Northern Star summer 2013

The magazine for GMB members

Star Northern

www.gmb.org.uk | Summer 2013

Rising star Youn

g member elected councillor

Making Waves

Plymouth welcomes GMB Congress 2013!

WIN a Toyota Aygo See p15 worth ÂŁ9,000

In this issue…

Billy Coates GMB Northern y Regional Secretar

The National Equalities Conference Page 25

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

Regional

National

4 All the young dudes

9 Congress

GMB young member Katie Corrigan is elected councillor in County Durham

5 Tax dodgers

The parties refusing to tackle tax evasion

6 Political update

Chris Jukes on why UKIP is not the answer

7 True villain

Chancellor George Osborne blocks the Robin Hood Tax

8 Congress

Our region’s report from Plymouth

25 All’s fair

In-depth report from GMB’s National Equalities Conference

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

26 Strike success

19 Free our pubs

29 Asbestos support

22 Selling services

31 Join us!

24 Members’ statement

Carers won’t pay for council mistakes

How to get help if you’ve been affected

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 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

We have challenging times ahead It is with a great humility that I have taken on the role as the new Regional Secretary of the GMB Northern Region.

I have worked for the GMB Northern Region for 16 years in several roles and was a Lay Activist for a further 22 years. I am passionately committed to our members, their families and our communities.

It would be remiss of me if I did not place on record what a huge privilege it is to take over as the Northern Regional Secretary from Tom Brennan. When Tom became Regional Secretary GMB was in a state of flux. With Tom’s passion for the cause, the GMB Northern Region has withstood everything that has been thrown at it. Indeed we still have an effective GMB Northern Region and that is Tom’s legacy. He has earned a long, healthy and happy retirement.

We have challenging times ahead for GMB. We must stand together in our collective aims, with strength to grow our Region, not to manage decline. That is our mission as we go forward, that is how I want us to develop in terms of recruitment and organising.

We have a government that is hell-bent on attacking trade unions. They will stop at nothing as they seek to attack what they regard as their enemy. UKIP are even worse.

So we must re-double our efforts, both industrially and politically, to embed our GMB@Work ethic. If we do that we can make even further progress.

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 Northern Star magazine?

Please contact Steve Hulbert on 01225 442 244 (ex 5205) Accepting of advertising and inserts 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.

TAKING THE REINS Billy Coates takes over from Tom Brennan as Regional Secretary. www.gmb.org.uk 03

l a n o i g e r

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GMB m o r f s w e n All the

Councillor

e i t a k

G

MB young member Katie Corrigan is just 21, but she has already taken the first steps in her political career. Katie is an active member of the Labour Party and GMB, and she has recently been elected as Councillor for Durham. This makes her the youngest female Councillor in County Durham.

She was elected in the Belmont division earlier this year in local elections that saw Labour retain control of the local council.

04 www.gmb.org.uk

And Councillor Katie has big plans for the future. “I am a passionate believer in the role GMB has to play in the future of young people in society,” she says, explaining how trade unions can help to engage young people politically. “I understanding the importance, impact and influence trade unions have on the engagement of younger people. The

Pounding THE pavement Earlier this year, Katie went door to door in Chester-le-Street. support received from GMB during my election has been incredible. I encourage not only all young members but all trade unionists to take up a more active and influential role within GMB.” If you would like to become active in GMB Young Members Group, see the box to the right for more details.

iStock

GMB young member Katie Corrigan is elected Councillor

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Labour of love Katie campaigns for Labour in Middlesborough.

belmont win Katie was elected in Belmont division.

Vote of confidence Katie and her colleagues show pride in Peterlee.

calling all young members

GMB has a dedicated Young Members Group to help members like Katie e get active and to make sure the voic ss acro rd hea is kers wor ng you of the country. With regular meetings, training courses, advice and support for young workers, the group is e expanding and hopes to bring mor young members into the fold in the coming months.

For more information about the GMB Young Members Group in the Northern Region, contact your local branch or email the Regional Young Members Officer at: dayne.weir@gmb.org.uk

evasive measures UKIP and the Tories refuse to stand up to tax avoiders

GMB is regularly horrified by the attitudes the UK Independence Party (UKIP) and other UK parties, and recently their opinions on handling tax evasion shows their disregard for ordinary people .

