GMB Winter 2013 Winter 2013 (5)

The magazine for GMB members www.gmb.org.uk | winter 2013 TaKinG acTiOn! GMB members demand fair pay GMB car winner! You could be next! Turn to page 17 to enter GMB says outlaw employer hostility See p10

How you can make a diference and have your say! GMB’s PurPose “We work to improve the quality of life and provide new opportunities for all our members and their families. We aim to improve the lives of GMB members and make sure that their achievements lead the way for working people in Britain and across the world. . . We will aim to end exploitation, discrimination and injustice.” Taken from the GMB Rule Book do you want to Be Part of this? • If you have an issue you feel passionate about, tell us about FOLK HERO GMB Congress 2014 will take place what you want to change. • Your issue doesn’t have to be about the workplace, it can be about in Nottingham, home of Robin Hood. the wider political and social issues that afect you and your family. You can help GMB shape a better future and make a real diference how do i Get involved? • What you have to say could be your chance to be part of influencing GMB decision making or GMB campaigns • Contact your GMB branch and tell them about your ideas • Your issue could even be turned into a motion for debate at GMB Congress in June 2014 • Your branch’s motions must reach Regional Ofice by 31 January 2014 For more information please go to www.gmb.org.uk/congress GMB Congress 2014 takes place from Sunday 8 June to Thursday 12 June 2014 in Nottingham. To attend you must be nominated by your branch, and be a paid-up member for 53 weeks. 02 www.gmb.org.uk

In this issue... Paul Hayes GMB London regional secretary all eyes GMB members rally to Get GMB in your pocket with protect their pay Page 4 the new mobile app Page 16 are on ed Regional National Miliband 4 Better deal with GMB 9 Employer hostility On leaving this year’s GMB members across the region strike for Anti-union hostility should be against the law Labour Party Conference better pay and conditions I felt somewhat more 12 A Living Wage encouraged and indeed 6 Political update GMB demands an extra £1 an hour motivated. The reasons for this was that Warren Kenny on how you can get within Ed Miliband’s speech he not only politically active with GMB 13 Paul Kenny says spelt out that Labour stands for diferent The latest from your general secretary values than the Tories, he also put himself 8 Easy access How GMB can help you overcome 14 Wealth of the nation right out there and said that if he becomes Prime Minister his policies will immigration problems GMB reveals the UK’s economic performance by region be to put the consumer first and he will 25 Zero tolerance not stand alongside the Tories’ divisive Why GMB members should not put up with 16 Get online with GMB! ideology. He told us that a Labour zero hours contracts Get the GMB app for your smartphone! government would immediately repeal the bedroom tax, tackle zero hours 26 Sisters doin’ it! 17 Win a car! contracts, freeze electricity and gas GMB London Sisters push for equal Switch to Direct Debit for your chance to prices for two years, and build more representation in GMB win a Toyota Aygo worth £9,000 homes at a rate of 200,000 a year. He will 27 In with a ‘Shout!’ 18 Eyes on the NHS repeal the current policies that the Tories Join GMB’s LGBT equality group GMB is fighting for workers’ rights in the NHS have introduced on a daily basis that are destroying our National Health Service. 30 Pension protection 20 Put Labour in power He also gave a commitment to give GMB pushes for a fair deal for pensioners Why you should vote Labour in 2015 16-year-olds the vote. He expressed with passion the 31 Contact GMB 23 Worldwide solidarity diferences between him and David Need to talk to someone at GMB? Here are How GMB’s International Solidarity Fund is Cameron and the simple message was some names and numbers you can call winning justice in Latin America “Cameron’s the man who looks after the Generals within the greed society, and Miliband is the leader who wants to look after Joe Public”. You know what, I haven’t heard that sort of commitment from a GMB regional editor Rose Conroy: 020 7391 6755 Produced by Future Plus, Labour Leader for some time. Editorial director Stephen Pierce 30 Monmouth Street, How was the Miliband speech Editor Matt Robinson Bath BA1 2BW Art editor Johnny Goddard received? We know it didn’t please Contributors Victoria Ford, Ed Holden everybody, especially the Daily Mail Advertising manager Steve Hulbert We are committed to only using whose spiteful response was to smear his Account managers David Parker, Lisa Dunham magazine paper which is derived from well managed, certified Production and procurement manager Matt Eglinton forestry and chlorine-free dead father, a man who fought against manufacture. Future Publishing Production co-ordinator Tracy Nugent and its paper suppliers have fascism in the Royal Navy for this country been independently certified in Art directors Stuart Hobbs, Dermot Rushe accordance with the rules of the in the Second World War, no wonder they FSC (Forest Stewardship Council). Cover image Kevin Nixon Would you like to advertise in GMB Candid magazine? you Ed, make us proud. Director, Future Plus UK Jayne Caple call it the “gutter press”. All eyes are on Printed at St Ives Direct On behalf the regional committee, I wish you all good health and a peaceful New Year. Please contact steve hulbert on 01225 442 244 (ex 5205) Accepting of advertising and inserts does not imply GMB endorsement of the product or services. Remember that GMB recommends all services and ofers 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. www.gmb.org.uk 03

