponsored by GFTU. BECTU Sector of Prospect first conference. Oshor Williams Vice President attends ESNA Conference in Cuba. Three new GFTU Education and office staff employed. BGCM held in Stratford upon Avon. BGCM delegates visit RSC Theatre and performance of Anthony and Cleopatra. Kurdish MP Berten Ozturk addresses BGCM.

Larry Elliott addresses BGCM. WGGB affiliate to the GFTU. GFTU Liberating Arts Festival launched.

GFTU attends first POA conference. New GFTU Legal Services launched. New GFTU venue and travel service launched. John Smith President of International Federation of Musicians takes over as GFTU President. New Build at Quorn site authorised.

May

2017

June

GFTU supports organising and training weekend for Artists Union of England.

GS addresses TSSA 120th celebrations. GS addresses Community Conference.

2017

GS guest again of Durham Miners’ Association at the Gala. GFTU sponsors Radical Film Theatre at Tolpuddle Festival. GFTU new education officer addreses meetings at the festival. EC welcomes Gibraltar General Clerical Association in to membership. GFTU President retires after 15years as General Secretary of Musicians’ Union and remains President of the International Federation of Musicians. Initial meeting with Kellogg College Oxford and Oxford University Department of Continuing Education held. EC revises Pension Scheme structure. Working group of EC formed to plan Union Building Conference. EC approves plans for Project 120 to celebrate the 120 years of the GFTU In 2019. GS publishes a version of a 5,000 year old poem Lugalbanda as fund raiser for Free Ocalan Campaign. GFTU Kurdish cultural festival takes place at Quorn with

800 attendees and leading politicians including Ocalan’s niece, DIlek Ocalan MP, Ahmet Yildirim along with Salih Muslim Co-Chair of the PYD and. Haifa Alerbo the Co- chair of Cizre Canton. GFTU undertakes review of one large affiliate’s education programme. GFTU plans new training course for one affiliate on pay negotiations. Elections take place for 4 new young members’ seats on the EC and 3 on the Educational Trust. Tickets on sale for GFTU Liberating Arts Festival. GS judge in Social Workers’ Union essay competition on trade unionism and social work. GS attends Durham Miners’ Gala as guest. GS attends several affiliates’ conferences over this period. Sponsor Chris Jury to attend Labour Movement and the Arts Conference in USA. GFTU initiates discussions on development of Trade Union Officials’ Apprenticeship.

July

2017

Highlights | Page 12

Finance and General Purposes Committee meets at first post BGCM meeting to plan future of finances of the federation. GFTU nursery receives good Ofsted inspection result, but government funding limits begin to bite.

Workable Books launched with two publications one on Trade Union Education, one a collection of trade union related plays. Art for Quorn purchased from Eric Wong.

August 2017

Discussions with Shadow Treasury team begin about education provision. Affiliated to Justice for Colombia and Cuba Solidarity. GS joins Freedom for Ocalan Committee.

Art for Quorn purchased from Louise Bradley to decorate the restaurant. New ICT Policy introduced. Quorn gardens win first prize in regional competition.

September 2017

GS addresses Social Workers’ Union and BASW anti austerity march and conference and GFTU sponsors social workers’ anti austerity campaigning pack. GS pays tribute to three leading trade unionists who passed away this month.

Chooseyouth reboots campaign for Youth Service. GS remains Chair. Successful Parliamentary event. All Party Parliamentary Group begins study of Youth Work.

October 2017

November 2017

Liberating Arts Festival held. Major event on progressive art, with performances, discussions, speeches, workshops, films.

GS Addresses International Conference in Brussels on Freedom for Ocalan. Unfortunately due to external financial pressures the decision is taken to close the GFTU nursery. Highly successful visit from the Vietnamese General Confederation of Labour organised to focus on health and safety. GS attends House of Lords reception of UK/Vietnam Network to celebrate 45 years of diplomatic relations between the countries. GS Chairs session on Venezuela at the Adalante Conference. 6 leading Trade Unionists from China visit GFTU for discussions.

CWU holds highly successful event for young trade unionists in Quorn. Review of an affiliate’s education offer completed. Podiatrists Union hold first training at Quorn. GS working on draft bill on the Youth Service. Support given to IER’s Labour Law Manifesto. Work on Trade Union Officials’ Apprenticeship Scheme continues. GS elected Vice Chair of Ruskin College. GS assists in production of new training the trade union trainers course materials. Sponsorship given to EC member Brian Linn for Edinburgh homelessness campaign.