“One of the biggest scourges at the moment is the use of tax evasion and tax avoidance,” said GMB Political Officer Chris Jukes. “It is interesting that UK parties are refusing to back action against those who evade, or seek to aggressively avoid, paying their fair share of taxes – and in the process deprive the taxpayer of vital funds to fund services.

“Once again there is one rule for the silent majority, those on Pay As You Earn (PAYE), plus those self-employed people who pay their fair share, and the very rich and powerful who seek to take all and pay little in return.”

The Tories and UKIP MEPs refuse to back action on tax evasion. Tory MEPs failed to support the demands for greater transparency that David Cameron called for at the European Council. Tory MEPs abstained on the demand that companies declare their tax paid in each country they operate in, and refused to support the progress made in greater transparency through country-by-country reporting.

Meanwhile, UKIP and British National Party (BNP) MEPs voted against every measure to tackle tax avoidance, evasion and fraud highlighted by MEPs, including the obligation for companies to publish the tax they pay and the call for companies that breach EU tax standards to be banned from receiving EU funding.

In a newspaper interview, UKIP’s economic spokesperson, Godfrey Bloom MEP, boasted that he was an ‘expert’ on tax avoidance: “I spent 35 years in the City showing people how to invest money in trust funds and offshore funds in order to diminish – quite legitimately and legally – their tax.”

Bloom also said he hopes thousands of public sector workers lose their jobs. UKIP and Lib Dem MEPs also voted against keeping World Cup matches on free TV channels. “UKIP wants to sack public sector workers and heap misery on their families and local communities,” said Chris Jukes. “UKIP and the Lib Dems want to keep those who can’t afford expensive subscriptions from watching important world-wide events.”

With this is mind, it’s important not to be taken in by UKIP. Chris concluded: “The things that they do are often different from the message they seek to give.”

“UKIP wants to sack public sector workers”

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from GMB All the news

! e t a d Up

l a ic t poli

ukes J s i r h C r e ical Offic al landscape t i l o P B GM politc e h t s e s s asse

W

hile UKIP stole the headlines in May’s local elections, it was Labour who took the power.

In Cumbria Labour achieved 35 seats – more than the Lib Dems or Tories. It did the same in Northumberland and retained control in Durham with a massive majority. In North Tyneside’s Mayoral election GMB members celebrated a great result as Labour’s Norma Redfearn took 55 per cent of the vote, ousting the discredited Tory Mayor, Linda Arkley.

The South Shields Parliamentary ByElection also saw Labour candidate and social worker Emma Lewell-Buck take on the seat vacated by David Miliband. Emma is a GMB member and GMB is thrilled by her victory.

Looking abroad, the Euro selection process is under way and there is a Labour short-list of four candidates who are GMB members. Three of them will form the Labour list of candidates.

from Public Sector PFI contracts. This is another scourge of the last 20 years, effectively mortgaging our kids’ and grandkids’ future for the present.

Meanwhile there are those who are trying to repatriate powers back from the EU who want to Emma Lewell-buck abolish the minimum for The new Labour MP wage, cut employment lds.

Shie th Sou and health and safety regulations, allow tax havens and reduce the tax paid by those at the top. That is the UKIP medicine and it is a return to the bad old days of employers paying £1 an hour so that they could keep their money offshore. And who subsidises that? Yes, you’ve guessed it, you and I by the state topping up low wages by a makers have failed to keep pace with the variety of fincome supplements. way goods and services are traded.

The UKIP way is a race to the bottom of low We now have many industries wages, high earners and taxes not paid by as operating in rigged markets, many tax evaders as possible while low where the taxpayer is getting earners continue to pay their share into the a raw deal because there tax pot and subsidise these rogue traders are just a few companies and individuals. and they can operate in For more on politics, see page 12. a cartel environment.

From banks to supermarkets, cartels are the new scourge and our members are desperately crying out for politicians who can tackle it. ally If you want to get politc Meanwhile, GMB is u yo w ho t ou active, find Ukip’s nigel Farage continuing its campaign can get involved at UKIP stole the against blacklisting. headlines in May. www.gmb.org.uk Companies like Carillion who earn hundreds of millions of pounds moving so that some growth can return, tax revenues increase and the deficit effectively tackled.

And talking of tax revenues, we are living through the new age of capitalism. The Big Bang in the 1980s set the agenda for a new range of deregulation, privatisation and in theory increase in competition.

Subsequently regulators and law

“The UKIP way is a

While the elections are encouraging for the future, the current picture with the cuts is becoming worse.

