Northern Star by Future Plus

The magazine for GMB members

Star Northern

www.gmb.org.uk | Spring 2013

W IN a pair o

take Glasto GMcare B@WORK tickets f

See page 23

in care homes

kicking it out! GMB shows racism the red card!

Does your boss keep you hanging on the line? See p14

In this issue...

Tom Brennan gional Secretary GMB Northern Re

A desert adventure to help beat cancer Page 30

GMB wins a living wage for Barking and Dagenham members Page 16

Regional

National

4 More Remploy fury

9 Make a difference

5 Committed to care

11 Paul Kenny speaks

Sunderland branch to close

GMB signs recognition agreements with care homes across the region

6 We’ve got your back Got a problem? GMB can help

7 Labour of love

Political officer Chris Jukes on why the Northern Region is backing Labour

25 Kick racism out

GMB’s Peter Foley honoured by anti-racist campaign, Show Racism the Red Card

26 Siren song

GMB attracts ambulance members

28 Obituaries

GMB members who will be greatly missed

30 Desert trek

GMB member Louise Kelly’s charity trek

31 Join us!

GMB membership made easy

GMB regional editor Nigel Hepplewhite: 0191 233 3930 Editorial director Stephen Pierce Editor Matt Robinson Art editor Johnny Goddard Contributors Emma Johnston, Jayne Nelson Advertising manager Steve Hulbert Account managers David Parker, Lisa Dunham Production and procurement manager Matt Eglinton Production co-ordinator Katty Skardon Creative director Matthew Williams Art director Stuart Hobbs Director, Future Plus UK Jayne Caple Printed at St Ives Direct

Help the Labour Party win the next election

A word from your general secretary

12 Blacklisting

How GMB is beating the illegal blacklist

14 Zero hours contracts Paul Routledge on the pitfalls of ZHCs

16 A living wage

GMB is winning fair pay for members in councils across the UK

18 GMB@WORK

How to pay your GMB subs by Direct Debit

20 British Gas offer

Recommend a friend for free insulation and get a £50 voucher with this exclusive offer

23 Win Glasto tickets

Your chance to win tickets to Glastonbury

24 Save a life today

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We are committed to only using magazine paper which is derived from well managed, certified forestry and chlorine-free manufacture. Future Publishing and its paper suppliers have been independently certified in accordance with the rules of the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council).

Would you like to advertise in GMB Northern Star magazine? Please contact Steve Hulbert on 01225 442 244 (ex 5205) Accepting of advertising and inserts and does not imply GMB endorsement of the product or services. Remember that GMB recommends all services and offers should always be used to test the cost against other commercial companies. Members are advised to secure at least two quotes on all commercial transactions.

Together we will prevail This Tory-led coalition government is determined and relentless in a deregulation frenzy to take away your employment rights, from unfair dismissal to health and safety, making it easier to sack workers and increasing the risk of serious injury or even death in the workplace. All of this is under the guise of making it easier to employ people. I fail to see how making it easier to sack workers will create jobs. Or, am I missing something? The Tories’ position and debate on our Euro membership is a distraction from the mishandling of the economy and all about reining in the host of benefits that have been bestowed upon workers from the Euro Club. This has nothing at all to do with retaining our sovereignty. As Samuel Johnson said: “Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel”. It appears that the issue of European Common Market membership is a last resort and last refuge for the Tory party in its attempt to hang on to power. Of course, they want to opt out then opt back in, but without the social elements. Again, attacking your employment rights, even though our Euro counterparts enjoy better employment protection than its UK brothers and sisters. Another coalition madcap idea is to encourage employees to opt to sell their rights for either shares in the company or £2,000, the latter of which will be considerable to anyone who has been long-term unemployed, and possibly all too tempting to turn down. And how will your union respond to this attack on our ability to defend our members from the worst excesses of employers? Recruit and organise, that is what we will do. Resort to type in building up our forces and flex our industrial muscle, and that’s where you can assist us. Join us in our campaign to recruit new members. The stronger our ranks the greater our ability to fend off these right wing attacks and advance our members’ objective in achieving a better work/life balance. Together we will prevail.

www.gmb.org.uk 03

al n o i g e r

E T A D P U

GMB m o r f s w e n All the

It’s

still

r i a f not y b d e k c o h s s r ke Disabled wor more Remploy job cuts

ast March Remploy announced it would be closing five of the seven factories in GMB’s Northern Region. The remaining two – Barrow and Sunderland – were retained to as social kept or sold be enterprises. Since then, however, the Barrow site has been taken over in a TUPE transfer by Nationwide Filters. and a number of job losses have already taken place. Then, on 14 December Remploy shocked workers at Sunderland by announcing it intended to close the site. The news – which came just in time for Christmas – saw 35 more people destined to a future on the scrap heap. GMB Organiser Val Scott, who represents the Sunderland site, is bitter about this latest announcement. “The government made the perverse decision to close Remploy factories on the basis of a flawed report made by Elizabeth

Sayce, whose own organisation stood to gain from a share of the redistributed government funding gained by the closure of the sites,” she said. Val believes that, if it had been given the chance, Remploy could have been a success without the need for government funding. She continued: “This opportunity has been denied, despite the vigorous campaigns of GMB. The latest announcement made to workers, a week prior to the Christmas holiday period, shows not only a total lack of respect for their vulnerable employees but also a lack of respect for GMB, who learned of the closure through the local press.” GMB continue to make representations to government through local MPs. It is questioning the decision of the closures, particularly at a time when the government has failed to reach its own work programme targets, not to mention the fact that those who left Remploy in summer 2012 are still searching for work, despite the commitments to place them within mainstream employment.

“There’s a total lack of respect for employees.”

FIGHTING ON GMB will continue to fight for Remploy. 04 www.gmb.org.uk

Who cares?

GMB!

regional

Kenton Manor

GMB signs recognition agreements with care home companies across the region Sign the line Billy Coates from GMB with Kevin Groombridge of Akari Care.

Akari Care Staff at Akari care homes can now feel the full benefit of GMB membership. The company, which owns 39 care homes nationally, agreed to recognise GMB in November 2012. Akari and GMB have both committed themselves to working on a range of issues that cover terms and conditions, training and funding in the social care sector. Speaking after the signing ceremony, GMB Senior Organiser Billy Coates said: “It

Acting on a tip-off, GMB organising officers petitioned employees at Kenton Manor Care Home in Newcastle and met with workers off-site to discuss a range of workrelated issues. After signing up a number of employees and receiving support from non-members, GMB made a formal application for recognition for collective bargaining purposes to the Central Arbitration Committee

(CAC), resulting in a recognition agreement signed in December. GMB Senior Organiser Billy Coates said: “The GMB Northern Regional Organising Team put some graft in to be in a position to go for recognition through the CAC. It just goes to show that from a standing start – with commitment and organisation – we can work with employers, become recognised and help GMB members.”

BECOME A GMB WORKP ORGANILACE SER

is clear to GMB that Akari Care has a strong commitment to high-quality care for residents and their families, as well as trying to employ excellence in terms and conditions for their workforce. The social care industry is under great pressure from budgetary constraints and a lack of a national consensus as to the way forward. We want to play our part in helping that process and build that consensus.”

Roseberry Care Group Roseberry Care Group owns 19 care centres in the UK, and GMB is proud to have signed a recognition agreement with them. GMB and Roseberry will be working together to deliver better terms and conditions, train staff and address funding in the social care sector. Ron McNamara, Chief Executive of Roseberry, said: “Our priority is to

deliver an extremely high standard of care to our service users. We can only achieve that by having a well-trained, happy and effective staff group. We are confident that this partnership agreement with GMB will benefit both the service users, and our staff who we regard as our biggest asset. We look forward to working closely with our GMB colleagues to achieve this.”

www.gmb .org gmbwo .uk/

Done deal! GMB’s Billy Coates and Ron McNamara of Roseberry.

