GFTU BGCM 2019 Minutes

they should be doing as employers and looking after the workers that they

have. So we have a job to do. We have got to start to learn to fight again back

against employers who are putting our members’ health at risk. In my own

industry over the past year we have had a number of suicides. In fact, it was

not so long ago that one of our fulltime officials took their own life. You almost

feel a sense of guilt that that is happening. Was it something that we did that

was wrong? It could have been any pressure, but society today – divorce,

homelessness, rehousing – all those things are stress, but on top of that we

have so much pressure that comes from the workplace and we as activists and

the people who are back in the workplaces have got to do more. We have to

take it on ourselves to push forward. We need a change of Government, and I

do not mean change to Farage. We need a Labour Government that is

committed to putting more money into the health service and mental health, but

making sure that there is more money that goes into education, so people like

the GFTU educators can get out there and promote what it is, making sure that

business does what it is meant to do, making sure that Government does what

it is meant to do and making sure that we do the things that are right by our

members. Comrades, please support. (Applause)

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much, Ronnie. Any other speakers on this

motion? (No response)

Motion 4 was CARRIED unanimously

THE PRESIDENT: Now I move to Motion 1. You will find this on page 1 of the light

blue section in the book. It is moved by the Association of Educational

Psychologists.

MOTION 1 – CORPORAL PUNISHMENT OF CHILDREN IN ENGLAND

SIS ANGELA PRATTEN (AEP) moved the following motion:

This conference notes the actions currently being taken by both the Scottish

and Welsh Governments towards introducing legislation which will provide

greater protection for children in Wales and a statement from the Children’s

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