People say that this is the fault of the last government, but the Coalition is presiding over a bigger deficit than they inherited because they are just about cuts. They are not doing anything to get the economy 06 www.gmb.org.uk

Get involved

Rex Features x 5

cuts battle

race to the bottom”

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

regional

BECOME A GM HealthB safety & rep www .gmb.or g.uk

m o r f g n Taki

GEORGE OSBORNE A modern-day Sheriff of Nottingham?

r o o p e th

The Robin Hood Tax campaign is scuppered by the Chancellor

C

ed hancellor George Osborne has play in Rob the to am ingh Nott of iff Sher the Hood Tax Campaign by blocking EU countries from adopting the tax. The reds of GMB campaign, which was backed by hund on big tax tiny a duce intro to d members, aime ld generate wou that ions sact tran stry indu banking the pressure on cash for the government, relieving them to make cuts. had pledged By early 2013, 11 countries in Europe e mak the banks to introduce Robin Hood Taxes to George bly, pay their fair share. But unbelieva le and ptab acce ’t wasn Osborne decided this e other thes k bloc to e leng chal l mounted a lega tax. this ng European countries from introduci tely set edia imm n The Robin Hood Tax campaig rs and orte supp n paig cam up a petition system for d by hear ngs feeli their e mak to ic the general publ May midin But Mr Osborne and thousands did so. that over disc the campaign was outraged to 0 of the Osborne had blocked more than 12,50 heard. g bein from ic publ the emails, blocking Tory the little how , ectly perf s show This general public government cares about what the repeatedly has who r feel. The same Chancello to suit where et budg his ’ nded ‘ame u-turned and

predictions the figures are going rather than his

by Ed well so Put e. being right in the first plac et, when budg 2013 the to onse resp Miliband in his e and hous this he said: “Every budget he comes to try. coun the things are worse not better for year, Growth last year, down. Growth this s Doe n.” dow , year next down. Growth ng? feeli ing sink that get else anybody This is the same Chancellor that presided over the top rate tax cut, something that sees the rich get richer, with someone earning £1m receiving an extra £42,500 (double the average wage). How long did these top earners have to wait to benefit from this change? Just two weeks. While thousands of struggling families were told they . would have to wait two years for help ent rnm gove of kind the y reall Is this this country wants to be in power? ils As far as Osborne’s blocking of ema will he d, erne conc is ion and public opin d Tax still receive them, as the Robin Hoo deliver Campaign group have vowed to hand . them of each and every last one

WE NEED A HERO Could Ed Miliband be the UK’s Robin Hood?

www.gmb.org.uk 07

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from GMB All the news

Ship shape

in Plymouth Northern region members head to Plymouth for GMB Congress

T

his year’s GMB Congress in Plymouth ric was historic and momentous. Histo ive, pect pers n regio hern Nort a from as we witnessed Tom Brennan’s last welcomed Congress as Regional Secretary and CEC as the by rsed endo Billy Coates as he was entous mom was It y. etar Secr onal the new Regi were rts because two major CEC special repo branches’ brought before Congress: one on GMB GMB the on r othe the A Future That Works; rts have the women’s project. Both of these repo to reflect its potential to enable GMB to evolve the UK. ss acro membership in workplaces delegation n’s regio hern Nort Once again GMB e than 40 Mor f. itsel of unt acco class gave a first delivered speakers went to the rostrum and delegates had our of y marvellous speeches. Man audience big a such with not spoken in a hall d. prou us did they before, but All of our speakers were outstanding. hes As usual, Regional President Billy Hug her anot yet with n dow e brought the hous ices. serv ic publ on time this er, storm barn t Mary Billy’s rapport with National Presiden was ngs) eedi proc Turner (chairing the

SHORE THING Delegates get involved with Congress at the seaside.

08 www.gmb.org.uk

congress absolutely priceless. For videos of n, go to and the Northern region delegatio www.gmb.public-i.tv by the Nearly 30 motions were presented from ing rang ects subj on n regio Northern the industrial issues, public services and issues, nal natio inter ent, economy to employm ing. klist blac and gy ener g, manufacturin ugh Margaret Aspinall from the Hillsboro of the unt acco Support Group gave a moving edy and trag the e sinc e work that has taken plac p spoke Grou ort Supp klist Blac the Dave Smith of ing. klist with passion on the scourge of blac ham, the Congress also heard from Andy Burn it was and lth, Hea for State Shadow Secretary of also We re. futu the for s plan his great to hear South Shields, heard from the new Labour MP for member and GMB a Emma Lewell-Buck. Emma is of our one that e prid of e there was a real sens nt. ame Parli to it e own has mad not least, Congress was a big success. Last but outh Plym e mad the weather was fantastic and to ard forw look We be. a wonderful place to time welcoming a similar number of first.

