Centrepoint summer 2013

The magazine for GMB members Summer 2013

www.gmb-westmids.org.uk

Beat it!

GMB battles to beat the blacklist

Making Waves

Plymouth welcomes GMB Congress 2013!

WIN a Toyota Aygo See p15 worth ÂŁ9,000

Don’t miss your chance to be part of GMB decision making!

C

ongress 2013 has just finished, but you can still make a difference to GMB policy by coming to Congress next year! GMB Congress decides what polices the union will follow – but this is built on the hard work of GMB branches over the rest of the year. So if you’re meetings not already involved in your branch, now’s the time to start. Branch e. differenc a make to chance your are take place regularly and

HAVE YOUR SAy

FOLK HERO GMB Congress 2014 will take place in Nottingham, home of Robin Hoo d.

GMB Congress 2014 takes place in Nottingham from 8 to 12 June. To attend GMB Congress: • You must be nominated by your branch a paid-up • You must have been week s GMB member for 53 ns must reach the regional • Your branch’s motio2014 office by 31 January

FIND YOUR GMB BRANCH

Find your GMB branch on your membership card or ask your GMB workplace organiser.

Alternatively, check your profile at

www.gmb.org.uk

Watch THE video 02 www.gmb.org.uk

Catch up with the highlights from GMB Congress 2013.

For videos of everything from GMB banners to key political addresses, go to: www.gmb.public-i.tv

In this issue…

Joe Morgan and West GMB Birmingham secretary al on gi re ds Midlan

GMB celebrates Pride in Birmingham Page 25

Get GMB in your pocket with the new mobile app Page 14

Regional

National

4 Single status victory

9 Congress

Wolverhampton City Council brings in equal pay and a living wage

6 Beat the blacklist

GMB members protest over blacklisting in the construction industry

8 Congress

Our region’s perspective

25 Take pride

The fight for equality continues

26 The big issues

Falling living standards and bedroom tax

28 Backing Bangladesh Campaign for safer working conditions in clothing factories

All the news from GMB Congress in Plymouth

11 Paul Kenny says

A word from your general secretary

12 Political candidates Meet GMB’s Labour candidates

14 GMB in your pocket

GMB’s mobile app can keep you in the loop

15 Win a car!

Your chance to win a Toyota Aygo

16 Striking a light

Commemorating the matchwomen’s strike

17 Take a break

Help for women who need a holiday

29 Universal credit

19 Free our pubs

30 Charity cheer

22 Selling services

31 Contact GMB

24 Members’ statement

How the new system could affect you

Red noses and rugged running

Names and numbers you can call

GMB regional editor Samantha Jones: 0121 550 4888 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 Tracy Nugent Art directors Stuart Hobbs, Dermot Rushe Director, Future Plus UK Jayne Caple Printed at St Ives Direct

How sky-high rents are shutting our pubs

Why public services must remain public

GMB’s annual statement and audit

Produced by Future Plus, 30 Monmouth Street, Bath BA1 2BW

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 Centrepoint 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.

Let’s win the war being waged against working class people by the Con-Dems Welcome to the summer edition of your magazine, Centrepoint. Since the last issue, yet again we have seen the true colours of the Con-Dem government when yet again they do all within their powers to look after their own with no shame or apology.

They are continuing to push for mass privatisation in the NHS after assuring the people of Britain that it would be safe in their hands, with no top-down re-organisation. This has has proven to be a total lie.

We, both nationally and regionally, have been involved in many campaigns to oppose the measures and protect what is the envy of the world, our NHS. We have also been involved in a very successful protest against blacklisting (see page 6 for the full story). The region organised a highly visible protest outside the Big Lottery headquarters in Birmingham city centre, where Dianne Hughes, once HR Director at Costain, now works.

At the time of writing we are in the middle of GMB Congress 2013, where we have had many inspirational speeches by both new delegates and more experienced delegates alike. The theme coming from Congress, in my opinion, is that where there is injustice then workers must unite and fight against it.

Let’s fight the attacks and win the war being waged against working class people by the Con-Dems.

United we can win! www.gmb-westmids.org.uk 03

BECOME A GMB WORKP ORGANILACE SER

regional

E T A D P U

www.gmb .org.uk

GMB m o r f s w e n All the

Singlestatus

FINALLY SORTED! GMB wins single status in Wolverhampton.

victory

GMB members win equal pay for men and women at Wolverhampton City Council

04 www.gmb-westmids.org.uk

T

housands of workers at Wolverhampton City Council could be up for a pay rise following single status pay negotiations with GMB. Plans to iron out years of pay inequality between men and women first started in 2008, but broke down soon after.

Negotiations started again in 2011 but were difficult. Both sides realised the legal obligation to address historical pay inequalities and GMB continued to push for an agreement that would bring the greatest benefit to its members.

As part of the process GMB convinced the Council to bring in the living wage – increasing pay above minimum wage for the lowest-paid members. As a result no one

working for Wolverhampton will earn less than £7.45 an hour. This is the amount experts believe is needed for a basic standard of living.

While many members will enjoy pay rises, under the agreements, the council is cutting pay for a small number. GMB was keen to protect these members and has secured a 12-month window in which they can adjust to the change.

Amanda Gearing, GMB senior organiser, said. “The result was the best that could be achieved in difficult circumstances. We cannot rejoice when some members are set to lose out in the process. But we must view the fact that we now have a living wage council in Wolverhampton as a positive.”

Join us on facebook search GMB West Midlands

up the junction GMB in pilot partnership to help to get Telford back to work The Malinslee and Dawley Job Junction was officially launched on Friday 3 May, giving local people the opportunity to attend drop-in sessions to help them find employment.

The Job Junction, which is a pilot scheme based at Dawley Social Club in King Street, Dawley, Telford, opened its doors in midMarch and has been welcoming local people who need assistance in searching for a job, help creating a CV, interview skills or advice from staff.

It is a drop-in service open each Tuesday from 9.30am to 11.30am.

Since the Job Junction opened it has been proving popular. In just six weeks almost 60 people have dropped in to get help and advice.

There has also been great interest in the courses at Job Junction. There are currently 16 participants on the Food Safety In Catering

Level 2, and 12 participants on the Emergency First Aid At Work courses. Other courses will soon be available including computing, internet and email courses.

This is a joint venture between Telford & Wrekin Council, GMB Birmingham & West Midlands Region W50 branch, Great Dawley Parish Council, Telford College, Jobcentre Plus and Dawley Social Club.

Charlie Tranter, president of GMB W50 branch, said: “We are involved in a number of sponsorship projects across Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin to raise GMB’s profile in sport and the community as part of our development and recruitment plan. This initiative helps residents get the help they need to successfully find work. Our role as a partner has been to provide wi-fi so participants can develop their IT and internet skills.”

“This initiative helps residents find work”

regional

The mysterious case of the invisible bedroom

GMB member was asked to pay bedroom tax for a room she doesn’t have How can a council not even know how many bedrooms its own properties have?

That’s the question being asked by GMB member Karen Bayliss, who lives in Shard End, after Birmingham City Council asked her to pay bedroom tax on her non-existent third bedroom. The council have classified her house as having three despite it only having two. This also means that Karen has also been overcharged rent for the seven years she has lived there!

When Karen contacted Birmingham City Council’s rent department, she was told that because she and her son, who is her carer, live in a three-bedroom property she would have to pay bedroom tax. “On telling them that my council property only had two bedrooms, I was spoken to as though I was a complete idiot,” said Karen. “He insisted I have got three bedrooms – I was either lying or I had made alterations myself without informing the council.”

Karen asked for a home inspection and contacted GMB for assistance. Joe Morgan, GMB regional secretary, said: “A housing inspector confirmed that she occupies a two bedroom property. Hopefully that will end the bedroom tax deduction from her housing benefit.”

GMB also helped Karen investigate the amount she overpaid in rent between 2004 and 2011. The Council confirmed she has overpaid by £10 a week, so GMB is now chasing a cheque for compensation.

Bedroom tax problemfro?m BACK TO WORK The Job Junction is helping Telford’s unemployed.

If you need assistance om GMB concerning bedro ct nta co ase tax, ple 0121 550 4888

www.gmb-westmids.org.uk 05

regional

UPDATE

injured ? orgk at ww .uk .gmb.or

from GMB All the news

ww

a new hope?

Out of work Remploy workers bid for automotive business

The government’s removal of funding from all Remploy factories has resulted in the sad loss of 1,803 disabled jobs across the country. As we write this, only the automotive business is earmarked as being sold as a going concern, due to the business being profitable, although a few other businesses are being considered.

The workforce in the Birmingham factory, represented by GMB’s Robert Bradley and Martin Hindle, are spearheading a bid to become a social enterprise, which would see jobs secured for the disabled workforce at the Birmingham factory, as well as the sites in Coventry and Derby.

GMB organiser Neil Williams commented: “We have and shall continue to support the social enterprise project however and wherever we can. This has been a difficult time for the Remploy employees and this venture offers hope for the disabled people not just at these sites, but throughout the communities which surround them.”

SIGNS OF THE TIMES GMB members send Dianne Hughes a message.

Beat the blacklist!

