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General Secretary’s report July 2017.
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8.6 Most of the brilliant photographs of the 1984 miners’ dispute donated to us by John Harris
are now displayed at Quorn. They provide a good set of talking points and starting points for
discussion with students on our education courses.
8.7 We remain committed to increasing our art expenditure using a donation received from the
row level and trust which we will use to purchase two paintings from Eric Wong and some lovely
paintings of flowers by an Artists Union of England member.
9 Affiliation enquiries.
9.1 An application to affiliate has been received from the Gibraltar General Clerical Association.
Their accounts, history and rule book are attached. Myself and the President recommend this
affiliation to the EC.
9.2 An affiliation enquiry has been received from the union of Voice. This is a union with a no
strike clause in its constitution and it seeks to represent teachers and lecturers and nursery staff.
While the prospects of affiliation with such a clause so central to its culture is unlikely the clause
itself is subject to internal discussions within the union and I would propose that I meet them.
25,000 members.
9.3 A small union called the Independent Worker’s Union of Great Britain has contacted us. I
intend to meet with them for exploratory discussions.
9.4 A small union of only about 9 members, but registered with the CO, contacted us for
discussions about affiliation and supporting the recruitment of a Polish speaking full time official.
I explained that at this stage I did not think that their union was viable.
10 Education and related work.
10.1
Working with Ruskin College we organised a meeting on 5 July to consider the
establishment of an apprenticeship scheme to train trade union officers.
10.2
I am working on a graphic novel describing the history of working-class struggles
since the peasant rebellions. This is a very exciting project. I am assisting the award winning
artist and author to put this book together for publication in 2018. It is aimed at young people
and seeks to interest them in this popular graphic novel format in our history. It has been
entertaining to be involved in this work entirely by email as the artist and author based in Japan.
We are currently on chapter 8.
10.3
Our education officer has added to his long list of publications by recently publishing
books about the banners of the GMB and the revolts on the Clyde.
10.4
The Educational Trust has sponsored Chris Jury by £200 Chris to attend a conference
booking at Labour and arts festivals to be held in the United States of America.
10.6
I was recently invited to attend the premiere of a new documentary film called
Belonging directed by Morag Livingstone of the chair of Bectu’s writers and producers branch. Of
this film reveals how the media, particularly that considerable element owned by Rupert
Murdoch, has conspired consistently to attack trade unions from the printers disputes right up
to the recent Grangemouth dispute. The film chillingly reveals how the government has sought
to pervert the school curriculum by removing reference to our history as it were and to attack
progressive educationalists. I met with Morag to discuss two things: firstly how it would be