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Issue 93 March 2021

theACTIVIST

THE ACTIVIST

GMB - Grove Hall - 60 College Grove Road - Wakefield - WF1 3RN

0345 337 7777 www.gmbyorkshire.org.uk

Jemma, Lisa and Lana

Members’ anger cannot be dismissed - everyone is watching and waiting for NHS Pay Review

Body to do the right thing, GMB tells panel

GMB, the union for NHS and ambulance workers, has this week given oral evidence to the Pay

Review Body (PRB) calling for key workers in the NHS to have pay justice. The Government and

NHS England’s PRB submissions recommended a ‘paltry’ 1 per cent pay increase for health

workers – amounting to a real terms pay cut. GMB members are angry Ministers have put

‘affordability’ over a pay rise for NHS staff, the lowest paid of whom are on less than the

foundation living wage.

GMB’s pay claim is one of restorative pay – 15% or £2 per hour whichever is the greatest to make

up for what NHS workers have lost after ten years of real terms pay cuts. Meanwhile, GMB is

campaigning for Covid to be classified as an industrial disease.

Rehana Azam, GMB National Secretary, said: “GMB was the only union who said no to the last

pay deal and we have been proven right to do so. Staff morale is at an all-time low and talks of a

paltry 1 per cent pay offer only serves to rub salt in the wounds.

“Another real terms pay cut for our paramedics, nurses, health care assistants, porters and

cleaners cannot be the way forward for an NHS service that is on its knees with staffing shortages

and backlogs as a result of the pandemic. This week, we have called on the PRB to take the

anger felt by our members seriously. Their views cannot be dismissed and everyone is watching

and waiting for the PRB to do the right thing. Our members know their value - even if the

Government don’t - and they are prepared to fight for it if they have to.”

GMB News From Around The Region

In this issue…

• NHS pay justice

• Forced social care

vaccinations

• Pub vaccine passport

reckless move

• Shrewsbury 24 appeal

win

• Save high street

• National lockout looms

at British Gas

• Lifelong Learning

• Neurodiversity

celebration

• #World Against Racism

• Pictures speak a 1000

words

LOCKDOWN ONE YEAR ON: GMB CALLS FOR

NHS KEY WORKERS TO HAVE PAY JUSTICE

“Staff morale is at an

all-time low and talks of

a paltry 1 per cent pay

offer only serves to rub

salt in the wounds.”

Rehana Azam

GMB National Secretary

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THE ACTIVIST

THE ACTIVIST GMB - Grove Hall - 60 College Grove Road - Wakefield - WF1 3RN

0345 337 7777 www.gmbyorkshire.org.uk

FORCED SOCIAL CARE VACCINATIONS

'SHODDY BEHAVIOUR FROM GOVERNMENT

WITHOUT TRUST OF WORKFORCE' GMB has responded to leaked papers suggesting the

Government ‘has agreed” to change the law in England

so social care workers are forced to get Covid vaccines.

The union has repeatedly highlighted the barriers that need

removing for care workers to get the vaccine, including the

lack of full sick pay provision for potential side effects.

Kelly Andrews, Lead Social Care Officer, said: “GMB has

encouraged members to get vaccinated against Covid as

soon as they can. We have repeatedly told Ministers we

expect the Government to act so that no workers suffer a

financial detriment as a result of getting the vaccine,

especially those priority workers in social care and

elsewhere. Ministers have repeatedly refused to listen and

talk now of imposing a blanket legal change forcing care

workers to get vaccinated.

“In the last twelve months since the first national lockdown,

care workers have had to deal with the fallout from a litany

of failures from the Government: the PPE scandal, the

shifting of vulnerable hospital patients into care homes, the

reams of conflicting guidance that Government have put

out.

“The least they could do through the vaccine rollout is try

to gain the confidence of the workforce and work with us

to remove the barriers to getting vaccinated. A voluntary

line of action which ensures care workers get full sick pay

for potential vaccination side effects, support services to

talk through workers concerns.

“This heavy handed, we-know-best approach will cause

unnecessary anxiety and discontent when our care workers

are still fighting the pandemic. We need our care workers

valued, recognised and rewarded - not strongarmed or

bullied with threats of the law.” (see TUC article opposite)

PUB VACCINE PASSPORTS

‘RECKLESS’ AND ‘FAST TRACK TO

UNDO LOCKDOWN GAINS’ GMB, the union for hospitality workers,

says any plan to demand vaccine

certificates to enter pubs would be

reckless and a fast track to undo the

gains of the present lockdown. The

union warns the scheme would lead to

pressure on GP's to fast-track younger

patients, false certificates, potential violence for pub workers

and even a black market for vaccine doses.

Dan Shears, GMB National Health and Safety Director, said: "If

these reports are true, this will drive demand for vaccination in

absolutely the worst way. If a vaccine certificate is the only

way to access a pub, then most under 50s are essentially

barred until they get their jab.

"This will lead to pressure on GP's to fast-track younger patients,

false certificates, potential violence for pub workers and even

a black market for vaccine doses. If the Government wants a

fast track to undo all of the gains of the present lockdown, this

is it. This approach needs full consultation with both employers

and workers. This would be reckless, and effectively presents

the current consultation on the introduction of certificates as a

sham."

TUC ALSO CONDEMN

FORCED VACCINATONS Commenting on the leaked cabinet

plans to make vaccinations a legal

requirement for people working in

care homes, TUC General Secretary

Frances O’Grady, said: “Getting

everyone vaccinated as quickly as

we can is the best way to make sure our workplaces are

safe, to protect care home residents, and to open up our

economy again.

