EC Meeting Papers January 2019

EC Minutes November 2018

PFA. Bro. Williams discussed the recent press and other attacks on the PFA. It was agreed the General Secretary would write in solidarity with the PFA.

Bro. Nicholls stated that the ‘Training the trainers’ course which evolved from Union Building Conference would be available in the new year and dates would be circulated once confirmed. Bro. Nicholls praised Sis. Woolley for her help with this course.

Bro. Nicholls discussed Nautilus International’s campaign regarding fishing community struggles and suggested GFTU help with reaching this sector which had never been unionised fully.

5. International Issues.

Bro. Cortes reported on his recent International visit to Vietnam where he visited the Hanoi Federation of Labour. Bro. Cortes discussed the population of 9 million that 5 million of that population were factory workers. Bro. Cortes discussed the fast economy growth and improving employee’s rights. The unions were struggling to deal with the recent introduction of Uber. Bro. Cortes attended the evening dinner and was very pleased with the visit.

Bro. Nicholls stated he had chaired the Venezuela Solidarity Campaign AGM with the Ambassadors of Nicaragua, Venezuela and Cuba.

Bro. Nicholls had been invited to meet the President of Cuba and the Finance Minster on their recent tour.

Bro. Nicholls reminder on Poland invite delegate and explore inviting to BGCM and twinning hotels to keep international study visits active.

Bro. Nicholls reported that Emily Thornbury had now formed a group in Brazil.

Bro. Nicholls reported on the Kurdish situation and confirmed the GFTU had been invited to send a delegate to the annual international visit in Turkey, no cost to GFTU 11 th -016 th Feb 2019 not restricted to one delegate. Bro. Lawrence had been approached and proposed Bro. Lawrence to attend but gave option for any other union delegates to email the EC if they wished to attend. Bro. Smith reported on his recent visit to a Russian Conference in Petersburg where he had spoken about his experiences with unions and in particular cultural and creative industries. Bro. Smith stated it was interesting how they appeared to be moving away from collective bargaining and moving more into the free market, like America.

Sis. Pattison rose the point that she needed assistance with the return of her hotel expenses payment from the EC International Study Visit to Poland back in July. Sis Pattison had been unsuccessful in obtaining the refund of her hotel payment of £1157.50.

EC Members agreed to reimburse this amount directly to Sis. Pattison and to chase directly with Warsaw contacts.

4