CLEAN SWEEP GMB members from OCS make a stand over pay. Pushed to to the limit OCS, KenSingTOn GmB members stand up for & ChelSeA The issue: Despite paying well below the living wage, OCS told GMB members that it was implementing a pay freeze. The GMB London Living Wage is £8.55 per hour. conditions Action: OCS refused to improve its ofer, so their pay and GMB members unanimously voted to take strike action. A day of action followed in August and saw members uniting at cross the region, GMB members have been uniting to show their employers that it is time that pay rises came back on the agenda. OCS sites. A In many cases GMB negotiators can talk to Result: The dispute is ongoing at employers and work out a solution, but where bosses won’t time of press. get around the table and talk, GMB members are left with no option but to take action. These are just a few cases where GMB members have shown their strength and told their employers they deserve fair treatment. The results speak for themselves. VICTORY WAVE A well-organised GMB membership protects you at work Strike action should secure and keeps you safe from tightfisted bosses. GMB member better pay. 04 www.gmb.org.uk www.gmb.org.uk

SIGN uP fOR ThE GMB eNEWSLETTER AT www.gmb.org.uk RegiOnAl BRiAR ChemiCAlS, nORwiCh CLEAN SWEEP GMB members from OCS make a stand over pay. The issue: 124 GMB members working at Briar Action: Members rejected unfair ofers and a final ofer Chemicals in Norwich wanted a pay rise. of an unconsolidated one-of payment and bonus before organising two days of strike action. ViP POlymeRS, Result: GMB members won a pay rise. hunTingdOn The issue: GMB members at VIP Polymers were told they face a 10 per cent pay cut and severe erosion of their terms and conditions. Action: 50 GMB members working at the rubber sealant plant in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, reluctantly took two days of strike action to resist the Result: The dispute is in progress as we go to press. harsh cuts. miTie, INDuSTRIAL ACTION STAnSTed AiRPORT GMB members at Stansted organise to fight for better pay. SwiSSPORT, London Stansted were ofered a two per cent pay rise and the The issue: GMB members who work on the security scanner at STAnSTed AiRPORT loss of their overtime payments of time and a half and their £15 night shift premium. The issue: 200 GMB members employed by Swissport on Action: 92 per cent of GMB members voted to take industrial the ground handling contract at London Stansted Airport requested better pay. Result: Mitie paid a two per cent pay rise backdated from action over the August bank holiday weekend. Action: 88 per cent of GMB members voted in favour of October 2012 and reinstated the overtime and premium rates. industrial action in support of their request. The outcome underlines the importance of high density membership and the strong leadership qualities of GMB Result: The dispute is ongoing at time of going to press. workplace organiser Stephen Taylor. www.gmb.org.uk 505 www.gmb.org.uk