GMB protests over the construction industry blacklist

G

By autumn 2012, only 194 of the 3,213 MB Birmingham & West people on the blacklist had contacted the Midlands regional secretary ICO directly. To help investigations, the ICO Joe Morgan, along with GMB agreed to supply names, date of birth, trade officers, held a demonstration and town to enable GMB to find its on Tuesday 14 May outside the Birmingham members on the blacklist. There were offices of Dianne Hughes, deputy director of nearly 200 exact matches and GMB is human resources at The Big Lottery Fund. working to get files from ICO. Ms Hughes was listed as the main contact Justin Bowden, GMB national officer, said: for blacklisting at Costain by Ian Kerr, who “GMB will force the companies to apologise ran the Consulting Association blacklisting and compensate those they blacklisted. body, in written evidence to the Scottish GMB asked Dianne Hughes if she would join Affairs Select Committee Inquiry on other human resources professionals and blacklisting in the UK Parliament. She was talk to us about blacklisting, to get to the human resources business partner at truth, but she threatened litigation. But new Carillion, from 2002 to 2004 then head employers need to know their staff were of human resources at Crown House involved in this shameful practice.”

Technologies between 2004 and 2008.

GMB is calling to account the managers who organised blacklisting.

The scandal first broke in 2009 when the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) seized a Consulting on the blacklist, If you think you could be 603 742 877 Association list of 01 call Phil Read at GMB on ail him 3,213 construction or 07840 897997, or em k workers which was g.u at blacklisted@gmb.or 2 579 452 used by 44 companies to vet ntact Dave Smith 0788 Co new recruits and keep trade up AGM. for blacklist support gro union health and safety reps out of employment.

are you on the list?

06 www.gmb-westmids.org.uk

regional

Bring these pages to life!

Taxing

GMB members tell Amazon to pay its taxes

G

MB members and officers set up a picket line outside Amazon’s Rugeley base calling for improved pay and working conditions for staff. Members also issued Amazon with an ASBO to highlight its anti-social tax policy.

Last year the company achieved global profits topping £2.2bn, yet it paid only minimal UK tax. Amazon is Britain’s most popular retail website, but it has payed barely any tax in the UK for the last three years. It also gives staff minimal rights, forcing them to work up to

times

seven days a week and threatening them with the sack if they take time off sick. An investigation by a newspaper found that Amazon workers were: • W arned that the company refuses to allow sick leave, even if the worker has a legitimate doctor’s note. Taking a day off sick results in a penalty point. A worker with six points faces dismissal.

• M ade to work a compulsory 10½-hour overnight shift at the end of a five-day week.

• S et quotas for the number of items to be picked or packed in an hour that even a manager described as “ridiculous”. Those packing heavy Xbox games consoles had to pack 140 an hour to reach their target.

• S et against each other with a bonus scheme

that penalises staff if any other member of their group fails to hit the quota.

• M ade to walk up to 14 miles a shift to collect items for packing.

GMB’s protest at Towers Business Park, on Power Station Road, was one of a number held at around the country. GMB membership development officer David Day said: “Amazon is not paying the living wage to its employees; instead they’re paying just one penny over the minimum wage. We did try to deliver the ASBO personally to management, but for some reason they did not want to meet us and accept it – I cannot understand why. We were just met by a wall of security and not allowed on the car park.”

paying tribute

Workers’ Memorial Day 2013 GMB members across the Birmingham and West Midlands region recently marked Workers’ Memorial Day, a tribute to those who have been injured or lost their lives at work.

Workers’ Memorial Day is an international day, raising awareness of workers’ safety and ensuring they are adequately protected. The tragic loss of life and injuries in the collapsed building in Bangladesh is a terrible reminder of the constant need to fight for strong health and safety regulations at work.

On 25 April GMB members, officers and staff attended a service at St John The Baptist Parish Church in Halesowen.

Guest speakers included Daniel Shears, GMB national health, safety and environmental research and policy officer, and Yvonne Washbourne, West Midlands Hazards Trust And Asbestos Support Group. GMB regional secretary Joe Morgan laid a wreath and led a two-minute silence to remember those killed, injured or made unwell by their occupations.

NEVER FORGET GMB members pay tribute to those killed and injured at work.

www.gmb-westmids.org.uk 07

regional

UPDATE

from GMB All the news

Ship shape

in Plymouth

lands First time Birmingham & West Mid m Plymouth delegate Sue Caulton reports fro

I

award ! winners

ded in Highly Commen l Regional na tio ira sp In Most Equality Forum st Midlands Birmingham & We Forum has lity ua Eq Regional key equality developed some domestic ing initiatives, includ safety d an ng violence traini . It has en m wo r fo s awarenes em g m ber and established youn , plus campaigns SHOUT networks ployment. over youth unem

wing joined GMB in December 2002, follo ch bran S85 the with ting mee e plac a work me beca I 3 secretary, Darren James. In 200 place work e activ an y a contact and eventuall organiser for GMB. head teacher at Life ticked on comfortably until the would be retiring. the school I work for announced he ld be part of the wou head We were hoping that the new t the new abou us to got on mati family, but when infor that From . good not was s new the head teacher, t esen repr to moment on, I learned all about how just not , staff ort members of staff and supp through what professionally, but also personally, difficult years. and long very four be to out turned se, cour of However, through it all I had, whole the also but ds, my family and frien from ch, bran S85 well Sand team of GMB the branch secretary to the senior stewards helping and supporting me. I never felt alone.

I believe strongly in GMB and have wanted to get more involved in the on union itself, including having a say put I on reas this for So new policies.

AWARD WINNER Brian Adams, pictured far right, rece ives commendation on behalf of the regi on.

08 www.gmb-westmids.org.uk

branch meeting myself forward for election at our 2013. s gres Con at gate to become a dele as a first-time s gres Con ded atten I 2013 In June as I had to speak delegate. I was a little apprehensive of the branch ort supp the for the first time, but with nied me, I feel mpa acco who é, fianc ul and my wonderf e clearly. that I voted the right way and spok selves I would encourage anyone to put them about, gly stron feel you s forward. If there are issue and ss acro ts poin your get to then this is the way it. t abou g ethin som do actually the Birmingham The region also raised £476.60 for etary Paul Secr eral Gen Children’s Hospital and the .20. The £953 of l tota a ing mak Kenny doubled it, ted. dona that e thos all k than to like ld region wou

thank you!

Thank you to all of our first time delegates this year at Congress: Vicky Murray, Craig Burton, Sue Caulton, Michael Rice, Jim McPher son, Graham Bould, Graham Gouldsm ith, Kevin Smyth, Paul Dean.

congress 2013

national

l na O I T NA

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from GMB All the news

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

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From blacklisting to badgers, George Fraser reports on a successful GMB Congress

T

he sun shone on Plymouth in June, making it the perfect setting for GMB Congress. But the weather wasn’t the only thing dazzling delegates as a roster of speakers inspired members with their stories. Emma LewellBuck addressed Congress – and what a breath of fresh air she is! The first woman MP in South Shields and a GMB member, Emma is a tribute to GMB’s policy of getting real people into the House of Commons, a tribute to our new political team and a tribute to our activists in the Northern region.

Congress also received a video message from Ed Miliband, and Andy Burnham, shadow secretary of state for health, came to speak and answer questions about the NHS. Another high-profile speaker was author and newspaper columnist Owen Jones. His

address made real sense and coincided with our own GMB values.

blacklist battle The evil of blacklisting was brought home to us by Dave Smith, who told his heartbreaking story. He was denied work for years because he complained about health and safety, and the details held about him by the Consulting Association would do credit to the KGB. But I was struck by his resilience. He will not give in and it is for Dave and the other 3,212 on the blacklist that we must win the blacklisting campaign.

GMB has lodged a High Court action for defamation on behalf of 90 GMB members affected against the companies that funded the blacklist.

GEORGE FRASER ss. re Reports from Cong

Many delegates when looking at the list of blacklisted workers from their particular area, especially in Scotland, recognised a good number of names and Phil Read, GMB’s blacklisting liaison officer, will be contacting each of them to see if we need to add them to the court case.

On the Blacklist?

Contact Phil Read, GMB blacklisting liaison officer, on 07840 897 997 or blacklisted@gmb.org.uk

plymouth, 2–6 june www.gmb.org.uk 09

national

UPDATE

from GMB All the news

BADGER OF HONOUR GMB members spoke out against the badger cull.

inspiration

SAVE OUR SERVICES Andy Burnham backs GMB’s fight for the NHS.

The most inspirational speech of the week was That is a debt GMB will

by Margaret Aspinall of the Hillsborough never be able to repay.

Family Support Group. She spoke with feeling, He listed the expectations of GMB on a new without notes and I am certain there was not Labour Government, telling the Labour Party, a dry eye in the house by the time she finished “be bold, be radical, be truthful.” He urged her story. Let down by government after them to build council housing with the money government and suffering the indignity of lost currently being paid to private landlords for loved ones having to undergo CRB checks, she shoddy housing, put a stop to the tax dodging carried on until the of multinational battle was won. She companies that profit showed incredible from UK workers, and k wee a determination in the make all companies 5p a on ded deci ss GMB Congre from face of South pay a living wage, increase in GMB subscription rates ime rate removing the burden Yorkshire police 1 October 2013. Therefore the full-t month) bridging the gap force’s resolve to will become £2.75 a week (£11.92 a £1.60 a me beco will rate e -tim part the and lie, falsify and deny between people’s king week (£6.94 a month). Members wor any complicity in wages and their daily k wor as school support staff and who the deaths of those needs from the k wee per 0 £1.6 pay will 28 hours or less 96 people. benefits system. (£6.94 per month).

