Nexus by Future Plus

The magazine for GMB members

Nexus www.gmb.org.uk | Winter 2012

WIN

king of the road GMBâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Dave is top driver!

an Apple iPhone! See page 10

gold star!

TUC celebrates our ! r e n r u T y r a M n w o y r e v Use your smartphone to bring this issue to life! See p9

Get elected to

l a n o i g e r council GMB Wales and South West regional council is an elected body that oversees the regional committee and meets twice a year to make decisions on the things that matter to members in the region. If you have been a GMB member for more than one year, you are entitled to stand for election to the council and influence the decisions that affect your fellow GMB members in the region. You can seek nomination by contacting your GMB branch (shown on your membership card). Nominations close on 28 February 2013. The newly elected regional council will take office on 15 April. For more information, contact your GMB regional office.

Advice in line with GMB rules 17F, 18.3, 19, and 20.

get ready for

3 1 0 2 ss e congr

making! n io is c e d B M G f o rt a ce to be p Don’t miss your chan is built on n will follow – but this t polices the unio ha w s de ci u’re not already de yo if ss re So . ng ar ye e th GMB Co of st branches over the re tings take place ee m ch an Br t. the hard work of GMB ar st to ch, now’s the time involved in your bran ake a difference. m to ce an ch u yo e ar regularly and

SAy HAVE YOUR

ss 2013... To attend GMB Congre by your branch You must be nominated B member for 53 weeks GM p -u id pa a en be ve You must ha t reach regional office us m ns io ot m ’s ch an Your br by 31 January 2013 outh, 2-6 June 2013 ym Pl in e ac pl s ke ta ss GMB Congre

• • •

02 www.gmb.org.uk

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

In this issue...

John Phillips etary GMB regional secr

Discover the secrets of the scammers Page 26

Regional

National

4 Who can you trust?

9 Get elected with GMB

NHS plans to scrap pay agreements

We’ll help you stand for office – and win!

5 Re-employ Remploy

12 TUC cracker!

Grant gives hope to sacked staff

Award for national president Mary Turner

6 No to postcode pay

13 Paul Kenny

A word from your general secretary

8 In the footsteps...

14 The heat is on

Member raises money on charity walk

Sign the petition for fairer energy policies

25 Caring for carers

15 Pensions for all!

GMB is there for care industry workers

How automatic enrolment will affect you

26 Scammers scandal

16 Paul Routledge

Don’t let your loved ones fall for mail cons

The Mirror man on the future of gas

28 Know your annuity

18 Better off with GMB

Get the facts before buying an annuity

Our annual report on GMB membership

29 Pay gap payout!

20 The best you can be

GMB closes pay gap in Pembrokeshire

GMB’s John Kane on living with Parkinson’s

30 Football focus

22 Watch your wages!

North Wales NHS branch backs local team

Beware the dangers of regional pay

31 Contact GMB

24 The Full Monti

Names and numbers you can call on

Front cover: Andrew Wiard/ Rex Features

Mary Turner gets a TUC gold badge Page 12

GMB regional editor Pamela Drake: 02920 491 260 Editorial director Stephen Pierce Editor Simon Hugo Art editor Johnny Goddard Contributors Jake Day-Williams, Victoria Ford, Jayne Nelson, Matthew Robinson Advertising manager Debbie Blackman Account managers David Parker, Lisa Dunham Production and procurement manager Matt Eglinton Production co-ordinator Katty Skardon Creative director Matthew Williams Design director Dylan Channon Director, Future Plus UK Jayne Caple Printed at St Ives Direct

GMB defeats EU threat to workers rights

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 Nexus magazine? Please contact Debbie Blackman on 01225 442 244 (ex 2243)

We will fight for public services My last column referred to the boundary changes that would see as many as 19,000 GMB members move to the new Wales and South West region. I am pleased to say this has now taken place, and would like to thank all the officers, staff and activists whose invaluable help made it possible. As ever, GMB has been campaigning on several fronts since last issue, including opposing the heinous Health and Social Care Bill, continuing to defend Remploy and – of course – achieving a satisfactory outcome to the LGPS dispute. Members can rest assured that GMB will always fight for quality public services, free from private sector interference. The region has also made significant progress with its equal pay settlement strategy, to the extent that negotiated outcomes have been achieved in several councils – and at compensation levels our members fully deserve after too many years of having to put up with pay inequality [for more, see p29]. GMB recently reviewed its relationship with the Labour party, central to which is our objective of exercising influence at all levels within the party. The region has now appointed Mike Payne as its political officer, who is already working with branches and activists to realise our key political objectives and policies. On a sadder note, this edition of Nexus will be the last edited by Pamela Drake, who is due to retire from GMB at the end of the year. Pam has been a fantastic servant to both GMB and the NUTGW before it, and I am sure that everyone will join me in wishing her every happiness in the future. These are busy and exciting times for the new region and, as always, I thank everyone for their contribution in making a real difference for members in their workplaces and communities.

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B M G m o r f s All the new

Who can you

? t s u tr

ON THE AGENDA Members at Derriford Hospital held a protest back in August.

NHS pay agreements p ra sc to s an pl et cr se s ht fig B GM get away pay NHS staff whatever they can nge, the national

eaked documents show that NHS trusts in the South West want to slash pay and tear up nationally negotiated terms and conditions. d by Among the options being considere m are ortiu cons pay nal the South West regio sick less ay, holid less s, hour er pay cuts, long ression prog pay ted -rela ance orm perf pay, ents. and reduced unsocial hours paym osals to prop e thes “GMB will not allow s Jeffery. Chri r nise orga GMB said go ahead,” d out rolle “If they do, they will doubtless be across the country,” NHS The pay consortium is a cartel of 20 000 £10, paid has h whic of trusts, each lay the of public money for consultants to e mov tic dras groundwork for a proposed 04 www.gmb.org.uk

away from Agenda for Cha l pay and agreement that established equa conditions across the UK. GMB The proposals will not only affect , but NHS the for tly direc work who members ate priv also those who are employed by o, which contract companies such as Serc ark for chm ben a as nge Cha use Agenda for s. ition cond pay and be “Agenda for Change took years to and rs loye emp , agreed nationally by GMB ry. Jeffe Mr said lth,” Hea of the Department pay ed agre has it ect, perf from far “Though protects scales and built-in progression, and pay. nal regio by ed against imbalances caus for gh enou good not is that “Apparently, and up it tear to t wan they so tors, these direc

inue with. And at the same time, they cont pay ting -bus tion infla es selv them rd to awa awards year-on-year.” s to GMB is fighting the consortium’s plan South the in s ition cond and pay cut members ests prot and s ting mee g nisin orga by West iford Derr at across the South West. Members 29 on est prot a ed stag Hospital in Plymouth held ch bran lth Hea outh Plym e August, whil a mass meeting on 3 October. GMB may now have to consider strike action, and was considering a ballot of members at Derriford Hospital as we went to press.

Driver of the

GMB member wins Asda accolade

regional

YEAR!

GMB member has been named Asda’s driver of the year. Dave Smith triumphed in a gruelling test against more than 50 HGV drivers from the supermarket’s depots across the UK. Dave has been based at Asda’s Chepstow depot since 2007 and, as a result of his win, will enjoy the use of a brand new Scania lorry for a year. In order to win, Dave had to navigate through cones, brake into a specified area, reverse into very narrow spaces and tackle questions on European and UK highways law! This is the second year in a row that a member of the Chepstow team has won driver of the year, after Steve Morgan triumphed in last year’s event. Well done to Dave and the Chepstow team!

KEEP ON TRUCKIN’! Driver Dave with his trainer and instructor, Trevor Harris.