reGional reGional UpDate UpDate all the news from GMB all the news from GMB Update! political Warren Kenny on the importance of GMB’s voice in party politics e are now just 18 months hard to ensure that politicians share and many of our regional MPs and councillors to away from the next general advance the values of our members. Our prevent more public contracts being awarded election and the opportunity political engagement is important to ensure to employers known to have been involved in W for us all to decide who will be our collective values remain firmly rooted in the Blacklisting of workers (see page 9). responsible for governing our futures. the Labour party. Thanks to Tower Hamlets Labour Group for Between now and polling day in 2015 we Since the last general election in 2010, GMB being the first council to ban all companies should not forget the callous, destructive, has significantly increased its investment in which have been involved in the practice of divisive attacks on working class people, our national and regional political resources. Blacklisting workers from tendering for families, and the most vulnerable in our society We have a new political strategy, we’ve contracts at their council. already inflicted by this Tory led government. introduced regional We have also been working with many These kind of tactics political campaign councils and Labour groups to identify how were last seen during “GMB has helped forums, we’ve best to tackle the coalition driven ‘Bedroom the years of Poll Tax appointed regional Tax’ which, if elected, the Labour party will and the Thatcher to deliver working political oficers and scrap in 2015. government. branches have If this Tory led class politicians.” elected their own Free School MealS government is political oficers too! allowed back into Our investment and Alongside many of our Labour-run councils, power for another five strategy has helped reshape and GMB has been working with members of the years then further devastating consequences refocus our work with Constituency Labour Greater London Authority (GLA) to introduce for millions more families across the UK will Parties (CLP’s) and by working together we FREE School meals for ALL primary school almost certainly follow. have helped to deliver many more working children, not just those up to the age of seven Collectively, trade unions represent millions class politicians who (see full story of people. GMB, alongside other trade unions share a deep opposite). were responsible for the formation of the rooted connection GMB national Labour party more than 100 years ago. with our members, president Mary That’s why, ever since, we’ve been working their communities Turner, Islington and the values the Councillor Richard Labour party was Watts and London formed to Assembly member represent many Fiona Twycross are years before. calling for In the GMB universal FREE London region we school meals to be have been POLITICALLY ACTIVE included in ALL campaigning with GMB has increased its political local authority investment since 2010. Watch See our local branch video of the Bedford the viDeo demonstration to save children’s services here www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLLmtULhMKQ 06 www.gmb.org.uk

reGionaleGionaleGional FOLLOw Us On TwITTEr @GMBLondonregion r r manifestos in 2014 Recently, GMB To gain and strengthen our employment and also to be activists turned rights for working people we need more included in the out in their Labour MEPs to help deliver our values at the Labour Party hundreds to highest level. In all elections, YOU really can manifesto for the campaign against make a diference. GMB’s Regional Political general election the closure of NHS Forum has already begun planning our campaign in 2015. children’s services campaigns across the region for these at Bedford important elections. leSS than Hospital. This sort We will be working hard in all of our target Zero of campaigning is areas across London and if you want to help On THE MArCH vitally important. us stop the harsh Tory cuts, stop the GMB oficers and GMB members march to save In our previous destruction of our NHS and bring back social activists have children’s services. political reports you justice, you need to get involved. Together we been campaigning against zero would have seen really can make a diference. Doing nothing hours contracts at major employers such as some of the work we’ve already been will not change the direction this government Sports Direct, Amazon, and McDonalds. It’s at involved in which delivered fantastic Labour is taking. times like these that trade unions, labour Party gains in the Eastern region county councils and politicians can work together to council elections in May. We also continue to get the best results (see page 25). support our Labour MEP candidates Alex Get involveD! Let’s not forget the impact this Tory led Mayer (Eastern Region) and Kamaljeet Jandu To find out how you can get government has had on ‘our’ NHS. They (London); but there’s much more we need to involved in GMB’s political promised to protect the NHS yet we are do during the next 18 months! activity or simply join the seeing A&E, maternity and many other vital We have been nominating and we will be hundreds of members on our services under constant threat of closure. Our supporting many of our members when they activist email list then please email ambulance services and personnel being stand as Parliamentary candidates. With your [email protected] driven to breaking point through cuts in help, they can go on to become Labour party or call 020 8202 8272 funding and staf shortages across the NHS MPs at the next general election. or 01462 499 650 through a lack of investment. But before then, next May, we have council You can also follow We must stand up for our NHS so please elections in which we will be given the the GMB London join GMB’s campaigns to prevent it from being opportunity to elect MEPs to sit in the Region on Twitter privatised. Find out how to get involved by European Parliament where many of the UK’s @GMBlondonregion emailing [email protected] employment rights are hard fought for. Food for thought GMB pushes for healthy free school meals GMB national president and former dinner lady Mary Turner, a long time campaigner for healthy free school meals, addressed a GMB fringe meeting at this year's Labour Party Conference and told of her fight against junk food. She has been campaigning to her local council to get good quality food for pupils in Brent. The leader of Brent Council, Muhammed Butt, has vowed to look into healthy meals in schools and you can be assured that GMB members George Fraser and Mary Turner will be on his case to ensure it becomes reality. The London boroughs of Islington, Newham and Southwark currently provide free meals to their pupils and this is already proving very beneficial to pupils in terms of behaviour, attention span and learning, all of which have significantly improved. This puts pressure on other Labour Councils across the BrAIn FOOD UK to get on and provide free meals before Rex Features the 2014 Local Elections. THE BEsT sErVICE concentration and learning. Good food helps improve Muhammed Butt and George Fraser GMB will also approach other councils to support healthy school meals. promote this vitally important issue. www.gmb.org.uk 07