2014 in am ingh Nott to s gate dele

congress 2013

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l na O I T NA

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E T A D P U

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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

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

1 Download the Layar app for iPhone and Android devices.

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3 Watch as it comes to life on your screen.

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

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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

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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

regional

UPDATE from GMB All the news

CONFERENCE ROLL CALL! Back row Carl Lewthwaite, Alan Forster and Neil Collinson.

Front row Christine Weir (Equality Officer and Regional Education Officer), Jan Jepson, Fran Whitaker, Mike Carr and Jacqui Robinson.

equal

measures Christine Weir, Regional Equality Officer, reports from GMB’s National Equality Conference

G

MB members from the Regional Equality Forum (REF) attended the National Equality Conference in Leeds on 4–5 March 2013.

The Northern Region submitted two motions at the event. The Arab Spring motion was to highlight the citizens of those countries in the Middle East who are working hard campaigning to overthrow dictatorship and their suppressing regimes and replace them with democratically elected governments. GMB recognises that women play an important part in this process, and we should be advancing equality for women around the world.

The second motion was Benefit Cuts.

Although GMB has carried out some excellent work regarding the cuts, we wanted to emphasise and be mindful that cuts in benefits impact disproportionately on women, disabled workers and other minority groups.

The REF plays an essential role in GMB Northern Region to promote our equality policies, aims and values, so it is pleasing to see a rise in the number of REF members, enabling us to to promote equality on a wider scale.

Meetings have taken place with members from LGBT groups and young members. We

“The REF plays an essential role in GMB Northern region”

Upda your GtMe ProfileB www.g mb.or

g.uk aim to strengthen this link so updates can be made available to all.

The last few months have seen a range of engagements with our GMB Northern Group of Labour MP contacts and a wide variety of activities have taken place.

Our retired members’ meeting welcomed Bridget Phillipson, MP for Houghton and Sunderland South.

volved get in ormation on how

For more inf ase you can join the REF, ple by ir, We e contact Christin emailing christine.weir @gmb.org.uk

www.gmb.org.uk 25

regional

UPDATE

from GMB All the news

Strike threat

RETIRE FROM WORK NOT G www.gmb MB .org .uk

brings success Northumberland County Council backs down in wage dispute

C

arers across Northumberland won’t have to pay back money accidentally paid to them after the council made a mistake on their contracts. The news comes as a huge relief to the 26 part-time careworkers in the west of the country, all women who work with elderly, disabled and post-surgery patients.

Back in March the GMB members were told that they had been overpaid for two years, even though they were being paid in accordance with their contracts of employment, as a shift payment had been

incorrectly calculated. The alleged overpayments averaged between £2,000 and £4,000, with some being as high as £12,000.

The part-time staff were advised that they would have to repay the monies in installments that, for some, would have been calculated at up to £360 per month.

The GMB members refused to accept the Council’s assertions that it was an overpayment and gave the branch a mandate to ballot the members for strike action.

After a meeting with GMB and other unions, the council issued a statement that said: “We

CARING FOR THE CARERS GMB has protected the pay of Care Workers at the Council. have had a meeting with the trade unions today and have agreed a mutually acceptable resolution to this dispute. We will be contacting staff to advise them.”

The council backed down with their threat to make the deductions and our members did not have to repay any money.

This victory shows the power of GMB. Keven Crosby, GMB Branch Secretary, said: “It shows the benefit of not accepting an injustice and sticking together to take industrial action to defend terms and conditions of employment.”

back to work - and better off!

In last winter’s issue of Northern Star we reported how GMB fought for the jobs of six members caught in the crossfire when Northumberland Council and private company Vale Contract Services couldn’t agree who they worked for. When neither side would accept the men as employees GMB stepped in to get them back to work.

Now, following a legal challenge from GMB’s legal team, the men have not just won their jobs back but been awarded compensation for the fiasco.

Under the TUPE regulations, employers have to consult with recognised unions in good time before the transfer to ensure a smooth move from one employer to another. Because of the dispute, GMB’s 26 www.gmb.org.uk

Northumberland Branch believed that insufficient consultation had taken place too late before the date of transfer. They asked for Protective Award claims to be referred to Thompsons Solicitors.

