GMB Winter 2013 Winter 2013

The magazine for GMB members Contact Winter 2013 www.gmb.org.uk PensIon BoosT GMB pushes for retirement rights We hAve lIFT oFF! GMB members strike at RAF Cranwell! “I won a car with GMB! Could you be next?” see p17

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... Andy Worth GMB regional secretary the tories Fighting austerity in Get GMB in your pocket with are attacking Nottingham Page 6 the new mobile app Page 16 trade union Regional National activity 4 Decent pay 9 Employer hostility Dear colleagues, GMB campaigns for a Living Wage Anti-union hostility should be against the law Welcome to the latest edition of your 5 Industrial action 12 A Living Wage regional magazine. Within these pages you will find articles RAF workers hit the picket line to secure the GMB demands an extra £1 an hour and information which I am sure you will pay and conditions they deserve find both interesting and useful in the 13 Paul Kenny says 6 No to austerity! The latest from your general secretary world of work. The Con-Dem coalition government GMB members get on board the Austerity continues its callous attacks on working Bus in Nottingham to protest cuts 14 Wealth of the nation people by targeting the most vulnerable GMB reveals the UK’s economic people in the country with a vengeance. 8 Stars of the future performance by region And their cuts are starting to bite hard. We hear from future stars of GMB at the From July, fees have to be paid for future candidates’ training weekend 16 Get online with GMB! employment tribunals while a criminal still Get the GMB app for your smartphone! gets free legal aid! That’s what the Tories 25 The bottom line mean by ‘in it together’. Young Members should know their rights 17 Win a car! The government are attacking trade Switch to Direct Debit for your chance to union facility time, our ability to lobby on 26 Pension protection win a Toyota Aygo worth £9,000 issues that afect our members and GMB members speak out for a fair deal allowing energy prices to spiral out of 18 Eyes on the NHS 28 There for you GMB is fighting for workers’ rights in the NHS control. Their continued attempts to clamp down on trade union activity shows that GMB helps injured members they simply do not care about the ordinary 20 Put Labour in power 28 The winner is... Why you should vote Labour in 2015 working person. Wealthy bankers and tax-avoiding GMB’s Cathy Mason wins learning award companies get away scot free while the 23 Worldwide solidarity 31 Contact GMB How GMB’s International Solidarity Fund is rest of us pay the price. If you’re a millionaire you receive a tax cut in this Names and numbers you can call winning justice in Latin America country. However, as most of our members know, if you are working on low wages, making a living, you get a bedroom tax, will shortly have to pay more National Insurance and yet get a reduction in your tax credits! It doesn’t amount to a fair deal GMB regional editor Karen Stockley: 0115 960 7171 Produced by Future Plus, Editorial director Stephen Pierce 30 Monmouth Street, by any stretch of the imagination. Editor Matt Robinson Bath BA1 2BW Since the Second World War, there has Art editor Johnny Goddard never been a time when working people Contributors Victoria Ford, Ed Holden have been more in need of the protection, Advertising manager Steve Hulbert We are committed to only using security and support provided by 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 membership of GMB and the wider trade manufacture. Future Publishing Production co-ordinator Tracy Nugent and its paper suppliers have union movement. GMB is there for you. been independently certified in Art directors Stuart Hobbs, Dermot Rushe accordance with the rules of the Clearly, the Tories aren’t. FSC (Forest Stewardship Council). Director, Future Plus UK Jayne Caple Stay GMB – stay proud – proud to be a Printed at St Ives Direct GMB member. If your friends and family are in work and not in a trade union the best thing you can Would you like to advertise in GMB Contact magazine? do is tell them to join GMB. Please contact steve hulbert on 01225 442 244 (ex 5205) Accepting of advertising and inserts and does not imply GMB endorsement of the product or services. Remember that GMB recommends all services and 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