Jan Jepson of GMB He also pushed for Northern region and employment rights from the Julie Hunt of GMB London region eloquently first day at a new job and for agency workers moved and seconded composite 17. That to enjoy exactly the same employment rights motion was about Orgreave during the miners’ as permanent staff. Delegates also heard how strike in 1984 and 1985. It is asking for a public GMB’s Living Wage Campaign has progressed inquiry into the atrocities of that same to more than 100 councils, which now pay scumbag police force on the picket line at their staff a living wage.

Orgreave. If there is any justice in this world, Other issues covered by Congress the police officers on the picket line will be included domestic violence, badger sent to Wakefield prison, the same prison culling and the scourge of pay day where so many of our innocent miner brothers loan companies. GMB also were incarcerated. revealed the cost of dying (see GMB general secretary Paul Kenny page 20) the impact of rising addressed the crowd on Tuesday and drew fuel prices and the scandal of a standing ovation. The financial report on housing benefit enriching Wednesday showed how secure GMB is in his private landlords at the hands. We should not forget, colleagues, that cost of families he has sacrificed a well-deserved retirement to without a decent steer GMB through a potentially difficult time. place to live.

Rates increase

10 www.gmb.org.uk

The contributions of the 500 delegates were better than any Congress I can remember and I am amazed at the number of first time delegates.

All of them performed magnificently.

Dynamic delegates Caroline Campbell of GMB Scotland spoke in support of the Mental Health motion. It was not only her first time as a delegate it was her first ever day in Congress. Other first-time speakers also got great responses.

But seriously, you were all great and it’s not only your performances which made this Congress memorable. You were all elected or appointed, under rule, to attend what is the parliament of GMB and you have carried out that duty with honour. You were so good you turned over the CEC three times. Colleagues, that is democracy alive and well and living in GMB. On behalf of the Mary Turner, GMB national president, Malcolm Sage, GMB national vice president, Paul Kenny, GMB general secretary and all of the Central Executive Council (CEC), I salute you.

EMOTIONAL TALE Margaret Aspinall (left) with GMB President Mary Turner.

Paul kenn y

says

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

I

have just spent a wonderful week in Plymouth in the company of nearly 1,000 GMB delegates, visitors and guests at GMB’s annual Congress. The contributions from members gave all who were present or who watched on GMB Congress TV an insight into the varied problems facing people in the world of work and beyond.

The media and certain politicians like to portray trade unions as unrepresentative of their members or even sometimes attack what we do as undemocratic. GMB Congress is our Parliament, but unlike the phoney democracy of Westminster, ours actually is run by our members to guide and direct GMB in its work.

HOUSING FOR ALL Over the last 10 years our Congress has warned successive governments about corporate tax avoidance, bankers’ bonuses, private equity buy outs and the loss of corporation tax and so many other matters that at the time politicians ignored, but who now wring their hands and say how terrible these abuses are. The truth is that it was politicians that created the loopholes for corporations like Google, Starbucks, Amazon and hundreds of others to use.

While the Daily Mail and George Osborne attack the millions of working people who have to rely on benefits to make ends meet, the billions of untaxed

profits made by these companies continue to flow out of the UK and into the slimy hands of corporate greed.

And now GMB has exposed the scandal of billions of pounds of housing benefit being paid to private landlords, many of whom are companies based overseas to avoid tax in this country. £23bn a year is paid in housing benefit because we have failed to build affordable homes. Find out more, at www.gmb.org.uk/newsroom The right-to-buy scheme put up in the early 1980s was a political vote catcher for the Tory government at the time, but in reality it was the privatisation of our social and council housing stock. And like all privatisation of our country’s assets, the corporations make a killing and the public get a worse service and bigger bills.

Those in housing being squeezed by higher and higher rents whilst at the same time having a cap put on what support they can get shows the government doesn’t care about the have nots or those working poor who can’t afford a deposit for a house let alone find a mortgage.

TIME FOR COURAGE If only we had the courage to cap the rents and build homes for people, not only would we eventually cut the housing benefit scam payments to landlords, but we would get people back to work and the economy would benefit.

If only we had the courage to introduce a living wage for all instead of millions of workers having to apply for benefits to supplement their low wages. Companies would have to show their books and profits, a sort of corporate means testing.

If working people have to be subsidised by the state then we should be sure these companies, which include tax avoiders making vast profits, pay their workers a living wage. Companies where the chief executive is paid 500 times the minimum wage, yet their workers require state support – that needs addressing.

REMPLOY SCANDAL As many people at Congress said, while Starbucks dodges its commitments to the country and makes huge profits, Remploy workers in their thousands have been thrown on the scrapheap. Politicians were responsible for both of those situations and the quicker we get more GMB members into the House of Commons to challenge this corrupt system the better.

One last word, treat yourself to a visit to the York Disabled Workers Co-operative website at www.yorkdwc.co.uk This is a group of ex-Remploy workers fighting back and trying to build decent jobs.

This government will come and go, our job is to make sure we never stop fighting for the decent life everyone in GMB and indeed our country has a right to expect. www.gmb.org.uk 11

national

UPDATE

from GMB All the news CATH SPEIGHT GMB national politcal officer.

“We have introduced political education for new workplace representatives on the GMB@WORK courses to help members learn more about the way we are governed and how to get involved in the Labour Party.

“We are in good shape to make sure that in the forthcoming elections for Europe and Westminster we can support our candidates who share GMB aspirations and understand the problems our GMB members face.”

nancy platts, birghton kemptown Nancy Platts has been selected as the Labour candidate in Brighton Kemptown, where Labour needs just a small swing to beat the Tories in 2015. Nancy was supported by trade unions across the region and it's easy to see why – she spent the morning of her selection marching with Brighton's striking City Clean workers. Nancy has spent her life campaigning for social justice because she saw first-hand how unfair the system was – she started work at the London Fire Brigade at the age of 18 because her family couldn't afford for her to go to university. She studied at night school to get her qualifications. She's worked for a trade union, for the Child Poverty Action Group and health campaigns.

“GMB was a huge, practical support during my selection campaign. Now I'm selected I want to work across the entire Labour movement – because that's where my roots are – to make sure we get the policies and representation we need for working people.

The hard work starts now to get rid of the Tory MP here. I hope GMB members will join me on the doorstep soon!”

Look at our

s e c c u s

All these GMB members are making inroads to Parliament Emma Lewell-Buck Mp, South Shields

E

email me at Nancy@nancyplatts.org.uk 12 www.gmb.org.uk

mma is North East born and bred and is a long-standing GMB member. She has a long history in the region – her dad worked on Tyneside shipyards and she is the direct descendent of a town hero who famously (in South Shields!) invented the lifeboat.

Before the by-election last month, she was working as a social worker locally and representing her area on the local council.

“I’m a working class lass from the North East and a long-standing GMB member.

My dad worked in the shipyards and I was the first in my family to go to university.

After university I trained as a social worker and have been on the front line ever since.

Now I’m on the front line of politics, fighting against this government’s damaging policies, as South Shields’ first female MP and a GMB MP as well.”

SIGN up for the GMB eNEWSletter AT www.gmb.org.uk

NATional email me at Sarah@sarahowen.org.uk

Sarah Owen, Hastings and Rye Sarah Owen is a former GMB rep who was born and raised in her constituency. At the moment she is working for the Labour Party on living wage campaigns and opening up the policy process, but she has plenty of real life experience too, having worked countless shifts caring for patients at the Conquest Hospital, planning for large scale emergencies in the fire service

and getting to know how local councils in East Sussex work.

“As a former GMB rep and someone who has worked on the front line of public service, the support of my union has been a huge boost. Hastings and Rye is a marginal seat we have to win if we want a Labour government. I’m looking forward to working with members to make that happen.”

Clive Lewis, Norwich South

s

Operation Black Vote and their Clive was born into a working programme to shadow MPs. class family with a Grenadian “It’s incredibly important father and English mother. He that Labour looks and sounds was the first person in his like the country if we’re to family to go to university, rebuild trust and convince which is where he first people to vote for us again. got involved in I’m proud to be supported politics. He served in

by GMB. My message to Helmand with the members is if you don’t like Territorial Army and what’s happening has worked as a BBC to our country, journalist. He has get involved also been and help us an active email me at change it.” part of ourclivelewis.org

Clive@lab

email me at Vicky@vickyfoxcroft.com

Vicky Foxcroft, Lewisham Deptford Vicky grew up in the North West in a single parent family.

When she was younger her family was made homeless and spent much of her childhood moving from place to place and school to school. Thanks to a second chance in education and the support of her teachers, she was the first person in her family to go to university. She currently works for Unite, the union, representing low-paid workers

in the financial sector, and is a councillor in the area where she was selected.

