GFTU BGCM Minutes 2017

The hidden people working behind the scenes without which the conference

would not run as smoothly. We thank the Morning Star for their coverage. We

have Sam the technician at the back who has managed we are all heard with

the sound and that type of thing. (Applause) We have the verbatim minute

taker, Jane Norman. (Applause) I particularly felt sorry for Jane earlier when

Manuel decided to quote two of the Spanish trade unions and I just thought,

“Good luck with that one!” (Laughter) We have obviously got John Harris, the

photographer, who has been bumping into everyone’s drinks as he has been

trying to take photographs of everyone! (Laughter and applause) . We have the

GFTU staff. We have had Tim and Wendy deliver speeches and we have

obviously got Ian and Claire who have been attending to our every need. They

also so unselfishly looked everyone after the gala dinner so much that I know

well into the early hours of 2/3 o’clock in the morning they were still tending and

working very hard on behalf of affiliates here. (Applause)

Obviously these kind of things are all spearheaded by the three on the top table

there. It was funny, because when I was asked to do this Doug made some

notes for me and one of the people he did not ask me to thank was himself, but

I think it would be amiss if we did not thank Doug for all his hard work.

(Applause) Then we have the Vice President and President, John and Ben,

who I think have ordered us very well, apart from the fact that, according to my

notes, we were due to finish at half 12, which does give me another half an

hour up here! (Cheering and laughter)

THE PRESIDENT: I remind you of paragraph 4! (Laughter)

BRO LEE MOON (Nautilus International): Indeed. Just seeing the progression that

has been made over the last two years under Ben’s supervision and

presidency, we certainly owe him a great deal of thanks and we know that John

will come in and carry on that way forward. I was handed a piece of paper

before I started my speech and I can now reveal that the prize for quoting

Shakespeare is two weeks holiday in Barbados and Ben has been keeping a

careful record and apparently it is going to Doug Nicholls! Thanks everyone.

(Applause)

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