GFTU BGCM 2019 Minutes

rely on us. The health and safety course we do, stage 1 and stage 2, again,

there is that research. Resolving problems, meeting managers, getting

involved, doing inspections, risk assessments and actually doing them as well,

getting their hands mucky so they can understand what is happening there.

Doug asked for some of the reasons why Northern College has been

successful this year and some of the reasons I am going through now. I should

have said this at the beginning. There has been a partner union, affiliate union

that has been absolutely fabulous. I will not say the name and embarrass

them, but they have been absolutely fabulous at making sure that all the

stewards get paid release. They fight with employers to make sure they get the

right time off and they will come to us. I think as well that word of mouth that

when you come to us it is not just five days of me talking. I appreciate the

irony. I have got a PowerPoint. It is not just me stood at the front of a room

with a PowerPoint. There are some great tutors there that all have

experience, who have all been stewards in their day, all know the difficulties

and the stresses that that can place upon you. Also as well there are other

things that they can go on to do when they can come back. You can do your

English, your maths. IT for beginners. We do websites and blogs, so those

sorts of things that you might want to get your branch involved, if you want to

set up a Twitter account, those sorts of things they could come back and do.

Just some other things, the history of Wentworth Castle. Then they encourage

the members to come back in, those sorts of things. You are not just doing a

trade union course. These are the sort of other things that they have been

getting involved in.

Then I wanted to speak to some students and say, “Why do you come back? I

know I am brilliant and the rest of us are great, but what are some of those

reasons?” That residential study, they only have to travel once. You drive

there, you are there for a week, you are there for five days, it means you are

focusing on your study. I have got a couple of kids. If I am on a course, I know

I leave at 4 o’clock. I have got to take my daughter to ballet, there is football

training. It is just about students concentrating on themselves. There is

learning that happens outside the classroom as well. Obviously, breakfast,

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