GFTU BGCM Minutes 2017

that it is a trade union service by trade union lawyers. We are committed to the

movement, we have been acting for decades for trade unions, we act for over

20 unions and membership organisations. We do not work for employers and

big business, we put workers first. Secondly, and I think this is a corollary of

the first point really, we are dedicated to do the job properly, it is a quality

service, we use qualified people. We have avoided the temptation to dumb

down, because I think unions want their members to have the best possible

service that can be delivered.

Thirdly, the approach we have adopted, the buzz word in legal services these

days is “unbundling”, but Doug puts it in a better way, I think, which is pick and

mix, so rather than saying, “Here is a service, take it or leave it”, we are saying,

“Here are a dozen different services, take any of them or none of them or a

mixture of them and we will make a bespoke package for you and your

members. If you have in your gap in your legal services offering at present

then we will try and fill that, whether it is a help desk, an employment law

helpline, advocacy services and employment tribunals. It may be that you can

prepare the case, but do not have the experience or the resource to present

the case in tribunal. Wills. Probate. House moves. Family matters. Whatever

they are, we have unbundled it and we have said, “Pick and mix, take what it is

from it and we will try a deliver a bespoke service to any of the affiliates”.

Fourthly, and I think uniquely, the system will involve a direct benefit to the

GFTU Educational Trust. It will depend in the end to some extent on volume,

but as we grow this service then we have agreed with Doug that the trust will

receive direct donations from our firm to reflect the fact that we are benefitting

from your members too.

So I recommend the proposal to you, but I would do that, so I say rather than

trust me on it ask our clients. That has always been my approach in relation to

marketing, talk to the people who already use us. They are sitting amongst you

now and I think I have got the confidence to stand here and say I would not do

that unless I felt the people who we are acting for now can say that we can

deliver on the promises that this document sets out.

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