reGioNal Update all the news from Gmb mb has a specialised service for GMB members who need to navigate the UK’s complicated immigration rules. Our advice is to let GMB’s G accredited solicitor guide you through the process with honest, reliable and friendly advice. GMB’s service can ofer help with a range of immigration issues, including applications, administration reviews and immigration and asylum chambers appeals. GMB’s legal service ofers a range of services for immigrant workers. Here’s where GMB can assist you: How Gmb CaN Help • Visitor visas for tourists, family, business and marriage • Points-based immigration applications • Family applications, including unmarried partners • EEA applications for European Economic Area migrants • Settlement applications for indefinite leave to remain • Representation on appeal or administrative review • Long residence applications • Removal and deportation • Asylum and human rights applications • Citizenship applications • Same day UKBA service and UKBA priority postal service Gmb members have access to a legal service that will demystify the dificulties of Need to kNow more? To find out more about GMB’s immigration britain’s immigration laws service contact GMB on 0208 202 8272. Serving the Community Gmb visits Gujarati HAPPY TO HELP community Navratri festival The GMB stand was a hit at the festival. Gmb members took part in October’s Brent Navratri festival organised by the DKNS, SSVA and Brahma Samaj. GMB London Region reps and GMB’s immigration lawyer – Bhavini Bhatt – attended the event to raise awareness of GMB’s immigration services. This event gave GMB a great opportunity to meet with the Gujarati community in Brent and answer queries on immigration and work-related issues. The extraordinary immigration service ofered by GMB (more details above) is an excellent benefit to members facing immigrations problems. Meeting members of the Gujarati community gave GMB the chance to explain how we can help. Rex Features/iStock GMB London region and its immigration lawyers wish to thank the organisers for making this event possible. 08 www.gmb.org.uk

NATIONAl UPDATE MAG TO lIfE! BrING YOUr All the news from GMB 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. Interfering with workers’ union rights should be a SEE YOU IN COURT! GMB activists protest outside Swansea Crown Court. criminal ofence, says GMB he TUC Congress has backed a corporations are GMB call for laws to make it a unafraid to take criminal ofence for hostile this kind of action.” T employers to interfere with the civil Martin’s comments rights of workers who seek the support of a come at a time when trade union when they have problems at work. unions are unhappy that companies who Martin Smith, GMB national organiser, said: Rex Features/iStock “So hostile are employers like workers have still have blacklisted Amazon, Next and Sports Direct not been held that union organisation is accountable. GMB driven underground and union members are forced to adopt wants a Leveson- ArE YOU ON ThE Martin added: “Oppressive activity at work BlACklIsT? the tactics of the French style inquiry into the practice. Resistance or a human rights campaign under a that denies our members their basic human Contact Phil Read, GMB totalitarian regime. The rights should be against the law. GMB calls on blacklisting Liaison Oficer blacklisting of 3,214 the next Labour government to make it a on 07840 897 997 or construction workers criminal ofence for an employer to deny [email protected] across the country workers their basic right to organise shows that themselves and seek the support of a trade union when they have problems at work.” GET ON THE CASE! We need a Leveson-style inquiry into blacklisting. TURN OVER FOR MORE ON EMPLOYER HOSTILITY www.gmb.org.uk 09