RK GMB@WurO workplace.

Get organised in yo making To find out more about ur yo in r ge GMB stron workplace, visit www.gmb.org.uk

www.gmb.org.uk 05

regional

UPDATE

injured at work ? www.gmb .or

from GMB All the news

we’ve

injuredat g.uk/ work

got your back GMB has won more than £3.4m in injury compensation for members in the last year

Who have we helped? £9,500 for ladder-fall man A GMB member fractured his wrist when he fell from a ladder in wet and windy weather at an oilrig construction site in Tyneside. He was working on the rig in the early hours of the morning at Offshore Group Newcastle when he fell 2.5 metres, landing on his back and wrist. It was dark, wet and extremely windy and the ladder was slippery. GMB’s specialist lawyers, Thompsons, investigated a claim for compensation and found that, before the accident, workers had complained the wooden ladders were unsafe in wet weather. Offshore Group Newcastle admitted liability and settled the compensation claim for £9,500. The injured member said: “I feel like the company was just waiting for someone to have an accident before they solved the problem – unfortunately it was me that ended up in hospital.” Settlement for asbestos victim Robert Kemp was exposed to asbestos while working as an apprentice and as a shipwright for two Wearside shipyards from the ’50s to the ’80s. When he began to suffer from a cough and chest pain in August 2010 he was diagnosed with diffuse pleural thickening. The former GMB Branch Secretary has been left breathless with the condition and is now unable to walk long distances or do any DIY. GMB’s asbestos claim specialists at Thompsons were successful in securing 06 www.gmb.org.uk

provisional compensation from two of his former employers’ insurers. This allows him to make a further claim for compensation if his condition worsens in the future. He said: “This has had a huge impact on my life. It is very frustrating that I cannot do the things I used to be able to do. I’m terrified that I will get asbestos cancer.” Family values GMB’s legal service also supports your family members who suffer injury caused by someone else. Seven-year-old Annabelle CottonHill broke her arm falling down a flight of stairs at the family’s rented home in Askam in Furness. Annabelle’s father Russell Hill, a GMB Northern Region member, had complained about the stairs to the landlord on several occasions prior to the accident but nothing was done to fit a handrail. Mr Hill contacted GMB and was referred to Thompsons Solicitors who alleged that the landlord had failed in his duty to make the house safe before allowing it to be occupied. The landlord admitted liability and settled the claim out of court.

Been injured? Act now! The way that personal injury cases are funded is changing. So if you’ve been injured at work in the last three years, it’s important to act quickly to get the best out of your claim.

Go online for details: www.gmb.org.uk

iStock

MB’s legal service is part of a comprehensive package of benefits available to all GMB members. It has provided free assistance to members whose employers caused them to be injured or become ill as a result of unsafe working practices or exposure to dangerous substances.

regional

! e t a d Up

l a c i polit

eals how3 v e r s e k Chris Ju g Labour in 201 r e c i ff O ckin itical GMB Polhern Region is ba the Nort

he last few months have been very busy politically with a range of matters affecting GMB members, their families and communities. The Tory/Lib Dem coalition government is implementing brutal cuts across the Northern Region. As the cuts bite, it’s worth remembering that the deficit is getting worse under this government and is much higher than anything Labour had or planned for. The fact that the deficit is massively higher than the coalition government inherited also means that the national debt is rising way beyond anything seen for many decades. When Labour was in power, part of the reason why the national debt increased was because billions were put into keeping the UK banking system from collapse, and so that you and I could get our money out of the hole in the wall. But under the coalition the people who caused the crash – the people at the top – are getting away scot-free to take profit from the public purse.

backing labour In the GMB Northern Region we have seen the very sad loss of a good friend of GMB in the death of Sir Stuart Bell, MP for Middlesbrough for 29 years. In the subsequent by election, the Labour Candidate, Andy McDonald, won a triumphant and emphatic victory. GMB Northern Region was proud to support the campaign to send a very strong signal to this coalition government.

Across the Northern Region there were four important Police and Crime Commissioner elections. Labour’s Candidates won in Cleveland, Durham and Darlington, and Northumbria. Unfortunately, the Tory candidate won in Cumbria.

Andy McDonald Welcomed emphatically. Sir Stuart Bell MP longer into retirement for a poorer Sadly missed. pension and still have to pay

pension woes The government’s decisions to cut welfare benefits and make it harder for lower income workers to stay in their occupational pension schemes tells us all we need to know about the Tories and Lib Dems. There is a huge disconnection between the government and the voters on these issues. Even Thatcher wouldn’t have dared implement many of the things that Cameron is bringing in. There is a major issue brewing around inter generational justice; with the elderly having to pay ever more for their care, families losing out on their nest egg, and young people having to pay for their education, take on massive debts, take home less pay, work

“As the cuts bite, the

enormous sums for their own care when they reach that age. The system is unsustainable and even a decision to adopt just one GMB policy – to make social care a universal service paid for out of taxation – would be a huge move and a massive benefit to millions of citizens.

living wage The last few months have seen Newcastle City, Copeland Borough and Carlisle City council groups implement a policy of the Living Wage. Nick Forbes, Leader of Newcastle City Council, Joe Hendry, Leader of Carlisle City Council and Sam Pollen, GMB member and Councillor on Copeland Borough Council, deserve our praise for their efforts in pushing forward on the Living Wage campaign. The Living Wage is one of several campaigns that GMB Northern Region is pursuing. The campaign to get Labour groups

deficit is getting worse.”

Continued over

www.gmb.org.uk 07

regional

BECOME A GMB WORKP ORGANILACE SER

UPDATE

from GMB All the news

to table motions to their Councils around blacklisting is gathering pace. We have seen for ourselves the misery that companies such as Carillion have caused by their disgraceful tactics at the Swindon Hospital. We want Labour groups to repudiate blacklisting wherever it takes place and to recognise that they might be awarding contracts from the public purse to companies that carry out these pernicious activities.

equal marriage As part of our commitment to equalities, GMB is supporting the campaign for equal marriage. Let’s make no mistake, discrimination by government or Church of England against same sex couples is abhorrent, and we would like Labour groups

www.gmb .org gmbwo .uk/

excellent event – not to mention being very well received by our retired members’ committee.

to show that they treat equal marriage as a key issue of social conscience and don’t run for the hills when the subject is raised or discussed.

elections

Talking of politicians, in 2013 we will see three important sets of County Council elections in Cumbria, Bridget Phillipson MP Durham and Northumberland, The last few months have Held a great Q&A. as well as a Mayoral election in seen a range of engagements North Tyneside. The only opposition with our GMB Northern Group to Tories, Lib Dems or Independents of Labour MP contacts and wherever they stand, in our view is Labour a wide variety of activities have taken place. and we will be working flat out to ensure We held a Retired Members’ Meeting that Labour Councillors and Mayor are at the end of 2012 and welcomed Bridget returned. We hope that all GMB members, Phillipson, MP for Houghton and Sunderland their families and their communities will South, to the meeting. Bridget held a question do likewise. and answer session and it was a really

members’ meeting

Labour Love of

GMB and Labour join forces in Hartlepool GMB Northern Region is delighted to announce the signing of a constituency development plan with Hartlepool Constituency Labour Party. The development plan will enable GMB and Hartlepool Constituency Labour Party to work together in areas of mutual interest. This means we can help each other on matters such as campaigning, membership development and political education. Tom Brennan, GMB regional secretary, said: “Having such a relationship with Hartlepool Constituency Labour Party is fabulous. We have been looking at this for some time with Iain Wright MP and Labour colleagues, and we are delighted that a development plan has been signed that helps foster that link between GMB and Labour in Hartlepool.”

