The magazine for GMB members

Pulsewww.gmb.org.uk | Spring 2013The

GMB Branch Awards!

BrAnchSPeciAl

We give Amazon an ASBO BOOked!

yOu’re

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

Wina pair ofGlasto tickets

See page 23

GMB wins a living wage for Barkingand Dagenham members Page 16

Hanging on the door of a closed down Blockbuster store was a sign saying “Thank you for shopping at Amazon!” This was reflecting the feelings of more shop staff thrown on the scrapheap along with those at Comet, HMV and Jessops. The shocking truth is that 19 per cent of high street premises are now boarded up as people spend more online.

But if that’s not bad enough, we then see that despite sales of over £7bn in the last three years, Amazon has not paid a single penny in UK corporation tax.

That is why our activists, led by our Regional Young Members’ Section, turned up at Amazon’s Doncaster site and presented the company with a corporate ASBO to show our disgust and demonstrate against the appalling way they treat their workers, who say they are regularly bullied.

The cuts continue to deepen in the public sector too, and towns and cities across our region are being hit unfairly hard. Why are Yorkshire and Derbyshire councils having funding cut by £140 per person when in leafy Richmond upon Thames it’s £12? Why are our police forces losing 10 per cent of frontline officers when Surrey is seeing an increase of 18 per cent?

The north/south divide is as alive as ever and we are not putting up with this blatant unfairness any longer. The country needs leadership and innovation but all we see is a government lurching from one u-turn to another and an ever-deepening recession.

On the legal front we face many new threats to workers’ rights and I want to thank Thompsons for some fantastic work on behalf of our members.

Our region’s membership is holding up and our finances are strong. I thank and pay tribute to every activist, officer and staff member for helping to achieve that.

Finally, is the very welcome announcement that Paul Kenny will remain our General Secretary and continue to lead our proud union through the many challenges ahead.

In this issue...

Tim RoacheGMB Yorkshire and North

Derbyshire regional secretary

4 And the winner is…Awards from the Branch Activity Weekend

5 Street lifeGMB members sleep rough for charity

6 Wronged rightsThe worst new government proposals

8 Ros for mayorGMB backs Ros Jones for Doncaster office

25 Look aheadGMB is fighting for a Future That Works

26 End the abuse How we can put a stop to domestic violence

28 Amazon ASBOGMB young members stand up to Amazon

29 Branching outMeet GMB’s new branch

30 Contact GMBNames and numbers you can call on

31 Join us!Membership made easy

Regional National

www.gmb.org.uk 03

We will not put up with this unfairness any longer

Leeds branch sponsors Charlotte Pugsley’s African training Page 7

GMB regional editor Caroline Jones: 01924 887 266Editorial director Stephen PierceEditor Matt Robinson Art editor Johnny GoddardContributors Emma Johnston, Jayne NelsonAdvertising manager Steve HulbertAccount managers David Parker, Lisa DunhamProduction and procurement manager Matt EglintonProduction co-ordinator Katty SkardonCreative director Matthew WilliamsArt director Stuart Hobbs Director, Future Plus UK Jayne CaplePrinted at St Ives Direct

Please contact Steve Hulbert on 01225 442 244 (ex 5205)Would you like to advertise in GMB Pulse magazine?

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).

Produced by Future Plus, 30 Monmouth Street,

Bath BA1 2BW

9 Make a differenceHelp the Labour Party win the next election

11 Paul Kenny speaksA word from your general secretary

12 BlacklistingHow GMB is beating the illegal blacklist

14 Zero hours contractsPaul Routledge on the pitfalls of ZHCs

16 A living wageGMB is winning fair pay for members in councils across the UK

18 GMB@WORKHow to pay your GMB subs by Direct Debit

20 British Gas offerRecommend a friend for free insulation and get a £50 voucher with this exclusive offer

23 Win Glasto tickets Your chance to win tickets to Glastonbury

24 Save a life todayRegister as a blood or bone marrow donor and become a life-saver

Accepting of advertising and inserts and does not imply GMB endorsement of the product or services. Remember that GMB recommends all services and offers should always be used to test the cost against other commercial companies. Members are advised to secure at least two quotes on all commercial transactions.

H onoured GMB branches from

across the region will be

rearranging their trophy cabinets

after being officially recognised

for their achievements in 2012. The awards

were presented at last year’s Branch Activity

Weekend, which took place in Wakefield

in November. The event included keynote addresses

from GMB regional secretary, Tim Roache

and General Secretary, Paul Kenny, and gave

members the chance to take part in a variety

of workshops.Three workshops were led by guest

speakers, including author and political

commentator, Owen Jones, leader of City of

York Council, James Alexander, MP for Leeds

West, Rachel Reeves, and economist at Leeds

University Business School, Professor

Malcolm Sawyer. Paul Novak from the TUC

and GMB’s Steve Pryle, Rose Conroy and

Eamon O’Hearn Large also gave the

workshops a GMB focus.

The workshops covered Austerity And The

Economy, Campaigning To Win and Why

Politics Should Matter To Union Reps.

Presentations were also made by the

People’s Telephone Operator, Move Your

Money, UK Uncut and Thorne Credit Union.

Speaking to The Pulse, Tim Roache said:

“The branch weekend goes from strength to

strength every year. The discussion and debate

from the delegates was inspirational and the

input from the guest speakers invaluable.”

The highglight of this year’s event was, of

course, the awards ceremony, which saw

proud GMB branches honoured – as our

pictures show!

GMB branches recognised for outstanding achievements at regional activity weekend

Chesterfield No 1 branch and Leeds branchesThe judges were unable to decide between two excellent candidates for this year’s award, which recognises outstanding work by branches in promoting GMB@WORK in the community. So for the second year running, Chesterfield No 1 branch received the award jointly with the combined branches of Leeds for their campaigns and initiatives throughout the year.

Branch Community Campaign Of The Year

wiNNer OuTBraNCHiNG

updaTe YOur GMB prOfiLe www.GMB.OrG.uk/updaTe

www.gmb.org.ukwww.gmb.org.uk04

all the news from GMB

reGiONaLupdaTe

GMB members from Leeds, along with staff and officers from the regional office, spent the night sleeping under the stars to raise funds for local homeless charity, Simon On The Streets. On a cold evening in October dozens of people gave up their time to meet with support workers from the charity before bedding down outside the Civic Hall.

The charity offers street-based support and operates across Leeds, Huddersfield and Bradford, providing front-line emotional and practical care for those in need.

GMB Leeds Civic branch secretary, Neil Cole, said: “We were horrified to see that in the latest figures on homelessness it has increased by 40 per cent in the last year. With these figures in mind, and the fact that Simon On The Streets does not get any government funding, we wanted to raise awareness and as much money as possible.”

GMB regional secretary, Tim Roache, said: “I’m so proud of the GMB members who wanted to do this. They have raised over £9,000, which is a credit to them. This shows the true side to trade unions and that we are caring, compassionate people and not just about strikes and conflict.”

To find out more about the work of Simon On The Streets visit: www.simononthestreets.co.uk

Sweet success for Haribowhen paul Harvey from Pontefract Central branch took over as GMB workplace organiser at Haribo UK in Pontefract three years ago, there were only a handful of members and an employer intent on de-recognising GMB. The branch has steadily built momentum through the GMB@WORK agenda, recruiting workplace organisers, utilising GMB and TUC training and using the GMB learning project to build confidence and increase membership. From a standing start, membership at Haribo is now at 290.

regional Branch Of The Year: The kerry May award for Outstanding achievementin GMB@wOrk

wiNNer

lifeStreetGMB members sleep rough to raise £9,000 for homeless charity

emma ScottThis year’s recipient, Emma Scott, received the award in recognition of the work she and her team did to recruit the most members during the Class of 2012 initiative, which forms part of GMB workplace organisers’ induction training.

wiNNer

The Class Of 2012 award

we are planning on displaying GMB branch banners in the main hall at Congress 2013. If you would like your branch banner to be displayed at GMB Congress 2013 please contact Caroline Jones at regional office on 0845 337 7777. Caroline will make arrangements for getting it there and back to you.

www.gmb.org.uk 5

SIGN up for the GMB eNeWSletter At www.gmb.org.uk reGiONaL

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The law protecting workers from being victimised for whistleblowing is being diluted, with a disclosure only protected if it can be reasonably said it was ‘in the public interest’.