national UPDatE all the news from GMB is your boss this Daily Mirror columnist Paul Routledge on how GMB is fighting employer hostility very employee is free to join a right to organise and trade union – and not get the sack seek the support of a just for doing so. trade union when they E That’s the theory. The reality on have problems. the shopfloor can be very diferent. As too The 2013 TUC Congress has endorsed this many workers are finding, employer hostility strategy after GMB national organiser Martin is spreading throughout industry. Smith urged that the next Labour Two hundred years after the Tolpuddle government must do more than repeal old Martyrs were transported to Australia for anti-union laws. They must deliver protection daring to organise themselves against from bully bosses who strike fear into starving wages, history is repeating itself. workers who join a union. Employers are targetting workers who seek to bring the benefits of trade unionism GMB in aMazon to their place of work. They might not be clapped in leg-irons and shipped of to This corporate bullying is widespread. Take Botany Bay, but they do face discrimination Amazon, the hugely successful online and even dismissal. shopping firm. It takes billions of pounds in It takes a brave man or women to stand up sales every year – on which they pay as little for our rights tax as possible. supposedly “Left to their GMB is committed to guaranteed by law. organising and brave men and women own devices representing Thankfully, there are workpeople at willing to take up the employers spy Amazon. Two thirds of in every workplace the company’s 15,000 shouldn’t be left to fight and they lie.” workers in this country challenge. But they are agency workers. alone. They need legal And the agency isn’t protection from employers like Next, Amazon even a UK operation. It’s a Dutch agency, so and Sports Direct who actively prevent they’re not protected by even the inadequate employees turning to unions when they have regulations applying to agencies here. They problems in the workplace. need a union, but they live in fear of what Working people have a theoretical right might happen if they dare let Amazon know under international law to free association they have joined and are organising support and combination with whoever they choose. to resist a bullying management. Being a But hostile employers deny this right by trade unionist at Amazon is like being in an intimidating or victimising anyone who turns underground movement, like the French to a union for help. It’s time such intimidation wartime resistance. was outlawed by making it a criminal ofence It’s as bad as that. I can’t even tell you interfere with workers exercising their civil where these brave GMB members work 10 www.gmb.org.uk

BRinG thEsE PaGEs to lifE! national because they might be identified and their traditional industries like coal jobs put in jeopardy. and steel, employment has Or take Next, another shopping chain that shifted to retail, distribution, makes handsome profits. Earlier this year, information technology, call GMB members employed in their stores centres and similar workplaces. fought and won a campaign to stop the They almost always lack company from imposing a cut in hours representation, because worked for all workers to less than twelve and business bosses are hostile a half hours a week. The aim of this and resistant to unions. management trick was to avoid the company They don’t want workers to paying the employer’s share of National exercise their legal rights, iStock x 3 Insurance contributions, saving money and meagre as they are. They hate the very idea of collective diminishing workers’ rights. bargaining. They want to hire What WE nEED and fire without restraint. But NEXT UP that’s where trade unionism Next workers vote for That battle was won, but at a cost. There is a is most needed, and where it the right to have a union. constant anxiety that Next will exact revenge must go, to help those who and find pretexts to force them out of need it most. into workplaces to deal work because they forced the The demand is there. When GMB asked with problems they face at work – if need be employer to back down Asda distribution depot workers across the with sanctions against recalcitrant companies – and that some of them UK what they want in recognition ballots an who refuse to toe the line. have no protection from overwhelming majority per cent voted in It can be done. A Labour government in unfair dismissal. favour. Even workers who didn’t want to join Wales has taken action to halt the scourge of Since April this year, if themselves voted for the right for everyone blacklisting by threatening to withhold you want to challenge to have representation. contracts from firms proven to be engaged in your employer for This basic civil right should be enshrined in this obscene practise. Nothing persuades the unfairly sacking you, you a new legal framework, within which private sector faster than a possible ban on have to have worked for workpeople can feel confident of getting bidding for lucrative public contracts. the company for two together for the common good without The blacklisting scandal shows that left to years – double the time looking over their shoulder for the boss their own devices employers spy and they lie. under Labour. You have bearing down on them with a P45. What the companies say and what the no rights if you’ve been companies do are two diferent things. there a year and 364 laBoUR sUPPoRt For any worker to be represented by a trade days. How many workers union in their workplace is a civil right that must in retail are given jobs that That’s why GMB took the issue of employer be protected to the highest level, with new last as long as that? hostility and the coalition attack on trade legislation backed by imprisonment and What’s more, if you go to an union rights to the Labour conference. unlimited fines for anyone who interferes with it. industrial tribunal, you’ll be Delegates backed a call for the party For the Labour Party, these should be bread required to pay as much as leadership to convene “as a matter of and butter manifesto commitments right now. £1,200 – 200 hours working at urgency” a commission on employment And if it can be done, it should be done. As the national minimum wage - rights. The purpose of this body will not just Maria Ludkin, GMB’s legal oficer, told the 2013 up front before they will hear be to redress new anti-trade union policies Labour Conference : “We live in a country your case. That’s the price of brought in by this government, but to give an with one of the most flexible Labour markets justice under the ConDem active right for workers to be able to turn to in Europe. But at the same time some of the government. unions when they have problems at work. weakest employment rights in the western It must be nerve- This is vital to winning the war for job world. But this government is not content wracking to try to organise security. As of now, firms like Amazon can just with that. They have mounted a sustained under such conditions. slam the door in the face of anyone seeking to attack on the rights of working people, with a But it shouldn’t be like organise a union presence. They can – and do systematic casualisation of labour, and that. The shadow of fear – put a Chinese wall around the workplace, comprehensive destruction of legal aid. must be lifted from the sealing of their employees from help. “This is about millions of working people exercise of this basic A Labour government must change that, having the protection from a Labour freedom to turn to a legislating to give employees total freedom to government that they will never get from the union for support turn to unions when they need help. Nobody Tories or the Liberal Democrats. No more when you have a is forced to join a union. The closed shop was prevarication – but protection for the workers. problem at work. ended years ago. Instead, we have closed “After all, how much more protection do With the minds – on the other side. employers need from working people?” demise of Ed Miliband has shown a willingness to take Hear, hear! Ed Miliband has shown he on the big battalions in the energy industry. is willing to take on the might of the energy He’s ready to force firms to employ barons with a gas and electricity price INTIMIDATED AT WORK? apprentices. He should bring the same freeze. Now, he should listen to the voices GMB is tackling bosses who courage to the issue of employment and of ordinary workers who demand the right victimise union members. trade union membership rights, compelling to join and organise without fear of employers to enable workers to bring unions employer intimidation. www.gmb.org.uk 11