Meeting of minds ts GMB political officer Chris Jukes mee Jeffries, in Edw ials offic ur Labo ol elpo with Hart . mas Tho ia Iain Wright MP and Sylv

08 www.gmb.org.uk

“We’re delighted nt that a developmed.” plan’s been signe

l na O I T NA

E T A D P U

om GMB r f s w e n e h t l Al

e c n a h c r You to shape

e p o r u e

MEMBER

Stand up for working families in the UK

e all now realise the damage this Con-Dem government is inflicting on our public services and on GMB members and their families. The Lib Dems are complicit in the havoc being wreaked on our communities; we should never forget that. The GMB Central Executive Council (CEC) policy is to make the Labour Party electable in time for the next general election. GMB is now staffed with a political department and each GMB region has a regional political officer (RPO). These officers’ jobs are to organise politically and they are there to help, so get in touch – see the panel on the next page for details of your regional RPO. GMB is encouraging members to join the Labour Party, become active in their communities and local Labour Parties, and help the party become electable. If our members are involved they can encourage the party to adopt policies which will help people provide for their families. Only by being politically active can GMB members influence Labour Party policy and make sure it stands for the things we believe in: a stop to the privatisation of public services, a Living Wage for all working people and investment in our schools and hospitals. As a GMB member you can be part of the Labour Party for just £1.80 a month – that’s only £21.50 a year. Download a form from www.labour.org.uk/trade-union-join and start making a difference!

Bring YOUR mag to life! Discover a world of extras when you point your smartphone at the pages of this GMB magazine. To get started, download the Layar app from get.layar.com

1 Download the Layar app for iPhone and Android devices.

2 Point your smartphone at a WHOLE page of the mag where you see this logo.

3 Watch as it comes to life on your screen.

www.gmb.org.uk 09

national

UPDATE

from GMB All the news

Shaping a Europe that works for you In the November edition of this magazine we appealed to members to put themselves forward to stand as Labour candidates for the 2014 European elections. This was a huge success and many GMB members will be on the list of candidates to be voted on by Labour Party members in July. The result of the ballot and final regional lists of candidates will be announced at the Labour Party Annual Conference in September. Some of us see the EU as distant or gobbledygook that we don’t understand and just over 30 per cent of us voted in the last European elections. Yet GMB members benefit from the rights that belonging to the EU brings

us, and we must to fight to ensure these are protected and improved, not taken away. We have the power of our vote to start shaping a Europe that works for us – and if we want positive change we must vote for it at the next European election. We must vote for the GMB members and other trade unionists who have stood up for us and know that the EU needs change, but not at the expense of our hard-won rights. The rights from Europe came to us when we had majorities of Labour and Socialist MEPs, commissioners and governments at European level. It is no surprise that since we lost the majority across the EU, these rights fell under attack.

What does Europe mean to you? For GMB, Europe means a basketful of employment and social rights that we might otherwise never have had. Health and safety protection, paid holidays from work, limits on working hours, protection when faced with collective redundancies and rights when the company we work for is sold. The transfers of undertakings (TUPE) regulations give GMB the right to make sure we keep our hard-won pay and conditions. Part-time workers are guarded; fixed term and temporary agency workers’ rights have been improved; we have improved maternity/pregnant workers’ rights and extensive equal treatment and equality rights. When workers come to the UK to work they have to be paid the negotiated rate of pay and cannot be exploited. And these are just some of the rights we enjoy from Europe. Yet increasingly, when we hear and read about Europe, it is about why Britain should leave it. It's not about whether it's good for us as working families and everyday people to be in or out; the debate is being dominated by politicians. So if we are going to have a debate about Europe, we want it to be about shaping a Europe that works for us.

Watch GMB TV Want to know more about getting involved? Get it from the horse’s mouth! Watch interviews with Labour MPs and GMB organisers at www.gmb.public-i.tv

10 www.gmb.org.uk

We want honest answers about what will happen to our jobs if we leave the EU. Around 50 per cent of everything we produce is bought by Europe. The USA has already said that for them the UK is a route to the EU – and if we’re not in they will find another route. All this will have big implications for us as working families, our jobs and our economy. David Cameron says he wants to renegotiate the terms of our involvement with Europe rather than withdraw altogether. One of the top priorities for him and the coalition is to remove workers’ rights. So any renegotiation under a Con-Dem government is bad news for GMB members. The UK Independence Party (UKIP) would also remove our rights. They are not any friend of GMB members. So get involved and help us shape a Europe that works for us – because its future is in our hands.

GMB

cts political conta

Get in touch with your regional political officer GMB Birmingham & West Midlands Region Stephanie Peacock 0121 550 4888 stephanie.peacock@gmb.org.uk

GMB London Region Gary Doolan 020 7391 6748 gary.doolan@gmb.org.uk

GMB Midland & East Coast Region

Richard Oliver 0115 960 7171 richard.oliver@gmb.org.uk

GMB Northern Region Chris Jukes 0191 233 3930 chris.Jukes@gmb.org.uk

GMB North West and Irish Region Neil Smith 0151 727 0077 neil.smith@gmb.org.uk

GMB Scotland

Richard Leonard 0141 332 8641 richard.leonard@gmb.org.uk

GMB Southern Region Michelle Gordon 020 8397 8881 michelle.gordon@gmb.org.uk

GMB Wales & South West Region Mike Payne 029 2049 1260 mike.payne@gmb.org.uk

GMB Yorkshire & North Derbyshire Region Steve Jennings 0845 337 7777 steve.jennings@gmb.org.uk

GMB Euston Political Team Cath Speight, national political officer 020 7391 6746 Heidi Benzing 020 7391 6749 Gary Doolan 020 7391 6748 Lisa Johnson 020 7391 6764 Steve Kemp 020 7391 6700 Hilary Perrin 020 7391 6753

! get onrtyline u yo what

Tell the Labour Pa esto 2014 want in the Labour Manif k g.u .or ain rit rb ou at www.y ney Find out who’s giving mo at s rie To to the searchthemoney.com

Paul kenny

says

cretary e s l a r e n e g your GMB m o r f d r o w A

It is a scandal that people are victimised for asking questions

here is a line in a Joni Mitchell song which goes “you don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone”. How true those words ring when the people you love are no longer around, and I guess that is what the song was written to convey. However, such sentiments also apply to the standards of equality, justice and services which are lost, diluted or just plundered by politicians and the vested interests of markets and millionaires. We now live in a country where our natural resources are all owned by private companies, who make vast profits selling us back natural resources, like water, which falls from the sky for free!!

SELLING IT OFF Our energy, railways and public services are all seen as primary wealth producers for corporations’ shareholders or entrepreneurs rather than being instruments for a richer economy for all, a planned future for the benefit of the many. I look in disbelief as this generation of snake oil salesmen that masquerade as our government, package up our health service for privatisation. How they tell us that somehow giving hundreds of millions, currently spent on patient care, to the back pockets of privateers, is the health service we need or indeed want!

RISKY BUSINESS The power of the business lobby is stronger now than at any time in modern government and where better to see that power than to look at the “special advisors” from business, which now adorn every government department. The lobby group who don’t ever have to book an appointment to see the minister. They just waltz right in from the office next door! These “business” interests, demanding cuts in regulations on everything from health and safety to employment rights and equality laws. These are the same guardians of our interests who welcomed cuts in public services whilst applauding cash hand outs to millionaires. The same crew who demanded and got cuts in corporation tax alongside cuts in benefits. The vested interests of multi nationals who earn billions from our country yet pay nothing or virtually nothing back in taxes on their vast profits. The vested interests of the companies who were allowed to get away with compiling blacklists designed to discriminate against ordinary men and women whose only crime might have been to attend a meeting about working conditions or airport expansions or similar environmental concerns.

It is a scandal that people who live in a country that politicians like to tell us is a free democratic society are victimised for asking questions or having the desire to just listen to a debate.