REGionAL MovE To DiREcT DEBiT UPDATE WWW.GMB.oRG.Uk All the news from GMB “it’s a damned disgrace” GMB slams council for nEWS shirking Living Wage national hen East Riding of Yorkshire by becoming a Living Wage employer instead Minimum Wage Council announced it would of a minimum wage employer. £6.31 W Wage, GMB members working Yorkshire Council says that there are no plans David Smith, Head of HR at East Riding of not be paying the Living impact of introducing the Living Wage across (over 21) at the authority mounted a campaign to to implement the Living Wage. However, the change its mind. All over the country, councils The minimum employers are the country would lift two million people out allowed to pay per hour. such as Birmingham, Oxford and Preston are paying this wage, but still East Riding of of poverty. Yorkshire council refuses! GMB organisation oficer Ester Marriott Living Wage The living wage is £7.45 an hour, the said: “To not pay the Living Wage and lift their £7.45 amount experts believe is needed for a disgrace – the council should be setting an employees out of poverty is a damned “minimum acceptable standard of living” in example not refusing to pay.” She went on to both the public and private sectors have The amount experts believe today’s society. Almost 100 organisations in say: “We are holding regular events, mostly in is needed for a “minimum already agreed to be Living Wage employers. Beverley and jointly with the Labour Party, to acceptable standard of living”. collect signatures for our petition. We are not Pay freezes are rife throughout the economy but GMB believes the council should be setting going to accept this from East Riding of an example to other organisations in the area Yorkshire Council.” 04 www.gmb.org.uk

R R R SIGN REGionALEGionALEGionALEGionAL SIGN up for the GMB eNeWSletter At www.gmb.org.uk up for the GMB eNeWSletter At www.gmb.org.uk up for the GMB eNeWSletter At www.gmb.org.uk up for the GMB eNeWSletter At www.gmb.org.uk SIGN SIGN Just the picket! GMB’s RAF picket line wins war on wages GMB members working at RAF College On the day there was a fantastic turnout Sian McClarence, GMB regional organiser, Cranwell will forever remember 20 June and the pickets covered gates all along was delighted that the strike had its desired 2013. This was the day that, after months of Cranwell Avenue, through the heart of the efect. \"I am pleased to say that there is a mistreatment, they held the first ever picket station. Val Upton, GMB branch secretary, happy ending to this. ISS finally got back line outside the site. commented: \"It really is a sad day around the table with Strike action took place at RAF Cranwell and none of us us and we have and RAF Scampton in the GMB Midlands wanted to have to “ISS finally got managed to get a Region as well as other sites across the do this but we much improved country. The action was brought after really were left back around the ofer that members contractor ISS refused to speak to GMB with no choice.” have accepted. about better pay for members. Following a Local press table with us.” “Let’s hope that our meeting in January, ISS repeatedly turned covered the story relationship with ISS down requests to get back around the table; and questions were improves going and when GMB’s ballot came back in favour asked in the Houses forward and that members don't find of industrial action, the employer told of Parliament and in the European themselves having to make these tough members to do their worst! Parliament about the behaviour of ISS. decisions again to get a fair pay award.\" What’s in store? GMB prepares to visit Asda WAnT To BE stores across the region rAchelle WIlkINS As part of the ongoing phased access into all Asda Stores, A GMB REP? GMB organiser for Asda. GMB is very pleased to announce that, starting in Quarter 1 of 2014, If you are interested in becoming a GMB it will have access to visit all Asda stores in the Midlands and East workplace organiser or health and safety rep, Coast region. please email [email protected] Rachelle Wilkins, GMB lead organiser for Asda stores, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for 2014 that really gives us the WAnT US To viSiT impetus to start to put down solid roots in these stores; to introduce our GMB@Work ethos; and to introduce new members to the yoU in SToRE? benefits of joining GMB. We will be aiming to cover all shifts on visits and Asda employees will be allowed 20 minutes of their shift to To arrange for GMB to visit your Asda store, come and speak with us about joining GMB.” please email [email protected] “We will also be looking to recruit workplace organisers and or [email protected] health and safety reps in all of our Asda stores in the region.” www.gmb.org.uk 05

reGioNAl UPDATe All the news from GMB ONE DIRECTION The Austerity Bus tackles unfair government cuts. all aboard! GMB members support the Austerity Bus as it visits Nottingham MB was pleased to support the TUC’s Austerity Bus as it visited Nottingham over a few days this Summer. Keen to support the initiative, GMB organiser Chris Needham G attended the Ilkeston site, where the bus stayed for several hours before moving into the Nottingham area. The bus is designed to move around the UK, visiting areas in which the TUC feels support is most needed. All Summer the bus hosted workshops that included video and radio interviews revealing the hardships faced by GMB members. As it travelled the country, the Austerity Bus raised awareness of this government’s policy of targeting the most vulnerable people in the country as it continues to make its severe cuts. 06 www.gmb.org.uk 06 www.gmb.org.uk