nationaL Move to uPDate WWW.GMB.orG.uk Direct all the news from GMB DeBit £1 an hour pay rise to achieve Living Which councils pay Wage for local government workers a Living Wage? MB is seeking a minimum pay All 32 councils in Scotland are currently paying increase of £1 an hour for local the Living Wage or will be within a year. • Ashfield • Barking and council workers in England, Wales Brian Strutton, GMB national secretary for Dagenham • Barnsley G and Northern Ireland to raise their public services, said: “One and a half million • Bassetlaw • Blackpool pay level to a Living Wage hourly rate. GMB council workers have seen their living • Birmingham • Braintree believe the same £1 an hour increase should standards cut by 18 per cent and 400,000 of • Brent • Brighton and Hove also apply to all pay points above the bottom their colleagues have lost their jobs. I don’t • Bristol • Bromsgrove rate as well. Local council workers in Scotland believe any section of the economy has taken • Burnley, • Caerphilly are currently considering an ofer for a Living such an austerity hit as local authority staf. • Calderdale • Camden Wage of £7.58 an hour from April 2014. Street cleaners, school dinner staf, social • Cambridge • Cardif • Carlisle 200,000 GMB members are covered by workers, gravediggers, classroom assistants • Cherwell • Chorley these agreements. and all the other unsung heroes serving their It is a scandal that 500,000 local local communities deserve a decent pay rise. • City of London • Coventry government workers are paid below the GMB’s claim for £1 an hour is not a king’s • Crawley • Croydon current Living Wage of £7.45 (£8.55 in London) ransom but it will go some way towards • Dartford • Deal • Ealing an hour. This rate will increase in November. restoring the real pay cuts that council staf • Enfield • Exeter • Gedling Politicians from all parties have recently called have endured. Politicians have been right to • Gloucester • Greenwich for action to deal with low pay and are call for action on low pay to end the hardship • Haringey • Harlow • Harrow encouraging individual local authorities to pay facing those on poverty wages and boost • Hastings • Hessle Town a Living Wage. demand in the economy. Low pay and poverty • Hounslow • Hyndburn 85 councils in England and Wales are pay are endemic in local government • Ipswich • Islington now paying or are with too many members • North Kesteven • Lambeth committed to paying now reliant on tax • Lancaster • Leicester a Living Wage. We credits and pay • Lewisham • Malvern Hills demand • Newham • Newcastle under day loans.” • Mansfield • Manchester • Melton Mowbray • Merton • Newark and Sherwood An extrA Lyme • Newcastle upon Tyne • Newport • Norwich • Nottingham • Oldham • Oxford • Plymouth • Preston • Redcar and Cleveland • Rossendale • Salford • Sandwell • Scarborough • Shefield • Slough • South Gloucestershire • South Hams • Southwark • Stroud • Surrey • Swindon • Swansea • Tamworth • Thurrock • Tower Hamlets • South Tyneside • Walsall • Winchester • Wirral • Worcester An hour to begin paying a Living Wage. • Wolverhampton • Wyre Forest • York • All 32 councils in Scotland now pay or are soon iStock 12 www.gmb.org.uk

