GFTU BGCM 2019 Minutes

carry on the work and ensure that we are developing as this BGCM has said

that we should.

So a couple of things that we have not perhaps highlighted so far in the

discussions. Between BGCMs we have held a non-policy making event three

times now called a Union Building Conference. I am sure there are a number

of people here who have been to those. They are very creative, very friendly,

very stimulating, very engaging events. We have had 80 or 90 people at both

of those with a range of speakers, but also a lot of dialogue between the

affiliates which has led to new friendships and new ways of working between

the unions. We have not got one dated in the timetable for next year, but I

think it is something we should give serious consideration to again, because it

has led to recruitment to the GFTU and it has led to some creative partnerships

amongst affiliates. That has been an important part of our work, part of our

education and training and general development really.

We are also very supportive of the Institute of Employment Rights and at the

last Union Building Conference we had an incredible presentation from Sonia

McKay about the state of employment legislation, the state of trade union law

and, more importantly, the work that has been developed by the Institute,

accepted by the TUC, accepted by the Labour Party, on introducing a

comprehensive manifesto for labour law. So there is now in existence a very

comprehensive package of proposed changes to all the employment law that

has been imposed on us over the last 30 years and all of the anti-trade union

legislation and there are within that significant proposals for the future of

collective bargaining and the establishment of a Minister for Labour. We had

hoped to do a bit more on that after the Union Building Conference, we have

not and I think it is something that we need to pick up again and unions need to

make themselves more aware of really. So Institute of Employment Rights,

Manifesto for Labour Law, have a look. It is very good stuff. The best labour

lawyers and academics in the land who are on our side have put it together

with us and the wider trade union movement, supported by a lot of the big and

small unions.

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