This is just a small sample of what the coalition is up to. Benefit cuts and the divide and rule

policy of stigmatising benefit claimants is part of what is underway – a major

rebalancing of power in favour of the most powerful to allow policies that make ordinary people pay for the economic crisis. Unions are the main

bulwark against these policies. In 2013, GMB organising people

to defend their rights and campaign for a fair society has never been

more relevant.

Bill Innes, GMB legal officer, reports on how the government is attacking your working rights

rIGhtsyoursMashInG

t here is no let-up in the war of attrition against employment rights. Removing unfair dismissal rights from employees with less than two

years’ service was just the start. Other measures introduced last year included ending expenses for witnesses at tribunal hearings – which meant that lost wages for attending a hearing can now exceed the value of a claim. And more restrictions are planned for 2013.

A fee to lodge an employment tribunal claim and a further fee for a hearing will be charged from this summer. An unfair dismissal claim that goes to a hearing will cost a sacked worker at least £1,200 in fees. Multiple claims will cost up to £5,700! The coalition is helping employers get away with sacking employees unfairly by pricing them out of justice. GMB is working on plans to ensure that is not the outcome for our members.

These contracts remove employment rights, including unfair dismissal, in exchange for shares. ‘Consultation’, when it is a coalition consultation, is a sham. Notwithstanding that

90 per cent of responses to consultation on this proposal opposed it; the coalition aims to push it through Parliament in April. It says job applicants can choose to decline an employee-shareholder contract. But if they do, they lose welfare benefits for three years. Some choice! This policy is based on undiluted right-wing ideology and GMB will campaign to kill it off.

When an employer proposes to dismiss as redundant 100 or more employees, the law requires consultation with representatives, such as GMB, starting at least 90 days before the first dismissal notice. This is to be halved to 45 days as another measure to make it easier and cheaper to sack workers.Employees on fixed term contracts are to be excluded from the requirement making it easier to avoid consultation in the first place.

eMployMentredundancy

trIBunal fees

whIstleBlowInG

consultatIon

eMployee-shareholder

contracts

iSto

ck/R

ex F

eatu

res

tell a frIendThis is why GMB membership

is so important. If you know

anyone who could benefit from

membership, tell them to join

GMB now at www.gmb.org.uk/join

Injuredat work?

www.GMB.orG.uk/

Injuredatwork

reGIonalupdate

all the news from GMB

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as part of charlotte Pugsley’s paediatric nursing course, she needed to take a 10-week placement. Having already been on placements in Leeds and Sheffield, this time she wanted to go further afield.

She contacted an organisation called Work The World to see if they could help, and they secured her training at Amana Hospital in Tanzania, where she worked on the neonatal ward and even delivered a baby.

“Working conditions in the hospital were really bad,” Charlotte said. “They didn’t have anywhere near the equipment that we have in the UK and it was shocking to see up to five babies per bed and only four nurses working on a ward of over 60 patients.

“The experience was life-changing and I wouldn’t have changed it for the world. I can’t thank the Leeds Local Government branch enough for helping with my sponsorship.”

sign up to GMBGMB and asda have signed new agreements that cover stores and distribution centres, allowing GMB teams access to meet and speak with ASDA employees about the importance of union membership. As a result, GMB membership in both areas has increased. Rachel Harrison, from the regional organising team, said: “It’s been good to identify a number of fantastic reps during our campaign; when they receive GMB training, they will become the members’ champions.”

ASDAworkers

AGREEABLE ACTIONAsda employees canchat with GMB reps.

GMB has obtained shocking data from the Office for National Statistics revealing that Leeds and Sheffield have been worst hit by the recession in the region. The real value of average earnings in the region has dropped by 13.3 per cent since 2008 – but for employees in Leeds, the drop has been 19.2 per cent and for those living in Sheffield, the decrease is 18.8 per cent.

In April 2008 the mean gross annual earnings for all employees resident in the region, according to the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), was £23,227. The ASHE figure for the mean gross annual earnings for all employees resident in the region for April 2012 was £23,558. This is an increase of £331 or 1.4 per cent. Between April 2008 and November 2012 inflation has been 14.8 per cent.

For the UK as a whole, the drop in the real value of average earnings of all employees between April 2008 and November 2012 has been 12.8 per cent.

Tim Roache, GMB regional secretary, said: “These figures showing a drop of 13.3 per cent in the real value of earnings in the region explain why we are on our way to a triple dip recession. The replacing of full time permanent jobs with part time and temporary lower paid jobs is part of this.

“In both the public and private sectors GMB is organising active local campaigns in support of a living wage of £7.45 an hour (£8.55 in London). In addition, GMB is seeking negotiated settlements in the forthcoming pay round. If such settlements are not on offer, GMB has already said that ballots for strike action will be inevitable.”

LIfE-ChANGING TRIpleeds branch sponsors tanzania neonatal placement recession takes

a bite of leeds and sheffield pay packets

BABY LOVELeeds branch sponsored Charlotte’s

neonatal placement in Africa.

the

ofvalueMon£y

TOUGh TOWN Leeds’ pay packets were worst hit by the recession.

www.gmb.org.uk 07

SIGN Up fOR ThE GMB eNEWSLETTER AT www.gmb.org.uk reGIonal

www.gmb.org.uk08

doing it fordoncasterP

otentially one of the most important political events that will take place in the region this year will be the mayoral

election in Doncaster. The current mayor is Independent Peter Davies, who is renowned for his controversial right-wing and anti-trade union views. So in the forthcoming election GMB, along with other trade unions, is getting behind Ros Jones, Labour councillor and candidate for mayor.

Ros is a chartered public finance accountant and director of the North Doncaster Development Trust. She served as Doncaster’s civic mayor during 2009/10 and is a school governor at Campsmount School. She also has a strong track record as a campaigner in her own ward.

Ros said: “I’m delighted to be selected by Doncaster’s Labour members. In me they have a candidate who will work tirelessly for every vote – the hard work starts right away. I was born in Doncaster and have always lived here, I’m hugely proud of Doncaster. In these tough economic times Doncaster needs a mayor who will ensure we fight for our fair share and regenerate this town.”

Labour leader and Doncaster North MP Ed Miliband said: “I’d like to congratulate Ros on winning the selection to be Labour’s mayoral candidate. Ros is Doncaster born and bred and is a fantastic talent who has the experience, values and skills needed to be a first class mayor. The current mayor has let this town down: he won’t stand up for all people and is ineffective in fighting Doncaster’s corner.”

GMB is hoping to get members to campaign for Ros in the run-up to the election. If you want to help get rid of the Independent mayor, contact Steve Jennings or Trudy Frampton on 0845 337 7777.

gMB backs ros Jones as the next mayor of doncaster

get activeIf you would like to join the Labour Party

or get involved in any of our political

campaigns, please contact political

officer, Steve Jennings on

0845 337 7777 or email him at

steve.jennings@gmb.org.uk

“Ros is Doncaster

born and bred and

is a fantastic talent.”

congratulations Mark!Congratulations to GMB member

councillor Mark Burns-Williamson on his election as police commissioner for West Yorkshire. Mark, along with Shaun Wright, police commissioner for South Yorkshire and Alan Charles, police commissioner for Derbyshire, had overwhelming GMB backing.