“I’m proud to be a working class candidate selected to fight the seat where I live for Labour. It’s important to make sure people in parliament actually understand people’s lives – we need more common sense in the policy process!

That’s why I stood. I’m looking forward to working with GMB in the run-up to 2015.”

Lisa Forbes, Peterborough Lisa Forbes is a GMB member and mum of four who has lived in Peterborough for 25 years. Over the years she’s done jobs from potato picking to working in a DIY shop to being a travel agent at Thomas Cook. When the Tories were elected, she decided she couldn’t sit by and see what happened in the 1980s happen to her community and her family.

She stood for council, winning a previously safe Tory ward for Labour, and is now Labour’s parliamentary candidate in Peterborough.

“GMB is my union and was behind me during my selection.

I’m a working class woman, and

mum, who remembers what a Tory government meant for people like me last time around.

People are struggling again and I couldn’t stand by and watch history repeat itself.

Now GMB is helping me to take the fight to the Tories in Peterborough – I’ve never been more email me at proud to be Lisa@lisaforbes.com a member.” www.gmb.org.uk 13

national

UPDATE

from GMB All the news

membership

made easy

Get more from GMB with the new-look website and brand new mobile app

G

MB members who want to get more from their membership should register online. Just go to www.gmb.org.uk and select ‘GMB Member Login’ to access a world of GMB extras. Signing up is easy, you just need your GMB membership number and a password.

Visit www. gmb.org.uk • Update your GMB profile • Switch to Direct Debit • Access the latest news • Download exclusive extras • Get support for your workplace

gmb in your pocket!

Get the latest from GMB wherever you are with the new free GMB app. Download it to your smartphone to get instant access to GMB on the move. It is available from www.gmb.org.uk/app or from iTunes and Google Play for Android.

Download it now to: • Update your GMB profile • Get the latest news from GMB • Switch to Direct Debit • Find your nearest GMB office • Find your nearest GMB post holder • Become a workplace organiser

exclusive extras

ART ATTACK Download posters yo won’t find anywhe u re else.

14 www.gmb.org.uk

GMB’s website is also home to lots of exciting extras, exclusive to GMB members.

Get the full story of GMB’s history by leafing through a digital version of The History of GMB. This book is filled with pictures and information, and it’s free to read at www.gmb.org.uk/about/history/about Members can also download a series of exclusive posters detailing the history and achievements of GMB. These beautifullydesigned posters were displayed at GMB Congress in Plymouth and were so popular that GMB has decided to make them available for all members to download at wwww.gmb.org.uk

YOUR HISTORY Read about how GMB came into existence.

SIGN up for the GMB eNEWSletter AT www.gmb.org.uk Bring these pages to life!

regional NATional exclus ive to

gmb

member s prize dra w

WIN!

a toyota aygo worth £9,000

Exclusive GMB prize draw to win a Toyota Aygo, simply by switching your GMB subscription payment to Direct Debit

B

e in with a chance to win this gorgeous car and Apple gear, regardless of whether you already pay by Direct Debit or are switching now. There is a second prize of an iPad, and third prize is the latest iPhone. The draw closes at midnight on Monday 16 September 2013.

Reasons to switch to Direct Debit • As some employers frown on trade unions, paying your GMB subscription by Direct Debit means that your membership is a matter for you alone and no one, including your employer, will know unless you tell them yourself.

• You won’t lose your GMB membership as

the result of an administrative slip-up in your payroll office.

• Your membership will follow you if you change jobs with your current employer.

• Your membership will follow you if you change jobs and get a new employer.

Reasons to switch away from check-off • Check-off is the system where your GMB subscription comes out of your wages. GMB pays an administration fee on this which costs thousands of pounds a year.

• Help GMB make that saving by switching away from check-off to Direct Debit and you will automatically be entered into this exclusive prize draw.

TERMS & CONDITIONS The winning entry will be drawn at random from GMB members only who pay their GMB subscription by Direct Debit. It will be drawn after midnight on the closing date of Monday 16 September. The winner will be notified by GMB. No purchase necessary. The winner’s name and photo may be published in future issues. The GMB prize draw is open to GMB members who are fully financial at midnight on Monday 16 September 2013. This prize draw is not open to any GMB employees or members of their families. The result of the draw is final. All entrants agree to publicity in GMB material. Only one entry per eligible GMB member.

how to enter Go to www.gmb.org.uk/competition and click the link to switch to Direct Debit.

You can also use the Move To Direct Debit button on the GMB app, which you can download from www.gmb.org.uk/app Don’t forget to tell your employer to cease your check-off payment.

You can still enter the prize draw if you already pay by Direct Debit. Simply go to www.gmb.org.uk/competition and press the button to enter the competition – good luck!

Last issue’s Glasto tickets winner GMB member Erika Radu of GMB Northern Region won a pair of Glastonbury tickets in the prize draw in the last issue of the magazine.

www.gmb.org.uk 15

national

UPDATE

from GMB All the news

Striking a light! celebrate the matchwomen Author Louise Raw celebrates the founders of working women’s rights

O

n 6 July the first annual Matchwomen’s Festival was held in London. The festival celebrated the start of the modern movement for workers’ rights: a strike by young women and girls, who took on their employer – and by extension the entire Victorian establishment – in the summer of 1888.

Matchstick makers, Bryant and May were powerful and prosperous Victorian gentlemen, with friends in very high places. The matchwomen, by contrast, were labelled a “rough set of girls”. Wages were so low the women were malnourished. They had no contracts or job security and working with toxic white phosphorus caused what the women called “phossy jaw”. This grisly disease decayed the jawbone, slowly and agonisingly, and could prove fatal.

fighting back But the matchwomen refused to be victims.

Without a union to support them, they surprised – and outraged – the country when they took matters into their own hands. When one girl was sacked (supposedly for being a troublemaker, but in reality to punish the women for speaking to a journalist about

conditions), 1,400 workmates downed tools and streamed out of the gates of the matchstick factory in Bow. Their two-week strike changed everything.

The scandalous truth about Bryant and May was revealed and the women marched to parliament and impressed MPs with their eloquence and intelligence.

They went on to win a huge victory for themselves, for women workers, and for working class people everywhere. They formed the biggest union of women and girls in the country, and inspired a wave of strikes that kicked off the trade union movement we know today.

In the ’20s that union evolved into GMB, which is therefore essentially still the matchwomen’s union.

the legacy The vital role of working class women has been ignored for too long!

This year many GMB members attended the Matchwomen’s Festival on

Louise Raw is the author of Striking a Light: the Bryant & May Matchwomen and Their Place in History and the organiser of the Matchwomen’s Festival.

For details of next Matchwomen’s Festival contact: louise.raw@virgin.net 16 www.gmb.org.uk

6 July. It was organised by the Bishopsgate Institute and held near Liverpool Street in London.

The grandchildren of the original matchwomen were VIP guests at the festival and everyone enjoyed a packed roster of high-profile speakers and excellent entertainment.

Members also enjoyed a jig or two as the traditional Irish band brought the atmosphere to life.

There was music, stand-up comedy, poetry, special children’s events, stalls and food and drink. Michael Rosen read for children, John Hegley made us laugh with his poetry, and in the evening Attila the Stockbroker, Izzy Thomas, the Ruby Kid helped get the party started.

This was a great festival to commemorate an important part of GMB’s history. To help the festival in coming years, please donate, become a sponsor, or volunteer your time via the website below.

Support l the Festiva n’s Festival go to: Matchwome For more details on the tival.com fes www.matchwomens 888@gmail.com or email matchwomen1 atchwomen www.facebook.com/M @matchwomen1888

SIGN up for the GMB eNEWSletter AT www.gmb.org.uk Bring these pages to life!

exclusive

to gmb WOMEN members

regional NATional

Take a

Break

If you’ve not had a holiday in years, the Mary Macarthur Holiday Trust can help

T

he Mary Macarthur Holiday Trust provides holidays for women who are in need of a break. When life gets tough, it’s here to help you enjoy a rest. The Trust helps women book a holiday because of:

an amendment to the Munitions Act, which required that women should receive the same rate of pay as men for doing the same job.

iStock x 4

What does the Trust do?

At the time of Mary’s death, working • Age women had no paid • Poverty holidays and there • Infirmity was no such thing • Disablement as the NHS. In her • Social or economic memory, an appeal circumstances was launched and a Trust formed to ?

Whatever the reason, the fund places in ro er lp Po Fancy a brea k in Trust aims to offer some convalescent or respite from life’s traumas. holiday homes for women in need.

Who was Mary Macarthur?

Its success enabled them to buy a home and Part of GMB history, Mary Macarthur was name it The Mary Macarthur Holiday Home. a trade unionist who fought tirelessly for More homes were opened and for more than working women who had no paid holidays.

60 years, women Born in Ayr in 1880, she died in 1921 and benefited from time although her life was short, it was very full. at Mary Macarthur At 23 she became general secretary of the Holiday Homes.

Women’s Trade Union League, and was the As times changed, president of the National Federation of the homes were closed Women Workers from 1906 to 1908. One of and the Trust now her main achievements was that she secured awards grants towards the cost of any holiday – still preserving the Trust’s original ideals.