December 2017

February 2018 January 2018

VOICE accepted into affiliation.

Discussions with affiliates and potential affiliates.

Successful Union Building Conference held. Major debates and awareness raising on IER’s Manifesto for Labour Law.

GFTU Begins significant sponsorship of Shout Out project bringing political and trade union awareness to schools. Ten Minute Bill on Youth Service in preparation.

Highlights | Page 13

Preparations for building work and funding commence.

Successful study course on workings of House of Commons and House of Lords.

March 2018

GS attends CWU Conference. First training the trade union trainers course a great success. Paper on Posted Workers’ Directive submitted to European wide project.

New admin support services for affiliates developed. Online learning opportunities developed. GDPR training offered to affiliates.

April 2018

GS supports McDonald’s strike day rallies. GS addresses Mary Quaile Club event on our new book of plays. Support given to DMA Fundraising. GS Chairs Roundtable in Parliament on Youth Service.

GS elected Chair Ruskin College. Major work to argue for an independent Labour Movement related College rather than a merger. New Building Work on Quorn site begins, 10 new houses, 25 new hotel bedrooms and new GFTU Offices.

May

2018

Ten Minute Bill on Youth Service presented to Parliament by Lloyd Russell Moyle MP. GS addresses Derby Silk Mill Rally. Affiliates make pledges of over £500k for GFTU New Build.

Two further visits for Vietnamese trade unionists are organised in London and Belfast. Ph D Students and Post Doc students report on successful progress of the National Coal Fields Project supported by the GFTU.

June

2018

Affiliate agrees that GFTU will administer all of their finance audit and account work. GFTU’s Political Education paper widely circulated. GFTU Young Members’ Delegation to Venezuela. Fruitful discussions with the World Transformed commence.

Shout Out project reports significant progress. General Secretaries support group agrees production of materials on General Secretary’s role and EC members’ training.

July

2018

August 2018

Heroes in the Evening Mist published by Workable Books. A posthumous novel by former WGGB President William Ash.

GFTU organises affiliates’ visit to PFA HQ in Manchester.

September 2018

EC member Bro Manuel Cortes delegated to visit Vietnamese Conferederation of Labour in Hanoi when on ITF visit in region.

GS Chairs public debate with Latin American ambassadors.

October 2018

Highlights | Page 14

GS attends Durham Miners’ Launch of Redhills appeal.

December 2018 November 2018

GFTU victim of substantial Cybercrime.

GS produces submission to Labour Party review of Youth Service. Productive meetings held with potential affiliates. Support given to New Deal for workers campaign. GS attends SME4Labour event.

EC agrees to commission scoping of futures sustainability and partnerships and funding for education provision. Pension scheme commutation factors and investments comprehensively reviewed.

January 2019

GFTU moves into new offices on Quorn site and opens two new learning rooms. Constructive meetings held with Shadow Chancellor on a range of issues.

Productive meetings held with Unions on use of Quorn.

February 2019

March 2019

GS Chairs celebration of 120 years of Ruskin College.

Trade Union Officials’ Apprenticeship approved.

April

GFTU becomes assessment centre for trade union officials’ apprenticeship. PDA Affiliate Productive meetings held on professionalising marketing of Quorn.

GFTU office space offered to partners. Ten new services for affiliates arranged for launch at BGCM.

2019

First training on pay negotiations for PDA. Workable Books Graphic Novel on the history of progressive struggles in Britain launched. Parliamentary reception to celebrate GFTU’s 120th year.

BGCM convenes in London. GFTU sponsors festival of films on women and unions in HOME independent cinema in Manchester.

May

2019

Highlights | Page 15

IMPLEMENTATION OF RESOLUTIONS FROM BGCM 2017

The ability of any union or federation of unions to successfully work to implement its policies is of course determined by the predominant political forces at play as well as its own efforts. We have confronted over the last two years a Conservative government committed to the destructive lash of austerity and a Parliament almost completely overtaken by efforts to avoid the biggest political mandate in history. Our action on resolutions is recorded in the column on the right.

