All three motions delivered by the Social Workers Union at the GFTU’s 106th Biennial General Council Meeting conference were received positively and unopposed.
The theme of this 3-day conference hosted by the GFTU is CLASS / CULTURE / COMMUNITY. You can view the motions in full on the GFTU website.
In this year’s conference report GFTU General Secretary Gawain little said, “In order to take up this challenge, to secure to workers the power to determine the economic and social conditions under which they shall work and live, we need to invest not just in building our unions but in rebuilding working class communities. We need to refocus our work on the development of working class culture. It is these strong bonds of community and culture that form the basis for the development of working class solidarity, on which we build the potential for unity in action.”
The GFTU’s Education Programme prioritises the development of collective leadership at every level of the trade union movement and most courses are provided entirely free to affiliates, including residential courses. So SWU members, be sure to take advantage of this opportunity and browse the list of upcoming training courses – there is something for everyone who is already active or wants to become active in their trade union.
Motion #14: Poverty Crisis for Children
Jessie Hoskin, SWU National Organiser and Union Contacts Manager, delivered the first motion focused on the poverty crisis for children and stated:
“I was really pleased to deliver the SWU motion on the emergency that is record levels child poverty in the UK, and to have it unanimously supported by conference.
“The Trussell Trust this week said ‘no child should know what a foodbank is’, and social workers have long known the impact of poverty and the trauma it creates for children and their families. The motion called for ministers to recognise that systemic poverty can only be tackled by the government, we look forward to pressing them on this.”
The motion noted that millions of households are struggling through winter in cold damp homes and unsafe housing conditions that can include maintenance issues, mould, damp, insect or vermin infestations, or cramped conditions.
Motion #15: Increased funding to social work
Dave Callow, SWU Chair, delivered the second SWU motion and commented:
“It was a privilege to represent our profession and our union at this year’s GFTU BGCM meeting. This motion emphasised the importance of a properly funded social care system while ensuring students do not experience financial hardship on their way to joining the social work community.”
Dave highlighted to the conference that social workers provide vital services across the UK to support people to overcome disadvantage rooted in social, economic, environmental, and other factors including disability, physical and mental ill- health, poverty, abuse and neglect, immigration status, and addiction.
The GFTU Executive voted unanimously to do all that it can to support the work of the Social Workers Union to secure increased funding to social work
Emergency Motion 1: Solidarity with Palestine
John McGowan, SWU General Secretary, delivered the third SWU motion with an emphasis on solidarity for Palestine and this was received extremely well with a standing ovation and backed unanimously by conference. The motion focused on five key asks:
- To call on the British government to end their complicity in the genocide of the Palestinian people;
- To call for an immediate end to arms sales to Israel;
- To support the targeted boycott of Israel called by the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement in order to put political pressure on Israel to end the occupation;
- To support workers in their solidarity with the people of Palestine and campaigning for freedom, equality, and justice for Palestine; and
- To reaffirm our commitment and affiliation to the Palestine Solidarity Campaign.
John McGowan stated:
“Some of us have hesitated to call what is happening in Gaza a genocide before October 2023, but we cannot overlook that Israel has now stopped all humanitarian aid into Gaza. Israel is using starvation as a weapon of war, mass killings and forced displacement. That is genocide!
“So far, Israel has not encountered any effective opposition from the European Union, Britain, America or the United Nations. The international community has been ineffective, as it has been for over 75 years.”