Following the claims, GMB members will receive compensation for the failings in this matter. Mark Wilson, GMB Regional OffIcer, said: "We are happy to conclude all matters in this case. It goes to show that large organisations can sometimes get their legal obligations wrong. We would have preferred to have appropriate consultation in good time of the transfer. Compensation does not address the stress and upset our members went through. However, we hope that Northumberland Council will learn from this.”

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GMB wins compensation and jobs for members denied TUPE

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there’s no better time to be a

member

T

here has never been a better time to be a GMB member, as the government plans to make tribunals too expensive for workers to afford. On 29 July this year the Tory-led Coalition government will introduce a fee structure to the employment tribunal service.

But even when the fees are introduced, GMB members will not have to pay these tribunal fees.

The Tories want workers who have been treated badly by their employers to pay – in some cases more than £1,000 – just to have their case heard. With additional fees for appeals and mediation, legal costs for the mistreated or unfairly dismissed employees could rocket to thousands.

free gmb service* GMB members are entitled to an array of FREE legal services*.

GMB members pay their contributions to have the protection and representation that they need, when they need it most and the introduction of these fees will not change that, GMB won’t ask you for a penny more.

“GMB members pay their contributions to have the protection they need”

Protect your Friends You can help protect your friends and family now by encouraging them to join GMB. Call free on 0800 731 7017 (please have your Dir ect Debit details to hand) or tell them to join online at www.gmb.org.uk/join

You’re Better off with GMB • Members won’t have to fork out for expensive tribunal fees • Your membership subscription covers this FREE legal service* • Can you afford not to be a member? * GMB Legal Services are provided in accordance with rule. All members can download a copy of the GMB rulebook at www.gmb.org.uk www.gmb.org.uk 27

regional

UPDATE

from GMB All the news

Fight back

Trade unions make their presence felt in Limerick

I

n the last edition of Northern Star, we announced the signing of a voluntary recognition with the Roseberry Care Group and the joint working that both Roseberry and GMB are engaged in.

During the discussions with the company, Ron McNamara, Roseberry Group Chairman, had mentioned links with the wider trade union movement.

“Ron said that he had an industrial and trade union background,” said GMB Senior Organiser Chris Jukes, “but this just goes to show that everyone, no matter what side of the table we are on, has their story.” He added, “Some people automatically assume that all company directors are dispassionate and uncaring when it comes to workers’ rights and good terms and conditions of employment, but nothing could be further from the truth.”

Keeping things in the family, Ron’s brother Mike McNamara – President of the Limerick Council of Trade Unions – led an anti-austerity rally in Limerick, Ireland on 9 February, a march similar to the TUC March For The Alternative

that took place in London. Chris Jukes continued: “It demonstrates the immense shared difficulties, both in Ireland and in the UK, that we have had to endure by this age of austerity we are living through.”

The Council is launching a special edition of its publication The Bottom Dog on 4 May to start its Fight Back campaign. Also, in conjunction with the University of Limerick, GMB is starting a series of Worker Development and Educational lectures and a Political Activists course. For more information contact Chris Jukes by emailing chris. jukes@gmb.org.uk

VICTORY Mike McNamara, led an anti-austerity rally.

GMB Cares

HELP THE AGED GMB wants to win recognition in the care sector.

28 www.gmb.org.uk

After a turbulent year in the industry following the demise of Southern Cross, GMB is now recognised with some of the biggest providers in the care sector, albeit in an industry that is extremely fragile in terms of the wider funding picture.

However, it’s not all good news as several operators remain hostile to GMB and they are being litigated against for their failure to properly consult during the transfer from Southern Cross. Some of these operators are themselves in various stages of financial distress at the same time as operating contracts which are 75 per cent paid for by the taxpayer.

GMB Political Officer Chris Jukes, said: “We will be raising questions with GMB political colleagues in relation to those in the Private Social Care sector, formerly Southern Cross, who remain anti trade union and anti-GMB.”

Rex Features

GMB pushes for recognition in care sector

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asbestos illness?

Get the support you need... …with the Northern TUC Asbestos Support and Campaign Group

A

sbestos victims in the region are receiving much-needed support from a group backed by TUC Northern, trade unions and Macmillan Cancer Support. The Northern TUC Asbestos Support and Campaign Group, which GMB was instrumental in setting up, has helped asbestos victims and their families obtain over £1.03 million in industrial disability and care benefits from the Department of Work and Pensions since 2012. The group offers a comprehensive service, including benefits advice provided by two dedicated staff, with legal advice on compensation from trade union solicitors specialising in asbestos claims.