DEMAND ACTION GMB has led the way in both exposing and demanding action on these matters, from tax avoidance by the Starbucks and Amazons of this world to the companies like Carillion and McAlpine whose involvement in blacklisting is now out in the open. If anyone thinks GMB will tire of pursuing these companies, then they better think again. The first political party which has the courage to break the strangle hold of the self-interest buccaneers will be embraced by millions of British people who have become victims of the snout in the trough arrangement, the “we can do whatever we want” culture, of so many companies and individuals whose only interests are their own. I hope that party is Labour. I hope Ed Miliband has the strength to follow his own natural instinct on justice and equality. And a vision which enhances the lives of British people, not on servicing the vested interests of an unelected rich elite. After all when it comes to political support, as the song goes, “you don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone”. www.gmb.org.uk 11

national

UPDATE

3 1 2 , 3 from GMB All the news

d e t s i l k c a l b

e of the on , ow kn u yo ne eo m so is or u, yo Are 3,213 names on the construction industry blacklist?

ore than 3,000 names appear on an illegal blacklist used by companies in the construction industry. The map, right, was made by GMB to show how many people in each area of the UK were on the blacklist of 3,213* workers. The blacklist first came to light in 2009. The Information Commissionerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Office (ICO) seized a Consulting Association database of 3,213 construction workers used by 44 companies to vet new recruits and keep out trade union and health and safety activists. By autumn 2012, only 194 of the 3,213 blacklisted workers knew they were on it. After GMB pressed for disclosure, the ICO agreed to supply names, dates of birth, trades and towns of residence on a restricted basis to enable GMB to check our own membership records to find members who are on the blacklist. We found 200 exact matches and are in contact with these members to get their files from ICO. GMB appointed lawyers Leigh Day are preparing litigation to get compensation for them. There were a further 300 names on the list, who may be GMB members, but we need more information to assess if they are. We publish the map, based on locations supplied by ICO for all 3,213, to prompt responses from members to help us in this. If you were a construction worker from one of these areas and as a trade union or health 12 www.gmb.org.uk

STAND UP FOR JUSTICE Blacklisting makes innocent members into outlaws.

1 northern ireland

1 eire

and safety activist were denied work for reasons you could not explain, get in touch so we can crosscheck the records. GMBâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s priority is to step up the campaign to get every blacklisted GMB member compensation. GMB is calling on councils not to award work to the companies that operated the blacklist until they compensate those they damaged. GMB is also pushing ICO for a proactive action to inform all builders affected that they are on the blacklist. A GMB report on blacklisting showed that it was not something isolated or rare. The

report estimated that in one quarter, Carillion, for example, checked 2,776 names with the Consulting Association, and in the period from October 1999 to April 2004 it estimates that Carillion checked at least 14,724 names.

NATional

Orkney islands

highland

aberdeenshire

Aberdeen city

14 stirling city of glasgow

falkirk

argyle & bute

3 35

8 140 26

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inverc

Angus

perth and kinross

east lothian

n lanark k s lanar

18 E ayr

West yorks

60 greater manchester

173

gwynedd

cheshire

birmingham met area

glamorgan swansea

5 10

monmouthshire

19 3

cornwall

devon

oxon

bristol

bath

8 dorset

leics

berks

5 wilts

beds

essex

454

isle of wight

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Blacklisting is not something isolated or rare.â&#x20AC;?

london

hants

12 herts

surrey

suffolk

cambs

bucks

somerset

glos

cardiff

norfolk

northants

warks

heref & worcs

powys

lincs

notts

derbys

staffs

shropshire

kingston upon hull

east riding of yorks

south yorks

ceredigion

183

merseyside

denbighshire

north yorks

lancashire

fy mo If you can help us identi the on d me of the people na rst, hu ite Wh il Ph l tel blacklist, on r ice off GMB construction il. ph or 0 81 8 07968 33 k whitehurst@gmb.org.u son en ph Ste or GMB, 22 Way, London NW1 2HD.

cleveland

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GRIM PRACTICE GMB members demonstrate at . a Carillion court hearing in Swansea

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52 12

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west sussex

* When alias names and duplicates are excluded there are 3,213 individuals on the blacklist. The map shows where 2,554 lived or worked. There are an additional 12 unmapped in Wales and 8 unmapped in Scotland. For 639, or 20%, no proper addresses are given. The ICO using NI details could, with help of DWP, find current addresses for most of 3,213 but they have not done so.

www.gmb.org.uk 13

national

BECOME A GMB WORKP ORGANILACE SER

UPDATE

from GMB All the news

www.gmb .org gmbwo .uk/

hangin’ on the

telephone Daily Mirror columnist Paul Routledge on how zero hours contracts are keeping UK workers waiting by the phone

ON’T call us – we’ll call you!” That’s the old showbiz gag. Promoters who exploit struggling artistes tell them to stay by the phone on the off chance of something coming up. But it’s no joke in modern-day Britain, where employers impose “zero hours contracts” (ZHC) contracts on people desperate for work. These breadwinners spend hours listening for the boss to call them in for a few hours’ paid work. Sometimes the phone rings, sometimes it doesn’t. It’s not a job. It’s not even a genuine contract – it’s a con-trick. But nowadays it’s year zero every year in UK plc, as employers rush to turn their workforce into casual labourers. Once upon a time, it was the dockers, gathered at the dock gates waiting for the foreman to shout 14 www.gmb.org.uk

“You, you and you! The rest go home.” Today, this system goes right across the board from fast-food outlets to the NHS. Exactly what are we talking about here? Under a zero hours contract, employees are obliged to make themselves available for work – but the employer is under no obligation to provide work. There are no specified hours, and work can vary from week to week. Workers are paid only for the time they work, so the waiting time they spend by the phone is unpaid. And some employers don’t even pay for waiting time spent on work premises, though legally workers are entitled to payment. ACAS, the employment relations service, says, “National Minimum Wage (NMW) regulations state that workers on ‘stand-by time’, ‘on-call time’ and ‘downtime’ must

still be paid the NMW if they are at their place of work and are required to be there. “Similarly, such time is likely to count as ‘working time’ under the Working Time Regulations if the worker is required to be on call at the place of work. This means that it’s against the law to ask employees to ‘clock’ during quiet periods but still remain on the premises.” Workers should be aware of these provisions. It’s obvious why the employers like this evil system. As GMB puts it: “This isn’t a proper job at all, but being on a bank of agency workers, with no rights, no guarantees and unable to plan their lives.” Security work has been particularly hard hit by the zero hours revolution. And as the union for security workers, GMB members and GMB workplace

SIGN up for the GMB eNEWSletter AT www.gmb.org.uk Bring these pages to life! organisers have spotlighted the excesses and are driving action by the union in the workplace and in a wider public debate. GMB has successfully challenged ZHCs in a number of companies, where the employer has agreed minimum hours so workers have a “default position” knowing just how much they will get.

tough fight But it’s a tough fight we have on our hands. The industry is highly fragmented, with many people working alone and on night shifts. Where workers are isolated, and communication is poor, it’s easy for them to be abused by management. Security is probably the worst in terms of exploitation, but ZHCs are also found in local government, schools, food processing, telecommunications, agriculture and some parts of manufacturing. And in the NHS, one Trust in south-west England has more than 1,000 people on ZHCs at all levels of the organisation: healthcare assistant, midwife, doctor, surgeon and admin worker. None have security of income. Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary, Andy Burnham, has called on the coalition government to halt the spread of ZHCs in the NHS pending an urgent review into the potential risks to continuity of care and patient safety. “What we’re seeing is the casualisation of our health service, turning parts of the NHS into a temping workforce,” he warned. Reliable figures across the nation are hard to come by, but the official government Labour Force Survey calculates that in pre-recession Britain of 2005, there were

JOB INSECURITY Factory workers suffer from unfair contracts.