The range, number and complexity of ...or a peacef ul cases which continue to be referred to the Trust for assistance show that its work is just as relevant and vital in today’s world as it ever was.

...or Woolacombe Sands?

Do I qualify for a holiday?

Holiday grants are just for women and you must be 18 or over to qualify. Also, you must not have had a holiday in recent years, and must not have received a grant from the Trust

PROUD LEGACY Mary Macarthur fought for equal rights and pay for women. for at least three years. You also need a letter from a sponsoring body or person explaining why you deserve a holiday grant.

The Trust will help you pay for a holiday, but it is up to you to choose where you go and to make enquiries with a local travel agent – so you can go anywhere! The Trust encourages women to go away on their own but you can bring someone with you if you prefer. However, the Trust cannot give you more money to pay for a friend. The grant is normally paid directly to the holiday provider.

If you think you would benefit from a Mary Macarthur Holiday, or you know a woman who would, please contact Cheryl Andrews, Mary Macarthur Holiday Trust, 1 Cathedral Road, Cardiff CF11 9SD. Telephone 02920 359 091, Fax 02920 666 447 or email: cheryl.andrews@mmht.org.uk How you can help the Trust...

The Trust never wants to turn someone down due to a lack of funding. It is likely that disadvantaged women among GMB’s membership have received help from the Trust and benefited from a holiday that might otherwise have seemed out of reach.

If you would like to help the Trust continue providing this valuable service, please make a donation via the can al trip? website listed below.

Do you need a holiday?

For more details on the Trust or to fill in an application form, go to www.mmht.org.uk

www.gmb.org.uk 17

national

UPDATE

from GMB All the news

How to make GMB work 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, feel free to call them.

One day at work…

Well, I’m having a few problems with management. They’re giving me impossible workloads.

Hi sara, it’s Joe.

Do you want GMB to approach them?

Hi Joe, what can I do for you?

Not at the moment, but I’ll tell them I want GMB involved if they won’t deal with the matter.

Later that week...

any time Joe.

THAT’S USUALLY THE WAY WHEN GMB MEMBERS STICK TOGETHER.

Thanks a lot for your support, sara.

Hi sara, I got my problem sorted out with the management.

The End

18 www.gmb.org.uk

Joby Seesions

The threat of involving GMB did the trick.

SIGN up for the GMB eNEWSletter AT www.gmb.org.uk

NATional

Freoeur

PUBS

Keep your glass filled at your local – ask your MP to help landlords fight sky-high rents

T

imes are hard for pub landlords, and the many GMB members who work in the UK pub trade. This is thanks largely to a scourge that’s pubs to close. many forcing Property companies known as ‘pubcos’ own more than half of Britain’s pubs, charging sky-high rents to their tied tenants. The money is used to pay interest on financially engineered debts – debts that are held mainly by bondholders in offshore tax havens.

Interest payments have to be paid each week before the tenant pours a pint, regardless of whether they can make ends meet.

To pay these inflated rents, a pint of lager is, on average, 80p per pint higher and ale is 65p per pint higher than justified by inflation and like-for-like changes in taxes since 1987.

This is pricing pubs out of the market, resulting in them closing in droves.

Infernal machine The common view that shareholders in the pubcos own a pub business is wrong. In fact, the shareholders don’t own a pub business; they own a holding company which invests in and manages rental incomes from pubs.

These are called pub securitisations. These securitisations are the infernal machine that is closing pubs unable to pay their rents. It’s also

the same infernal machine that drove the Southern Cross care homes to the wall.

In 2009 an Office for Fair Trading report concluded that the average pub tied-lessee is being overcharged by pubcos by around £12,000 a year, or £230 per pub per week, after higher “wet rents” and lower “dry rents” are factored into the equation.

GMB has campaigned for parliament to legislate to free pubs from this infernal machine before it destroys them all. In April 2013 the Department for Business, Innovations and Skills published a draft statutory code for tied pubs for consultation which closed in June. GMB welcomed their conclusion that pubcos will overcharge tied tenants for rents unless they are prevented

tenants the ability to buy beer, lager and other products from the open market, as well as pay a fair market rent for the building. You can help to make this happen: ask your local pub’s tenants to lobby their MPs to go for Option 3. GMB thinks that the other two options will allow pubcos to put up rents by the backdoor by over-charging for products tenants are tied to buy from them.

Please ask your MP to support Option 3 when the matter comes before parliament later this year. You can also support the Fair Deal For Your Local campaign, which calls Option 3 a ‘Market Rent Only’ option. GMB members whose livelihoods are tied up in our pubs need you to make their voice heard.

“Pubcos are pricing pubs out of the market”

from doing so.

YOU CAN HELP We will likely only get this one chance to save our local pubs. Later this year a draft statutory code covering tied pub rents will come before parliament. GMB wants MPs to support ‘Option 3’, which will give tied pub

re n mo Lear information about For more ct GMB how you can help, conta on mp Ke ve Ste r political office 07730 898 102 or email k g.u steve.kemp@gmb.or

www.gmb.org.uk 19

national

UPDATE

The cost

from GMB All the news

of dying GMB survey reveals that the cost of dying is more than £7,000

Manchester

£2,012

Stokeon-Trent

Lambeth

£2,132

Croydon

Wandsworth

£2,265 £2,350

Cityof London

£3,464

£2,045

Top six councils for cremation charges in the uk Cremation, interment of ashes and Exclusive Burial Rights

20 www.gmb.org.uk

charges £5,329, the City of London £5,185, and at the bottom of the top 20 chargers, Exeter cashes in £2,650 for every burial.

These figures were revealed at GMB Congress and come from a GMB study for all councils in the UK. These charges are major items in The Sun Life Direct Cost Of Dying Survey. The 2012 edition states that the average funeral costs are £3,284. If all the services are included, for example funeral director’s costs, doctors’ fees for certification, flowers, limousines and catering for the wake/reception then the total average is £7,114.

Paul Kenny, GMB general secretary, said: “At a time when the cost of living occupies most people’s concerns it will be a real shock to many living in that the cost of dying is so high. While GMB realises that the public are not queuing up to test the services

it remains a fact that few have any idea of how much even a simple burial or cremation actually costs.

“When council charges are included the average funeral costs are £3,284 and the total costs average over £7,000 according to some surveys.

“Someone is making a lot of money out of peoples bereavement.”

Find out more

in To find the cost of dying the t ou eck ch , ion reg your information online at: www.gmb.org/ newsroom iStock

I

t will be a real shock to many living in the UK that bereaved families are forced to pay thousands of pounds for cremation and burial services. GMB has discovered that the average cost of dying in the UK is more than £7,000. A GMB survey into the cost of cremation and funeral services found that someone is making a lot of money from people’s bereavement.

To ensure that like was compared with like, GMB looked at charges for cremations, interment of ashes and exclusive burial rights.

The City of London has the highest charge of £3,464, but this is not a one off as other councils also charge thousands of pounds for the service. Wandsworth charges £2,350, and Manchester charges £2,012.25.

And it’s not just cremation that costs bereaved families; the cost of burial also runs into thousands of pounds. Lambeth Council

national

UPDATE

from GMB All the news

Selling our

services One way or another the Tories want to sell off public services, but this is a recipe for disaster, warns Paul Routledge

T

he Tories had one so-called big idea at the last general election: the Big Society. Nobody knew what it meant, least of all David Cameron and his merry band of job-robbers. But we know now. It’s about culling jobs in the public sector, and replacing them with charities, staff buy-outs and “social enterprises.”

“They’re trying to privatise by the back door,” says GMB’s Kathleen Walker Shaw.

“They’re now tackling social services and health care services. They know public opinion won’t take kindly to it, so this is a wolf in sheep’s clothing.”

The potential for out-sourcing of public services across a wide range of activity, from housing to looking after children, is enormous. There is big money at stake. The government spends £23Obn every year on public sector procurement of goods and services, and the privateers want more of it.

councils, the NHS and government departments to commission services from organisations that create “social value” in communities.

This is defined as doing something for the community and is supposed to “put people before profit.” But does it? Services being spun out to social enterprises or staff mutuals – workers buying out their business – will inevitably mean more job losses, on top of the hundreds of thousands already lost since Cameron came to power.

In the end, this reform is all about cutting the cost of providing public services with the added bonus – in Tory eyes – that it will diminish trade union membership and activity.

Their Social Value Act was the brainchild of a Conservative politician, public relations consultant Chris White, MP for Leamington and Warwick. Speaking in the Westminster debate, he said government should tell procurement commissioners: “You can still save money on that youth service or care home, but by letting a community organisation run it you could involve the people who have actually got a stake in that venture.” Translated into everyday speech, he’s saying “Take your services out of the hands of directly-employed workers and put the business into private-sector hands.”

social value The springboard for this latest radical change is the Social Value Act 2012, which came into operation earlier this year. On the face of it, this legislation looks like a good idea. It calls on public bodies such as

utuals “Charities, staff m rises and social enterp fail” are being set up to CRITICAL SITUATION The Tories are trying to kill off our health service.