Move to direct deBitwww.gMB.org.uk/ddMove

regionaluPdate

all the news from gMB

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MEMBER

All the news from GMB

NATIONAlUPDATE

Stand up for working families in the UK

europe

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

BrING YOUr MAG TO lIfE!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.

W e all now realise the damage this Con-Dem government is inflicting on our public services and on GMB members and their families. The Lib Dems are complicit in the

havoc being wreaked on our communities; we should never forget that.

The GMB Central Executive Council (CEC) policy is to make the Labour Party electable in time for the next general election. GMB is now staffed with a political department and each GMB region has a regional political officer (RPO). These officers’ jobs are to organise politically and they are there to help, so get in touch – see the panel on the next page for details of your regional RPO.

GMB is encouraging members to join the Labour Party, become active in their communities and local Labour Parties, and help the party become electable. If our members are involved they can encourage the party to adopt policies which will help people provide for their families.

Only by being politically active can GMB members influence Labour Party policy and make sure it stands for the things we believe in: a stop to the privatisation of public services, a Living Wage for all working people and investment in our schools and hospitals.

As a GMB member you can be part of the Labour Party for just £1.80 a month – that’s only £21.50 a year. Download a form from www.labour.org.uk/trade-union-join and start making a difference!

Your chance to shape

www.gmb.org.uk10

NATIONAl

UPDATEAll the news from GMB

for GMB, Europe means a basketful of employment and social rights that we might otherwise never have had. Health and safety protection, paid holidays from work, limits on working hours, protection when faced with collective redundancies and rights when the company we work for is sold. The transfers of undertakings (TUPE) regulations give GMB the right to make sure we keep our hard-won pay and conditions. Part-time workers are guarded; fixed term and temporary agency workers’ rights have been improved; we have improved maternity/pregnant workers’ rights and extensive equal treatment and equality rights. When workers come to the UK to work they have to be paid the negotiated rate of pay and cannot be exploited. And these are just some of the rights we enjoy from Europe.

Yet increasingly, when we hear and read about Europe, it is about why Britain should leave it. It's not about whether it's good for us as working families and everyday people to be in or out; the debate is being dominated by politicians. So if we are going to have a debate about Europe, we want it to be about shaping a Europe that works for us.

We want honest answers about what will happen to our jobs if we leave the EU. Around 50 per cent of everything we produce is bought by Europe. The USA has already said that for them the UK is a route to the EU – and if we’re not in they will find another route. All this will have big implications for us as working families, our jobs and our economy.

David Cameron says he wants to renegotiate the terms of our involvement with Europe rather than withdraw altogether. One of the top priorities for him and the coalition is to remove workers’ rights. So any renegotiation under a Con-Dem government is bad news for GMB members. The UK Independence Party (UKIP) would also remove our rights. They are not any friend of GMB members.

So get involved and help us shape a Europe that works for us – because its future is in our hands.

GMBPOlITIcAl cONTAcTS

GMB BIrMINGhAM & WEST MIDlANDS rEGION Stephanie Peacock 0121 550 4888 stephanie.peacock@gmb.org.uk

GMB lONDON rEGION Gary Doolan 020 7391 6748

gary.doolan@gmb.org.uk

GMB MIDlAND & EAST cOAST rEGION Richard Oliver 0115 960 7171 richard.oliver@gmb.org.uk

GMB NOrThErN rEGION Chris Jukes 0191 233 3930 chris.Jukes@gmb.org.uk

GMB NOrTh WEST AND IrISh rEGION Neil Smith 0151 727 0077 neil.smith@gmb.org.uk

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

GMB SOUThErN rEGION Michelle Gordon 020 8397 8881

michelle.gordon@gmb.org.uk

GMB WAlES & SOUTh WEST rEGION Mike Payne 029 2049 1260

mike.payne@gmb.org.uk

GMB YOrKShIrE & NOrTh DErBYShIrE rEGION

Steve Jennings 0845 337 7777 steve.jennings@gmb.org.uk

GMB EUSTON POlITIcAl TEAM

Cath Speight, national political officer 020 7391 6746

Heidi Benzing 020 7391 6749Gary Doolan 020 7391 6748Lisa Johnson 020 7391 6764Steve Kemp 020 7391 6700Hilary Perrin 020 7391 6753

GET IN TOUch WITh YOUr rEGIONAl

POlITIcAl OffIcEr

Shaping a europe

What does europe

that works for you

mean to you?

In the November edition of this magazine we appealed to members to put themselves forward to stand as Labour candidates for the 2014 European elections. This was a huge success and many GMB members will be on the list of candidates to be voted on by Labour Party members in July. The result of the ballot and final regional lists of candidates will be announced at the Labour Party Annual Conference in September.

Some of us see the EU as distant or gobbledygook that we don’t understand and just over 30 per cent of us voted in the last European elections. Yet GMB members benefit from the rights that belonging to the EU brings

us, and we must to fight to ensure these are protected and improved, not taken away.

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

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

GET ONlINE!Tell the Labour Party what you

want in the Labour Manifesto 2014

at www.yourbritain.org.uk

Find out who’s giving money

to the Tories at searchthemoney.com

www.gmb.org.uk 11

T here is a line in a Joni Mitchell song which goes “you don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone”. How true those words ring when the

people you love are no longer around, and I guess that is what the song was written to convey. However, such sentiments also apply to the standards of equality, justice and services which are lost, diluted or just plundered by politicians and the vested interests of markets and millionaires.

We now live in a country where our natural resources are all owned by private companies, who make vast profits selling us back natural resources, like water, which falls from the sky for free!!

Our energy, railways and public services are all seen as primary wealth producers for corporations’ shareholders or entrepreneurs rather than being instruments for a richer economy for all, a planned future for the benefit of the many.

I look in disbelief as this generation of snake oil salesmen that masquerade as our government, package up our health service for privatisation. How they tell us that somehow giving hundreds of millions, currently spent on patient care, to the back pockets of privateers, is the health service we need or indeed want!

The power of the business lobby is stronger now than at any time in modern government and where better to see that power than to look at the “special advisors” from business, which now adorn every government department. The lobby group who don’t ever have to book an appointment to see the minister. They just waltz right in from the office next door!

These “business” interests, demanding cuts in regulations on everything from health and safety to employment rights and equality laws.

These are the same guardians of our interests who welcomed cuts in public services whilst applauding cash hand outs to millionaires.

The same crew who demanded and got cuts in corporation tax alongside cuts in benefits.

The vested interests of multi nationals who earn billions from our country yet pay nothing or virtually nothing back in taxes on their vast profits.

The vested interests of the companies who were allowed to get away with compiling blacklists designed to discriminate against ordinary men and women whose only crime might have been to attend a meeting about working conditions or airport expansions or similar environmental concerns.

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

GMB has led the way in both exposing and demanding action on these matters, from tax avoidance by the Starbucks and Amazons of this world to the companies like Carillion and McAlpine whose involvement in blacklisting is now out in the open. If anyone thinks GMB will tire of pursuing these companies, then they better think again.

The first political party which has the courage to break the strangle hold of the self-interest buccaneers will be embraced by millions of British people who have become victims of the snout in the trough arrangement, the “we can do whatever we want” culture, of so many companies and individuals whose only interests are their own. I hope that party is Labour. I hope Ed Miliband has the strength to follow his own natural instinct on justice and equality. And a vision which enhances the lives of British people, not on servicing the vested interests of an unelected rich elite.

