National Women’s school 8th – 10th March 2002
Wortley Hall

This was the Fifth National Women’s school and following on from the success of last years school the numbers of women attending grew.

Number of women attended – 40

Tutors – Marilyn Lawrenson, Lorene Fabian

The National Women’s Committee agreed that running workshops in 2001 was successful in two areas:

1. Women had the opportunity to pick out a subject that really interested them

2. Different levels could be applied within one school meaning experienced members were learning something new and new members weren’t missing out on essential information.

Therefore the school ran six workshops and they were:

• Maternity
• Harassment and Awareness
• FAW phase two
• Pensions
• Campaigning
• FBU Structures

In addition to workshops the National Women’s Committee organised several plenary sessions that we hoped would interest all members

Plenary sessions:

• A woman speaker from Colombia
• Health and Safety
• United Friends and Family Campaign with a showing of the video ‘Injustice’
• Pay campaign Andy Gilchrist

The students watched a video called ‘Injustice’, a hard hitting powerful video about the violent deaths of several black men at the hands of the police and the following day took part in a discussion workshop presented by Brenda Weinburg, the sister of Brian Douglas, one of those murdered.

The subject matter touched everyone’s hearts and the school decided there and then to do something positive and practical to help. So the following resolution was voted upon and carried and in the interim a collection was undertaken which raised over £300.00.

FBU Women’s School 9th March 2002- Resolution to support the ‘United Families and Friends Campaign’.

Resolution

This Women’s School asks that the National Women’s Committee EC member demands that the FBU EC continuously support ‘United Families and Friends Campaign’ (UFFC) in the following ways;

1. By donating at least £1000.00

2. Affiliating to the organization (if we haven’t done so already).

3. Invite representatives of the organization to Annual Conference, Schools and Regions

4. Hold collections at every available opportunity.

5. Encourage other Trade Unions to support the UFFC.

The school reviews for this school were fantastic and we believe women left feeling enthused, motivated and better equipped to deal with some of the issues that they face in the workplace.

© Fire Brigades Union
Bradley House, 68 Coombe Road, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey, KT2 7AE
Published by Fire Brigades Union National Women's Committee