GMB (trade union)
GMB The European Federation of Public Service Unions. | |
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The GMB is a general trade union in the United Kingdom which has more than 560,000 members. Its members work in nearly all industrial sectors, in retail, security, schools, distribution, the utilities, social care, the National Health Service (NHS), ambulance service and local government.
Structural history
GMB originates from a series of mergers, beginning when the
In 1982, following a merger with the Amalgamated Society of Boilermakers, Shipwrights, Blacksmiths and Structural Workers (ASBSBSW), the union was renamed the General, Municipal, Boilermakers and Allied Trade Union (GMBATU). This was sometimes shortened to "GMB", which in 1987 became the official name of the union.[5] For several years following the highly contested merger boilermaker members retained a distinct identity in GMB's Craft Section.
The union has absorbed the following smaller unions:[5]
- 1924: Chatham Government Labourers' Union, St Helens Sheet Glass Flatteners' Trade Protection Society
- 1929: Cumberland Iron Ore Miners and Kindred Trades Association
- 1931: North Yorkshire and Cleveland Miners' Association
- 1933: Saw Grinders Trades Protection Society of Sheffield
- 1934: Amalgamated National Union of Quarryworkers and Settmakers
- 1935: Southern Counties Agricultural and Rural Workers
- 1936: National Society of Woolcombers and Allied Trades, Welsh Artisans' United Association
- 1938: Saw Handle Makers' Trade Society of Sheffield
- 1946: Aircraft Inspectors' Association, National Edge Tool Trade Society
- 1955: South Durham and North Yorkshire Salt Makers' Union
- 1957: National Cutlery Union
- 1958: British Airways Administrative Staffs Association
- 1962: Elastic Web Weavers' Union
- 1964: Amalgamated Union of File Trades, Ulster Transport and Allied Operatives Union
- 1965: Stoke Prior Salt Makers', Mechanics' and General Labourers' Union
- 1966: HM Stationery Staff Machine Association
- 1968: Scottish Metal Workers' Union, Scottish Operative Glaziers' Society, Wool, Yarn and Warehouse Workers' Union
- 1969: Union of Salt, Chemical and Industrial General Workers, Winsford Salt Makers
- 1972: National Union of Waterworks Employees
- 1974: United Rubber, Plastic and Allied Workers' Union
- 1975: Scottish Football Players' Union
- 1979: Coopers and Allied Workers' Federation of Great Britain
- 1982: Amalgamated Society of Boilermakers, Shipwrights, Blacksmiths and Structural Workers, Northern Ireland Professional Footballers' Association
- 1983: Scottish Lace and Textile Workers' Union
- 1986: Amalgamated Textile Warehouse Operatives (two branches), Amalgamated Textile Workers' Union(plus eight affiliates)
- 1988: Greater London Staff Association
- 1989: Association of Professional, Executive and Computer Staff, Association of Professional Music Therapists
- 1990: Legal Aid Staff Association, National Union of Labour Organisers
- 1991: Furniture, Timber and Allied Trades Union, National Union of Tailors and Garment Workers
- 1998: British Gas Managers' Association
- 2000: Managerial and Professional Officers
- 2002: International Union of Sex Workers
- 2007: General Union of Loom Overlookers
- 2008: Ambulance Service Union
- 2010: Community and District Nursing Association
- 2015: Unity
In 1992, the GMB for the first time allocated all of its members to one of eight industrial sections: clothing and textiles; commercial services; construction, furniture and allied; energy and utilities; engineering; food and leisure; process; and public services.[5]
The GMB's sections were rationalised in 2006, with the union since then consisting of GMB Commercial Services, GMB Manufacturing, and GMB Public Services.[6]
Thorne Credit Union
Thorne Credit Union Limited is a savings and loans
Landmark Uber employment tribunal case
On 28 October 2016, in a landmark ruling if not overturned on appeal, the
The law firm
On 10 February 2017 a similar case involving
Another similar case against parcel delivery company
another nail in the coffin of the exploitative, bogus self-employment model which is increasingly rife across the UK ... Bosses can’t just pick and choose which laws to obey. Workers' rights were hard won, GMB isn’t about to sit back and let them be eroded or removed by the latest loophole employers have come up with to make a few extra quid.[20]
Political activity
GMB is one of the three largest affiliates to the Labour Party. It is a significant financial contributor to the Party's national and local organisation.[21] GMB gives Labour up to £2m a year in affiliation fees and other funds, making it the third largest union donor to the party.[22]
In 1991, GMB was the first British trade union to set up an office in Brussels and has been particularly engaged in seeking to influence European Union legislation that sets minimum standards for workers and for health and safety across the EU single market.