RE-employ

X X X X X

remploy

Welsh government boost as coalition closes five factories

n stark contrast to the Westminster coalition, whose leaders were booed at this summer’s Paralympic Games, the Welsh Government has pledged £2.4 million to support disabled workers in the form of a grant for employers who hire former Remploy workers. Members at Remploy were dealt a savage blow in August as the coalition government closed five more Remploy factories in Wales. The factories closed their doors just days before the Paralympics began exposing the coalition’s two-faced attitude towards disability in modern Britain. “I have known most of these workers for many years,” said Mervyn Burnett, senior organiser for Remploy in the Wales and South West region. “To see them in tears on their final working day was devastating.” The five closures, in Swansea, Abertillery, Merthyr Tydfil, Aberdare and Wrexham,

mean the loss of more than 180 full-time jobs in areas that were already unemployment blackspots. Despite the support grant, which will run for at least four years, GMB fears that most of the sacked workers now risk being unemployed for the rest of their lives. “These spiteful closures will have serious repercussions for workers’ financial future and security,” said Mr Burnett. “Remploy was not just a job; it was an opportunity to be part of the local community and to contribute to the economy through national insurance contributions and taxes. “The fight is not over, and the campaign will go on to keep all the remaining Remploy factories open and viable.” Another five Remploy factories in the region face an uncertain future, and GMB is redoubling its efforts to save them. Join the campaign by signing the GMB petition at www.saveremployfactories.co.uk 5 www.gmb.org.uk 05

regional

UPDATE

£ 1 8 k o t O N y a S

from GMB All the news

postcode pay

£24k

egional pay in our region would have a “significant negative impact on the economy” according to a new study by the TUC. The damning report says that Chancellor George Osborne is entirely wrong to consider variable wages for people doing the same job in different parts of the country as a solution to Britain’s economic woes. The TUC study comes hot on the heels of strong opposition to regional pay from GMB members at this year’s annual Congress in Brighton. Delegates warned that regional profiling would mean dismantling hard-won national pay agreements, and send wages on a downward spiral, especially in Wales and the South West. Many pay agreements are in the public sector, which provides almost half the jobs in our region. NHS Trusts across the South West are already looking at regional pay (see page 4), and this can only drive a wedge between our region and the rest of the UK. GMB is fighting regional pay at every level and you can show your support by signing an e-petition that will be seen by the Department of Health. The ‘Say no to postcode pay” petition already has 20,000 signatures, and every new name counts. To add yours to the list, go to epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/36063 and contact your local GMB office if you would like to do more.

£21k

As one door closes...

MB has offered retraining to members at a North Devon door factory that is closing after 150 years. Leaderflush Shapland in Barnstaple announced its closure in March 2011 and is now in the final stages of shutdown, with a total loss of 250 jobs. The factory had previously relied on public sector contracts, providing doors for the NHS, schools and other public buildings, but government cuts to public services have 06 www.gmb.org.uk

resulted in slashed order numbers. The closure will affect a large and loyal GMB membership, and is expected to have a knock-on effect on the local economy. “This is sad news for Barnstaple and the surrounding area,” said GMB organiser Kevin Norman. “These loyal workers will be an asset to any new employer, and with retraining on offer from GMB, our members will have the best possible chance of finding new jobs in the near future.”

Rex Features/iStock

GMB offers retraining to redundant door makers in Devon

regional

UPDATE

from GMB All the news

following

in the

footsteps... Member raises money with charity walk

MB member Roger Slennett has raised more than £500 for the Macular Disease Society on a charity walk in remembrance of working class hero Dic Penderyn. Roger, who is health and safety representative for GMB’s South Wales Police Staff branch, walked 15 miles from Bridgend to Aberavon on Sunday 12 August, to the place where Wales’ first working class martyr was born and buried. Roger, who has been diagnosed with early symptoms of macular degeneration himself, was joined on the walk by a small but enthusiastic band of trade union members, each raising money for a different charity. Macular disease is the most common cause of visual impairment in the developed world, and affects around 250,000 people in the UK. It makes it difficult, if not impossible, to recognise faces, read, drive, or watch TV. Organisers hope the charity walk will become an annual event in the trade union calendar, raising money for good causes and commemorating the martyrdom of Dic Penderyn after the Merthyr Rising of 1831 (see panel). Roger and his fellow walkers all carried red flags on this year’s walk – a symbol of workers’ rights that many believe was raised for the first time during the events that led to Dic Penderyn’s death. Roger received generous donations from his branch and the region, and is still raising money for the Macular Disease Society. To make a donation or to find out more about macular disease, go to www.maculardisease.org or call Roger on 07528 002 879.

FLYING THE FLAG Roger pays his respects at Penderyn’s graveside.

MERTHYR MARTYR Who was Dic Penderyn?

Born Richard Lewis in Aberavon in 1808, Dic Penderyn was part of the 1831 Merthyr Rising, a violent workers’ rebellion sparked by cuts in labourers’ wages. In the aftermath, Penderyn was wrongly accused of stabbing 08 www.gmb.org.uk

one of the soldiers who had been sent to put down the rebellion. Despite a lack of evidence (the wounded solder could not identify him), he was hanged at Cardiff on 13 August 1831 and many

NOT FORGOTTEN A plaque commemorates Penderyn in Merthyr Tydfil. hundreds of people accompanied his coffin on its journey back to Aberavon. There, he was buried at St Mary’s Church, just a short distance from his birthplace.

l na O I NAT

E T A UPD

B M G m o r f s All the new

g n i o d b o j a t n a w u o If y

. . . y l r e prop GMB is helping its members get elected to public office – and you could be one of them!

don’t agree with that! Why didn’t Labour sort this out when they were than in power? I could do a better job this lot! ething How many times have you said som felt let bers mem like that recently? Many GMB now and ent, rnm gove down by the Labour we’re stuck with a cutters’ coalition literally no one voted for. There is still a lot of work to do to make sure the Labour party has real policies that help ordinary people and families. That’s why GMB members made a decision at Congress this year. If we want a Labour party that to we can really get behind, we need it. t abou g do somethin

pean Whether its local councils, the Euro hern Nort and s Wale on, Lond Parliament, the nts in iame parl the or ies, mbl Asse nd Irela to get Westminster and Scotland, we need into ce rien expe life people who have reale. renc diffe a e mak can they re positions whe councillors, as bers mem GMB e mor ns mea That MPs, assembly members and MSPs. t it You might not think you’ve got wha we but , me” like le peop for “not takes, that it’s , working nary ordi of s dred hun have dy alrea e. class GMB members in elected offic them gave and skills GMB developed their ing winn a run to ce iden conf and the insight difference a ing mak ’re they Now n. paig cam and for every day for their own communities ’s help GMB With UK. the ss GMB members acro ? next be you ldn’t shou why and support, e! mor out find to e pag the Turn

Rex Features x 2

Bring YOUR mag to life!

YOUR FACE HERE! election With GMB behind your ere wh ws kno o wh , campaign you might end up?

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

1 Download the Layar app for iPhone and Android devices.

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

3 Watch as it comes to life on your screen.

www.gmb.org.uk 09

national

from GMB All the news

GMB members are already MPs, SMPs, MEPs or AMs

ORD le MUM’S THE W sa has the peop Li um m ng ki Wor r! he nd gh behi of Peterborou

Name :

Lisa Forbes e parliamentary Labour’s prospectiv orough candidate for Peterb gh for has lived in Peterborou I’m a mum of four who ss cla ng an ordinary worki over 25 years. I’m from my d an rer s a manual labou background: my dad wa jobs, of ts sor NHS. I’ve done all mum was a carer in the t! en being a travel ag from potato picking to last Labour party after the the I got involved with my to ed en ember what happ election, because I rem le op Pe r. we Tories were in po family the last time the

here can’t afford for that to happen again. I know my family can’t – we’re already starting to feel the pinch. Thanks to the support of the trade unions – especially GMB – I was recently selected to be the prospective parliamentary candidate for Peterborough. GMB is serious about helping people like me get into parliament. They’re serious about supporting people with a genuine connection to the everyday lives of working people, and the support they gave me really showed that. If Labour is going to deliver policies that relate to the real lives of the people we seek to represent (and win elections at the same time), we need more GMB members to come forward to become party members, activists, councillors, MPs and elected representatives at all levels. It might seem daunting, but whether it’s going along to your first branch meeting or asking for advice on standing for council there is always someone on the end of the phone to ask for advice. When I moved to Peterborough 25 years ago, I never dreamed I would be standing to be the city’s MP. Now I am determined to beat the Tories and make sure that people have someone in Westminster who understands the impact of government policy on their everyday lives.

