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General Secretary’s report July 2017.
11
possible to produce a substantial nationally distributed documentary tracking the history of the
Democratic struggle of trade unions and secondly the possibility of producing a film about the
GFTU to coincide with our hundred and twentieth year. I would propose that the trustees keep
these projects under active consideration. I would further propose that we purchase 100 copies
of the CD of Morag’s film for distribution on our education courses.
10.7
Over the last period I have been working with Mike Seale to finalise the collection of
essays for our new book on trade union education.
10.8
Over this period I have also edited a collection of plays concerning trade unions and
trade unionists. This will also be published by Workable books our new publishing venture, in the
autumn.
10.9
We spent some money on a part-time staffing to create a substantial database to
back up the marketing for this and other ventures. Further training for key staff is being
organised to make best use of this data.
10.10
Last year we received some £3000 by way of a donation from the winding up of the
Rowe Leventon Trust with which I was associated. It was agreed to donate £1000 towards the
making of an excellent about the London recruits those brave young trade unionists who
entered South Africa secretly in order to accelerate the campaign against apartheid. We further
agreed to purchase some artworks for Quorn Hotel. The General Secretary of the artists union of
England and myself by chance happened to see some distinctive prints at an exhibition that we
visited in London following an EC meeting. These are quite distinctive, quite large by a very
young artist called Eric Wong. These have now been purchased.
10.11
I have indicated on behalf of the Educational Trust that we would be absolutely
delighted to be a partner in a grant application to the Arts and Humanities Council to research
and produce materials relating to working-class poetry. Michael Sanders will be able to report in
more detail at the meeting.
10.12
Everything that education officers unions wanted us to including education
programme was included. Despite this attendance at the first round of courses has not been
good and some have been cancelled. The programme has been disseminated widely but it is not
penetrating the consciousness of the affiliated unions sufficiently this is why the operation to
meet with every to ensure that our work integral to all of their internal communications.
10.13
New arrangements for the programme and education work generally will be made.
New curriculum materials and trainers will be incorporated.
10.14
Our move away from a functional training deeper education will inevitably be a
challenge for some participants and it will be important that our tutors are fully versed in the
range of popular education techniques.
10.15
Discussions will be held with the Bakers food and Allied workers union about their
future training requirements in particular.
10.16
Concerns were received by one attendee at our new representatives training course
about the structure and content of the course we intend to discuss this fully amongst ourselves
and with the union.
10.17
We intend to produce 3000 more hardcopies of our programme and we intend to
intensify the social media promotion of it.