In 2008, GMB Congress voted to withdraw local funding from around a third of the 108 Labour MPs whose constituencies received support from GMB, due to the perception that some MPs within the party were treating workers with "contempt" and generally not working in the interests of the working class and GMB members.[23] Despite this the Congress opposed disaffiliation from the party.
In the 2010 Labour Leadership Election, GMB endorsed Ed Miliband over his competitor and brother David Miliband.
In 2013, GMB announced it was cutting its affiliation fund from £1.2m to £150,000 by reducing the number of members it affiliates from 420,000 to 50,000.[24]
In 2013, GMB Congress, the lay member ruling body, adopted a 14-point plan to encourage GMB members to become active in the Labour Party and to stand as Labour candidates for public office (Parliament and local government). GMB has two representatives on the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Labour Party, Kathy Abu-Bakir and Gavin Sibthorpe. In Ireland, GMB is affiliated to the Irish Labour Party.[25]
While in the 2015 Labour leadership election GMB did not endorse a candidate, in the 2016 Labour leadership election, the union endorsed Owen Smith against incumbent leader Jeremy Corbyn.
Under the leadership of
In the 2020 Labour leadership election, the GMB endorsed Lisa Nandy, who subsequently finished third.
Leadership
The GMB is led by a general secretary and treasurer. In 2005 Paul Kenny was appointed the acting general secretary, in place of Kevin Curran who stepped down after being suspended on full pay during an inquiry into ballot-rigging during the union's leadership election. The episode was seen as a power struggle between the national office and powerful regional heads, led by Kenny, who opposed centralisation. Kenny had lost the 2003 vote to Curran. In May 2006, Kenny was elected unopposed as general secretary.
Tim Roache was elected as general secretary and treasurer in November 2015, receiving 56.7% of the vote on a turnout of 4.2%, beating the one other candidate, Paul McCarthy.[27] Roache took up the post in 2016, but resigned in April 2020 after allegations of harassment.[28]
General Secretaries
- 1924: Will Thorne
- 1934: Charles Dukes
- 1946: Tom Williamson
- 1962: Jack Cooper
- 1973: David Basnett
- 1986: John Edmonds
- 2003: Kevin Curran
- 2005: Paul Kenny
- 2016: Tim Roache
- 2021: Gary Smith
Deputy General Secretaries
This post was known as "assistant general secretary" until 1935.
- 1924: Peter Tevenan and Ralph Spence
- 1933: Ralph Spence
- 1935: Post abolished
- 1991: Tom Burlison
- 1996: Steve Pickering
- 2003: Debbie Coulter
- 2008: Post vacant
Presidents
This position was known as "Chair of the Executive" or "National Chairman" from 1938 until the early 1990s.
- 1924: J. R. Clynes
- 1938: Fred Marshall
- 1946: Thomas William Kerry
- 1949: William E. Hopkin
- 1952: Jack Cooper
- 1962: Bernard Swindell
- 1964: Charles Smith
- 1970: Alex M. Donnet
- 1976: Derek Gladwin
- 1982: Dick Pickering
- 1987: James Morrell
- 1988: Olga Mean
- 1992: Dick Pickering
- 1997: Mary Turner
- 2018: Barbara Plant
2020 internal inquiry
In 2020, following the resignation of general secretary Tim Roache and subsequently receiving anonymous allegations, the union conducted a barrister-led internal inquiry.[29] This concluded that bullying, misogyny, cronyism and sexual harassment were "endemic" within the union. More specifically the report stated "The GMB is institutionally sexist. The General Secretaries and all regional secretaries are, and always have been, men. Women are underrepresented throughout the GMB’s ranks", concluding that culture must change for the GMB to become a safe and rewarding place for women.[30] The report made 27 recommendations for change, on which the union's National President, Barbara Plant, promised to act.[31][32]
Sports sponsorship
The GMB sponsors the Nottingham Panthers ice hockey team[33] and the Castleford Tigers rugby league team.
Until May 2011 it sponsored Swindon Town Football Club, but when Paolo Di Canio was appointed manager the GMB terminated the relationship because of Di Canio's political views. A GMB spokesman said: "He has openly voiced support for Mussolini so it beggars belief that Swindon could have appointed him, especially given the multi-ethnic nature of the team and the town."[34] The union sponsored Port Vale for the 2013–14 football season.[35]
See also
- History of trade unions in the United Kingdom
- List of UK unions
- List of trade unions
- Association of Professional, Executive, Clerical and Computer Staff
- G.M.B. National College, Manchester
- Credit unions in the United Kingdom
- Smudge (People's Palace cat), the only official feline member
References
- ^ "GMB: annual returns". GOV.UK. 11 June 2014. Retrieved 16 March 2017.