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75,000 employees on zero hours contracts, 32,000 of them women. In 2011 this had increased to 146,000, with 85,000 women.

tip of the iceberg These figures show a doubling of ZHCs since the bankers’ recession hit the economy, with women now more likely to be exploited by employers. And the official numbers are just the tip of an iceberg. They exclude hundreds of thousands of agency workers – who are not technically employees. The clear and present danger of exploitation from zero hour contracts has prompted GMB to back a call for a National Minimum Hours strategy to complement the National Minimum Wage, with GMB giving evidence to the Low Pay Commission. GMB executive policy officer Ida Clemo says: “Employers regard these workers as ‘flexible’, but it is GMB policy that if workers

“Where workers are isolated and communication is poor, it’s easy for them to be abused by management.” have a regular pattern of work over a fixed period then they must be offered employment on a permanent contract, not a casual one.” The security industry is traditionally a low-wage economy with long hours. In addition to this many sites are not GMB-organised sites, and there is a high potential for guards to be exposed to violence. As such security guards are SIA-licensed and vetted to high standards. The big players, with whom GMB has recognition agreements, fund the license with the cost repaid if guards leave before the end of the three-year license period. However, most guards who aren’t GMB members are on ZHCs and have to pay for their own license and training with no guarantee of work. The logical outcome of this cut-throat business practice was perfectly demonstrated during the Olympic Games, when security firm G4S – many of whose security officers were on ZHCs – failed dismally to produce the tens of thousands of guards required to keep the sites safe.

ON CALL Andy Burnham, Shadow Health Secretary, objects to ZHCs. That’s because ZHCs cut both ways. How can an employee treated badly in this way feel any loyalty to a company that treats him or her like an industrial serf? These work deals first reappeared in the recession of the ’90s. They didn’t guarantee any hours or pay. But they were a contract with that employer, so the employee could not work anywhere else, nor could they sign on for benefits. Where did they go afterwards? As soon as the labour market eases and better forms of employment become available, people stop accepting them and they become rare. But there are few signs that the labour market is picking up. Quite the opposite. And with the UK economy bumping along the bottom, most new employment is low-paid, part-time work. Hundreds of thousands of worthwhile jobs in the public services have been sacrificed in the name of austerity but the private sector only wants “flexible” staff who can be called out when they’re needed. This is a recipe for disaster, because dissatisfied workers are reluctant workers. Whatever the nature of the work, you need people who are committed to doing a good job. “A fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work” is an old maxim, but one that reflects the British way of life. A way of living now under siege from the zero hours mobsters.

get help from gmb ered a zero Have you been off ch hours contract? Get in tou ice off al with your region or find out more online at www.gmb.org.uk

www.gmb.org.uk 15

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from GMB All the news

GMB calls on UK councils to pay

IT’S A LIVING THING GMB secures a living wage at Barking & Dagenham council.

a living wage

The campaign steps up as some councils make the first step to get on board

pay freezes have meant that this progress has t’s nonsensical that council been halted and dragged back, leaving some workers’ pay has to be topped up by GMB members at the lower end of the pay state benefits. More councils are scale on £6.30 per hour. GMB is determined signing up to the GMB living wage that members on these lower pay rates, who campaign all the time, so check out the are forced to claim tax credits, free school latest list of the councils that haven’t at: meals, housing benefit and council tax benefit www.gmb.org.uk/livingwage to make ends meet will be paid a living wage. GMB is calling on all UK councils to pay a Around 280,000 – 16 per cent of living wage. In England and Wales local authority staff – would GMB wants councils to pay £7.45 benefit from a living wage. Jobs per hour. With a much higher currently paid £6.30–£6.38 cost of living in the capital, per hour include home help, GMB is seeking an hourly teaching assistants, rate of £8.55 from the 33 rts pe ex at The hourly rate th cleaners, grave diggers, London boroughs. The ed ne le op pe y sa an admin assistants, sure-start, campaign is being backed to be paid to have d ar nd sta caretakers, care workers and by Labour Party. A le ab pt acce school crossing patrols. sokesperson said, “Labour of living (£8.55 in London). You will find GMB living wage councils are leading the way in material at www.gmb.org.uk/ committing to pay a living wage livingwage GMB has petitions to their staff and subcontracted among council workers and is meeting with workers. As part of Labour’s policy review we the chief executives of councils and calling on are now looking at ideas for extending it elected councillors to vote for a living wage. further into the private sector.” At the time of writing, 35 councils in Council rates of pay have been pushed up England, including 10 London boroughs by GMB negotiators over time, but years of

£7.45

which will pay the higher hourly rate, have committed to pay a living wage. They are Ashfield, Blackpool, Birmingham, Brent, Brighton & Hove, Calderdale, Camden, Carlisle, Chorley, Croydon, Dartford, Deal, Derby City, Ealing, Enfield, Gloucester City, Hackney, Harrow, Hounslow, Hyndburn, Islington, Lambeth, Lewisham, Newark & Sherwood, Newcastle, Norwich, Oxford City, Preston, Sheffield, Southwark, Wirral, Wolverhampton, Barking & Dagenham, Greenwich and York. Scotland is leading the way by paying £7.20 from 1 April this year in all 26 Scottish councils. GMB Scotland intends to move on to the private sector contractors delivering catering and cleaning services to councils by extending the campaign to cover them too. None of the 26 Northern Ireland councils have signed up to the GMB living wage aims Only two of Wales’s 22 councils, Cardiff and Swansea, have signed up to pay a living wage of £7.45. GMB wants a living wage for members in the private sector too, not just in councils.

GMB wins a living wage of £9ph for members at Barking & Dagenham council in London. 16 www.gmb.org.uk

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from GMB All the news

How GMB makes life easier for you GMB workplace organisers are there to offer support and advice, so whether you are having a problem that you need help with, or if you just want to know what your rights are, call them! Don’t worry, Clive. Just fill in a direct debit form and I will send it off to GMB. it’s that simple.

One afternoon…

Jen, I Start a new job next week and my new boss won’t deduct My GMB contributions from my wages.

you have a legal right to be a GMB member wherever you work, Whether your Boss recognises GMB or not.

I Still want to be a GMB member. What can I do?

Yes, I saw your names on the list of staff who are leaving. I’ll be meeting with you both later in the week.

Thanks, Jen. If you give me the Direct debit form I’ll fill it out now. By the way, Helen is moving to the new depot.

The End

18 www.gmb.org.uk

Gavin Roberts

Great! I’ll Ask Helen to fill in a Membership Transfer Note. Then payroll can keep her GMB deductions going.

national

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PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

from GMB All the news

50 could be yours! VOUCHER

EXCLUSIVE TO GMB MEMBERS!

Refer a friend to British Gas for free insulation and earn yourself a £50 voucher!

ritish Gas is offering a FREE £50 voucher to anyone who refers a friend on qualifying benefits to receive free insulation worth up to £1,000. If you have a friend on any of the benefits listed in the table to the right, you could get them FREE insulation and a £50 voucher for yourself! The voucher will be sent to you once the installation has been completed. What’s more there is no limit on the number of people you can refer. As well as getting FREE insulation, the customer you refer will be paid £50 too and they don’t even need to be a British Gas customer to be eligible. The offer is part of a government initiative to help Britain’s homes become more energy efficient – and it is FREE to anyone who qualifies. The whole process is hassle free and is usually complete in less than a day. What’s more insulation can save your friend money on their bills. Loft insulation alone could save as much as £175 a year!

ND REFER A r,FtelRl anIE eligible To earn a £50 vouche British Gas on: friend or relative to call

0800 107 1683 ’ with your name, quoting ‘GMBMAG number. address and telephone

Who qualifies?

