GMB Magazine GMB24 The Pulse Spring 2016 | Page 3

In this issue… FBRCAEMPEING GM at the festival NEIL DERRICK d North GMB Yorkshire an l Secretary. na gio Re e Derbyshir Testing times ahead for GMB Join GMB and enjoy this year’s Tolpuddle Festival in Dorset. Page 11 5 Don’t lose your voice 16 Made by GMB 6 The pride of Yorkshire 18 If the lights go out… GMB fights the Trade Union Bill, plus our #10PoundNOW Living Wage campaign As Tim Roache becomes General Secretary, we welcome new Regional Secretary, Neil Derrick 8 Help floods in 9 Tim Roache 20 Get your branch online 22 GMB 2015 election results Who you elected across all GMB regions Welcome to GMB’s new General Secretary 10 EU referendum An angry ‘yes’ vote 11 Tolpuddle 2016 Free camping for GMB members at this major summer festival 12 Pension protection GMB makes sure members at EDF get decent pensions 13 Equal pay claim If you’re a woman and have worked for Avery Care Homes, read this page! 24 UNIONLINE GMB members’ own legal service 25 Care in crisis A forum to support care workers 26 Equalities update Women’s conference is a success 28 GMB local heroes GMB member shaves her hair for charity; and lots more! 31 Direct Debit Public service workers should switch to Direct Debit now! 14 Mental health Our Young Members have been busy! Page 27 GMB’s new guide to mental health at work Cover: Andrew Wiard The government needs an energy policy Websites are easy with Pellacraft GMB assists flood victims; and strikes in Sheffield On average union members are 16.7% better paid than non members Building the UK – GMB members make the bricks, concrete, glass and plaster GMB membership covers you wherever you work UNIONLINE Your trade union law firm: 0300 333 0303 Not a GMB member? Join today www.gmb.org.uk/join/join-online INS24.yor_03.CW10.indd 3 No one can stop you joining GMB Current Vacancies @GMB See www.gmb.org.uk/ about/gmb-jobopportunities I am proud and honoured to introduce myself to you as the new Regional Secretary of the Yorkshire and North Derbyshire Region. I am no stranger to the Region, having worked here for 22 years as a legal officer, organiser and then senior organiser. I am looking forward to the challenge and opportunities that lie ahead for GMB, its staff, reps and membership. My priorities as Regional Secretary will be to ensure that our Region continues to grow, and encourage and involve reps and members in its campaigning activities. I will continue to motivate all regional employees to play a full part in building GMB. I intend to reach out to our activists to ensure they receive the support and resources that they need to carry on the fantastic work they do in workplaces across the Region. I will be an equalities champion and will work hard to ensure that GMB both engages with the wider communities and with those who feel disenfranchised or disengaged because of their gender, race, disabilities or sexual orientation. I am under no illusion that the most immediate challenge working people face is the current government’s anti-trade union ideology, its opposition to properly funded public services and its determination to use austerity as a measure for shackling working people, their aspirations and the unions who give them a voice. There is a lot of work to do – but I am ready for the challenge and I am ready to work with all GMB members, activists and staff to ensure that our great union does what it does best, which is stand up for the rights of working people and to broaden the opportunities that working people have, both in the workplace and in the wider society. My predecessor, Tim Roache, has left us in a fantastic position. I wish him every success in his new role as General Secretary of this great union. www.gmb.org.uk 03 17/02/2016 11:07