Get 50% off Labour party membership! Go to

www.gmb.org.uk

WIN an iphone 4s! Register online to enter

very elected official needs to stay in touch! That’s why, when you tell us that you want to stand for the Labour party, we’ll automatically enter you into a free prize draw to win an Apple iPhone 4S! The iPhone 4S is a super-fast phone, camera and music player, with email, internet and access to thousands of apps and games – all available to download. It also comes loaded with maps, HD video

recording capability and futuristic Siri voice-recognition software. To find out more about standing for election, and to be entered into the free prize draw, call GMB national political officer Hilary Perrin on 020 7391 6749, or email hilary.perrin@gmb.org.uk before Friday 14 December. When emailing, remember to include your name, address and your GMB membership number.

TERMS & CONDITIONS The winning entry will be drawn at random. Draw includes members who enter themselves into the draw by phone or email before close of business on Friday 14 December. The winner will be notified by GMB. Prize is subject to availability. No purchase necessary. This prize draw is only open to GMB members. Entries from employees of GMB will not be accepted. The winner must be prepared to participate in publicity arising from the competition. Winners’ names and photos may be published in future issues.

10 www.gmb.org.uk

Case study 1

100+

UPDATE

NATional

Join the GMB what to do councillors’ Want to become a Labour network candidate? Here’s what you need to do… 1

Join the Labour party at the discounted rate for GMB members at www.gmb.org.uk/ LabourPartyApplicationForm

Call GMB national political officer Hilary Perrin on 020 7391 6749, or email her at hilary.perrin@gmb.org.uk and tell her which seat you want to stand for.

Sign up for GMB’s I Want To Be Elected programme for all the help you need to be selected. Sign up at www.gmb.org.uk/ GMBLabourcandidatesnews

Case study 2

285

Get elected, then get online for full support from GMB

MB won’t desert you once you get elected! We’ve set up an exclusive network to offer you help and support in your role on the local council. GMB’s councillors’ network is a new online forum where GMB councillors can share experiences and best practice, ask for and offer advice, and set up realworld meetings with fellow members who have plenty of experience of council business. So, maybe you want advice on implementing the living wage for council workers? Log-on to the forum and ask Gary Doolan, GMB national political officer and councillor for the London borough of Islington, where the living wage is now official policy. This is the sort of difference that GMB can make, and with info and ideas flowing, we can make those differences nationwide! GMB has more than a quarter of a million members working in local government, with many more directly affected by the decisions their local councils make. So who better to turn to for help and advice? The network is completely confidential and exclusively for GMB members. To sign up, go to www.gmbcouncillorsnetwork.org.uk and enter your GMB membership number to get started.

GMB members are already Labour councillors

Name:

Clive Lewis Labour’s prospective parliamentary candidate for Norwich South I’ve lived in Norwich for more than 12 years and work locally at the BBC. I’m not from a professional political background, so running for Labour was daunting. It was certainly a bit different from the Afghan desert, where I served as an army reserve! From the coalition’s plans to close two-thirds of Remploy factories, to their nakedly political attack on the pensions of public sector workers, it’s obvious that the first priority is to get rid of this government. But I don’t think that’s enough in itself. Undoubtedly, the Labour party did many good things during our time in government, but we also got some very important things wrong and didn’t do enough in other areas. I’m not in politics for the career – I want to see real and lasting change for the many not the few. For me, getting a Labour government is just the first step.

ON THE FRONTLINE other GMB Army man Clive joined mploy demo. Re members on a recent GMB supported me throughout my selection and continues to support me now. I will be working closely with GMB to secure the change we need for people, families, communities and for soci ety as whole. If you live in Norwich and want to get invo lved, get in touch at clive@clivelewislabour.org.uk

www.gmb.org.uk 11

national

UPDATE

from GMB All the news

Over seas

AID

GMB and Maggie Hughes win change in EU law

golden girl Mary Turner honoured at TUC Congress

ongratulations to GMB national president Mary Turner, who was awarded the TUC Women’s Gold Badge at this year’s TUC Congress. Mary was presented with the award by TUC general secretary Brendan Barber and dedicated it to trade union members around the world. TUC Congress is the annual policymaking get-together of the Trades Union Congress, made up of GMB and other unions. This year’s event took place at the Brighton Centre from 9 to 12 September and was chaired by GMB general secretary Paul Kenny in his role as TUC president. Also flying the flag for GMB was CEC (central executive council) member Barbara Benham, who took the shadow chancellor Ed Balls to task during his address to delegates. 12 www.gmb.org.uk

GET HELP SAYING HELP!

“The last Labour government failed Want to know how to ask for help to regulate so many areas to protect abroad? Go to www.missingabroad.org for the interests of the British people,” a list of essential foreign phrases, plus she said. “Labour deregulated and lots more vital info for travellers. removed controls over pricing in areas Originally set up to help families like energy markets, failed to build of miss ing people, the GMB-backed char social housing, embraced PFI, and lost ity now offers practical support for anyo touch with millions of people by taking ne who has been affected by an acci their votes for granted.” dent or serious crime away from home. She went on to ask Mr Balls what he If you or your loved ones get into would do differently if he could turn trou ble abroad, call the Missing Abro back the clock. He replied immigration ad 24/7 helpline, which is part-funded and regulation of the banks. by GMB donations, on 020 7047 50 TUC Congress also paid tribute to 60 (or 44 20 7047 50 60 from overseas). outgoing GMB national secretary and TUC general purposes committee (GPC) member, Phil Davies, warmly congratulating him for all his hard COSTA LIVING work on behalf of Remploy and Don’t go away without wishing him well in his retirement. Missing Abroad’s details. Sharon Holder will now replace Phil on the GPC for Congress 2013.

Rex Features

TURNER PRIZE Mary Turner is the GMB national president.

GMB member Maggie Hughes has won a change in EU law with help from GMB. Victims of violent crime across Europe will now get better access to medical care and legal help, thanks to her campaign. Maggie’s own son Robbie was beaten and left for dead while he was on holiday in Crete in 2008. She did everything she could to support him in his hour of need, but didn’t speak the language and found there was nowhere she could turn for help and advice. With support from GMB Brussels officer, Kathleen Walker Shaw, Maggie has spent the last four years campaigning to make sure other victims and their families get better treatment than her and her son. The new laws will make sure all EU countries offer the same levels of advice and access to medical and judicial services. “I hope that no other family will now have to go through the agony, frustration and pain that we did to get support and justice for our son Robbie,” Maggie said. “I am delighted by the progress we have made on victims’ rights in the EU.” “However, the proof of the pudding is in the eating, and once these measures have been adopted, all member states need to work hard to implement them in their countries. This will turn the progress we have made into a practical reality on the ground. “I have been on a major journey with GMB, and I would like to thank everyone who has supported our campaign so far.”

Paul kenny

speaks

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

Protection from a mansion tax and £40k pay rises for the super-rich show whose side Osborne is on

ny suggestion that George Osborne doesn’t know how tough things are right now for his friends have been robustly put to flight by his decisive interventions to protect millionaires from the mansion tax and, of course, his £40,000 a year handout to the super-rich from next April. At a time when decent, hardworking families are facing pay freezes and cuts to working families tax credits threaten to finally shove hundreds of thousands into poverty, this Conservative government reverts to type and – with utter contempt – merely goes about lining the pockets of the rich and greedy.

