THE
GMB IN N
ITY
MinMg loUcal causes
CO
pport
STOP THE CUTS
GMB members lead the challenge
to Sheffield’s new housing scheme.
Su
STRIKE IN
D
L
E
I
F
F
E
H
S
Better work conditions required for
Sheffield’s housing services department
G
MB members employed in Sheffield
Council’s housing services department
have taken strike action in a dispute over
changes to terms and conditions of
employment and the imposition of the council’s
new housing management scheme, Housing Plus.
Members voted in favour of action and began
a work-to-rule campaign after the council imposed
the restructuring without agreement.
Peter Davies, GMB organiser for Sheffield, said: “The
introduction of Housing Plus, a restructured housing
service that the council has imposed without trade
LOUD AND CLEAR
GMB’s Peter Davies rallies
housing services employees.
union agreement, is detrimental to our members.
As front-line staff face losing thousands in pay, their
area managers, who are forcing through the changes,
will see their earnings boosted by thousands of
pounds. It’s the same old story.”
The council’s move virtually annihilates the existing
terms and conditions, and the authority is forcing
through changes nobody needs or wants. The council
claims that a pilot scheme being run in the south-east
area of the city is working, but customer satisfaction
is low and GMB rejects the council’s claim.
As we go to print, the dispute continues.
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A GMB
WORKP
ORGANILACE
SER
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MB.ORG
.UK
GMB helps flood victims
GMB rallies members to assist
those affected by the floods
When the floods hit during the Christmas
period, GMB members leapt into action and
started a campaign to help those affected.
More than 20,000 emails and text
messages went out, rallying GMB members
in the Yorkshire and North Derbyshire
Region, requesting help for families
evacuated due to the rising water –
and the response was overwhelming.
Lynn Brook, GMB organiser from York
and GMB’s relief effort co-ordinator, said:
“The response from GMB activists and
members to our request for help has
been amazing. We are looking to support
as many flood victims as possible and are
in contact with local flood groups to
distribute donated items. Long-term
assistance will be needed in many areas.”
Tim Roache, GMB General Secretary, said:
“The public want to
see more investment
in flood defences
across the country.
GMB is totally against
the cutting of flood
defence money,
which has been carried
HELP RUSHES IN
out over the past five
GMB members send off donated
items for flood victims.
years by this
government. This is
not the answer to the
problem; the answer has to be
to increase it. The floods are
To support flood victims, contact Lynn
not, as government ministers
Brook
on 0345 337 7777. Or write a cheq
ue for any
have said in the past, a
amount, write ‘Flood Relief’ on the
back, and
once-in-a-generation event,
send it to GMB Flood Relief, Grov
e Hall,
60 College Grove, Wakefield WF1
they are occurring on an
3RN.
increasingly regular basis.”
YOU CAN HELP
08 THE PULSE – GMB Yorkshire and North Derbyshire
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17/02/2016 13:07