After all when it comes to political support, as the song goes, “you don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone”.

SEllING IT Off

DEMAND AcTION

PAUl KENNYSAYS

A word from your GMB general secretary

rISKY BUSINESS

It is a scandal that people are victimised for asking questions

national

UPDatEall the news from GMB

are you, or is someone you know, one of the

3,213 names on the construction

industry blacklist?

M ore than 3,000 names appear on an illegal blacklist used by companies in the construction industry. The

map, right, was made by GMB to show how many people in each area of the UK were on the blacklist of 3,213* workers.

The blacklist first came to light in 2009. The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) seized a Consulting Association database of 3,213 construction workers used by 44 companies to vet new recruits and keep out trade union and health and safety activists.

By autumn 2012, only 194 of the 3,213 blacklisted workers knew they were on it.

After GMB pressed for disclosure, the ICO agreed to supply names, dates of birth, trades and towns of residence on a restricted basis to enable GMB to check our own membership records to find members who are on the blacklist. We found 200 exact matches and are in contact with these members to get their files from ICO. GMB appointed lawyers Leigh Day are preparing litigation to get compensation for them.

There were a further 300 names on the list, who may be GMB members, but we need more information to assess if they are.

We publish the map, based on locations supplied by ICO for all 3,213, to prompt responses from members to help us in this. If you were a construction worker from one of these areas and as a trade union or health

and safety activist were denied work for reasons you could not explain, get in touch so we can crosscheck the records.

GMB’s priority is to step up the campaign to get every blacklisted GMB member compensation.

GMB is calling on councils not to award work to the companies that operated the blacklist until they compensate those they damaged. GMB is also pushing ICO for a proactive action to inform all builders affected that they are on the blacklist.

A GMB report on blacklisting showed that it was not something isolated or rare. The

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

STAND UP FOR JUSTICEBlacklisting makes innocent members into outlaws.

www.gmb.org.ukwww.gmb.org.uk12

3,213blacklisted

1

1

NORThERN IRElAND

EIRE

SIGN UP FOR ThE GMB eNEWSlETTER AT www.gmb.org.ukSIGN UP FOR ThE GMB eNEWSlETTER AT www.gmb.org.uk nationalSIGN UP FOR ThE GMB eNEWSlETTER AT www.gmb.org.uk national

BEat BlacklistinGIf you can help us identify more

of the people named on the

blacklist, tell Phil Whitehurst,

GMB construction officer on

07968 338 810 or phil.

whitehurst@gmb.org.uk

or GMB, 22 Stephenson

Way, London NW1 2HD.

“Blacklisting is not something isolated or rare.”

GRIM PRACTICE GMB members demonstrate at

a Carillion court hearing in Swansea.

* When alias names and duplicates are excluded

there are 3,213 individuals on the blacklist. The

map shows where 2,554 lived or worked. There are

an additional 12 unmapped in Wales and 8

unmapped in Scotland. For 639, or 20%, no proper

addresses are given. The ICO using NI details

could, with help of DWP, find current addresses for

most of 3,213 but they have not done so.

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www.gmb.org.uk14

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D on’t call us – we’ll call you!” That’s the old showbiz gag. Promoters who exploit struggling artistes tell them to stay by the

phone on the off chance of something coming up. But it’s no joke in modern-day Britain, where employers impose “zero hours contracts” (ZHC) contracts on people desperate for work.

These breadwinners spend hours listening for the boss to call them in for a few hours’ paid work. Sometimes the phone rings, sometimes it doesn’t. It’s not a job. It’s not even a genuine contract – it’s a con-trick.

But nowadays it’s year zero every year in UK plc, as employers rush to turn their workforce into casual labourers. Once upon a time, it was the dockers, gathered at the dock gates waiting for the foreman to shout

“You, you and you! The rest go home.” Today, this system goes right across the board from fast-food outlets to the NHS.

Exactly what are we talking about here? Under a zero hours contract, employees are obliged to make themselves available for work – but the employer is under no obligation to provide work. There are no specified hours, and work can vary from week to week. Workers are paid only for the time they work, so the waiting time they spend by the phone is unpaid. And some employers don’t even pay for waiting time spent on work premises, though legally workers are entitled to payment.

ACAS, the employment relations service, says, “National Minimum Wage (NMW) regulations state that workers on ‘stand-by time’, ‘on-call time’ and ‘downtime’ must

still be paid the NMW if they are at their place of work and are required to be there.

“Similarly, such time is likely to count as ‘working time’ under the Working Time Regulations if the worker is required to be on call at the place of work. This means that it’s against the law to ask employees to ‘clock’ during quiet periods but still remain on the premises.” Workers should be aware of these provisions.

It’s obvious why the employers like this evil system. As GMB puts it: “This isn’t a proper job at all, but being on a bank of agency workers, with no rights, no guarantees and unable to plan their lives.”

Security work has been particularly hard hit by the zero hours revolution. And as the union for security workers, GMB members and GMB workplace

telephonehangin’ on the

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

BECoMEa GMBWoRKPlaCEoRGaniSERWWW.GMB.oRG.UK/ GMBWo

SIGN up for the GMB eNeWSletter At www.gmb.org.uk regional

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nationalBRinG thESE PaGES to lifE!

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

These figures show a doubling of ZHCs since the bankers’ recession hit the economy, with women now more likely to be exploited by employers. And the official numbers are just the tip of an iceberg. They exclude hundreds of thousands of agency workers – who are not technically employees.

The clear and present danger of exploitation from zero hour contracts has prompted GMB to back a call for a National Minimum Hours strategy to complement the National Minimum Wage, with GMB giving evidence to the Low Pay Commission.

GMB executive policy officer Ida Clemo says: “Employers regard these workers as ‘flexible’, but it is GMB policy that if workers That’s because ZHCs cut both ways. How

can an employee treated badly in this way feel any loyalty to a company that treats him or her like an industrial serf? These work deals first reappeared in the recession of the ’90s. They didn’t guarantee any hours or pay. But they were a contract with that employer, so the employee could not work anywhere else, nor could they sign on for benefits. Where did they go afterwards? As soon as the labour market eases and better forms of employment become available, people stop accepting them and they become rare.

But there are few signs that the labour market is picking up. Quite the opposite. And with the UK economy bumping along the bottom, most new employment is low-paid, part-time work. Hundreds of thousands of worthwhile jobs in the public services have been sacrificed in the name of austerity but the private sector only wants “flexible” staff who can be called out when they’re needed.

This is a recipe for disaster, because dissatisfied workers are reluctant workers. Whatever the nature of the work, you need people who are committed to doing a good job. “A fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work” is an old maxim, but one that reflects the British way of life. A way of living now under siege from the zero hours mobsters.

“Where workers are isolated and communication is poor, it’s easy for them to be abused by management.”have a regular pattern of work over a fixed period then they must be offered employment on a permanent contract, not

a casual one.”The security industry is traditionally

a low-wage economy with long hours. In addition to this many sites are not GMB-organised sites, and there is a high potential for guards to be exposed to violence. As such security guards are SIA-licensed and vetted to high standards. The big players, with whom GMB has recognition agreements, fund the license with the cost repaid if guards leave before the end of the three-year license period.

However, most guards who aren’t GMB members are on ZHCs and have to pay for their own license and training with no guarantee of work.

The logical outcome of this cut-throat business practice was perfectly demonstrated during the Olympic Games, when security firm G4S – many of whose security officers were on ZHCs – failed dismally to produce the tens of thousands of guards required to keep the sites safe.

JoB INSeCurItY Factory workers suffer

from unfair contracts.

oN CAllAndy Burnham, Shadow HealthSecretary, objects to ZHCs.

tiP of thE iCEBERG

organisers have spotlighted the excesses and are driving action by the union in the workplace and in a wider public debate.