Visit www.britishgas.co.uk/smallprint or see the table below:

If you receive one of the following benefits: 1. State Pension Credit or 2. Child Tax Credit with an income below £15,860 or 3. A combination of the following: Income-related employment and support allowance, which must include a work-related activity or support component

Income-based job seekers allowance

A child tax credit which includes a disability or severe disability element

AND

A disabled child premium Income support

A disability premium, enhanced disability premium or severe disability premium A pensioner premium, higher pensioner premium or enhanced pensioner premium OR

Working tax credit and has a relevant income of £15,860 or less

AND

Has parental responsibility for a child who ordinariliy resides with that person where the child is: (i) under the age of 16; or (ii) 16 or over but under the age of 20 and in full-time education (other than higher education) Is in receipt of a disabled worker element or severe disability element Is aged 60 years or over

TERMS AND CONDITIONS To be eligible, a member of the household must be on eligible benefits call 0800 107 1683 or see britishgas.co.uk/smallprint for details. British Gas installs in mainland Great Britain only. Not all homes are suitable for insulation. Offer only applies to loft and cavity wall measures recommended by an appointed surveyor. Offer includes up to £1,000 of specialist equipment at the discretion of the appointed surveyor. Tenants must seek landlord permission. Offer only applicable to residential properties and excludes all other properties including commercial or part commercial premises. The Offer is subject to availability and subject to change or withdrawal at any time. A £50 Love2shop voucher will be sent to the Applicant and the Referrer within 30 days of completion of insulation installation. Employees of British Gas, members of their immediate family and British Gas contractors are not eligible for the £50 reward. Referrers may refer more than one Applicant. Applicants must provide proof of their eligibility for the Offer, including proof of receipt of eligible benefits as set out above and/or proof of age and proof of their residential address. Free insulation is limited to one per Applicant. Phone lines are open 8am-8pm Monday to Friday, 8am-4pm on Saturday and 9am-4pm on Sunday. Closed on Bank Holidays. Calls are free from 20 however charges from mobile phonesand other networks may vary. Calls may be monitored and/or recorded for quality assurance and compliance purposes. a BT landline,www.gmb.org.uk

iStock

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y b ver o ed l w o b be l ’l u yo

congress 2013 plymouth, 2–6 june

Save the

TELEVISIO

Watch it liv Congress Te on V! Go to www.gmb .public-i.tv

’ s r ine m m a h Dur

Dave Hopper, general secretary, Durham Miners’ Association appeals to GMB members GMB Central Executive Council is backing the future of the Durham Miners’ Gala, which was first held 142 years ago and is the biggest celebration of trade union values in Britain today. However, the cost of the Gala is increasing year on year and we need your help to keep this institution running.

MINERS’ MARCH The Durham Miners’ Gala is 142 year-old tradition.

Since our coalfield was destroyed 20 years ago by a vengeful Tory government, we have had no regular subscription to our funds from working miners. Our financial problems have now been further compounded, as we have to pay more than £1.4m in legal fees. Anyone who donates £2 a month or a one-off payment of £24 a year will become a member of The Friends Of The Durham

Gala

Miners’ Gala Society, and each year will receive a glossy magazine with photographs of the Gala and a report of the speeches. Donations can of course be more than £2 per month if circumstances allow, and one-off payments are equally acceptable. To join or donate, please contact us through our website (details below). You may also wish to buy one or more of the items for sale from the site. This year’s Durham Miners’ Gala will be held on Saturday 13 July.

please donate

la The Durham Miners’ Ga lp! he ur yo s need org www.durhamminers.

www.gmb.org.uk 21

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from GMB All the news

mother

care

Going to be a mum? Don’t miss out on your maternity rights

MB has worked hard over the years for maternity rights and pay. Here are some basic facts for new mothers:

What maternity pay will I get? If you earn the lower earnings limit of £107 a week and you have worked for your employer for at least 26 weeks before the 15th week before your baby is due you will probably be entitled to Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP).

though you are not entitled to SMP, this is Contractual or Occupational Maternity Pay. You should look at your employment contract or the maternity policy to see what it says about maternity pay. There may be a requirement for you to pay some money back if you don’t return to work for a certain length of time.

Remember... The situation with your employer may change, so always discuss your individual situation with your GMB workplace organiser. This is a brief guide to your legal minimum rights and is not a definitive guide to the law, which may change.

Is it true that all women get 52 weeks’ maternity leave no matter how long they have worked for their employer? Yes! The first 26 weeks of leave is known as Ordinary Maternity Leave and the second 26 weeks is Additional Maternity Leave. Employers will assume you're taking the full 52 weeks’ leave. If you want to go back to work before the 52 weeks, you must let your employer know the date you will return to work. What if I decide not to go back to work? You never have to pay back any SMP. If you are getting more than SMP, or if you're getting payments from your employer even

Fighting for cancer GMB and Macmillan help with cancer in the workplace

Four in 10 people in the UK will be affected by cancer at some stage of their life. Many cancer sufferers say that work is important to them, as a job can help restore normality, routine, stability, social contact and income. However, Macmillan Cancer Support has established two hard facts: 91 per cent of workers suffer a loss of income and/or increased costs as a result of cancer, and 48 per cent of cancer patients are not given any financial support information. Macmillan is keen to work with GMB in raising the profile on what can be done for 22 www.gmb.org.uk

sufferers

working people suffering the emotional and financial effects of cancer. GMB, which has long campaigned on the prevention of workplace

elptial Work getn h has an Essen

Macmilla le at at & Cancer Toolkit availab /work, .uk rg n.o illa cm ma w. ww for or call 0808 808 0000 a t jus or rt po sup , ers answ quick chat on the issues.

cancers, will be getting involved to roll out the issue on a regional basis with the help of workplace reps.

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Bring these pages to life!

WIN!

this could be you! Your chance to win a pair of tickets to Glastonbury.

A pair of tickets to Glastonbury Just register at www.gmb.org.uk and update your profile to enter!

ancy going to this year’s Glastonbury festival, taking place from 26–30 June? We’ve got a pair of tickets to give away in association with the Workers Beer Company. For your chance to win follow these steps to update your GMB profile on GMB’s new-look website.

Step 1

• Go to www.gmb.org.uk • Select ‘GMB members login’ • Enter your GMB membership number

and password or create a new password

Step 2

Last issue’s iPhone winner!

Select ‘update profile’ and enter your: Email address Mobile number Home address

Rex Features

• • •

TERMS & CONDITIONS The winning entry will be drawn at random from fully financial GMB members only who register for/login to www.gmb.org.uk members area and update their GMB membership record with additional data before close of business on Friday 3 May 2013 . The winner will be notified by GMB. Prize is subject to availability. No purchase necessary. Entries from employees of GMB or their families will not be accepted. The winner must be prepared to participate in publicity arising from the competition. Winners’ names and photos may be published in future issues.

