GMB Magazine GMB25 Centre Point Summer 2016 | Page 26

POLITICAL

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BOOK CLUB
The Eleanor Marx Book Club recently
held a successful event to mark Eleanor
Marx Day, with readings, entertainment
and food. Rachel Holmes, author of
Eleanor Marx’s biography, spoke about her
book and took questions.

HEART UNIONS WEEK
Heart Unions Week was an opportunity
to celebrate the great work done by
workplace reps across the country and
highlight why we oppose the Trade Union
Act. The TUC organised what was the
biggest workplace trade union meeting,
with TUC general secretary Frances
O’Grady and Eddie Izzard. It was
livestreamed to workplaces across the
country. We also hosted a workplace
meeting with our Asda and Care branches
at Regional Office in Halesowen.

MARY MACARTHUR LECTURE
Birmingham and West Midlands officers
recently visited the European Parliament
with Siôn Simon MEP.

Waste not...
Darren James, who works for Sandwell
Council and is full-time secretary for GMB
S85 Sandwell branch, recently took a trip to
Brussels for a seminar about waste
management and recycling. It featured talks
from union members and experts from a
range of EU countries.
This is a sector that generally sees low
pay, low-skilled work being done with poor
health and safety standards, and so it would

local services across the Black
Country. You can read her
write-up of our carers’ round
table at: www.theguardian.
com/commentisfree/2016/
mar/15/cuts-budget-carehomes-george-osborne

DARREN JAMES
Made a presentation to reps
from across the EU.

be essential to safeguard workers’ rights if
recycling and waste management schemes
were changed.
The seminar featured discussions and
ideas sessions, with Darren presenting
a piece on how to organise workers in the
sector. It was a perfect opportunity for him
to pick up tips and skills and share them
with other members working in councils
across the country.

©iStock.com

BRUSSELS VISIT

The second annual Mary
Macarthur Lecture was
given by Guardian
columnist Polly Toynbee.
A workplace tour was also
organised for Polly to see a
variety of workplaces and

26 CENTRE POINT – GMB Birmingham and West Midlands

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