IT’S NOT WORKING Pay freezes; cuts to our NHS, schools and services; and unemployment – particularly among the young – are the price the country is paying for Osborne’s obsession with an economic plan which even his own side are having to admit just isn’t working. In fact, the deficit is growing not shrinking – a direct result of more people out of work courtesy of Cameron and co, and the

subsequent downturn in spending created by year upon year of squeezed household budgets. Is it any surprise that the Olympic crowds, who cheered their hearts out at every event and for every competitor, ended up roundly booing George Osborne at a medal ceremony? Why, the pundits asked, did 80,000 people boo George Osborne? Answer: that’s all the stadium could hold!

TIME FOR CHANGE As the TUC march for the alternative showed, hundreds of thousands of people in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England are prepared to march and campaign for a change in economic strategy. Social and economic justice will not come about by doing nothing. Everyone knows that building more social housing will cut waiting lists, reduce emergency housing costs and help cut the £20 billion a year housing benefit bill, most of which ends up in the tax-free offshore back pockets of private landlords and property companies which feed off the council housing shortage.

Everyone knows that leaving a million young people without jobs or access to higher education is storing up a huge social problem for us all – as well as the pure waste of talent that mass youth unemployment brings.

ATTACKING RIGHTS Everyone knows that attacking the basic protection rights of working people leads to abuse, fear, bullying, stress and unfairness in the world of work. What’s more this spills over into family life. Everyone who relies on the NHS knows it is in danger of being sold off to profitmaking spivs in the name of progress. Just like the disasters of rail and water privatisations before, our NHS is in real danger of becoming a cash machine for private companies first, and a service to the public second. It seems that everybody knows these things except George Osborne and his millionaire mates. Well, when you have just been handed a £40,000 wage increase, life under Osborne and the Conservatives must seem a little more rosy than for the rest of us ‘plebs’. www.gmb.org.uk 13

national

UPDATE

from GMB All the news

ON THE UP Help stop rising prices with GMB.

he UK is facing an energy bill crisis. One in every four households can’t afford to heat their homes, and this is expected to rise to one in three by 2016. Cold homes damage the health of our most vulnerable citizens, including children, older people, those on low incomes and people with disabilities. The main reasons for the crisis are that gas, oil and coal prices are high, and the UK’s homes are some of the most energy inefficient in Europe – badly insulated and with old-fashioned boilers. This means they cost much more than they should to heat and power, and they contribute to climate change, too.

But there is a fair and permanent solution. We can have warm homes, reduce our fuel bills, and help the environment at the same time! The government currently taxes big companies on their carbon emissions, which are harmful to the environment. If the government used the money it gets from those taxes to fund an energy efficency drive across the UK, it would keep people warm while cutting their fuel bills, cut harmful carbon emissions and create jobs! Over the next 15 years, the government will raise an average of £4 billion every year in carbon taxes. The companies eventually pass these taxes on to consumers in the form of higher bills, so it

“GMB is calling for super-energy efficient homes.”

join the 14 www.gmb.org.uk

is only fair that the government recycles the revenue back into households by paying towards better insulation, modern boilers and renewable energy. GMB is part of the Energy Bill Revolution, a campaign calling on the government to do just this, making our homes super-energy efficient and driving down our energy bills forever. Hundreds of charities, consumer groups, businesses and politicians are already behind the campaign, but there is still more to do. By taking two minutes to go online and sign the petition, you can add your voice to this vital cause. You can also help by writing to your MP, and by sending the link to your family and friends. Together we can end the energy bill crisis forever. Join the revolution by signing the petition at www.energybillrevolution.org

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PENSIONS FOR ALL! New rules guarantee a workplace pension for millions of workers

s your boss ready for automatic enrolment? October saw the start of a new pension system which requires employers to include their workers in workplace pension schemes by 2017 at the latest – but many bosses still claim to be unaware of the changes. Known as automatic enrolment, the new system is the first time employers have been obliged to put their staff into pensions, and to make contributions towards them. It has been introduced to tackle a pensions crisis caused by very low state pensions combined with a lack of individual saving. Workers will be auto-enrolled if they are aged between 22 and the state pension age, and earn at least £8,105 a year. You also have the right to be enrolled if you are outside this age group but earn more than £5,564 a year. Workers have the right to opt out of the system, but they must not be pressured or encouraged to do so by their employer.

If this happens to you or anyone you know, tell your GMB workplace organiser and your local GMB office (see p31). The government has already written to employers explaining the new system, so bosses have no excuse for not knowing what to do. Many large employers have already started enrolling employees, and even the very smallest must do so by April 2017. Though GMB welcomes automatic

enrolment as a step in the right direction, the union is disappointed that the standard of pension scheme required by the new system is not very good. Currently, the minimum employer and employee contributions stand at just one per cent of pay, which is nowhere near enough to secure a decent income in retirement. However, it is a start, and GMB will continue to argue for higher employer contributions.

“Workers must not be pressured to opt out.”

dukes of hazard

iStock

GMB health and safety representative Dave Carter reports from the National Hazards Conference This year’s National Hazards Conference took place at the University of Keele, bringing together health and safety activists from around the UK. High on the agenda was the problem of asbestos, which remains a deadly danger after all these years. I was amazed to discover that the British Commonwealth is a major part of the problem, as Canada continues to mine and produce the fatal fibres with seemingly no regard to the dreadful implications. Meanwhile, in UK schools, government policy is not even to remove asbestos – simply to seal it off and make it ‘safe’. Yet that same government has approved £1.2 billion to remove all traces of asbestos from the Houses of Parliament! How much clearer could they be that they only care about themselves? Another major issue to emerge from the weekend was workplace stress. This has huge

financial implications for many companies, but more important is the cost to the health and wellbeing of affected workers. Stress levels are rising as budgets are falling, yet government responses have been atrocious at best.

executive stress Health and Safety Executive (HSE) budgets have been slashed by 35 per cent; many industries have been reclassified as low-risk; and vital inspections are no longer being carried out. So not only are workplaces suffering from HSE cuts – the flagship body of health and safety itself is becoming a hotbed of stressed and overworked employees! One of the highlights of the conference was a wonderful speech from Louise Adamson, a young woman whose brother was tragically killed while working as an electrician.

Louise has turned her bereavement into positive action, becoming involved with a group called FACK, or Families Against Corporate Killers, and her evocative speech lambasted big business for trying to shirk its responsibilities when it comes to deaths caused as a result of work, and she went on to receive a standing ovation. If the conference taught me anything, it’s that – no matter who you are or where you work – health and safety must be the paramount concern for all of us, all the time. This government simply doesn’t care, so we – as workers, managers, companies and GMB members – must look out for our colleagues, our loved ones and, of course, ourselves. Work safe. Go home safe. Dave Carter is a GMB health and safety rep at Harsco Metals in Scunthorpe. www.gmb.org.uk 15

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cooking with

ow many of you remember the catchy jingle “Cook, Cook, Cookability – That’s the Beauty of Gas!” that went out on TV as long ago as 1978? Written by award-winning Roger Greenaway – author of “I’d Like To Teach The World To Sing” and other hits - it was timed to coincide with the flow of North Sea gas into people’s homes. The ad ran for years, and even featured a very young Noel Edmonds bopping with teenagers in a kitchen. The industry was still publicly-owned in those days. How things have changed since! But the reality behind the slogan is as true now as it was then. Gas is still the cook’s friend, and a versatile fuel that remains the nation’s favourite for central heating. It doesn’t make sense to burn this vital primary energy source in power station

IT’S A GAS Noel was always warm in the 1970s.