GMB has successfully challenged ZHCs in a number of companies, where the employer has agreed minimum hours so workers have a “default position” knowing just how much they will get.

But it’s a tough fight we have on our hands. The industry is highly fragmented, with many people working alone and on night shifts. Where workers are isolated, and communication is poor, it’s easy for them to be abused by management.

Security is probably the worst in terms of exploitation, but ZHCs are also found in local government, schools, food processing, telecommunications, agriculture and some parts of manufacturing. And in the NHS, one Trust in south-west England has more than 1,000 people on ZHCs at all levels of the organisation: healthcare assistant, midwife, doctor, surgeon and admin worker. None have security of income.

Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary, Andy Burnham, has called on the coalition government to halt the spread of ZHCs in the NHS pending an urgent review into the potential risks to continuity of care and patient safety. “What we’re seeing is the casualisation of our health service, turning parts of the NHS into a temping workforce,” he warned.

Reliable figures across the nation are hard to come by, but the official government Labour Force Survey calculates that in pre-recession Britain of 2005, there were

GEt hElP fRoM GMBHave you been offered a zero

hours contract? Get in touch

with your regional office

or find out more online

at www.gmb.org.uk

toUGh fiGht

I t’s nonsensical that council workers’ pay has to be topped up by state benefits. More councils are signing up to the GMB living wage

campaign all the time, so check out the latest list of the councils that haven’t at: www.gmb.org.uk/livingwage

GMB is calling on all UK councils to pay a living wage. In England and Wales GMB wants councils to pay £7.45 per hour. With a much higher cost of living in the capital, GMB is seeking an hourly rate of £8.55 from the 33 London boroughs. The campaign is being backed by Labour Party. A sokesperson said, “Labour councils are leading the way in committing to pay a living wage to their staff and subcontracted workers. As part of Labour’s policy review we are now looking at ideas for extending it further into the private sector.”

Council rates of pay have been pushed up by GMB negotiators over time, but years of

pay freezes have meant that this progress has been halted and dragged back, leaving some GMB members at the lower end of the pay scale on £6.30 per hour. GMB is determined that members on these lower pay rates, who are forced to claim tax credits, free school meals, housing benefit and council tax benefit to make ends meet will be paid a living wage.

Around 280,000 – 16 per cent of local authority staff – would

benefit from a living wage. Jobs currently paid £6.30–£6.38

per hour include home help, teaching assistants, cleaners, grave diggers, admin assistants, sure-start,

caretakers, care workers and school crossing patrols.You will find GMB living wage

material at www.gmb.org.uk/livingwage GMB has petitions

among council workers and is meeting with the chief executives of councils and calling on elected councillors to vote for a living wage.

At the time of writing, 35 councils in England, including 10 London boroughs

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

which will pay the higher hourly rate, have committed to pay a living wage. They are Ashfield, Blackpool, Birmingham, Brent, Brighton & Hove, Calderdale, Camden, Carlisle, Chorley, Croydon, Dartford, Deal, Derby City, Ealing, Enfield, Gloucester City, Hackney, Harrow, Hounslow, Hyndburn, Islington, Lambeth, Lewisham, Newark & Sherwood, Newcastle, Norwich, Oxford City, Preston, Sheffield, Southwark, Wirral, Wolverhampton, Barking & Dagenham, Greenwich and York.

Scotland is leading the way by paying £7.20 from 1 April this year in all 26 Scottish councils. GMB Scotland intends to move on to the private sector contractors delivering catering and cleaning services to councils by extending the campaign to cover them too.

None of the 26 Northern Ireland councils have signed up to the GMB living wage aims Only two of Wales’s 22 councils, Cardiff and Swansea, have signed up to pay a living wage of £7.45.

GMB wants a living wage for members in the private sector too, not just in councils.

GMB wins a living wage of £9ph for members at Barking & Dagenham council in London.

www.gmb.org.uk16

£7.45 The hourly rate that experts

say people need

to be paid to have an

acceptable standard

of living (£8.55

in London).

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UPDaTEall the news from GMB

a living wagegMB calls on

UK councils to payIT’S A LIVING THING GMB secures a living wage at Barking & Dagenham council.

How GMB makes life easier for you

www.gmb.org.uk18

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UPDatEall the news from GMB

one afternoon…

the End

GMB workplace organisers are there to offer support and advice, so whether you are having a problem that you need help with, or if you just want to know what your rights are, call them!

you have a legal right to be a gMb

MeMber wherever you work,

whether your boss recognises gMb or not.

Thanks, Jen. if you give Me the Direct

Debit forM i’ll fill it out now. by the way,

helen is Moving to the new Depot.

Jen, i start a new Job next week anD My new boss won’t DeDuct My

gMb contributions froM My wages.

i still want to be a gMb MeMber.

what can i Do?

Don’t worry, clive. Just fill in a Direct

Debit forM anD i will senD it off to gMb.

it’s that siMple.

yes, i saw your naMes on the list of

staff who are leaving. i’ll be Meeting with

you both later in the week.

great! i’ll ask helen to fill in a MeMbership

transfer note. then payroll can keep her gMb

DeDuctions going.

Gav

in R

ober

ts

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UPDatEall the news from GMB

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REFER a FRiEnDTo earn a £50 voucher, tell an eligible

friend or relative to call British Gas on:

0800 107 1683 quoting ‘GMBMAG’ with your name,

address and telephone number.

if you receive one of the following benefits: 1. State Pension Creditor 2. Child Tax Credit with an income below £15,860or 3. A combination of the following:

Income-related employment and support allowance, which must include a work-related activity or support component

Income-based job seekers allowance

Income support

Has parental responsibility for a child who ordinariliy resides with that person where the child is:(i) under the age of 16; or(ii) 16 or over but under the age of 20 and in full-time

education (other than higher education)

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

A disabled child premium

A disability premium, enhanced disability premium or severe disability premium

A pensioner premium, higher pensioner premium or enhanced pensioner premium

AND

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

Has parental responsibility for a child who ordinariliy resides with that person where the child is:(i) under the age of 16; or(ii) 16 or over but under the age of 20 and in full-time

education (other than higher education)

Is in receipt of a disabled worker element or severe disability element

Is aged 60 years or over

AND

OR

Who qualifies?Visit www.britishgas.co.uk/smallprint or see the table below:B

ritish Gas is offering a FREE £50 voucher to anyone who refers a friend on qualifying benefits to receive free insulation worth up

to £1,000. If you have a friend on any of the benefits listed in the table to the right, you could get them FREE insulation and a £50 voucher for yourself!

The voucher will be sent to you once the installation has been completed. What’s more there is no limit on the number of people you can refer.

As well as getting FREE insulation, the customer you refer will be paid £50 too and they don’t even need to be a British Gas customer to be eligible.

The offer is part of a government initiative to help Britain’s homes become more energy efficient – and it is FREE to anyone who qualifies. The whole process is hassle free and is usually complete in less than a day. What’s more insulation can save your friend money on their bills. Loft insulation alone could save as much as £175 a year!

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

could be yours!

iSto

ck

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

£50a

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PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

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GMB Central Executive Council is backing the future of the Durham Miners’ Gala, which was first held 142 years ago and is the biggest celebration of trade union values in Britain today. However, the cost of the Gala is increasing year on year and we need your

help to keep this institution running.

Since our coalfield was destroyed 20 years ago by a vengeful Tory government, we have had no regular subscription to our funds from working miners. Our financial problems have now been further compounded, as we have to pay more than £1.4m in legal fees.