GMB member Mercedes Fernandez Regalado-Tivy won a brand new iPhone when she entered the prize draw in the last issue of GMB magazine.

she’s a winner! Mercedes receives her new iPhone from her GMB branch secretary Vaugha n West.

www.gmb.org.uk 23

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UPDATE

Be a life-saver from GMB All the news

GMB backs charity ACLT’s call for blood donors

here’s nothing more tragic than a young life needlessly lost, as Beverley De-Gale and Orin Lewis told GMB’s equality conference. Their son, Daniel, had battled for years with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia; a bloodrelated cancer. He had overcome many of the hurdles that a cancer sufferer faces, however at the age of 21; he tragically passed away from an unrelated illness. Aged eight Daniel needed a life-saving bone marrow transplant if he was to win his [then] three-year battle against leukaemia. At this time in 1996, there were only 550 donors from black communities on the entire UK bone marrow register. Sadly, for the black, mixed race and ethnic communities this translated to a one in 250,000 chance of

HAPPY FAMILY Beverley De-Gale and Orin Lewis with their son Daniel.

finding a matching bone marrow donor; compare this to the one in five chance for a white member of the UK population. Such statistics were the reason for Beverley and Orin forming the ACLT. For the past 17 years the charity’s few but hard-working staff and volunteers have recruited thousands of blood donors. There are now 40,000 people of minority ethnic origin on the UK bone marrow registers. This has improved the odds, but only to one in 100,000. It is the racially specific characteristics of bone marrow that mean compatible donors for black and mixed race sufferers must come from the black or mixed race population. GMB urges members to sign up to become a blood or organ donor, irrespective of racial origin,

but particularly if you are from a black, minority ethnic or mixed race community. Sufferers from these backgrounds are three times more likely to need an organ transplant but only one per cent of people on the NHS organ donor register are from this community! The ACLT (African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust) was inspired by Daniel. After his successful bone marrow transplant, he enjoyed a precious 12 years with his friends and family. To give other sufferers a similar opportunity, the charity raises awareness throughout the UK, to enable potential donors to come forward and make them potential life-savers. To join the bone marrow, blood or organ donation registers, or to make a financial donation, call the ACLT on 020 8240 4480 or visit aclt.org

and change Have fun the world Verity Jones on why you should join Woodcraft Folk

SERIOUSLY FUN Woodcraft Folk members use fun to make a serious point.

24 www.gmb.org.uk

You might have seen Woodcraft Folk at the TUC march in London last October. There were parents, children and volunteers of all ages in our group – having fun, but taking action on a serious issue at the same time. Woodcraft Folk is a movement for children and young people, which aims to help young people value the planet. We believe no one is too young to learn about social change, and that no one is too old to play games and have fun. We put all this into practice in our local groups, where all ages work together to make the world a fairer place. If you’ve got children, or if you want to volunteer for a youth movement that cares passionately about society and the environment, go along to your local Woodcraft Folk group. Find your closest group at www.woodcraft.org.uk Alternatively VERITY JONES email info@woodcraft.org.uk or call Verity loves being part 020 7703 4173. of Woodcraft Folk.

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Upda your GtMe ProfileB www.gmb

Kicking

from GMB All the news

.org update .uk/

Racism out Footballer Peter Foley is recognised for his commitment to equality

MB Regional Secretary Tom Brennan honoured ex-Scunthorpe United footballer Peter Foley on behalf of anti-racism campaign Show Racism The Red Card (SRTRC). Foley, a long-term member of GMB’s Central Executive Committee, has played an important role in developing GMB’s equality and diversity policies. He was recognised for his contribution by SRTRC, who invited him to join the Hall of Fame. Peter said: “I’ve been involved with this kind of work for a number of years now, and to get the recognition from an organisation like Show Racism The Red Card was absolutely fantastic. I loved the event – the children asked really good questions and it was great for the youngsters.”

RAISING THE ROOF Workers at Steadman & Son are now GMB members.

KICK IT OUT Anti-racism campaigners Tom and Peter.

Raising the roof GMB gets recognition at Cumbria roofing company

“A tremendous amount of work went in from the team.”

GMB’s Cumbria team has been working behind the scenes to gain recognition at a roofing component manufacturer in Cumbria. After being approached by several workers at Steadman & Son, based in Warnell, Carlisle, GMB organisers arranged a meeting to see what the strength of feeling was. A number of GMB members were quickly recruited and it became clear that a formal recognition application for collective bargaining purposes was a real possibility. Several meetings were arranged with company

directors, with involvement from ACAS. Over just a couple of months, an agreement was reached and a formal recognition agreement was signed in January 2013. GMB Regional Organiser Kevin Young said: “There was a tremendous amount of work that went in from the team and we persevered when it could have been difficult. By engaging with GMB members and recruiting non members, we were able to utilise the law to become recognised for hourly paid manual operatives.” www.gmb.org.uk 25

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from GMB All the news

winlaton branch needs

YOU!

It’s got a great track history, so why not support this vital branch?

MB Winlaton branch has been very busy since it was set up 15 years ago – it was originally a holding branch for all new members who did not have their own branch at the time of joining GMB. It has always worked hard to make a difference to GMB and to the Gateshead communities and has had members on a number of committees, including the Community Health Condolences Council, Gateshead We send our condolences to Jimmy and his family PCT, Sure Start and in remembrance of his daughter, Louise Mary Gateshead Trades Hewson, who died 7 January 2012. She was a Union Council. regular visitor to the Newcastle and Sunderland The branch has Offices and was loved by officers and staff. also sponsored

schools with sport trophies, football tournament and the end-of-term prize-giving. GMB Branch Secretary, Jimmy Hewson, has been working with GMB for a long time. “I first joined the Seaman's Union in 1956 because if you did not, you would not be allowed to go to sea. I've been a Union member for about 56 years.” The branch is facing problems, however, with a loss of membership. “Our branch Officers have been talking about how we can bring this Branch back to life.” Can you support the branch and help it continue the good work? Contact your regional office for more information, details on page 30.

More support for

ambulance workers

GMB membership goes from strength to strength at North East Ambulance Service

GMB membership in the North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) continued to grow in 2012 and sees no signs of slowing down in 2013! GMB reps are dedicated to regularly visiting all stations and sites to speak with members on a one-to-one basis. Stephen Brown, Branch President, thinks this dedication is responsible for the massive uptake of GMB membership at NEAS. He says “Visiting sites regularly gives us a real connection with our members. That face to face contact is really appreciated and that’s why our membership has consistently grown.”

bulletin board GMB has launched a focused NEAS Members Bulletin Board from the main regional website, which will be updated with newsletters, announcements and any other information for NEAS members. If you are a GMB member working in NEAS make sure you regularly visit us by going to www.gmbnorthern.org.uk and clicking onto the NEAS section.

26 www.gmb.org.uk

SIREN SONG GMB attracts new members in the NEAS.

regional

a future that

works

Why marching on London was just the start of a new fight for workers’ rights…

BECOME A GM HealthB safety & rep www .gmb.o gmbhsr rg.uk/ ep

MB members were at the forefront of a mass demonstration for a Future That Works in London in that October. Sending out a clear message ect prot to fight to ared prep workers are those their rights, it was a rallying cry for ition who want to oppose this coal government’s injustices. Now, it is nising important that GMB workplace orga to on ies carr ism activ ity mun com and erity protect GMB’s core values. With aust nary ordi on toll measures taking their more working families, it has never been . lved invo get to t rtan impo Chris Jukes, GMB Northern Region cuts Political Officer, said: “The spending ing, grow omy econ the get to have failed a into back UK the n drive have they but told were We . possible triple-dip recession d that we were all in it together, yet Davi ect prot to is ose purp main Cameron’s those at the top against the growing d tax international support for a Robin Hoo with res onai milli ect – and he wants to prot a tax cut. “To build a better future we need to build a prosperous economy that can generate the jobs and industries we need for the future. We need to invest in growth and not as come up with ridiculous ideas such le.” peop sack to r easie those that make it the g ratin onst dem ch mar With the solidarity of GMB, it is time for GMB

members to build on the momentum put in place by letting the coalition government know we won’t stand for the cruel and nonsensical measures that it is trying to force through parliament. Chris Jukes added: “The Tories and the Lib Dems have shown that they are against people on low and middle incomes, they are against those who want to work hard, whether it be at school, college, university or work. They have shown that they are against parents, teachers, the armed

“The cuts have failed to get the economy going.”

