GFTU BGCM 2019 Minutes

place to stop everything that we were saying about our argument and we have

always said that the fitness test is a way for sacking our staff, so, conference,

please support. Thank you. (Applause)

THE PRESIDENT: Thanks very much for that, Joe. Any other speakers on this

motion? (No response)

Motion 13 was CARRIED unanimously

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much. A little earlier than said, but we will take

the coffee break now. We will take 20 minutes or so. We are doing very well

this morning. Then I think we will be able to start with Dave Ward.

The meeting adjourned for tea

THE PRESIDENT: Okay, thank you, everybody. Let’s take our seats for the last lap.

Welcome back, everybody. You will have heard this morning probably on the

news over the last few days, but particularly this morning I heard it on the BBC

News that there is quite a crisis now at British Steel and Roy has just arrived

and I am going to ask him just to say a few words about it and then we will

maybe put together a message of solidarity.

UPDATE ON BRITISH STEEL

BRO ROY RICKHUSS (Community): Thanks, John. Thanks for the opportunity just

to give you a brief update of what has happened over the last few days. British

Steel is predominantly in Scunthorpe, Teesside and Skinningrove where it used

to be part of what was the old British Steel when it was a nationalised industry.

It was then bought out by Tata Steel. Tata Steel sold it off three years ago to

an outfit called Greybull Capital. I do not want to get into a massive debate

about Brexit, but in recent weeks the company have been quoting Brexitrelated

issues, whatever they are, for one of the reasons why they are now losing

significant sums of money. They went to the Government seeking support and

they achieved a £120 million loan from the Government to continue operations.

However, what they were saying was that in reality that was not going to be

enough and they needed somewhere near £200 million which the Government

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