Anyone who donates £2 a month or a one-off payment of £24 a year will become a member of The Friends Of The Durham

Durham mINErS’Dave Hopper, general secretary, Durham Miners’ association appeals to GMB members

Save the

GalaMiners’ Gala Society, and each year will receive a glossy magazine with photographs of the Gala and a report of the speeches. Donations can of course be more than £2 per month if circumstances allow, and one-off payments are equally acceptable.

To join or donate, please contact us through our website (details below). You may also wish to buy one or more of the items for sale from the site.

This year’s Durham Miners’ Gala will be held on Saturday 13 July.

MINERS’ MARCH The Durham Miners’ Gala is

142 year-old tradition.

SIGN Up fOR THE GMB eNEWSLETTER AT www.gmb.org.uk national

www.gmb.org.uk 21

BRinG tHESE PaGES to liFE!

PlEaSE DonatEThe Durham Miners’ Gala

needs your help!

www.durhamminers.org

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

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

Is it true that all women get 52 weeks’ maternity leave no matter how long they have worked for their employer? Yes! The first 26 weeks of leave is known as Ordinary Maternity Leave and the second 26 weeks is Additional Maternity Leave. Employers will assume you're taking the full 52 weeks’ leave. If you want to go back to work before the 52 weeks, you must let your employer know the date you will return to work.

What if I decide not to go back to work?You never have to pay back any SMP. If you are getting more than SMP, or if you're getting payments from your employer even

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

mother carethough you are not entitled to SMP, this is Contractual or Occupational Maternity Pay. You should look at your employment contract or the maternity policy to see what it says about maternity pay.

There may be a requirement for you to pay some money back if you don’t return to work for a certain length of time.

Remember...The situation with your employer may change, so always discuss your individual

situation with your GMB workplace organiser. This is

a brief guide to your legal minimum rights and is not

a definitive guide to the law, which may change.

Fighting forsuFFerers

cancer

Get helpMacmillan has an Essential Work

& Cancer Toolkit available at at

www.macmillan.org.uk/work,

or call 0808 808 0000 for

answers, support or just a

quick chat on the issues.

www.gmb.org.uk22

natIonal

UpDateall the news from GMB

GMB and Macmillan help with cancer in the workplace

Four in 10 people in the UK will be affected by cancer at some stage of their life. Many cancer sufferers say that work is important to them, as a job can help restore normality, routine, stability, social contact and income.

However, Macmillan Cancer Support has established two hard facts: 91 per cent of workers suffer a loss of income and/or increased costs as a result of cancer, and 48 per cent of cancer patients are not given any financial support information.

Macmillan is keen to work with GMB in raising the profile on what can be done for

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

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

iphone winner!

Rex

Fea

ture

s

a paIR oF tIckets to GlastonBURy

Just register at www.gmb.org.uk and update your profile to enter!

WIn!

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

to update your GMB profile on GMB’s new-look website.

this could be you!Your chance to win a pair

of tickets to Glastonbury.

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

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

and password or create a new password

select ‘update profile’ and enter your:• email address• Mobile number • home address

step 1

step 2GMB member Mercedes Fernandez Regalado-Tivy won a brand new iPhone when she entered the prize draw in the last issue of GMB magazine.

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

last issue’s

natIonal

www.gmb.org.uk 23

BRInG these paGes to lIFe!

www.gmb.org.uk24

Be alife-saver

www.gmb.org.uk24

You might have seen Woodcraft Folk at the TUC march in London last October. There were parents, children and volunteers of all ages in our group – having fun, but taking action on a serious issue at the same time.

Woodcraft Folk is a movement for children and young people, which aims to help young people value the planet. We believe no one is too young to learn about social change, and that no one is too old to play games and have fun. We put all this into practice in our local groups, where all ages work together to make the world a fairer place.

If you’ve got children, or if you want to volunteer for a youth movement that cares passionately about society and the environment, go along to your local Woodcraft Folk group. Find your closest group at www.woodcraft.org.uk Alternatively email info@woodcraft.org.uk or call 020 7703 4173.

Verity Jones on why you should join Woodcraft Folk

Have fun and cHangetHe world

VERITY JONES Verity loves being part

of Woodcraft Folk.

SERIOUSLY FUNWoodcraft Folk membersuse fun to make a serious point.

GMB backs charity aCLT’s call for blood donors

T here’s nothing more tragic than a young life needlessly lost, as Beverley De-Gale and Orin Lewis told GMB’s equality conference.

Their son, Daniel, had battled for years with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia; a blood-related cancer. He had overcome many of the hurdles that a cancer sufferer faces, however at the age of 21; he tragically passed away from an unrelated illness.

Aged eight Daniel needed a life-saving bone marrow transplant if he was to win his [then] three-year battle against leukaemia. At this time in 1996, there were only 550 donors from black communities on the entire UK bone marrow register. Sadly, for the black, mixed race and ethnic communities this translated to a one in 250,000 chance of

finding a matching bone marrow donor; compare this to the one in five chance for a white member of the UK population. Such statistics were the reason for Beverley and Orin forming the ACLT. For the past 17 years the charity’s few but hard-working staff and

volunteers have recruited thousands of blood donors. There are now 40,000 people of minority ethnic origin on the UK bone marrow registers. This has improved the odds, but only to one in 100,000.

It is the racially specific characteristics of bone marrow that mean compatible donors

for black and mixed race sufferers must come from the black or mixed race population. GMB urges members to sign up to become a blood or organ donor, irrespective of racial origin,

but particularly if you are from a black, minority ethnic or mixed race community. Sufferers from these backgrounds are three times more likely to need an organ transplant but only one per cent of people on the NHS organ donor register are from this community!

The ACLT (African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust) was inspired by Daniel. After his successful bone marrow transplant, he enjoyed a precious 12 years with his friends and family. To give other sufferers a similar opportunity, the charity raises awareness throughout the UK, to enable potential donors to come forward and make them potential life-savers.

To join the bone marrow, blood or organ donation registers, or to make a financial donation, call the ACLT on 020 8240 4480 or visit aclt.org

HAPPY FAMILY Beverley De-Gale and Orin Lewis

with their son Daniel.

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UPDaTeall the news from GMB

Fight For the Future

Y orkshire and North Derbyshire GMB members were among the 150,000 people marching in London for a better future last

October. People from across the UK headed to the capital to demand a ‘Future That Works’ and send a clear message to the government. Thousands more added their voice in demonstrations in Glasgow and Belfast.

The day was organised by the TUC in protest against the government's austerity measures and called for a new approach, which puts growth and an economy that works for ordinary families at the heart of government policy.

GMB members from the region, along with thousands of other trade unionists, joined people from every walk of life and every ethnicity, to take part in something amazing, collectively making a socially conscious statement to send to the government. Austerity has failed and it has failed the most disadvantaged and vulnerable in society.

Iris Walters, from Leeds General branch, said: “I marched because I believe that this government has got

everything wrong. They are slashing public sector jobs, putting people

out of work, meaning they don`t have wages to spend in

their home locality and they are forced to live on state benefits. Instead of making a significant contribution to society they are living off it.

This is economic madness, it just allows the rich to get

richer while the rest of us take the hit.”

TIME TO ACTBlowing the whistle on government austerity.

MAKING A STANDIris Walters speaks up!

gMB regional secretary, tim roache, has criticised the government for the closure of yet another Remploy factory. “The closure is a bitter blow to the workforce at the Manor Lane site in Leeds,” he told The Pulse. “It was more than just a factory; it was a lifeline to many of the workers. The government has attempted to justify the closure on economic grounds but many of the factories have been allowed to deliberately run down.”

The decision to close 36 of the government controlled sites was made in March 2012, even though it would mean job losses for hundreds of disabled workers.