16 www.gmb.org.uk

furnaces to produce electricity. But that’s precisely what the Coalition government threatens to do - up to and beyond 2030, probably in contravention of Labour’s 2008 Climate Change Act and certainly with greater risk of global warming. Gas is needed in the home and in industry to supply clean, efficient power, not the ovens of privatised power stations looking for a quick buck. However, ministers in what David Cameron once called “the greenest government ever” are trying to rat on their pledge to de-carbonise the electricity generation market. In particular, Chancellor George Osborne, under intense ideological pressure from anti-wind farm Right-wing Tory MPs, wants to get round policy commitments put into law by the Labour government. In private, he sneers at legal curbs on toxic emissions and panders to the gas lobby. As the union for energy workers, with 40,000 members working in the industry (and more than half a million members with gas in their homes), GMB takes a close interest in developments in this field. And recently, top scientists on the government’s Climate Change Committee intervened to undermine GMB’s case. They want to see gas phased out and be replaced by electricity for home heating and cooking. This reckless and extremist policy could lead to a four-fold increase in your energy bills if households are forced to use electricity to cook and heat their homes. Thousands more would have to be spent on new appliances. They wrote to Energy Secretary Ed Davey

FRIED ED The heat is on for energy secretary Ed Davey.

expressing “great concern” that the government plans to favour imported gas over nuclear generation and renewable forms of electricity generation. The Thatcher government’s “dash for gas” of the 1980’s is in danger of becoming a permanent feature of energy policy under Cameron’s Tory-led Coalition. But there are huge financial penalties in store for consumers, warns GMB’s national officer for energy and utilities, Gary Smith. “Our union has never been a supporter of burning gas to produce electricity,” he explained. “Even with the development of shale gas GMB do not think it is the best use of what is a finite resource. “We recognise that while gas-fired stations are easy to turn on to meet peak demand, the UK needs investment in low-carbon ways of producing electricity including nuclear. “The view that gas should not be burned to meet base load electricity is right.” GMB agrees with the scientists that

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Plans to phase out gas for home use will inflate your bills says Daily Mirror political correspondent Paul Routledge

of energy. A unit of electricity is about FOUR TIMES as expensive as the equivalent unit of gas. “Given the fact that around 80 per cent of British homes use gas for heating and cooking there is no way they will easily or cheaply move from gas to electricity. “Nobody in their right mind would suggest that people will have to fork out thousands of pounds to replace their gas boilers and gas cookers with electric units – and then have to endure a fourfold increase in fuel bills. “The experts need to face the fact that the suggestion of forced conversion to electricity is bonkers and will not be accepted by households.” Energy Secretary Davey – one of the Lib Dems in the Torydominated Cabinet – defends his policy with a weasel-worded statement, offering only “significant” de-carbonisation of the industry. No dates, no promises. One fifth of the nation’s power stations are due to close over the next decade, he HOB-NOB Chancellor George Osborne says, adding : “We have always said that this will isn’t out of the frying pan. include gas-fired plant which is quick to build and flexible. After 2030 we expect that gas will be increasingly used as back up…. but gas has an important role to play.” government ministers In plain English, the Coalition are sending out “mixed intends to keep as much gas-fired messages” about energy policy that will capacity for as long as possible, damage investment in low-carbon and certainly beyond the date technologies. There is already evidence of a when it should be phased out. That’s bad “very poor” investment climate in the industry. news for climate change and very possibly These new electricity generating methods for consumers. are needed to tackle long-term climate change. And Davey isn’t the But there is an even worst of them. more pressing Cameron’s demand to bring appointment of home to politicians hard-liner Owen the impact on Patterson to be families of switching Environment Secretary from gas to in his autumn Cabinet electricity for reshuffle is seen as a cooking and snub to the greenhome heating says tinged Lib Dems. A Gary Smith. dedicated opponent of “There is a need wind turbines, with the for a reality check by OLD FLAME ear of the Prime some of these experts Even tellies ran on Minister and the about the economics gas in those days.

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NO DEAL Even Noel couldn’t foresee the problems of modern energy policy. Chancellor, he’ll be hostile to GMB policy. But Gary Smith is clear that the union will continue to campaign for a rapid transition to nuclear and renewable power supply, to stave off the imposition of totally electricity-dependent cooking and heating. All this is a far cry from yesteryear’s “The Beauty of Gas” commercial. Adverts today stress the ease of switching from one supplier to another, rather than “cookability” or the versatility of gas. The industry is mired in an ideologicallydriven, profit-based dispute about the best way forward for consumers and energy generators alike. GMB stands four-square with households and the champions of climate change through conversion to low-carbon technology.

“This reckless policy will mean a four-fold rise in energy bills.” There is a role for gas in electricity production, Gary Smith agrees. But it has to be back-up, rather than supplying the base load. “We also have to think about carbon capture and storage for coal-fired generating stations, but the reality is that in the long term, electricity has to come from renewable sources, which in practice means nuclear.” Gary also criticised ministers and the energy companies for failing to spend the £1.3 billion already taken from customers to help insulate their homes and bring down bills for poorer people. “This is a scandal,” he added. “This is an obligation from government. We are all paying for this but the energy companies can’t find the people whose homes need insulating.” That’s the beauty of consistent energy policy. www.gmb.org.uk 17

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! l a i c i f of

you’re better off with GMB W orking people who are trade union members earn an average of 18.1 per cent more than those who aren’t. That’s a big increase on last year’s figure of 16.7 per cent, so it’s more worthwhile to join GMB now than ever before. It’s not just GMB saying this, either, but official figures from the annual labour force survey, published by the Office of National Statistics.

We’ll fight for your rights Collective agreements – how unions make a difference to your workplace

collective agreement is an understanding between employers, which regulates terms and conditions for all employees. These collective agreements affect your pay, working hours and duties and even have a bearing on the duties of your employer. They usually follow long bargaining sessions between unions and employers and this is a fundamental way in which

18 www.gmb.org.uk

GMB improves conditions in workplaces all over the UK. The trade union membership report 2011 shows just how important collective bargaining is. A whopping 73.2 per cent of members are covered by a collective agreement. Almost a third (31.2 per cent) of employees said their conditions were affected by collective agreement. In the private sector, collective agreements cover just 16.9 per cent of

The report shows that the hourly earnings of UK union members average £14.18, an impressive 18.1 per cent above the hourly rate for nonunion members, which comes in at just £12.01 an hour.

you’re in good

company Between Septe mber 2011 and Septem ber 2012, GMB mem bership grew by 1.6 per ce nt, making GMB on e of the fastest growing unions .

employees, while in the public sector they account for a much healthier 67.8 per cent of employees. The highest sector for collective agreements is public administration and defence, with 71.1 per cent, while the lowest rate is in accommodation and foodservice, which has just 4.6 per cent.

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Bring these pages to life!

gmb nation

We’ve got your number! Stats from the trade union membership report 2011 give us a detailed view of the UK’s union members. This information is helpful to GMB members, workplace organisers and officers for planning recruitment, supporting existing members, and recognising areas that need improvement.

+18.1%

£14.18

average hourly wage for union members

£12.01

average hourly wa ge for non-union members

amount that union members earn above nonunion members

of GMB members are women

2.5m 6.4m

48%

union members in the private sector

21.6%

of asian and british asian workers are union members

people in work who are union members

+£3.23

56.5%

hourly extra earned by women in unions over non-members

of public sector workers are trade union members

34.5% of people aged 50+ are union members

87.1%

of public sector workers have a union in their workplace

n. ireland

wales

scotland

England

33.6% 34.9% 29.8% 24.8% percentage of workers who are union members (by country) www.gmb.org.uk 19

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FLIGHT CREW John (far left) with his winning darts team.

the best you

can be! My life with Parkinson’s, by GMB Sellafield branch president, John Kane

champion, Phil ‘The Pow

20 www.gmb.org.uk

testing times I saw my GP, who arranged an appointment with a neurologist. I was also a keen runner, and my trainer could not explain why my right arm and leg suddenly lacked the speed and rotation I still had on my left side, so I was really starting to worry. But when the specialist put me through tests including nerve conduction, a lumbar puncture and an MRI scan, they all showed up nothing, so I carried on with my life. When I started dragging my right leg in 2007, I thought I might have suffered a stroke, with the worst of it masked by my youth and my general fitness (I was only just in my 50s). I went to see the doctor at Sellafield, where I worked, and he put me in touch with a Professor Bates in Newcastle. Within 20 seconds of meeting me, and after seeing me walk along the corridor, the professor told me he was 99 per cent certain I had Parkinson’s. He said the only way to be sure was with a DAT scan, which shows up a lack of dopamine

Rex Features x 2

first knew I had a problem in 2005. My social life had always revolved around darts and for 25 years I had played at the highest levels – captaining the Cumbria county team, winning national and international titles, even winning the old ITV game show Bullseye! But now, at a national team competition final in Blackpool, I found I was not the darts player my teammates had come to rely on. Together, we won the competition, but amid the celebrations that followed, I couldn’t shake off the feeling that something was wrong. There had been something up with my handeye coordination that I had never experienced before. Little did I know that in two WE’VE GOT THE POWER years I would never be able John with 15-times darts world to play darts again. er’ Taylor.