Motion 1 Artists Union England 1% for Art

We have purchased pictures from two AUE members for display in the restaurant area and reception. We have had a generous permanent loan of photographs from the miners’ dispute and embroideries from the second world war. We supported a womens’ group to establish an external wall sculpture. We have negotiated with the local quarry to have a large block of granite delivered to the site for a sculptor to turn into a feature monument in conjunction with local communities. We have encouraged the development of the policy contained in this motion through our general work and Liberating Arts Festival. Implementation

1 Artists’ Union England propose that this conference agree that 1 percent of any new-build construction, renovation, conversion or major refurbishment by an affiliate member be spent on buying or commissioning public art. 2 The GFTU’s recent commitment to purchase artwork for Quorn Grange Hotel is an example of support and solidarity with creative workers.  ‘Percent for Art’ is an established scheme in USA and Europe, endorsed by local and national public bodies.  The UK does not have a ‘percent for art’ scheme - although some regional and municipal bodies have developed something similar. The GfTU would be paving the way forward in establishing a progressive and bold approach to the environments we want to work in as well as supporting the work of artists in the UK.

Motion 2 Community Sharing the ‘gig’ economy with all

Implementation

These issues formed substantial areas of debate at our Union Building Conference and have been debated regularly at the EC meetings. The GFTU Has given support to specific campaigns in these areas and the GS has addressed relevant strikes and rallies.

1 Conference notes that the ‘gig’ economy can and should be fairer and acknowledges the role trade unions have had in securing that in recent months. Conference believes that the ‘gig’ economy can play a pivotal role in providing a path back to work for those who struggle to gain access to traditional employment such as new parents or disabled workers. 2 Conference notes Uber’s new partnership with Lingoing that aims to attract a greater number of deaf and hard of hearing partners onto the Uber app and takes advantage of the use of accessible technology. 3 Conference believes that the systems operating in the UK to support traditional employment, whether through employment law, tax systems or the welfare state, contradict the needs of ‘gig’workers and ‘gig’employers and further excludes those who struggle to access work. Conference believes it is crucial that trade unions engage with digital platforms such as Deliveroo to make meaningful and timely interventions that provide fairer working conditions.  Conference calls on the GFTU to:   a Work with organisations, companies and commissions that are providing thinking and resource on shaping the ‘gig’ economy to ensure it is fair for everyone.   b Work with Government to rethink employment law, tax systems and the welfare state to the benefit of ‘gig’ workers.   c Encourage trade unions to modernise traditional structures and models to ensure that members that are not based in workplaces can participate fully in union activities

Implementing 2017 Resolutions | Page 16

Motion 3 NAPO Representatives, Training

Implementation

The representatives’ training materials have been substantially renewed. Academics with expertise in organising models and international union comparisons have been involved in our work and the improvement of training modules and offers has been discussed at the regular meetings of education officers. The annual young members’ conference particularly addresses some of these themes. The GFTU has introduced the first cohort of training the trainer courses to ensure trainers are familiar with the organising models and imperatives and one affiliate has made organising training compulsory for all representatives.

1 The GFTU plays a critical role in helping small unions train representatives. The formation of a training co-ordinators network to help shape, develop and test the representative training programme is welcomed as positive and should be encouraged and supported. 2 This BCGM thinks that there is scope for the GFTU to broaden it’s impact by using this network to identify best practice and sharing best practice in training for union activists where the focus is on softer skills, vital to successful union organizing, but not traditionally central to representative training - such as active listening, overcoming deficit thinking through positive communication, and writing effective campaigning materials. 3 Similarly the GFTU should promote identifying common recruitment and organising challenges and support active learning around best practice and overcoming these challenges. For example, managers are critical union gatekeepers across the public sector but some unions, such as Napo have seen a significant reduction of membership in managerial roles and could learn from unions who have retained strong managerial membership levels. This BCGM calls upon the GFTU to: A identify examples of best practice and such opportunities for such sharing B use the training co-ordinators network to support this activity C identify champions, who can be supported to lead on progressing identified themes D use the GFTU’S network to access academics, specialists and experts in other fields to support developing the highest quality of training and practice in these critical skills. 1 The GFTU provides a safe space for union leaders to come together, share challenges, and celebrate successes. However, all GFTU affiliates will be aiming to stretch resources so they have the maximum impact for members and this BCGM believes that the GFTU is not fulfilling it’s potential as a broker for finding shared solutions to common resourcing challenges amongst affiliates. 2 By definition affiliates are small so capacity to find solutions to internal operational challenges is difficult - in terms of time, expertise and cost. For example, Napo would like to have cutting edge integrated ICT platforms that could make our membership, finance and communications more efficient and effective with a direct benefit for supporting activists, campaigning and organising. This is difficult as we have limited time and expertise to devote to this and options can be disproportionately expensive. 3 This BCGM believes that through the safe space provided by the GFTU, common challenges can be identified and common solutions explored, extending to shared commissioning and economies of scale in areas such as ICT, insurance and internal financial support, internal legal services, and aspects of HR support. 4 This principle can extend to shared commissioning of research into common bargaining challenges, with the GFTU brokering this via their network of academics. 5 Indeed, this BCGM believes the GFTU is uniquely placed to promote, co- ordinate and broker such sharing across affiliates. Therefore, this BCGM calls upon the GFTU to: A include opportunities to specifically promote this sharing in the GFTU annual events programme. B create a working party of union sharing champions Motion 4 NAPO Promoting efficiencies & greater inter-union co-operation