BeCoMe SIGN UP FOR THE GMB eNEwSlETTER aT www.gmb.org.uk reGioNAl A GMB WorKPlACe orGANiSer ONE DIRECTION WWW.GMB.orG.UK The Austerity Bus tackles unfair government cuts. gmb shows pride Members get colourful for a grand Nottingham Pride festival effort bank project co-ordinator GMB activists were out in force on FOOD FOR THOUGHT GMB’s David Shamma and 27 July when they flocked to Nottingham Colin Gunter with food Arboretum to support Gay Pride. After three successful years on the Brian Hanbury. Nottingham Forest Recreation Ground, GMB raises £1,000 for food bank Pride’s return to the Arboretum gave this year’s event a lift. Gary Chambers, GMB Nottingham City branch secretary, With more people on the breadline every Grantham food bank is stafed by unpaid commented that it was a friendlier place day, food banks in the UK are on the rise. It is volunteers and survives solely on donations. to be, adding that the weather helped too a sad fact that, with a gloomy economy It is there to provide crisis support for people as the sun shone all day. and a government intent on punishing the in the most desperate circumstances. All GMB had a huge presence on the site vulnerable, more and more people rely on clients are referred via external agencies and with GMB EMAS in attendance with their food banks to eat. food is distributed on a voucher system, just antique ambulances. This was also Enabling families to eat is an expensive three times to any one client. This is how supported by GMB Community Branch, business and these banks rely on charitable stretched resources are. which is based in Nottingham. donations to continue their work. Spotting GMB regional organiser David Shamma GMB organiser Chris Needham a good cause, Colin Gunter, GMB branch commented: “It is a terrible indictment on a commented that thanks to everyone’s secretary, set about raising money for his government policy of cuts and austerity that hard work, GMB had the highest profile of local food bank in Grantham, Lincolnshire. we are seeing the rise of food banks right any of the trade unions at Pride. GMB had Thanks to Colin’s hard work and truly across the country. However, if it wasn’t for three stalls giving information to visitors extensive eforts, a donation of £1,000 was the sterling work carried out by the food bank on the day. secured from GMB to contribute towards the volunteers here in Grantham then there Equality is important to GMB and Chris running of the food bank. would be hundreds of people going hungry.” further emphasised the importance of gay pride, pointing out that it is not just rainbow Castle entire community working in harmony. about gay and lesbian people but the Nottingham celebrates iDAHo Day every year, 17 May is IDAHO day wearing rainbow colours and City Council (International Day Against Homophobia and employees were given the opportunity to Transphobia), when awareness is raised of wear an IDAHO sticker. victims of homophobia and transphobia The chair of Nottingham City Council’s internationally. Employee Support Network and GMB This year, Nottingham City Council’s LGBT equality oficer for Nottingham City Branch, FlyING THE FlaG Employee Support Network lit up Nottingham Rosey Cox, said: “This was a momentous GMB members supported Castle in rainbow colours to celebrate the occasion for a momentous cause.” Nottingham Pride event. day – something that has never been done For more information on GMB’s new LGBT before. The LGBT Employee Support Network campaign – Putting the T back in LGBT – turn also encouraged staf to support the day by to page 24. www.gmb.org.uk 07

regional upDate upDate your gmb all the news from gmb profile www.gmb.org.uK Building for the FUTURE ack in august, GMB Midlands and East Coast region maKe a held its first future candidates training weekend at Difference! Northern College in Barnsley. 40 GMB members b from across the region attended an intensive two-day The future candidates course will course in which they were given the opportunity to develop a be running again in early 2014. To register your interest, variety of skills including how to deal with the broadcast media please email and how to win elections. sarah.worth@ Karen Cofey from the Leicestershire 2000 branch said: gmb.org.uk “The weekend was fantastic. I learnt so much, made some great friends and left inspired to get more involved with the Labour Party. With this, along with the support of GMB, I really feel I can make a diference in my community. I would strongly recommend it to any interested GMB member.” DownloaD the layar app to your smartphone or tablet to watch Kerry’s story about getting involveD in the labour party. 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