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GFTU Centenary Celebrations Given Powerful Launch

On January 26, the date of the founding of the GFTU in 1899, a day of special celebrations was held to kick off the Centenary.

A reception in the House of Commons was attended by guests from the GFTU, MPs and centenary partner organisations who saw the cutting of the GFTU Centenary cake.
cake.

This massive cake (arranged by the Bakers union, BFAWU) was cut by Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott who reflected on the proud history of achievement that the centenary represented.

Participants then visited the Houses of Parliament and, as guests of MPs, listened to debates. Then in the evening they transferred to a reception in Downing Street.

This was first addressed by Ian McCartney Minister at the DTI who was presented with one of the limited edition GFTU plates (arranged by the Ceramic union, CATU). The reception was attended by a number of MPs including the Chief Whip Nick Brown and the Leader of the House of Commons, Ann Taylor. It reached its high point when the Prime Minister Tony Blair attended and addressed the meeting. He stressed the importance of the GFTU with its unique range of experience across different industries, jobs, and areas of the country and the important milestone of the centenary. GFTU President, Tony McCarthy then presented the Prime Minister with a Centenary plate.

These clebrations received widespread coverage and launched the Centenary Year on a high note.