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SIGN up for the GMB eNEWSletter AT www.gmb.org.uk Bring these pages to life! – the chemical in the body that helps to control movement. My earlier doctors had not considered such a test because they simply aren’t looking out for Parkinson’s in anyone my age.

keeping active After the scan confirmed the professor’s diagnosis, I decided to give up the job I loved and do all the things I had planned to do when I eventually retired naturally. Parkinson’s isn’t fatal, but it is progressive, and worsening symptoms relating to lack of movement control and balance often lead people to become housebound – or the victims of tragic accidents. My wife and I always wanted to travel the world. Now I wanted us to do it together while we still could. I also decided to stay as active as I could in the wider community. I had many years experience with GMB, first as a shop steward and then as convenor, so I knew I could deal calmly and confidently with other people’s problems and concerns. In the same year I was diagnosed, I was elected as Labour councillor for Copeland. At first, I didn’t tell anyone about my Parkinson’s, but when I did, nobody treated me any differently, or expressed any doubts about my ability to do the job. I also got involved with the charity Parkinson’s UK, working hard to raise the profile of the condition, which most people know so very little about, and organising days out and other activities for people with Parkinson’s and their families.

compulsive behaviour – and for a while I became obsessed with gambling, keeping it secret from my family while my debts and my shame grew. I am on a different drug now, that suits me much better, but the experience has only spurred me on to spread the word. I’m lucky to have such a loving and understanding family (and a daughter who’s a nurse!), but many people with Parkinson’s risk becoming isolated and some even become suicidal. That’s where my work with Parkinson’s UK comes in. I go into care homes around the North West running awareness courses for staff who might not spot the signs of Parkinson’s, or might simply mistake them as the signs of old age. I talk about diagnosis, about the drugs, about the way the condition affects every individual differently. I share my own experiences, using humour and all the invaluable skills that I learned standing up and talking in front of people during 30 years representing members in GMB.

“The tests showed up nothing, so I carried on with my life”

side effects My work for Parkinson’s UK is what really motivates me now. I’ve had some very hard times since I was diagnosed – not just with the symptoms, but with the drugs I have been prescribed to control them. Among the many things people don’t know about Parkinson’s are the extreme sideeffects that the drugs can cause, including

you can help I have always believed in fighting for what’s right, whether as GMB steward, a Labour councillor or as a campaigner for Parkinson’s UK. In every job I have done, I have also believed in being the best you can be, and I get a great deal of satisfaction from knowing that I make a real difference. Last year I was elected chair of the West Cumbria branch of Parkinson’s UK and I am still GMB branch president at Sellafield. I’m 57 now, with two wonderful grown-up children, and my wife and I have just returned from trips to Borneo and Kuala Lumpur. So it’s not all doom and gloom! I have made it my ambition to raise the profile of this condition, because Parkinson’s is often forgotten when it comes to charity donations. Without money for research, a cure will never be found. If you want to help, go to www.parkinsons.org.uk and please give whatever you can.

The life and times of John Kane

1970s

• Started work at Sellafield and joined GMB on his first day.

• Became a shop steward while

working for BNFL in the Magnox reprocessing plant.

1980s

• Voted onto the Sellafield shop stewards committee.

• Elected GMB convenor at Sellafield. • Married Dot, now his wife of 30 years.

• Together they have two children, Laureen and Jenna.

1990s

• Lead the national campaign for

the licensing of THORP (Thermal oxide reprocessing plant). • Negotiated new company contract raising basic and pensionable pay by 40 per cent. • Stepped down as convenor after seeing members through the MOX data falsification scandal.

2000s • Elected Labour councillor for Copeland.

• Awarded honorary life membership of GMB while still at Sellafield.

• Elected chair of the West Cumbria branch of Parkinson’s UK.

• Remains president of the GMB Sellafield branch.

PARKINSON’S FACTS • P arkinson’s is a progressive neurological condition • T here is currently no cure and doctors don’t know

what causes it • O ne person in every 500 has Parkinson’s • Most people with Parkinson’s are aged 50 or over but younger people get it, too • B oth Mohamed Ali and Michael J Fox were diagnosed with Parkinson’s in their 30s

PLANT LIFE John dedicated his working life to GMB members at Sellafield. www.gmb.org.uk 21

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watch

your

Government proposals for regional pay spell disaster

wag s

LOOK OUT! The government wants to slash your pay. 22 www.gmb.org.uk

regional NATional

% of workers employed in the pu

blic sector

££££££££££££££££££ ££££££££ 30 ££ ££££££££££££££££££ ££££ 28 ££ .8£ North East ££££££££££££££££££ ££28 ££ Scotland ££ ££££££££££££££££ 27££ .1 North West ££££££££££££25 ££.3£ Yorkshire & The Humber ££££££££££ 24 ££ .5£ Unit d South West Ki n g d e ££££££££ 23££ .4 o m as a whole West Midlands ££££££ ££.2£ 23 24 % East Midlands ££££££ 22££ .9 East ££££ ££ 22 .3£ South East ££££22 ££ Wales

Area by % rank

Northern Ireland

London

££ 21££ .3 20

% of people

iStock x 2

he pay of millions of public sector workers would be cut if the ConDem government goes ahead with its plans to scrap national agreements and introduce regional pay. These agreements are negotiated with GMB and other unions to ensure a fair rate of pay for workers, and scrapping them could lead to harsh salary cuts. Public sector workers make up 24 per cent of the total UK workforce – and as much as 30 per cent in some regions. A pay cut for them would mean less money going into their local economies. The areas that would be hit

hardest are in Wales, Northern Ireland, the North East and Scotland. Eilean Siar in the Western Isles, has the highest percentage of public sector workers with 42.7 per cent facing a pay cut. Many other areas would be badly affected too. See the full list at www.gmb.org.uk/newsroom GMB general secretary, Paul Kenny said “GMB negotiators have built up the pay of public service workers over many years and now the government wants to cut the pay of millions of public services workers by getting rid of the national agreement that is so successful. “If they succeed it would be a further devastating blow for local economies, where previous Tory governments have devastated the mining and manufacturing industry. “The Tories have a problem with workers in the regions. They just don’t like to see them doing well.”

DEEP CUTS Nearly a quarter of UK workers would be affected.

The general secretary warned that pay cuts would be a harsh blow to British workers, and affect all local businesses. He continued: “To reduce their pay further would not only be iniquitous, it would also reduce consumer spending and choke-off business confidence. The result would be local economies suffering a further drop in demand and private sector jobs being lost in their thousands.” GMB membership is the best defence in the face of the government’s reckless plans to cut wages across the country in the public sector. Paul Kenny concluded: “GMB is proud of its record in raising pay in the regions and cutting it back is in no one’s interest. As well as a regional policy to promote good, wellpaid jobs we need to see the levelling up of the poor pay in the shops and other commercial services, not a levelling down of public sector pay.”