SIGN uP FOR THE GMB eNEWSLETTER AT www.gmb.org.uk reGionaL PauL kenny says a word from your GMB general secretary the determination to fight blacklisting is among our finest achievements he recent startling conspired to interfere with and destroy the enough to stop this all happening again. revelations that the police right of working people to organise. New tough laws to protect the rights of and other state controlled What has also shocked many is the workers trying to organise a union in their bodies have been found to extent of the blacklisting: lawyers, workplace or in their community must t have provided information to journalists, peace campaigners, have protection from discrimination and the anti trade union blacklisting company environmentalists and the latest victim to victimisation. The work done in exposing “The Consulting Association” may have be uncovered – the comedian and this evil conspiracy will all count for come as a shock to MPs, journalists and campaigner for freedom Mark Thomas. nothing if the law continues to fail ordinary some others in the world. But for many of The whole story of this disgraceful people exercising their civil rights. us this was just confirmation of what we episode would take more column inches always knew but could never prove. than I am allowed but thousands of DeLetinG the List This company, now defunct, was funded ordinary men and women were blacklisted and controlled by a large number of and 2,768 still don’t know they are on the In the coming months, GMB will continue private sector companies whose intent list because the government department to campaign for a public inquiry into the was to discriminate and thereby victimise responsible for dealing with this has failed collusion between the state and certain trade union members whose only crime to contact them! employers which not only allowed this was to ask about health and safety or This in itself raises huge questions about blacklisting to exist but actually attend meetings. the role government has played in seeking encouraged and supported it. Many victims of this evil intrusion into to cover this up. GMB has done many things of which we the most basic of our civil rights were The so-called Information commission can be proud during our history but I denied employment and sufered huge seems to be anything but when it comes to believe the determination shown to fight damage to their personal lives and that of giving people information relating to and expose blacklisting will rank among their families. behaviour from employers and the state. our finest achievements. In recent days, eight of the largest The right of people to exercise their civil the truth WiLL out companies involved in organising, funding freedoms to organise, demonstrate or just and controlling this blacklisting operation question those who govern us at work or GMB has been fighting to uncover the truth have admitted their involvement and in society is such a basic right that it for years and now, working with the ofered an apology and a compensation cannot be given away by apathy. Blacklist Support Group and others, we are scheme for afected victims. On page 9 of this magazine you will find beginning to see the layers of lies and GMB’s position has been that tough details of GMB’s campaign and how to find corruption peeled back to expose the measures must be taken with these out if you or anyone you know is on the list rotten core of how employers and state companies, though these may be far from and may be liable for compensation. www.gmb.org.uk 13

nAtIonAl UPDAtE All the news from GMB Have you won the Regional lotteRy? GMB map reveals economic activity across the UK and Ireland Northern Ireland 86% Border, Midland and Western 85% POWER HOUSES London’s financial districts host the wealth of the nation. Southern and Eastern 145% key map (opposite) sums up economic success story, how much economic activity there are areas below the there is per resident in all the 39 average. The latest figures A sub regions of the UK and are for 2010 but there has Gross domestic Ireland where GMB members live. The result been little or no recovery product (GDP) in an for each area is shown as a percentage of since then. Few will realise that area is made up of all the average across all 27 countries in the the economies of the North East economic activity including European Union (EU). of Scotland, Southern and Eastern farming and fishing, mining, oil and gas It will come as no surprise that inner Ireland and Cheshire or those areas of the extraction, manufacturing, construction, London has the highest level of economic M4 corridor are stronger than Essex or Kent. utilities, transport and commercial and output per resident at nearly three times In fact in 26 of the 39 sub regions in the public services. that of the European average. UK and Ireland, regional gross domestic GDP is a key measure of an area’s Rex Features x 2 It will be a surprise that for the South East product per resident is below the average economic development and is often used as of England, far from all of it being an per resident in the EU. an indicator of living standards. 14 www.gmb.org.uk www.gmb.org.uk