On the day the Leeds site closed, distraught workers spoke of their fear for the future. Addressing the workforce, Steve Morris, GMB organiser, said: “You have done all you can in the fight to save this factory and your jobs, you should hold your heads up high. It is the government that has let you down, closing Remploy factories is the wrong thing to do.”

The sacked workers waited until they finished their final shift before staging a protest outside of the factory doors. As a symbolic gesture, a coffin was carried to a nearby cemetery to mark the end of an era.

GMB slamsReMployclosuRe

www.gmb.org.uk 25

regioNal

all the news from gMB

regioNaluPDate

gMB Yorkshire and North Derbyshire members descend on london for the Future that Works march

Factory cuts are a “bitter blow” from a government that doesn’t care

BeCoMea gMBWorKPlaCeorgaNiSerWWW.gMB.org.uK/gMBWo

H ow do we put an end to domestic abuse? That question was asked time and time again during a two-day seminar

focusing on domestic violence and the wide-ranging problems that it brings.

Event organisers, Joan Keane and Michelle Bateson from GMB, decided to hold the seminar in a bid to highlight the sensitive issue of domestic abuse and to look at ways in which the growing problem can be tackled. Guest speakers at the event included John and Penny Clough, whose daughter was brutally murdered, criminal lawyer Sean Conway from Thompsons Solicitors, ex-offender Dave Downs, who has turned his life around and now works with children to help tackle behavioural problems, and Jez Rhodes, a GMB workplace organiser from Bradford, who runs a support group for men in his local area.

GMB seminar calls for an end to domestic abuse

The seminar was hard-hitting. For the first part, John and Penny Clough told the harrowing story of their daughter, Jane, who was murdered by her ex-boyfriend, Jonathan Vass, after she reported him to

the police for raping her. He was charged with nine

counts of rape and four counts of assault, but

at the initial hearing the judge declared that he was not a threat to Jane and freed him on bail. She lived in fear, not only for

herself but for her baby daughter. On the evening of 25 July 2010, those fears were justified when Vass followed Jane to her place of work and stabbed her 71 times before cutting her throat. Vass was never charged with the rapes, only the murder, because the judge deemed them insignificant.

“Anyone can be affected by domestic abuse.”

JANE’S STORY

REGiONAlUPDATE

All the news from GMB

www.gmb.org.uk26

The Justice for Jane campaign was set up by John and Penny. It aims to change the law around a victim’s right of appeal, and to make judges more accountable. The first aim has been achieved with an amendment being made to the Bail Act, which now gives victims the right of appeal should another judge make such a blinkered decision; the other aim is a work in progress. Penny has been

SEEKING JUSTICEMichelle Bateson, John Clough,

Penny Clough and Joan Keane.

iSto

ck

awarded an MBE for all her hard work in driving this campaign forward, and deservedly so. We are all safer thanks to the Justice for Jane campaign.

Support worker Dave Downs spoke about his own background and experience of violence, which didn’t involve domestic abuse but did result in him spending time in prison. He is now using these negative experiences to work with the police and schools to tackle behavioural problems. The results simply speak for themselves; challenging kids learn how to deal with bad situations and channel their anger in other, more positive ways.

GMB workplace organiser Jez Rhodes, from Bradford, spoke about the work he does supporting a local men’s group. The group was formed to help deal with anger management issues and supports men from all walks of life who feel their anger and fear can sometimes become all-consuming.

They learn different coping mechanisms, and through the support provided by Jez they can help themselves change their own belief system. He also runs a ‘lads and dads’ group, which has seen amazing results in family life.

Domestic abuse is on the increase and it doesn’t discriminate; anyone can be affected by it. This brings us back to the earlier question; what can we do to put an end to domestic abuse? The answer to that is many things, which include highlighting and addressing the issue through campaigning, and the less obvious solution – work with the perpetrators towards stopping their violent behaviour.

SPEAkiNG fROM ExPERiENcE

Barrier and defence systems producer Hesco Bastion has signed a recognition agreement with GMB. Following a swift campaign, GMB met with the company’s senior management and ACAS to hammer out the basis of an agreement.

Talks continued at the Leeds site with company managers Kevin Lyons and Andrew Taylor until an agreement was finally reached. The workforce elected two GMB workplace organisers, John Robertshaw and Nick Farrah.

The recognition agreement was signed by GMB’s membership development officer, Bill Chard, and chief executive, Mike Hughes, in the presence of GMB senior organiser, Neil Derrick, the GMB reps and Kevin Lyons.

Hesco Bastion is famous for the production of defence barriers

used in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the military base known as Camp Bastion is named after the Leeds-made barrier. It is home to more than 28,000 people in Helmand Province.

Bill Chard said: “I met with the workforce on a number of occasions, and the steps from first contact to signing the recognition agreement were contained to within six months. The region is currently campaigning for recognition at a number of other workplaces where employees have decided they need union organisation, and in today’s Tory Britain they have never needed a union more.”

DEAl DONEDefence company Hesco Bastion signs recognition deal with GMB

NEW PARTNERSHIP GMB and Hesco Bastion

join forces.

MARCHING ON GMB defends Hesco

Bastion workers.

www.gmb.org.uk 27

SIGN UP fOR THE GMB eNEWSlETTER AT www.gmb.org.uk REGiONAl

DON’T SUffER iN SilENcEIf you are experiencing domestic abuse or know someone who is, call the National Domestic Violence helpline (24-hour) on 0808 200 0247. To find out more about GMB’s campaign to put an end to domestic abuse contact Joan Keane or Michelle Bateson on 0845 337 7777.

RETiREfROMWORkNOT GMBWWW.GMB.ORG.Uk/GMBRMA

UNITED fRONT People from all walks of

life are searching for a solution.

GMB’s education department is proud to report recent figures that show that a high percentage of GMB representatives are being trained to receive diplomas that befit their position within the workplace.

Back in 2005 GMB’s education department re-launched the Annual Education Programme. It was designed to provide a learning pathway that would educate and train GMB representatives to enable them to deliver a high-quality, confident and competent service for our members.

The programme has been developed year on year following feedback from representatives who undertook training and the 2013 programme now has seven individual learning pathways.

These pathways culminate with representatives being able to embark on training courses that equate to a diploma level accredited qualification.

You can find a copy of the 2013 education programme at www.gmbyorkshire.org.uk/education/

You can make a difference. If you do not currently have an elected representative in your workplace and would like to find out more about the role, then please contact GMB on 0845 377 7777.

earninG & learninG

GMB young members tell amazon to pay its tax

Get qualified with GMB

G MB members have handed an Anti-Social Behaviour Order (ASBO) to Amazon at its Doncaster distribution centre. The company’s

accounts show that despite booming business it did not pay a single penny of corporation tax in either 2010 or 2011.

Corporation tax is one of the biggest sources of income for the government and is used to pay for services such as hospitals, schools and care homes.

Tim Roache, GMB regional secretary, said: “If these tax avoiding companies paid tax, just as decent hard working GMB members do, then the extra revenue coming into the treasury coffers would make the UK’s budget cuts unnecessary.”

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want to Be aGMB rep?

Tim Roache, continued: “We are highlighting the fact that by avoiding paying their taxes, there is a negative impact on funding for hospitals, schools and other services. What they are doing may well be within the law but the majority of people find this behaviour morally repugnant. All tax

avoiders should be made to feel ashamed; this is the unacceptable face of capitalism.”

If they paid what they should the treasury coffers would be richer to the tune of £25bn and the austerity measures could be avoided!

If you are under 27 and would like to get involved in events

like this, join GMB’s Young Members’ Network. Contact

GMB young member officer Rachel Harrison to find out

more. Email rachel.harrison@gmb.org.uk or call

0845 337 7777. Or search Facebook GMB Yorkshire

and north derbyshire Young Members.

are You under 27?