22 www.gmb.org.uk

NATional

Bring these pages to life! buy-out. “In some cases, this is the difference between trying to set up a social enterprise – or you are redundant,” a source in the Local Government Association told me. “Faced with that choice, it sharpens thinking.”

Ed Mayo, general secretary of Cooperatives UK, fears that staff are being pressed into something they don’t want.

“This is not really a new model, but rather good old fashioned privatisation,” he says.

Do workers really want this change?

Not on the evidence of real votes by real employees. In the vast majority of cases where staff in the NHS have been balloted, it’s been shown that most have chosen to stay with the health service.

CHILDCARE THREAT Would you trust a big business to look after your baby?

What’s more, experts warn that charities, staff mutuals and social enterprises are being set up to fail, opening the way for the big boys in the private sector to come in and take these lucrative contracts.

There is an added danger that pressure from government to drive down costs will mean employees being given a stark choice between the sack and tendering as a worker

Look at the figures of Primary Care Trust staff voting against transfer: • Cornwall 81% • Plymouth 74% • Shropshire 85% • Greenwich 86% • Mid-Essex 97% • Sandwell 67%

GMB is strongly opposing this dilution, telling MEPs that the development of mutuals in the UK is part of a different political agenda to their operation elsewhere in Europe. “The UK model is a route to privatisation of public services,” union general secretary Paul Kenny argued in a letter to parliamentarians in Strasbourg.

He’s right. But this is a complex subject, and I hope I’ve carried you with me through the jungle of government double-speak. It’s clear from the mouth of the man who gave us the Social Value Act. The Big Society revolution, he told Parliament, “won’t happen by itself.”

No, it won’t. It will only happen where employers see a financial benefit from spin-out. And the workforce will foot the bill.

Help GMB S e NH Saveyoth ur services and

Spin-out is not safe, either. Public service contract commissioners can withdraw funding from these “mutuals” as quickly as they grant it, leaving the workforce vulnerable to redundancy or takeover by a private contractor.

Stick up for the NHS join GMB’s rally to Save ce ren at the Tory Party Confe ay in Manchester on Sund re mo 29 September. For information on how you can get involved, go to www.gmb.org.uk

GMB Member offer

Andrew Wiard

iStock x 3

Wedding photography From getting ready to the ceremony itself and until way past the first dance…

R

emember your big day forever with beautiful professional wedding photography from GMB’s official photographer, Andrew Wiard.

Paul Kenny, GMB general secretary, says:

“Andrew has photographed the work and campaigns of GMB members and the Labour Movement for over 30 years. You can have all his experience to capture your most treasured moments. As a trade union member and activist, you can rely on him.”

To find out more or take advantage of his services, phone Andrew Wiard on 07973 219 201 or email andrew@ reportphotos.com See his work at: www.reportagestyle.co.uk

www.gmb.org.uk 23

national

UPDATE

from GMB All the news

GMB’s annual statement and audit Audit Report

The following is reprinted from the Annual Return (AR21): Report of the Auditors to the Members of GMB Statement of Central Executive Council’s (CEC’s) responsibilities The legislation relating to trade unions requires the CEC to submit a return for each calendar year to the Certification Office for Trade Unions and Employers’ Associations. This return contains financial statements which must give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Union at the year end and of its transactions for the year then ended. The financial statements set out on the preceding pages have been prepared on the same basis and are used to complete the return to the Certification Office for Trade Unions and Employers’ Associations. In relation to the Union these requirements are the responsibility of the CEC. It is responsible for preparing the financial statements of the Union and in so doing is required to: • Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently • Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent • State whether applicable accounting standards have been followed • Prepare the accounts on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to do so.

The CEC is responsible for keeping proper accounting records and establishing and maintaining a satisfactory system of control over its records and transactions in order to comply with the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992. It is responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Union and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

The CEC is also responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the Union’s website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of accounts may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

Report of the General Members Auditors We have examined the financial statements in accordance with Rule.

I. Burkett General Member Auditors S. Dery Independent Auditors’ Report to the Members of GMB We have audited the financial statements of GMB for the year ended 31 December 2012 which comprise the Income and Expenditure Account, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow Statement and the related notes. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). This report is made solely to the Union’s members, as a body, in accordance with the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the Union’s members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the Union and the Union’s members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Respective Responsibilities of GMB’s Central Executive Council and Auditor As explained more fully in the Statement of Central Executive Council’s (CEC) Responsibilities, the CEC is responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view. Our responsibility is to audit and express an opinion on the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and International Standards on Auditing (UK and Ireland). Those standards require us to comply with the Auditing Practices Board’s Ethical Standards for Auditors.

Scope of the Audit of the Financial Statements An audit involves obtaining evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements sufficient to give reasonable assurance that the financial statements are free from material misstatement, whether caused by fraud or error. This includes an assessment of: whether the accounting policies are appropriate to the Union’s circumstances and have been consistently applied and adequately disclosed; the reasonableness of significant accounting estimates made by the CEC; and the overall presentation of the financial statements. In addition, we read all the financial and non-financial information in the General Secretary’s Introduction to identify material inconsistencies with the audited financial statements. If we become aware of any apparent material misstatements or inconsistencies we consider the implications for our report.

Opinion on Financial Statements In our opinion the financial statements: • give a true and fair view of the state of the Union’s affairs as at 31 December 2012 and of its deficit for the year then ended; • have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and • have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992.

Matters on Which we are Required to Report by Exception We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters where the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion: • adequate accounting records have not been kept, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or • the Union has not maintained a satisfactory system of control over its transactions in accordance with the requirements of Section 28 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992; or • the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or • certain disclosures within the form AR21 of Officers’ remuneration specified by law are not made; or • we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.

Chantrey Vellacott DFK LLP Chartered Accountants and Statutory Auditor London Financial Affairs of the Union A member who is concerned that some irregularity may be occurring, or has occurred, in the conduct of the financial affairs of the Union may take steps with a view to investigating further, obtaining clarification and, if necessary, securing regularisation of that conduct. The member may raise any such concern with such one or more of the following as it seems appropriate to raise it with: the officials of the Union, the trustees of the property of the Union, the auditor or auditors of the Union, the Certification Officer (who is an independent officer appointed by the Secretary of State) and the police. Where a member believes that the financial affairs of the Union have been or are being conducted in breach of the law or in breach of rules of the Union and contemplates bringing civil proceedings against the Union or responsible officials or trustees, he should consider obtaining independent legal advice.

24 www.gmb.org.uk

Annual statement to the members of GMB Required under Section 32A Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992

Year ended 31 December 2012

£’000

Total Income 64,679 of which, Income in respect of membership

60,468 Total Expenditure 57,529 Movement in actuarial valuation of pension scheme (9,637) Political Fund Income 3,194 Expenditure 2,701

Analysis of Officials’ Salaries and Benefits Office Held Gross Super Salary Annuation

Benefit Car

Executive

£’000 £’000

£’000 £’000

12

1

0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 14 0 0 15 8 18 2 0 0 6 0 9 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 14 0 3 127 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 0 0 0 1 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 40 0 2

£’000 £’000

B. Adams

S. Bearcroft MBE 4 S. Berwick

E. Blackman

D. Bruno

K. Buchanan

R. Clarke

D. Clements

K. Daniels 14 J. Dolan

G. Doolan

R. Dunnett 15 G. Emmerson 8 G. Evans 18 B. Farr 2 G. Ferguson

J. Foster

B. Fraser 6 G. Fraser

G. Gibbs 9 M. Gregg

J. Hall 1 S. Harding

A. Harry MBE

D. Hope 1 B. Hulley 1 M. Hutchinson

M. Jackson

J. Jones 14 W. Juss

P. Kane 3 P. Kenny (General Secretary) 94 A. Leader 2 M. Lock

E. Marnell

E. Martin

J. McDonnell

A. McGivern

A. McLaren

J. Minnery

B. Modlock 9 C. Murphy

D. Noble

L. Parker

G. Richardson 1 L. Ryan

M. Sage 4 L. Sharp

N. Sharpe

K. Slater

V. Smart

J. Stribley

M. Turner MBE 39 R. Waugh

P. Wheatley 2

21

Benefit Total Employers’ Mortgage NI

1

1 1 2

1

11

4

regional

UPDATE

Bring these pages to life!

from GMB All the news

A grand day out!

‘Equal Love’ Birmingham Pride is a whole lot of fun!

B

FLYING THE FLAG Equal Love was the theme for this year’s event.

irmingham Pride is a weekend-long LGBT festival held annually in the Gay Village on Hurst Street. This year’s event was held over the Bank Holiday weekend of 25–26 May, and its theme was ‘Equal Love’.

This is the largest LGBT two-day festival in the UK and it featured a carnival parade through the city centre. The main Pride festival site included the Nightingale Main Stage, dance arena, cabaret marquee, funfair, village green, central market street and a friendly street party!

GMB members, officers and staff took to the streets with a colourful float in celebration of the city’s diverse

CARNIVAL TIME The colourful GMB float!