Implementation

We have not created a separate working party to develop this work. The EC in effect acts as the working party and regularly reviews our shared work. The General Secretaries forum also assists this process as do the regular meetings of specialist union officers which we facilitate. The Union Building Conference held between BGCMs also propels this work and mutual approach forward. Ten new services have been added to our Win:Win programme and this requires further promotion throughout affiliates. The spirit of the motion lies at the heart of the GFTU’s strategy and purpose.

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Motion 5 NAPO Domestic violence victims in the Family Court System

Implementation

This has been insufficiently progressed.

1 This BGCM welcomes the announcement of an emergency review of the Family Court system on the need to afford greater protection to the victims of Domestic Violence and the prevention of the situation where perpetrators may cross examine their victims at hearings. This practice serves only to re- victimise and passers the power to perpetrators in a system which is there to protect victims. This anomaly is already prohibited in the Criminal Courts. This BGCM instructs the Executive Committee to A commission support and research from our associated academics on this important issue. B seek input by way of a survey of Napo members working in CAFCASS C seek an urgent approach from the legal professions and Women’s Aid with a view to assisting the GFTU in aiming to influence the outcomes of the review through Parliament.

Implementation

Motion 6 NAPO Probation reform and public safety

Considerable work has already been done in these areas by others and the GFTU through its regular reports at the EC from POA and NAPO has kept full abreast of the positions in the criminal justice world and made representations where required.

1 This BGCM is dismayed at the state of the Probation Service in England and Wales and the serious risk to public safety following the disastrous part-privatisation of the service under the Transforming Rehabilitation programme. An increase in serious further offences, and a number of other shortcomings have been highlighted in successive reports by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Probation. This position is not tenable, public safety is at risk and with further reforms planned in the forthcoming Offender Management Review and Offender Management in Custody reviews Napo is fearful that we do not need further change on a whim and prior to testing. 2 This BCGM asks that the GFTU Executive Committee is instructed to: A invite our associated academics to undertake research into the impact of the reforms, including the alarming increases in the number of serious further offences that have occurred within certain Community Rehabilitation Companies. B if appropriate, put pressure on the justice sector to properly research and come up with alternatives to reduce the risk to the public

Implementation

Motion 7 Bakers Food and Allied Workers Union Attacks on pay

The GFTU is seeking to lead by example and improve pay and conditions in the notoriously low paid hospitality industry and is supporting affiliates’ campaigns in this regard and is assisting several affiliates with new pay bargaining courses.

1 That this conference agrees to lobby government, the Labour Party and TUC to stop the abuse of workers pay, terms and conditions to compensate for the implementation of the so called living wage. Cuts to overtime, Bank holiday and premium payments are becoming the norm and driving many thousands of workers to the brink of poverty.

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Motion 8 Bakers Food and Allied Workers Union US Campaign for living wage, $15 per hour 1 That this conference congratulates those Cities and States in USA, who have ratified a $15 per hour wage. We further salute the 100000’s of low paid workers who have risked their liberty by taking strike action against serial pay abusers like McDonalds etc. Their fight has been a fantastic example of what can be achieved when workers stand together and has become a global campaign against low pay in the fast food industry, which the BFAWU are proud to support.

Implementation The GS supported several of the MacDonalds picketing events and regular reports have been taken by the EC on this campaign.

Motion 9 Musicians Union Performers and Mental Health

Implementation

The GFTU fully supported the work of the MU in this regard.