UNHAPPY SHOPPERSGMB members give

Amazon an ASBO.

asboaMazon

www.gmb.org.uk28

reGionalupdate

all the news from GMB

welcomenew faces

laura rushton joins the Sheffield team as the new receptionist/office administrator, to replace Jan Murray who sadly left GMB due to ill health. Laura has recently moved into the area with her family and has a wealth of

experience to share. trudy frampton joins the political department in Wakefield. She has previously worked for Colin Burgon, former MP for Elmet and

Rothwell. Politically, Trudy has already been in the ‘thick of it’

dealing with constituents and irate politicians, so she will fit in well to the GMB team. louise foster-wilson joins the organising team in Wakefield. She has previously worked as a nurse for Airedale Hospital in Keighley. There she became involved with GMB as lead workplace organiser while organising campaigns around the changes that are being made to the NHS.

lOUiSE

lAURA

tRUdY

introducing GMB ripon and thirsk General

● do we have Your correct details?

So that GMB can communicate with you in the most effective way we need to check that we have all your correct details. Simply fill in the postcard inside this magazine, letting us know your name, mobile number, email address and workplace details. Don’t worry, we’ll pick up the cost of the postage, so make sure you fill yours in today.

● the social network

Do you want to keep up to date with the latest news from the Yorkshire and North Derbyshire region? Now you can connect with us on Facebook to get the latest information straight away.

Search for ‘GMB Yorkshire and north derbyshire region’ and ‘GMB Yorkshire and north derbyshire Young Members’ to join the groups.

● enGlish classes GMB is running English classes at the regional office in Wakefield, courtesy of the Community Organising Project team, to help members when English is not their first language. Classes are run by volunteers who are full-time students at Wakefield College. COP project worker Piotr Plonka said: “I can’t say how grateful I am to Dzesica Kozlowska and Iza Bobinska who run the classes. It proves that full-time students are not only interested in trade unionism, but as active members they can also promote lifelong learning.”

If you are interested in attending classes then please contact Piotr on 01924 887277 or email him at piotr.plonka@gmb.org.uk

Boardnotice

well donelesleY!

congratulations to GMB employee Lesley O’Mara, who has recently completed her five-year degree in Social Sciences. Lesley studied with the Open University, which meant that she could choose from a wide range of modules and complete them in her own time. “I wrote essays on human rights, the role of international organisations such as the World Bank, and differing views on providing aid to developing countries,” says Lesley. “I had a 70 per cent mark in my final essay, I was absolutely amazed!”

Lesley encourages all GMB members to consider studying. “It has increased my confidence and I’ve found subjects interesting that I would not have considered before.”

lesley o’Mara gets her degree

UNHAPPY SHOPPERSGMB members give

Amazon an ASBO.

www.gmb.org.uk 29

SiGN UP fOR tHE GMB eNEWSlEttER At www.gmb.org.uk reGional

congratulations go to the members from Severfield Watson Ltd in Thirsk on the recent formation of their own branch, Ripon and Thirsk General. The branch was formed after GMB reached a recognition agreement with the company after just two days of negotiations. In this time 170 employees signed up to GMB. A great deal of time and effort was spent building the foundation for good industrial relations at the site, which has enabled GMB members to gain improvements to their terms and conditions of employment.

Speaking to The Pulse, branch secretary, Ben Kirkham, said, “We’re in this position thanks to the support of Bill Chard and Rachel Dix from GMB and because of the sustained hard work and commitment of everyone

branch

involved in the branch, especially the workplace representatives. In discussions with GMB representatives at the site, it was decided that rather than having a workplace branch it would be far better to set up a general branch to support the local community, and to attract new members from businesses in the area using the success of Severfield Watson Ltd as a blueprint.”

Gmb’s new

WElCOME ABOARdSay hello to our new branch!

injuredat work?www.GMB.orG.uk/injuredatwork

www.gmb.org.uk30

GMBYORKSHIRE & NORTH

DERBYSHIRE

GMB REGIONal OffIcE Regional Secretary: Tim Roache.

Grove Hall, 60 College Grove Road, Wakefield WF1 3RN

T: 0845 337 7777 F: 01924 887272

GMB BRIGHOuSE OffIcE Clifton House, Clifton Road,

Brighouse HD6 1SL T: 0845 337 7777 F: 01484 721 222

GMB cHESTERfIElD OffIcE 34 Glumangate, Chesterfield S40 1TX

T: 0845 337 7777 F: 01246 234521

GMB SHEffIElD OffIcE Thorne House, 188-190 Norfolk Street,

Sheffield S1 1SY T: 0845 337 7777 F: 0114 273 9601

GMB YORK OffIcE 75 Gillygate, York YO31 7EA

T: 0845 337 7777 F: 01904 674045

GMB REGIONal WEBSITE www.gmbyorkshire.org.uk

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.

IaN GREENIan Green was a GMB workplace organiser at Arla Foods and was the branch president for GMB Asdair branch. Ian, 55, died after a short illness. He was an active trade unionist and since his election in 1999 helped organise his workplace, providing invaluable support and assistance to many GMB members. Ian was part of a team of seven GMB reps at the company and his easy and efficient manner will be missed.

lORD GEOff lOfTHOuSE Geoff was born into poverty in 1925 and started work at a colliery at 14. A member of Yorkshire Coal Staff branch of Apex, he served on Pontefract and Wakefield councils between 1962-1978, when he became an MP. He was Deputy Speaker in the House of Commons, was knighted in 1995 and stood down at the 1997 general election when he was elevated to a peerage as Baron Lofthouse of Pontefract. He will be missed.

ROBERT MacKIERobert (Bob) Mackie was a GMB workplace organiser at Remploy in York for many years; a GMB life member and branch president for York General branch. Bob used to attend Remploy wage conferences where he was an articulate ambassador for the region. He and his wife Moira, who also worked at the Remploy York factory, had an almost parental care for their work colleagues. Bob will be sadly missed.

football gives B30 branch a boost

Back of the net!

Strip SponSorSGMB B30 branch sponsors

Queensbury Celtic football team.

Bradford Public Services branch has gone from strength to strength following its re-launch in 2010. Back then membership stood at just 1,200 but recently that figure has increased to just short of 2,500.

Branch secretary, Gary Nesbitt said, “Primarily we are a public services branch, however, we are seeking to forge stronger links in the community through the sponsorship of a local football team, which is run by one of our members. Queensbury

Celtic football team now carry GMB’s logo on their football shirts. Our involvement with the club helps us to spread the word about trade unionism and to explain to the youngsters what unions are about and what we do.”

The branch also provides funding for an anger management group, which is run by Jez Rhodes, who is a workplace organiser in the branch (see feature on page 26).

REGIONaluPDaTE

all the news from GMB

OBITuaRIES

RETIREfROMWORKNOT GMBWWW.GMB.ORG.uK/GMBRMa

You can follow us @GMBCampaigns to stay connected and find out all the latest news.

fOllOW uS ON

www.gmb.org.uk 31

Join GMB at www.gmbyorkshire.org.ukOr if you have any questions call 0845 337 7777

Just fill in the form below and hand it to your local GMB workplace organiser, or post it to GMB Yorkshire and North Derbyshire region, FREEPOST NEA524, Grove Hall, 60 College Grove Road, Wakefield WF1 3SY (you do not need a stamp).

How do i join?

GMB Yorkshire and north Derbyshire region membership application form

Remember – GMB membership covers you for all of your jobs, wherever you work. GMB contributions are £2.70 if you work 21 hours or more per week, £1.55 if you work between 10-20 hours per week and just 85p if you work less than 10 hours per week.