GMB Magazine GMB25 Centre Point Summer 2016 | Page 3

In this issue… Joe Morgan and West GMB Birmingham Secretary al on gi Re ds Midlan New speakers from Birmingham Region at Congress 2016 – find out more on page 8 4 Save jobs at British Gas 18 Standing up for H&S GMB calls on the government to save more than 600 jobs at British Gas in Oldbury Our health and safety protections are taking body blows, and it’s time for us to fight back 6 Care home confusion 20 GMB financial report New ownership is a big worry for staff and residents at Heartlands Care Home in Yardley Plus some pensions advice for GMB members 7 Emergency ballot! It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3 with our special offer 23 Building a branch website GMB members in the ambulance service are standing up for their pay, terms and conditions. Plus GMB fights cuts at Kidderminster academy 24 UNIONLINE 8 Our Region at Congress 25 Learn for free with GMB All the Regional news from this year’s successful Congress at Bournemouth 9 Congress report Jeremy Corbyn, Blacklisting, Hillsborough and more… A whole raft of qualifications that GMB members can study for 26 Political update Plus our Golden Rules on beating too-hot working conditions 28 Not lovin’ it! 11 Tim Roache speaks GMB members send a message to McDonald’s over low pay. Also, the latest equalities news Why trade unions are a force for good 14 Tax dodgers 30 Notice board Paul Routledge on tax avoidance and the Tories Liz Corbett wins long service award, GMB sponsors youth football, and more… 16 Pull-out map! GMB members in every region are keeping the UK’s power stations up and running On average union members are 16.7% better paid than nonmembers GMB members’ own legal service GMB membership covers you wherever you work GMB’s victory against the blacklisters page 12 UNIONLINE Your trade union law firm: 0300 333 0303 Not a GMB member? Join today www.gmb.org.uk/join/join-online GMB25.Centre_Point_03.indd 3 No-one can stop you joining GMB Current Vacancies @GMB See www.gmb.org.uk/ about/gmb-jobopportunities Welcome to the summer edition of Centre Point. By the time this magazine arrives, members will know the result of the referendum on the European Union ‘in or out’ question. Whatever the outcome of the vote, members can rest assured that GMB will continue to fight for our members both in the workplace and also in the wider communities. In (we hope) or out will not detract from our primary function as a trade union – and that is to make a positive difference in the lives of our membership. We have just return