“Regional pay will choke-off business confidence.”

www.gmb.org.uk 23

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The Full Monti

EU drops plans opposed by GMB that would have restricted workers’ rights

s the European Union a social project, designed to improve people’s lives, or a purely economic one, designed simply to make money? That was the question at stake back in September, as GMB and other unions fought against proposals that would have undermined the fundamental rights of workers, including the right to go on strike. The proposed Monti II regulations, which have now been abandoned in the face of overwhelming opposition, were meant to safeguard the right to collective action (including strike action) in the face

of pressure from regulations allowing the free movement of goods across EU borders. “From the day these proposals were launched, trade unions across Europe told the European Commission that they were not going to solve the problems they set out to resolve,” says GMB European officer Kathleen Walker Shaw. “In fact, they actually posed further threats to trade union rights. “GMB welcomed the decision to withdraw these very damaging proposals, but the Commission still needs to find a workable solution to make sure fundamental trade union rights and freedoms are not restricted or undermined by economic freedoms.” The need for clarity comes from two judgments in the European Court of Justice in 2007. While the freedom to take collective action is a fundamental workers’ right,

WELCOME NEWS Kathleen Walker Shaw led GMB’s opposition to the dropped plans.

protected by the European Union charter, the court judgments raised questions about what happens when that right comes into conflict with regulations on the free movement of goods, persons, services and capital. “There are huge legal uncertainties left by the EU Court of Justice rulings regarding the rights of workers,” says Labour MEP Stephen Hughes. “The problem is not going away and the European Commission has the responsibility to act.” European social policy includes commitments to improved living and working conditions, proper social protection, and dialogue between management and labour. GMB believes the European Union should put those commitments first and foremost.

EUROPE MUST ACT Labour MEP Stephen Hughes says workers’ rights must be clearer.

“Fundamental trade union rights and freedoms must not be undermined.” 24 www.gmb.org.uk

regional

UPDATE from GMB All the news

regional

Caring for

carers

Cuts to the care sector make GMB membership more important than ever, says Tony Dowling

iStock

er good “Jobs must off training.” pay and good

he care industry in Britain is under more pressure than ever. One in seven care homes is described as inadequate by the Care Quality Commission, and now local authorities hit with massive budget cuts are being forced to seek ever cheaper contracts from private sector care providers. This lack of adequate investment for elderly care is not a new phenomenon. Successive governments have ignored a well-foreseen gap in funding as life expectancy continues to grow. However, the coalition’s unprecedented attack on public spending has meant the impact of under-funding being felt faster and harder by the most vulnerable people in our society. Private companies are seeking more private clients able to pay for their care, rather than referrals from local authorities. In time, this will lead to a two-tier service, good for those with the money to pay, but inadequate and demeaning for those reliant on shrinking state involvement. Good care does not only require adequate resources, either. It also needs the right people to do the job. Many carers work long hours for low pay, with reduced training budgets. To attract the right staff, it is clear that jobs must offer good pay, good training and plenty of motivation. A stagnating pay structure, low staffing (especially through the night), and cuts to resources and training simply will not achieve this. In an environment like this, things are likely to go wrong, leaving staff vulnerable to employers who may shift the blame onto them. GMB is committed to its members in the care sector, and can provide advice and specialised support if you find yourself subject to a complaint, suspension or disciplinary action, as well as legal support if you are dismissed or become the subject of an investigation. In any workplace, the more GMB members there are, the harder it is for an employer to take unfair action against its workers. So if you work in a care home, don’t leave it too late. Protect yourself and your colleagues by telling them about the benefits of joining GMB today. For more information, call me on 0117 955 4470 or 07958 477 859, or go to www.gmb.org.uk/join Tony Dowling is a GMB organiser in the Wales and South West region www.gmb.org.uk 25

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Every year, thousands of people fall victim to scam letters. Make sure you know how to spot the signs This happens because scammers work together, selling lists of so-called ‘suckers’ to each other, further isolating their victims from reality as they all fire off letters to the same addresses that have proved productive in the past. Right now, silent victims are receiving 40, 50, maybe even 100 criminal letters every day, from bogus lottery officials, solicitors, bankers and clairvoyants, creating a fabric of lies that becomes a chronic victim’s entire world.

A CATALOGUE OF LIES Dozens of catalogue scams operate from overseas, each guaranteeing a prize to anyone who orders overpriced goods from a respectable-looking brochure. Instead of a prize, however, all that ever arrives

26 www.gmb.org.uk

are more letters and phone calls, promising more tempting offers. Some of those targeted by catalogue scams have spent more than £40,000 on goods worth very little. Here are some of the names to look out for:

Overwhelmed by skilfully written and personalised messages, they can only focus on the fictitious rewards they are promised, not the money they are sending in order to claim them. Most victims do not understand

POST APOCALYPSE Just some of the letters t to and ‘gifts’ that were sen ily. fam er’s mb me B GM a

Biotonic Delices Gourmandises Fredrich Mueller Vital Beauty Vitamail

iStock x 3

f you think people who fall for scam letters are stupid – think again! Criminals worldwide are targeting the most vulnerable members of our society, including bereaved, superstitious, socially isolated and depressed people, and those with declining mental health and dementia. Every day, these criminals send millions of scam letters to the UK, making money that is used to fuel the drug trade, human trafficking and many other crimes. Scam mail is designed to shut down normal thought processes and dazzle the victim’s mind. Many of those who are taken in are chronic scam victims, who, after responding to one ‘tempter’ letter, are now bombarded with letters every day.

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7 WAYS TO STAY SCAM SAFE 1 2 Stop, think, and be sceptical. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Don’t be rushed into sending money to someone you don’t know, however plausible they might sound, and even if the approach is personalised. Ask yourself how likely it is that you have been specially chosen for this offer – thousands of other people have probably received the exact same letter. Think about how much money you could lose from replying to a potential scam – it’s not a gamble worth taking. If you are unsure of an offer, speak to your family or friends and seek advice before sending any money or giving out any bank or credit card details. If you receive a suspicious phone call, just say “No thank you, I’m not interested,” then hang up straight away. Remember, you do not have to give out personal information such as bank or credit card details. These could be used fraudulently.

4 LETTERS’ PREY Many people are too embarrassed to admit they have been conned. modern technology or how it allows criminals to mass-produce mail and make it look like important and individual correspondence. The scammers use the voice of authority, swear people to secrecy and make threats to snare victims from a generation taught to respect officialdom, ask few questions and suffer their problems in private. In a recent case, more than 20,000 victims replied to one scam mail shot in one day, sending a total of £500,000. The Serious Organised Crime Agency estimated the gang behind that letter was making as much as

£35 million a year, yet there is little the Post Office can do to stop letters getting through. The vast majority of those targeted do not recognise themselves as victims, therefore never report the crime. If you have vulnerable relatives, a few well-placed questions could save them from losing thousands of pounds. GMB recently spoke to a member whose relatives were systematically fleeced of their life savings. The fraud only became apparent when the member noticed how much post, and how many ‘gifts’, they were receiving. By following the advice on this page and by taking the time to check on vulnerable people you know, you can protect yourself and others from this despicable trade and put all these fake officials, businessmen and bankers out of business once and for all.

6 7

BAG OF TRICKS A bag full of scam catalogues, received over a short period.

SPEAK OUT!

Remember, silence is the scammer’s best friend. If you have been the victim of fraud, or are worried you might be being tar geted by scammers, call Telepho ne Action Fraud on 0300 123 20 40 or email the Think Jessica camp aig advice@thinkjessica.c n at om www.gmb.org.uk 27

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Know

your

annuity

Choose the right product to protect your pension

f you are in a defined contributions (DC) pension scheme, also known as a money purchase scheme, and are due to retire within the next few years, you could be in for a nasty shock. A toxic combination of events has seriously undermined the amount you can expect to receive from your annuity, the financial product you buy on retirement to convert your pension savings into an income for life. When you retire, your pension pot is passed to an insurance company that invests your money in UK government bonds. This investment pays a regular return, which generates a regular income. Since 2008, these bonds have become very expensive to buy, and the interest they pay has fallen sharply. This hasn’t been helped by quantitative easing (the Bank of England printing money), or by Europe’s

MONEY MATTERS Ask any financial advisor if they are truly independent.