- ^ "GMB Form AR21 for year ended 31st December 2022" (PDF). GOV.UK. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
- ^ "TULO's member unions". Unions Together. Archived from the original on 11 March 2012. Retrieved 14 February 2012.
- ^ Arthur Marsh and John B. Smethurst, Historical Directory of Trade Unions, vol.5, p.486
- ^ a b c Arthur Marsh and John B. Smethurst, Historical Directory of Trade Unions, vol.5, pp.438-440, 486-488
- ^ "Your GMB". GMB. Archived from the original on 2 July 2018. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
- ^ About TCU Money Thorne Credit Union (retrieved 21 February 2015)
- ^ Credit Union Guide Financial Services Compensation Scheme (retrieved 2 April 2015)
- ^ "Drivers and campaigners hail Uber employment ruling". BBC News. 28 October 2016. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
- ^ Aditya Chakrabortty (28 October 2016). "Uber ruling is a massive boost for a fairer jobs market". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
- ^ Between (1) Mr Y Aslam (2) Mr J Farrar & Others and (1) Uber B.V. (2) Uber London Ltd (3) Uber Britannia Ltd (PDF) (Report). Employment Tribunals. 28 October 2016. Case Nos: 2202550/2015 & Others. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
- ^ Hilary Osborne (28 October 2016). "Uber loses right to classify UK drivers as self-employed". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
- ^ Jane Croft, Madhumita Murgia (28 October 2016). "Uber drivers win UK legal battle for workers' rights". Financial Times. Archived from the original on 10 December 2022. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
- ^ Costas Pitas (28 October 2016). "UK tribunal rules Uber drivers deserve workers' rights". Reuters. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
- ^ Davies, Rob (10 November 2017). "Uber loses appeal in UK employment rights case". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
- ^ "Uber loses court appeal against drivers' rights". BBC. 10 November 2017. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
- ^ Ritvik Carvalho (10 February 2017). "UK court backs plumber in new challenge to 'gig' economy". Reuters. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
- ^ Kevin Peachey (10 February 2017). "Plumber wins workers' rights battle against Pimlico Plumbers". BBC News. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
- ^ Pimlico Plumbers v Smith (PDF) (Report). Court of Appeal (Civil Division). 10 February 2017. Case No: A2/2015/0196 Citation: [2017] EWCA Civ 51. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
- ^ a b Siddique, Haroon (25 June 2018). "Hermes couriers are workers, not self-employed, tribunal rules". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
- ^ Party Finance – The Electoral Commission : Regulatory issues : Political parties : Registers : Register of donations to political parties[dead link]
- ^ Hélène, Mulholland (14 February 2012). "GMB union to debate future links with Labour party". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 February 2012.
- ^ "GMB set to cut Labour MP funding". BBC. 9 June 2008. Retrieved 14 February 2012.
- ^ "GMB cuts funds it gives Labour from £1.2m to £150,000" BBC
- ^ Party structure » Who we are » The Labour Party Archived 3 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Watt, Nicholas (11 January 2016). "GMB boss warns Corbyn not to risk defence jobs with Trident plans". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 March 2017.
- ^ Private Eye. London: Pressdram Ltd. 5 August 2016.
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(help) - ^ Watson, Iain (29 April 2020). "Allegations probed as GMB union boss resigns". BBC News. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
- ^ Heffer, Greg (29 April 2020). "GMB Union boss Tim Roache who quit due to ill health now being investigated over his conduct". Sky News. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
- ^ Jones, Alan (2 September 2020). "GMB union urged to change its culture to end bullying and sexual harassment". Belfast Telegraph. Press Association. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
- ^ Syal, Rajeev (3 September 2020). "GMB union institutionally sexist, inquiry finds". The Guardian.
- ^ "Independent Investigation". GMB. 2 September 2020. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
- ^ "The Official Website of the Nottingham Panthers". Archived from the original on 10 April 2012. Retrieved 14 March 2012.
- ^ "Swindon sponsor pulls out after Paolo Di Canio appointment". The Guardian. 21 May 2011. Retrieved 14 March 2012.
- ^ "Valiants strike up a new union". The Sentinel. 28 June 2013. Retrieved 28 June 2013.