Among those who have benefited most from the support group’s free, professional

guidance are 97 people in the region recently diagnosed with mesothelioma.

With support from the group and specialist asbestos compensation lawyers at GMB solicitors Thompsons, the family of one member received more than £50,000 after he was diagnosed with lung cancer. The member from Walker in Newcastle had been exposed to asbestos at work.

A member who was diagnosed with mesothelioma in November 2012 contacted GMB for advice and immediately received help from the group to obtain his full entitlement to DWP benefits. Thompsons Solicitors then brought a successful compensation claim against the member’s employers to conclusion for more than £100,000 in less than three months.

Move to Direct Debit rg.uk .o www.gmb

The Trustees Board and management committee of the TUC support group is chaired by GMB Regional Organiser Michael Blench. As a former shipyard worker and ex-Swan Hunter convenor from Wallsend, Michael has known many workmates die from asbestos disease, including mesothelioma.

“I am well aware of the devastating impact asbestos disease has had on families across the region,” he said.

“Through developing the group’s links with trade unions, Macmillan, health professionals and expert legal firms, we are determined to make a real impact by providing first class services and support to victims of asbestos.

And to make our workplaces and communities safer by enforcing safeguards to prevent asbestos exposure.”

www.gmb.org.uk 29

regional

UPDATE

from GMB All the news

Sleepless in

injured ? ork at ww .uk .gmb.org ww

ashington

GMB members sleep rough for homeless charity

F

GMB

ION NORTHERN REG OUTDOOR TYPE GMB members slept rough for charity.

The event in Ashington has raised more than of £2,000 to date. Malcolm said: “I find the event an inspiration and fully intend to continue taking part every year – and would encourage anyone to join me.”

To find out about future events or to donate to this particular cause, contact Rob Cox, Chief Executive, Northumberland YMCA on 01670 857 167 or email rob. cox@northumberland.ymca.org.uk

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 0800 731 7017.

● 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

30 www.gmb.org.uk

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.

Grade 2 – part-time (working 10-20 hrs/wk) £1.60 per week or £6.94 per month.

Promotional rate* (working up to 10 hrs/wk) 90p per week or £3.90 per month. *Subject to rule.

Non-working student £1 per month.

Apprentice rate £2 per month

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

GMB CARLISLE Office Unit 6A, Clifford Court, Parkhouse Business Centre, Cooper Way, Carlisle CA3 0JG T: 01228 521 657 Email: carlisle@gmb.org.uk

GMB Middlesbrough Office 202-206 Linthorpe Road, Middlesbrough TS1 3QW T: 01642 241 751 F: 01642 253 920 Email: middlesbrough@gmb.org.uk

GMB sunderland Office Lynas House, Frederick Street, Sunderland SR1 1NA T: 0191 514 2634 F: 0191 510 0167 Email: sunderland@gmb.org.uk

GMB whitehaven Office 4 Scotch Street, Whitehaven, Cumbria CA28 7BJ T: 01946 672 45 F: 01946 635 12 Email: whitehaven@gmb.org.uk

GMB regional website www.gmbnorthern.org.uk

iStock

or the second year running GMB members from Northumberland County Council have braved the elements, sleeping rough in a car park to raise money and awareness for homeless children in the UK. The GMB members slept in a freezing Ashington car park for the night as part of the YMCA Sleepeasy event.

Sleeping only in cardboard boxes, the members endured temperatures of – 4˚C and damp, uncomfortable conditions for 12 hours. Of course, for the members there was a bacon sandwich and the prospect of a warm bath at the end of the ordeal – but GMB member Malcolm Tweddle, is all too aware that this is a world away from what homeless young people go through every night. He said: “The idea of having to do this on a nightly basis beggars belief and really does open your eyes to what these poor children have to endure.”

Protect a friend – tell them to join GMB

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

With the added costs involved in protecting your rights, can you and your colleagues afford not to be a GMB member?

Join online at www.gmb.org.uk/join over the phone on 0800 731 7017 or by completing the form below.

Please use block capitals and forward the completed form to: FREEPOST NAT4244, GMB Northern Region, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 1ZL FOR UNION USE ONLY Section

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www.gmb.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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