28 www.gmb.org.uk

economic difficulties. Along with increased life expectancy, these factors have led insurers to reduce interest rates by up to 20 per cent in the last five years.

get advice So what annuity should you buy when you retire to make the most of your hard earned pension? It is one of the most crucial financial decisions you will ever make, and though you already have a company handling your pension, they may not offer the best advice on annuities – especially if they are linked to a specific provider. Be sure to ask any financial advisor whether they are truly independent, or whether they are in a partnership agreement with one particular company. It is always worth seeking out independent advice before committing your pension pot to one particular annuity.

read the small print It is also worth bearing in mind that one of the biggest factors influencing the return you will get from an annuity is your own life expectancy, which will have been assessed by the insurer. If you are fit and healthy at 65, you will get a lot less per month than someone in poor health who is not expected to have a long retirement. And if you have a sudden lease of life the insurers weren’t expecting? You may still be out of luck, as some annuities include a hidden clause that stops payments when you reach the end of your predicted lifespan. The mis-selling of financial services is an all too common scandal these days, and as DC pension schemes continue to grow, the annuity business will become ever more attractive to unscrupulous insurers looking to get rich quick. Make sure you don’t get caught out by smooth talk and small print, and be sure to get some truly independent advice!

“If you’re about to retire, you could get a nasty shock.”

regional

Pay gap Payout! GMB secures £3.5m for female members in Pembrokeshire

MB has won more than £3.5 million for its female members in Pembrokeshire County Council in a series of historic equal pay claims. Most GMB members at the council have now had pay gaps corrected, after years of unfair wage differences between men and women in comparable jobs. The wage differences ranged from an extra penny an hour to as much as £2.07 more. In some cases, the backdated compensation payments go back over many years, meaning that GMB members have received sums equivalent to several months’ pay. “I am very pleased that we have achieved such realistic settlements for our members,” said GMB organiser Althea Phillips. “I applaud the council for its sensible approach, which has resulted in some of the highest

compensation payouts of all the Welsh authorities we have dealt with so far.” The bumper payout is the latest in a series of compensation settlements that GMB has achieved for its mostly female members in local government. The payout was based on the wage gap between male-dominated jobs that came with a bonus (such as refuse collectors and drivers, street cleaning operatives and grounds maintenance workers) and female-dominated roles that did not (such as home carers, cooks, care assistants, cleaners and catering assistants). A spokesperson for Pembrokeshire County Council said they were pleased to have been able to resolve all the outstanding issues.

“Wage differences were as much as £2.07 per hour.”

MIND THE GAP Men at the council earned more than women for doing comparable jobs.

wessex water web Info flows at utility co!

embers at Wessex Water can now find their nearest GMB representative at the touch of a button! Branch secretary Mike Jones approached the company earlier this year to discuss using its internal website to pass on GMB information, and now the intranet site includes a dedicated GMB area, run by Mike and his colleague Simon Christie.

plugged in Mike and Simon have ma de a splash at Wessex Water .

As well as names and contact details for GMB reps, the site also lists the benefits of GMB membership, such as legal representation, insurance and the free will service, and all the latest GMB news. The intranet facility is available to all Wessex Water employees, so also serves as a shop window for recruiting new members. Mike says he is always on the lookout for news stories from around the company, so any members with a tale to tell should get on the intranet and contact him today!

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regional

UPDATE

from GMB All the news

THINK s r e nis a g or PINK! needed! Ever feel like you aren’t being heard at work? • Are you and your colleagues cut out of the communication chain?

• Become a GMB workplace organiser and you’ll be a key point of contact in your workplace.

• We’ll give you the training

Convenor comeback at Plymouth council

Congratulations to Jane Pink, who has been re-elected as convenor for Plymouth City Council. Jane stood down as convenor 18 months ago, but decided to return to the role after a well-earned break. Jerry Manning, who has been convenor for the last 12 months, chose to step down after a successful stint in a very difficult job. All the representatives and members would like to welcome Jane back to the role, and to thank Jerry for all his hard work and wish him well for the future.

you need to make sure your colleagues know what’s going on and get a say on things that matter.

Get involved

•

From health and safety to equalities and more, you’ll represent existing GMB members and help recruit non-members where you work.

• To find out more, email

katherine.darcy@gmb.org.uk

Football

Focus

Branch backs local team North Wales NHS branch is sponsoring Llandudno FC for the 2012/2013 season. The deal will see the distinctive GMB logo emblazoned on the team’s training kit and at pitch-side, on a large advertising board. The Llandudno FC website will also link directly to the GMB site. “We’re delighted to be associated with Llandudno FC for the coming season,” said North Wales NHS branch secretary Keith Davies.

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“It is the first of many links we hope to establish across North Wales, getting involved with our members’ communities and promoting the modern, pro-active values of GMB.” Llandudno FC were founder members of the Welsh national league (North) in 1921 and currently play in the Huws Gray alliance (aka the Cymru Alliance) league division one. We wish them all the best in their upcoming games!

“We get involved with members’ communities.”

Dogged

pursuit

Attacked by an animal? Get on the dog-and-bone to GMB

hat would you do if you were attacked by a dog? Your first thought might not be to call GMB, but they might well be able to help you claim compensation for your injury. Take the recent case of a member in the Wales and South West region, who was bitten by a Labrador while carrying out his duties as part of a refuse crew. The dog not only bit straight through his glove, but also tore a deep triangular wound in his hand. The owner tried to fob him off by saying that, as he was not insured, he was in no position to pay damages. But the injured member called GMB, which put its top-dog legal team on the case. The solicitors lodged a claim for compensation, before doggedly pursuing it until our member recovered proper damages for his injuries and losses.

GMB Wales & SOUTH west REGION

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 Wales & south west region

LAB attack! A dog bite could entitle you to compensation.

“Once again we see the benefit of being a GMB member and being able to call on expert legal advice,” said GMB regional senior manager, Nick Hughes. “Remember not to be put off submitting a claim just because an owner says he Identify the owner Ask if the dog has ever or she has no insurance. attacked anyone else Report the incident Our solicitors are experts in to the police Take photographs of your pursuing this type of case, and fight claims that other injuries Get contact details for all witnesses firms might abandon as too Contact your local dog warden Call GMB much hard work.”

If you are attacked by a dog, here’s what you need to do...

•

Hello Carol and Colin! GMB welcomes new branch secretaries GMB is pleased to welcome Carol Edwards and Colin Evans to their new posts as branch secretaries at two local health boards. Carol has been elected branch secretary of Hywel Dda LHB branch and is based in the housekeeping department at the Prince Phillip Hospital in Llanelli. Colin takes over as branch secretary at

the Anuerin Bevan LHB branch, and works in the waste and environmental department at St Woolos Hospital in Newport. Both branches are keen to recruit new members and new workplace organisers. To find out more about how you can get involved, call Paul Gage on 02920 491 260 or email paul.gage@gmb.org.uk

Williamson House, 17 Newport Road, Cardiff CF24 0TB T: 029 2049 1260 F: 029 2046 2056 Email: john.phillips@gmb.org.uk

GMB bristol Office

4 Hide Market, Waterloo Street, Bristol BS2 0PH T: 0117 955 4470 F: 0117 955 4409

GMB colwyn bay Office 12 Wynnstay Road, Colwyn Bay, Conwy LL29 8NB T: 01492 535313 F: 01492 535314

GMB plymouth Office

1st Floor Offices, Sandon Ct, 1 Craigie Drive, The Millfields, Plymouth, Devon PL13JB. T: 01752 660219 F: 01752 604478 Email: stuart.fegan@gmb.org.uk

GMB pontypridd Office

28e Taff Street, Pontypridd CF37 4TS T: 01443 491959 F: 01443 405844

GMB swansea Office

Ground Floor, Alexandra House, 1 Alexandra Road, Swansea SA1 5ED T: 01792 467803 F: 01792 457806 GMB website www.gmb.org.uk