1 A 2014 survey by Help Musicians UK revealed the high levels of mental health problems within the musician community. Of those surveyed, 67% had, on occasion, suffered from depression or other psychological problems, 75% had experienced performance anxiety and 62% had experienced relationship difficulties. 2 There has recently been an increased awareness of mental health within the creative industries and this is something that the entertainment unions’ welcome, since the unusual nature of a performer’s working life can make them more vulnerable to certain mental health issues. Musicians, actors and other performers regularly face antisocial hours, loneliness, worries about money and strain placed on relationships due to touring, all of which can be detrimental to their mental health. This combined with the pressure of working in the creative industries can lead to performers developing issues with alcohol and drug abuse as a coping mechanism. Cases such as the death of Amy Winehouse have highlighted that the music industry and the creative industries in general need to do more to support performers. 3 The BGCM supports all efforts to promote better mental health within the creative industries, and highlights the work of the British Association for Performing Arts Medicine (BAPAM) in treating both physical and mental health issues in performers and Help Musicians UK for supporting this essential work. Motion 10 Musicians Union Music Co-operatives 1 The Musicians’ Union (MU) released its third report into the state of music education in England in 2016. The report highlighted that yet more instrumental music teachers have lost their jobs or left the profession due to worsening terms and conditions over the last year. MU members also highlighted their concerns about the inconsistency of music education provision across the country due to the varying attitudes of schools and head teachers towards music. 2 Instrumental music teachers faced with redundancy or worsening terms and conditions have, in some areas, been setting up co-operatives and independent trusts. These appear to be working very well and are examples of how high quality, accessible and affordable music education delivered by a committed and skilled workforce can still be provided. The MU is a member of Co-operatives UK and is providing advice and assistance to MU members who wish to set up their own co-operatives. For example, the MU assisted

Implementation

This concern has been taken up within our overall campaign for the future of youth services for young people.

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a group of members in Milton Keynes to form their teaching co-operative following the council’s decision to make the majority of their instrumental teaching workforce redundant. 3 This BGCM believes that every child should be given the opportunity to learn a musical instrument, as was the aspiration of the National Plan for Music Education, and condemns all cuts to music education. The GFTU applauds efforts by instrumental teachers and the MU to form cooperatives and pledges to support this work.

Implementation The GFTU has fully supported this campaign and is happy to lend its name at any point to any of the unions’ campaigns.

Motion 11 Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association Public ownership of Britain’s railways

1 This Conference opposes the continued privatisation of Britain’s railways which have allowed the private sector to extract significant profits at the expense of tax payers and passengers whilst threatening the jobs of workers. 2 Information published by the ORR shows that for the year 2015-16, net government support to the rail industry totalled £4.8 billion (excluding Network Rail loans) and represents double the level recorded (in real terms) of that paid in the last days of British Rail. Since privatisation, this situation has existed and taking advantage of the subsidy, firms like Virgin Trains West Coast that claim to be private sector innovators are guaranteed profits. In 2015-16 alone, Virgin West Coast made £67 million in pre-tax profits after receiving a net subsidy of £285 million, building on £518.8 million net profit extracted between 1997 and 2012. 3 At the same time, after allowing for inflation, rail fares have increased by 25% in real terms since 1995 whilst government policy is to increasingly push the cost of the railways onto the passenger. 4 As part of the government’s neo liberal political dogma, they are also waging a war on staff and their unions. Nowhere more so has this been seen than in Southern where trade unions have had to defend their right to strike in the Supreme Court, whilst DfT dictat and incompetence has now led to a legal challenge from commuters. 5 Conference calls on the GFTU to support the People’s Railway campaign and work for publicly owned and publicly accountable railway. Motion 12 Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association London Underground dispute and cuts to Transport for London’s operating grant 1 Conference, notes that in April 2016, Mayor Boris Johnson implemented the Fit for the Future (FFtF) scheme in London Underground (LU) that saw ticket offices closed and 800 jobs lost. The Conservative Mayor’s legacy has, however, been to make LU a dangerous place to work and travel. Reports from reps led to TSSA surveying station staff members with the finding that 80% of LU customer facing workers feel less safe at work because of a massive spike in cases of physical and verbal abuse towards them. 2 As a result, TSSA, along with RMT, have been pursuing industrial action within LU. In a series of meetings at ACAS, and with the new Labour Mayor, Sadiq Khan, the unions have secured commitments to reinstate 325 new jobs, over and above replacing existing vacancies. 3 The Conservative legacy remains in London. Transport for London, parent of LU, has seen its operating grant from government cut completely from 2018-19 meaning that jobs and services are put at risk as the company cuts its costs and sell assets. In a city with one of the worst pollution records in

Implementation

The GFTU has offered support as required.

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