LGBT community, handing out temporary face tattoos, Hawaiian leis, balloons and whistles. After the parade, GMB and other trade unions held a briefing on LGBT issues in schools with guest speaker Ellie Barnes, as well as introducing the new toolkit for use in school lessons. A talk was given by David Viney about the Gay Birmingham Back To Back plays to set the context of exploring LGBT history.

GMB organiser Gill Whittaker said: “The whole day was an inspiring and joyous event for LGBT members all over the West Midlands, combining celebrations with education and thoughts on how to improve the future and ensure that equality is for all.”

chain gang GMB members pay tribute at the Women Chainmakers’ Festival The Women Chainmakers’ Festival took place in June at Bearmore Mound. It was organised by TUC and GMB and is an annual celebration of the landmark struggle for better pay by the women workers of Cradley Heath in 1910.

During the 19th century the Black Country was the centre of chainmaking in England. Heavy and medium chains Led by activist Mary LEADING LIGHT Mary Macarthur fought were made by men in factories, but Macarthur, more than for equal pay. lighter chains were made by women 1,648 women went on and children, typically in the dark, strike. By September 1910, Trinder cramped outhouses behind their homes. & Co agreed to pay the new rates. Other It was hot, dirty and badly paid. companies then followed suit. The women’s

CHAIN REACTION Solidarity at the Women Chainmakers’ Festival. victory was to have a huge impact right across the British Labour movement. The festivities began with a banner procession from Macarthur’s statue in Cradley Heath to the park. The festival was officially opened by chair of the TUC Lesley Mercer. www.gmb-westmids.org.uk 25

regional

UPDATE

from GMB All the news

! e t a d Up

l a c i polit

officer GMB is l a c i t i l o ow n wp Your ne ie Peacock on hcross the regio Stephan the big issues a tackling

S

tephanie Peacock is the new GMB Birmingham and West Midlands political officer. Prior to her appointment she worked as a trade union education officer, providing training and skills to activists across northern England. A former history teacher, she studied trade union and labour history at university. An active member of the Labour Party all her adult life, she worked for Black Country MP Sylvia Heal, was a member of Labour’s

governing body the NEC and is currently one of the West Midlands’ representatives on the National Policy Forum.

In her new job, Stephanie said: “It will be my task over the coming months and years to increase political activity across the region. It’s so important we fight to stop the damage this coalition government is doing. It’s crucial we launch political campaigns to protect and promote the interests of GMB members.”

falling

living wage

campaign

GMB launched a campaign to win a living wage for 280,000 low-paid workers in councils across England and Wales.

Council pay rates start at £6.30 per hour, just 11p above the national minimum wage. This means hundreds of thousands of council workers are forced to claim tax credits, free school meals, housing benefit and council tax benefit.

26 www.gmb-westmids.org.uk

GMB has congratulated many councils for their trailblazing decision to introduce a living wage across the Birmingham and West Midlands region. Elsewhere Newcastle-under-Lyme, Worcester, Wolverhampton and Wyre Forest have all taken the decision and we are lobbying others to make the commitment too.

People are up to £44 a week worse off in some parts of the West Midlands since 2010 because of rising inflation.

The average weekly wage in the West Midlands in 2010 was £469 and has stayed virtually the same since the Coalition came to power.

Rising fuel prices and food costs in supermarkets have outstripped pay increases, leading to a noticeable fall in living standards.

Families are suffering more than in many parts of the country because of the government’s out of touch policies. Recent government figures show that the manufacturing industry remained in recession in the last three months. This is hurting local families.

Rising fuel prices, rip-off energy companies, frozen wages and expensive prices at the supermarket have left many local families desperate. It is no wonder that one of the biggest growth businesses in the West Midlands region FOOD FOR THOUGHT Soaring prices have made has been the local local families desperate. food bank.

Rex Features

living standards

regional

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Move tto Direc Debit k .org.u www.gmb

TAXING TIMES Members won’t take the bedroom tax lying down.

labour

of love

If the Labour Party is going to win the next election it needs to win in the West Midlands!

Our GMB region has more battleground seats than any other region. To push Labour

to the top, GMB will be coordinating grassroots campaigning activity, knocking on doors and delivering leaflets to win back voters and maximise turnout.

LABOUR FORCE GMB will campaign for Labour’s success.

bedroom tax

leaves room for improvement The bedroom tax was introduced to solve underoccupancy in council housing but there are simply not enough smaller homes to make this happen. In the West Midlands 60,000 families will be affected. Everyone wants to see sensible welfare reform but the bedroom tax is definitely not the answer.

Over £5bn is lost to tax evasion every year, illustrating

that there are other less heartless areas where money could be saved. But David Cameron has no idea of the impact that this change will have on ordinary people, no concept of the difference that £700 less a year will make to many people on the breadline.

GMB is strongly opposed to this tax, and is calling for strong leadership against it from the Labour Party.

come to

school

ved! nds. get inLavboour l in the West Midla Help GMB push ed in your local area If you want to get involv t about local ou then get in touch to find ntact Stephanie Co ce. pla ing tak s ign campa gmb.org.uk or on stephanie.peacock@ call 07714 539 894.

A political landscape with more working class councillors and MPs is the only way to achieve lasting social, economic and industrial change in this country. Training and support is available for GMB members who are interested in becoming more involved in politics.

A regional political school will take place for GMB members on Saturday

14 September. Come along to find out more about the Labour Party, how you can get involved in the Labour party and campaign to deliver a more progressive government.

There will be guest speakers, training sessions and discussion.

If you want to get involved in GMB’s political activity, please email me, at stephanie.peacock@gmb.org.uk

www.gmb-westmids.org.uk 27

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UPDATE

from GMB All the news

burning issue JCB pay damages in skin condition case

was exposed to brake fluid and a rust inhibitor.

His skin problems started in 2010 when his job was bleeding brakes and connecting radiator hoses. He began to suffer with red itchy spots on his hands and arms which developed into a painful rash. He highlighted the problem to his supervisor and was moved onto connecting radiator hoses full time, but his condition got worse.

A company nurse investigated the cause of his skin complaint and found that the fluid coming out of the radiator was not dirty water but a rust inhibitor.

RUST ISSUES JCB paid out compensation to an injured worker.

A

GMB member working at digger giant JCB’s Rocester headquarters who developed a painful skin condition after being exposed to known irritants has received compensation with the help of GMB. The 52-year-old, who had worked for JCB since 2003, developed dermatitis after he

GMB’s solicitors, Thompsons, represented the member on behalf of GMB, and said the workforce should have been protected and provided with protective gloves. Thompsons argued that JCB should have been aware of the chemicals it was exposing its workforce to and taken appropriate action to make the job safe.

GMB organiser Mark Bergman said: “JCB should have worked out if there were chemicals in the radiators, particularly as they themselves made the machines. A risk assessment and a system to put in place, appropriate personal protective equipment, would have avoided this member’s discomfort and long-term condition.”

GMB backs UK prepares for Bangladesh a pay rise GMB tells Gap and Debenhams to back workers’ safety plan

BANGLADESH HORROR Help ensure this doesn’t happen again.

Debenhams and Gap, and it would be great to bring them on board as well. GMB wants as many people as possible to email the companies to keep the pressure up on them while the media spotlight is still on Bangladesh. Please help!

lvedGoing To Work get inTUvC o campaign site Please use the and Debenhams today, to send an email to Gap nds and colleagues: and share it with your frie rk. wo http://action.goingto fety org.uk/bangladeshsa

28 www.gmb-westmids.org.uk

GMB Birmingham & West Midlands Region welcomes a 12p per hour increase in the National Minimum Wage, which will be applied from 1 October 2013. Sadly the rise is well below inflation, so the living standards of the people at the bottom end of the scale will fall. Joe Morgan, regional secretary said: “This is a vital pay rise, but it is well below inflation. Most employers pay at least the minimum wage but some employers attempt to exploit workers by ignoring this vital piece of legislation. If you are receiving less than the minimum wage, contact the regional office.” See page 31 for details.

prepare for A pay rise

Current Rate

Rate Oct 2013

Per cent Increase

Adults aged 21 and above (12p increase)

£6.19

£6.31

1.9

18–20-year-olds (5p increase)

£4.98

£5.03

1.0

16-year-olds above school leaving age and 17-year-olds (4p increase)

£3.68

£3.72

1.0

Apprentices under the age of 19 and older apprentices in the first year of apprenticeship (other apprentices are eligible for the relevant age-based rate of the NMW) (3p increase)

£2.65

£2.68

1.0

Simon Ledingham/Rex Features/iStock x 2

The collapse of the Rana Plaza factory in Bangladesh was a catastrophe that showed the dangerous conditions endured by the people who produce so much of our clothing in the UK. But change is on the way: more than 30 major retailers have signed a GMB-backed accord on fire and building safety in Bangladesh, including H&M, John Lewis and Primark.

However, a number of UK high street brands still haven't signed.

Prominent among these are

National Minimum Wage goes up – but too slowly!

SIGN up for the GMB eNEWSletter AT www.gmb.org.uk

regional

universal Credit guide How the new benefit system could make life harder for you and your family BECOME A GM HealthB safety & rep www

DWINNER BENEFIT BREA just one to id pa UC will be mily. person in the fa

.gmb.or g.uk

What is Universal Credit (UC)?