nAtIonAl SIGN UP fOR tHE GMB eNEWSlEttER At www.gmb.org.ukSIGN UP fOR tHE GMB eNEWSlEttER At www.gmb.org.uk UP fOR tHE GMB eNEWSlEttER At www.gmb.org.uk SIGN nAtIonAl UPDAtE yoUr GMB ProfIlE www.GMB.orG.UK North Highlands and Islands Eastern 87% Scotland 162% Eastern Scotland “This GMB map 109% should sound a clarion call for INDUStRIAl HEARt Fossil fuel extraction props investment.” up regional economies. The map confirms that Mrs Thatcher’s South Western Northumberland Scotland and Tyne and Wear legacy to the old industrial heartlands in 109% 88% the UK is that they have fallen far behind the EU average in terms of output and living standards. Tess Valley and Durham In West Wales and the Valleys gross Cumbria 77% domestic product per resident is the 94% lowest of the 39 areas in these islands West Yorkshire at 70 per cent of the EU average. North The next ten lowest are: Cornwall Lancashire Yorkshire East Yorkshire and and Isles of Scilly (72 per cent), 93% Northern Lincolnshire Tees Valley and Durham (77 Greater Manchester per cent), Lincolnshire (78 per 83% 81% Merseyside 95% South Yorkshire cent), Merseyside, East Yorkshire and Northern 96% Leicestershire, Rutland Lincolnshire, South 81% 81% and Northamptonshire Yorkshire and Shropshire Lincolnshire Cheshire Derbyshire 78% Bedfordshire and and Stafordshire (all on 81 118% and Notts Hertfordshire per cent), Lancashire (83 92% per cent), Border, Midland Shropshire and and Western in Ireland (85 Stafordshire per cent) and Northern Ireland West Midlands 81% (86 per cent). Herefordshire, 95% 104% East Anglia This GMB map should sound a Worcestershire 100% clarion call for investment that and Warwickshire 94% East will bring jobs and prosperity to West Wales Wales the old industrial heartlands and the and The 100% 113% rural areas that desperately need it. Valleys Berkshire, Essex 70% Bucks and 89% Politicians must heed that call with Oxfordshire regional policies. The devolution of Gloucestershire, 115% 143% economic powers to local and regional Wiltshire and level is essential. GMB will lead the calls Bristol/Bath Kent for action. Dorset and 109% 114% 90% New jobs and investment has to be Cornwall and Somerset the top priority for national and Isles of Scilly Devon 92% local governments and the EU. The 87% Inner London public and private sectors must 72% 328% co-operate to achieve this growth Hampshire and Surrey, East and Outer London and development as neither can Isle of Wight West Sussex 95% do it on their own. www.gmb.org.uk 15

natIonal uPDate all the news from GMB Get online with GMB www.gmb.org.uk GMB’s website lets you manage your membership and keep up to date f you’re not registered online, it’s easy to sign up. Go to www.gmb.org.uk and click GMB ‘member login’. You’ll just I need your GMB membership number. Visit www. gmb.org.uk • Update your GMB profile • Switch to Direct Debit • Access the latest news • Download exclusive extras • Get support for your workplace Get the GMB App Download it now to: Get the latest from GMB wherever you are with the new GMB app. Since the app was launched a few • Update your GMB profile months ago, thousands of members have • Get the latest news from GMB downloaded it to their smartphones. It’s available to • Switch to Direct Debit download now from www.gmb.org.uk/app or • Find your nearest GMB ofice from iTunes and Google Play for Android. • Find your nearest GMB post holder • Become a workplace organiser case stuDy Gavin Palmer “I’m really glad I have it. It’s so convenient and easy to use – it puts all your membership information at your fingertips. I talk to a lot of members and I always recommend the GMB app.” Gavin Palmer is a GMB workplace organiser at Barking and Daggenham Local Authority. Representing members across the borough, he doens’t always have access to a computer, so getting the GMB app on his smartphone has proved invaluable. Site UpdAte! Fresh tools online! are you looking to up-skill or organise your workplace? We’re updating the GMB@Work resources online so GMB post holders will be able to download everything they need. From training information to health and safety regulations, you’re just a couple of clicks away from making your workplace stronger and safer. Go to www.gmb.org.uk/gmb-at-work 16 www.gmb.org.uk