FIGHT FOR THE FUTURE GMB General Secretary Paul Kenny makes a stand. ns, forces, the police, above all trade unio des. besi and many more by “The values and energy generated and trade unionists, community activists Central many more by marching through g bein into ed anis galv London must be our and es plac work our in d organise threat communities, to fight the greatest have us of any to our way of lives that ever faced.”

www.gmb.org.uk 27

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from GMB All the news

obituaries

GMB says goodbye to members who will be sadly missed GEORGE BRIGGS

SIR STUART BELL

he North East and Cumbria’s biggest general trade union (GMB) would like to pay tribute to Sir Stuart Bell, Labour MP for Middlesbrough. Sir Stuart was a longstanding GMB member and a member of the GMB parliamentary group of MPs. GMB’s Northern Regional Secretary Tom Brennan said, “Sir Stuart Bell was a very experienced and respected Labour member of parliament who was a passionate and tireless advocate for our people. He first went to parliament when

28 www.gmb.org.uk

Labour was in the wilderness and through sheer tenacity helped in the process of dragging Labour back to office. “When once again Labour went into opposition in 2010, it was the wise counsel of people like Sir Stuart who helped Labour in its hour of need. “He was a very loyal GMB friend of the Northern Region, and his contribution to our members’ lives will be missed but never forgotten. “Our thoughts and sincere condolences are with Sir Stuart’s family.”

It is with deep regret we report the death of George Briggs, Branch Secretary, on 2 January 2013 at the age of 70. George began his apprenticeship as a boilermaker plater at the Met Fab Ltd engineering shop in 1958. During his apprenticeship he became an active participant in the 1960 national engineering apprentice strike, which he said convinced him that there was nothing the working class could not achieve collectively under the banner of trade unionism. After completing his apprenticeship he worked at various engineer shops throughout the Wear district. During the ’70s he quickly earned a great reputation for representing our members seeking fairness and social justice. In 1976 he became Shop Steward at Geoffrey Maskell Engineering Ltd, dedicating himself to negotiating some of the highest wage rates in the district. At that time he was also a Wear district committee member and member of the CSEU district committee, Assistant Secretary at Sunderland number two branch, attending bi-annual conferences on a regular basis, and also an active member of the Labour Party and president of Sunderland Trades Council. In 1980, the company he worked for sacked its total workforce, including George, and de-recognised the union. As a result of this, he was blacklisted and had great difficulty in gaining employment, working for just two years in total from that time until his retirement age. Not withstanding this, he concentrated his energies on branch organisation, actively recruiting and training younger members. In 1985 he was awarded the Boilermakers’ Society Shield for outstanding service to the union. In 1990 he was elected secretary to the amalgamated Sunderland number one branch, a position he held until his death. A working class warrior, George was a model trade unionist and socialist – a “by example” comrade. There was definitely no “third way” with George. Our sincere condolences go to his wife Irene and family.

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JOHN HEPPLEWHITE

CHRISTINE MAVIS OUGHTON Darren Leyland, Branch Secretary N26 Branch, remembers a much-missed GMB member… Christine Oughton passed away peacefully on 4 November 2012 after a long illness. She was a devoted mother to her children and will be greatly missed by them all. Christine was a brave and passionate person and this showed in her role as a GMB rep within N26 branch. She always led with her heart and would help any member at the drop of a hat, whether the problem be large or small. During Christine’s final weeks she would still be involved with any branch duties that would arise, and she would put everyone’s problems and issues before her own. Christine was from London originally and would never hide her great love for Arsenal football club. We would often have banter together regarding our love of different clubs, but her favourite player of all was the famous Italian and Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon. She loved her music as well – none more so than AC/DC and Whitesnake. She enjoyed letting her hair down with live concerts and loud music, but she also had her very soft and caring side. She adored her cats Mr Growly and Puss Puss. All members and colleagues who met Christine knew that she was a passionate GMB steward. She always believed in the union and believed that the foundation of GMB is its members, whose voice should be heard. The more members GMB had, the louder we shouted and the more we were heard. She was the cornerstone in bringing GMB to EDF Doxford many years ago, and she was an active steward until her final days. On behalf of N26 branch, I would like to say it was a pleasure and a honour to have known you, Christine. You will be sorely missed but never forgotten. RIP Christine: you were loved by all.

John Hepplewhite, a former executive member of the Boilermakers and GMB, passed away on 12 September 2012 aged 90. John joined the union at the age of 21 in February 1943, and was an active member of the Hebburn Boilermakers’ Branch. He played a major role in bringing about the nationalisation of the shipbuilding industry in the late ’80s, and represented the union in the shipbuilding and engineering industries in his executive member position. He continued to do this up until the amalgamation with the then GMW before his retirement. GMB would like to pass its sincere condolences on to his family.

PETER MATTHEWS Peter died in September 2012 aged 72. Back on 25 September 1972, Peter joined the Hebburn branch of Apex as an office worker, working for BICC Pyrotenax as shop steward (staff rep) and Branch Secretary. He was a keen negotiator and tactician when it came to securing improvements for members. Following a merger of branches in 1995, Peter remained active in the enlarged Newcastle general apex branch, becoming branch secretary in 2001. He was instrumental in maintaining the branch, and rarely missed a meeting. Peter was a great supporter of the union’s decision-making processes, and a willing conference visitor or delegate, giving comprehensive reports to the branch on his return. He was also a keen member of the retired members’ network, being a GMB retired workers’ spokesperson during the regional government campaign. He could always be relied upon to work in the campaigns of branch members seeking election to councils or parliament. He is greatly missed by the branch and its members.

bob shiels GMB is sad to report that one of its most outspoken representatives, Bob Sheils, passed away aged 66 on 18 October 2012, having lost his fight against mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer most commonly caused by exposure to asbestos. Bob, who had cerebral palsy, had been an active member of the union movement since 1962, when he began work at Remploy Newcastle after leaving school. While he was there he joined the Transport and General Workers and threw himself into supporting their campaigns. From 1965, Bob worked for the NHS as a telephonist at the Regional Hospital Board in Newcastle, where he became a member of NUPE [National Union of Public Employees] and became a union representitive – he later joked that he got the job because he “had the biggest mouth”! He moved to South Shields General Hospital in 1973, before moving to the Royal Victoria Infirmary as a night-duty telephonist in 1975. There, having become a representitive once again, he attended college and eventually rose through the ranks to become Branch Secretary and chairman, until 1990, when he left that union and moved across to join GMB. GMB helped him attend college in Manchester to complete a reps course, and in 2001 Bob became Branch Secretary of GMB Northumberland’s Commercial Services Section at the health service branch. He remained dedicated and continued working for GMB throughout his illness. Bob was a well-respected, well-liked and very influential member of the trade union movement. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him, and GMB extends its deepest sympathies to his family.

www.gmb.org.uk 29

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CHARITY

TREK

Sponsor young member Louise as she treks across the desert

dventurous GMB member Louise Kelly is about to embark on the trip of a lifetime for charity. Louise is set to take part in the Britain Versus Cancer Desert Trek though Jordan on behalf of St Benedict’s Hospice. Louise will make the trek from 19–26 April and along the way she’ll celebrate her 30th birthday in the desert! Funds raised by Britain Versus Cancer will support some of the many charities that undertake research into the causes and possible cures for all types of cancer, or provide emotional and practical support for the many thousands of

individuals and families who are affected by the disease. To donate please visit www.justgiving. com/Louise-KellyBritainvCancer and help Louise raise as much as she can for those affected by cancer!

Be a young member g nin Find out more about joi ers mb me g GMB youn online at www.gmb northern.org.uk

St Benedict’s Hospice, Sunderland Registered charity number 1019410

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Contact Gmb Please feel free to contact your regional or local GMB office with any questions that you may have.

GMB northern Region 1 Mosley Street, Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE1 1YE T: 0191 233 3930 F: 0191 233 3931 Email: northern@gmb.org.uk

GMB barrow Office 17 Hartington Street, Barrow, Cumbria LA14 5SL T: 01229 822 506 F: 01229 835 282 Email: barrow@gmb.org.uk

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