It is a new single ‘benefit’ payment. It is for people who are unemployed or working but on a low income. It will affect about 19 million people.

How will it be paid to claimants?

It will be paid every month into a bank account, just like a monthly salary. Housing benefits will also go direct to the claimant, not to the landlord.

When will it be launched?

There are different dates when it will come into effect, depending on whether you are a new or existing claimant: • From April 2013 – certain areas of the north-west of England.

• From October 2013 – A national launch across the rest of the country.

New claimants will make UC claims from October 2013, while existing benefits and credits are phased out. From April 2014 all new claims will be for UC. Existing claimants will move onto UC with a phased

approach, which will be completed by the end of 2017.

How do claimants apply?

Most people will apply online and manage their claim through an online account. Only those with ‘special needs’ will be able to make a claim in person.

What are the benefits of UC? • It simplifies the numerous benefits such as jobseeker’s allowance and housing benefit. Instead of going to the local council to claim housing benefit and then to the jobcentre for jobseeker’s allowance, a claimant will make one claim for UC. • People on a low income who may move in and out of work will get on-going support.

• There will be a single rate at which claimants will lose benefit if they earn some money.

Does GMB have concerns?

•T here will be losers, such as those relying on child-care subsidies.

•M onthly payments may force low income and vulnerable families into debt.

• People who don’t have access to the internet will ?

KET POC OUT OF find it difficult to apply and UC could leave people claim UC. living on less.

• I t relies on a massive IT project working properly from day one.

• Crisis loans might become a thing of the past as local authorities don’t have systems for allocation and the money has already been reduced.

• Couples and families can only claim in one name. Evidence shows that when men are responsible for making claims, some women and children do not get the welfare support they need – and are entitled to.

What other changes are coming in?

• The national system of Council Tax Benefit will be abolished from April 2013.

• Disability Living Allowance from age 16 to state pension age will be replaced by Personal Independence Payments.

• Child Benefit became means-tested in January 2013.

• Pension Credit will be amended from October 2014 to include help with eligible rent and dependent children.

Find out more ation For more detailed inform about UC please contact GMB Birmingham & West Midlands Regional office on 0121 550 4888

www.gmb-westmids.org.uk 29

regional

UPDATE

Updat your GMe Prof B www.gmb ile .org

from GMB All the news

.uk

£1,

on the nose

GMB members raise cash for Red Nose Day

S

taff and officers at the Birmingham & West Midlands region embarked on numerous events, including a Pyjamas Day, to raise money for Comic Relief. These included a baby photo competition, selling homemade cakes and a raffle – but by far the hardest task was to cycle 300 miles on an exercise bike. That’s the equivalent of from Halesowen Regional Office to the National Administration Unit in Glasgow. Tremendous effort was put in by all who took part, and the region managed to raise £1,000, including donations from branches.

ALL DRESSED UP GMB members have fun and raise money for Comic Relief.

Conference callers GMB Security reps from across the region came to the Tewksbury conference.

Stuart Richards tackles Neolithic race

Safe and

sound

GMB Tewksbury hosts Annual Securty Reps Conference The Annual Security Reps Conference took place in Tewksbury on 2 May. Bert Hill, GMB senior organiser, opened the conference and Kevin Clark, GMB lead security officer for the region, ran the proceedings.

30 www.gmb-westmids.org.uk

Delegates were given up to date information on changes in the law and how to claim assistance from GMB’s solicitors, Thompsons. GMB organising officer Rebecca Mitchell also gave a briefing on GMB@Work.

Stuart Richards, GMB organiser for the Birmingham & West Midlands region, took up a challenge to raise money for charity. Stuart took part in the Neolithic Marathon between Avebury and Stonehenge, raising over £165 for Wiltshire Wildlife Trust.

The good news is that he did it, completing the course in four hours and 13 minutes, finishing in 65th place (out of the 239 who finished). After taking a couple of days to recover, it looks like Stuart is still in one piece (apart from a few blisters, a bit of sunburn and a strange 'duck-like' walk).

If you would like to donate to the charity, please contact Stuart at the Tamworth office on 01827 66001.

RUNNING MAN Stuart Richards came in 65th out of 239 marathon runners.

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WIN!

50 pairs of tickets to the NEC’s Festive Gift Fair up for grabs!

Half the fun of Christmas is finding unusual and affordable presents. That’s where this fabulous Festive Gift Fair comes in! Running from 21–24 November at the NEC, you’ll find 325 stalls filled with everything you can possibly think of for the festive season!

GMB Birmingham and West Midlands has 50 pairs of tickets to give away. All you

need to do is contact Samantha Jones on 0121 550 4888 or by email (samantha. jones@gmb.org.uk) with your membership number and address*.

We look forward to seeing you there!

POLISH LUNCH Polish picnic is a winner!

GMB Birmingham & West Midlands region attended a picnic hosted by the Polish Expats Association. The family picnic was organised to get the Polish Community together and enjoy some workshops, arts and crafts, face painting and music while offering free employment advice to parents with the opportunity to meet local councillors.

Noticeboard ● KEEP YOUR MEMBERSHIP If your employment circumstances change, please let us know. If you are paying by Direct Debit, most updates can be completed in one free phone call to 0121 550 4888.

● UNEMPLOYED, ON SICK LEAVE OR MATERNITY LEAVE? We offer a reduced rate of just 22p per month if you become unemployed or if you are on sick or maternity leave with

reduced pay. To be eligible, all we ask that you have paid 12 months’ continuous contributions at a standard rate.

● RETIRING? Upon retirement, if you have been a member for at least five years, we can offer you a Retired Life Membership Scheme which requires a one-off payment of £25. This lets you go on using the benefits and services that membership provides. If you need to update your details or are unsure of the rate you should be

paying, contact us free on 0800 731 7017.

● GMB RATES Grade 1 – full-time (working 20+ hrs/wk) £2.75 per week or £11.92 per month, effective from 1 October 2013.

Grade 2 – part-time (working 10-20 hrs/wk) £1.60 per week or £6.94 per month, effective from 1 October 2013.

Non-working student £1 per month, effective from 1 July 2013.

Apprentice rate £2 per month, effective from 1 July 2013.

GMB

ND WEST birmingham A ION MIDLANDS REG

Contact If you have a problem at work and need advice, in the first instance speak to your GMB workplace organiser. Alternatively, contact your local GMB office.

GMB Regional Office Will Thorne House, 2 Birmingham Road, Halesowen B63 3HP T: 0121 550 4888 F: 0121 550 4272 E: westmids@gmb.org.uk

GMB STAFFORD Office Suite 2, Ground Floor, Mill Court, Mill Street, Stafford ST16 2AJ T: 01785 255 978 F: 01785 255 975

GMB TAMWORTH Office Ventura House, Ventura Park Road, Tamworth B78 3HL T: 01827 66001 F: 01827 312 792

GMB TEWKESBURY Office Ground Floor, Unit C1, The Courtyard, Severn Drive, Tewkesbury GL20 8GD T: 01684 290 650 F: 01684 290 651

GMB CONTACTS Equality Rebecca Mitchell Legal Andrea Austin Membership development David Day Political officer Stephanie Peacock

GMB regional website www.gmb-westmids.org.uk

search for GMB West Midlands @GMBWestMidlands

*Winners will be picked at random after the closing date of 16 September.

www.gmb-westmids.org.uk 31

Get up to

£100

** OExfclusive fe ends r 31 July!

l il b s a g h is it r b r OFF you

B Steward Monica Griffiths, GM etering section at British Gas’s Smart M : “We all need endorses the deal, saying ese difficult help with fuel costs in th e of this offer times so take advantag d. If you’re not that GMB has negotiate GMB you don’t get it.”

British Gas enginee rs Andy Glenn, GMB senior steward, North of England; John Daly, GM B senior steward, North West; and Phil Be eston, GMB senior steward, Wales & West sa y: “Sign up for your exclusive GMB deal with British Gas and we will deliver it.”

credit.

GMB members who are already British Gas customers can claim £35* y tariff Choose either British Gas’ Clear & Simple or Price Promise July 2014 energ **! before 31 July and you’ll receive a further £65* credit: a saving of £100

Don’t miss out! Sign up now. Go to:

www.britishgasgmbmemberoffer.co.uk GMB credit offer *Not available in conjunction with the BG employee discount scheme or for existing customers on an Online variable tariff **Only available with Clear & Simple or Price Promise July 2014 tariffs Energy offers end on 31 July. The amounts include VAT at 5%. Only one offer per household customer. Subject to status. Excludes Pay As You Go Energy™ customers. Limited availability. £100 offer: For eligible, new customers taking gas through a credit meter. You must take both your gas and electricity with British Gas and remain a customer for both fuels on our Clear & Simple or Price Promise July 2014 tariff at point of credit.

The £100 offer will be shown as two £50 credits on your gas bill, the first within 3 months of your Supply Start Date and the second on your first bill issued after 12 months. The £100 credit offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offers. £35 offer: You must remain a British Gas customer for gas or electricity at point of credit. The £35 credit will show on your gas or electricity bill issued 3 months after you sign up to the offer. The £35 credit offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offers.

Your GMB

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