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Resolution 6
UK Manufacturing
(1)
This BGCM is appalled at the deeply unpatriotic way that the Coalition Government
is running down UK manufacturing, in favour of foreign ownership of British industry
and using free market globalisation as the reason. This Conference calls on the
government to support the manufacturing industry. The policy of pure competition in
the world market is leading to a decline in UK manufacturing
(2)
The last thirty years has seen the increasing tide of the free market and
globalisation, which has eroded the British manufacturing base, seen privatised
UK services and increased foreign ownership of key parts of the UK economic
infrastructure
(3)
This BGCM believes that the UK Government should ensure, through its own
procurement, but also giving a lead through a drive to buy British, that all must be
done to reinvigorate and restore UK manufacturing.
(4)
This Conference calls
•
on the GFTU to campaign for greater support for our Manufacturing Sector
•
for the GFTU and affiliates to lobby for an unequivocal commitment to
reverse Coalition procurement methods where everything is based on price
and to commit to processing goods and services in government from
companies based in the UK.
Resolution 7
White Ribbon Campaign
(1)
This BGCM notes that whilst both men and women can experience domestic
violence, the majority of the victims are women and the majority of the perpetrators
are men. Police in the UK receive one domestic violence call every minute, which is
even more shocking given that less than half of incidents are reported.
(2)
This BGCM believes that a cultural change is needed in order to address the issue
of domestic violence. The tolerance of sexual and physical violence against women
and girls is based on attitudes and beliefs which persist today, decades after the first
equalities legislation. The White Ribbon Campaign is a worldwide movement which
encourages men to stand with women to condemn domestic violence and asks them
to speak up about the issue with fellow men.
(3)
The MU calls on the GFTU and its members to support the White Ribbon campaign,
encourage male comrades to sign up and encourage unions and employers to
promote the three national helplines - one for female victims, one for male victims
and one responding to perpetrators to motivate them to recognise the problem and
get help to change.
Implementation
Considerable success has been
achieved in gaining a new general
recognition that the dominance of
speculation and the financial sector
must be reversed.The GFTU has
maintained solidarity with all affiliates
notably in the steel industry seeking
to save steel production. We have
met with new centres of
manufacturing and technological
excellence to promote a rebuilding of
the skill based of the manufacturing
sector.
Promotion of this campaign has taken
place over the last two years.