“But forcing workers to get vaccinated isn't the right way to

do this. Not only will it harm trust and employee relations, it

may also be discriminatory and leave employers open to

legal challenge. Instead, bosses should make it as easy as

possible for care workers to get vaccinated, for example by

giving them paid time off for the appointments and

guaranteeing decent sick pay for any time off to recover.

“They should consider running on-site vaccination clinics and

bringing in health professionals to talk through workers’

concerns. And if we want our care workers to feel confident

about doing their jobs, we should pay them properly, ban

zero hours contracts, and ensure they all have decent sick

pay.”

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THE ACTIVIST

GMB - Grove Hall - 60 College Grove Road - Wakefield - WF1 3RN

0345 337 7777 www.gmbyorkshire.org.uk

DECISIVE ACTION NEEDED TO SAVE

HUNDREDS OF JOBS ON OUR HIGH STREET The GMB has called on the Government to make saving

the high street ‘an immediate priority’.

For generations, the likes of John Lewis has been the

cornerstone of the high street and these closures could

see the end to 1,500 good quality jobs across the UK.

Without these anchor stores there’s a serious risk that

more people will choose online rather than in town to

do their shopping, with hundreds of workers in small

retailers feeling the pinch.

Unless the Government takes decisive action, this

development could mark the beginning for the end of

the high street in many UK towns. From now on, saving

the high street has to be their immediate priority, so that

thousands of workers know their jobs are safe.

THE ACTIVIST

BRITISH GAS ENGINEERS FACE MASS

SACKINGS AS STRIKE CONTINUES Engineers have been told they must sign acceptance

of a 15 per cent pay cut – and other detrimental

changes to terms and conditions – or face being

fired.

Those who do not sign will not be paid lump sum

payments of up to £4,500 and other so-called

‘protected terms’ offered by British Gas. On Monday,

29 March the company will give formal notice of

termination for staff who have not accepted the

imposed changes.

Then on Thursday, 1 April those who don’t sign up to

the cuts will be sacked with pay in lieu of the up to 12

weeks’ notice that the company are required to give.

GMB members in this bargaining group have already

overwhelmingly and repeatedly rejected these

imposed changes. GMB’s Central Executive Council

(CEC) agreed to declare an official national lockout

dispute between British Gas and GMB from 1 April

unless the company pulls back from the brink. It also

instructed the dispute leaders to consult on further

strike dates and other appropriate action.

Justin Bowden, GMB National Secretary, said:

“Mr O’Shea, CEO of British Gas, has unilaterally

created an 1 April cliff edge to sack his workers and is

driving the company at high speed toward it. If

Mr O’Shea goes ahead with this reckless action, GMB

has agreed to declare an official national lockout

dispute with British Gas from 1 April.

“There will also be further strikes and other

appropriate action in this deadlocked dispute.

For the CEO to gamble the future of a profitable

business on a strategic decision of mass sackings is

illogical. It will leave everyone bewildered.

“It is all the more illogical in that from the recent talks

at ACAS, Mr O’Shea apologised for undermining trust

by accepting dodgy legal advice to go ahead with

fire and rehire and promised never ever to go down

this road again.

“There is still time to pull back. Mr O’Shea should do

what’s right for the business, the customers and the

workers and take the 1 April deadline off the table.”

SHREWSBURY 24 APPEAL WIN

'FANTASTIC NEWS' GMB Union pay tribute to those who were

wrongly convicted and campaigners

GMB has described today’s

announcement from the High Court that the convictions of

the Shrewsbury 24 will be overturned as ‘fantastic news’.

Warren Kenny, GMB Acting General Secretary, said: “It’s

fantastic news that after nearly half a century of

campaigning the convictions of the Shrewsbury 24 have

finally been lifted. We pay tribute to those who were

wrongly convicted and to the campaigners who have

worked tirelessly to throw light on the collusion between the

building industry and police. These pickets were

prosecuted just because they had the audacity to ask for

better working conditions and fair pay.”

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THE ACTIVIST

THE ACTIVIST GMB - Grove Hall - 60 College Grove Road - Wakefield - WF1 3RN

0345 337 7777 www.gmbyorkshire.org.uk

can get involved and what our

Regional Lifelong Learning

Committee has planned for the new

era in this region.

Lifelong Learning is still a priority for

this region. It needs now to be part of

all our union activities.

We still have a great deal to offer our

members. You can get involved in

our campaigns and we want your

branch to be an integral part of our

learning agenda - to help shape it

and deliver it!

Training and education opportunities

are still available. Our learning

centres are still running, and we want

to double the number of ULRs we

have in the region. I hope you feel

inspired to get involved. Follow the

link below for further information.

Neil Derrick, Regional Secretary, said:

“Our history of Union Learn projects in

the region will come to an end on

the 31 March 2021, because of the

Government's decision to cut the

cash provided for the Union Learning

Fund after nearly two decades.

I want to pay tribute to our current

project team - Rosie Ford, Emma

Bew, Chris Peace, Cortney Mosey,

Kate Plonka - and Garreth Carvel

who left us for pastures new in

February - Corrine Seymour, and of

course our Project Director, Colin

Kirkham.

Our projects have delivered so much

to so many members over the years.

Giving dignity to workers who missed

out on learning in their early years

and helping others reskill and retrain

to build a better life.

Our commitment to Lifelong Learning

remains, and I'm very pleased to see

our first special Activist which is about

how we intend to continue to

support our members, how branches

LIFELONG LEARNING

NIGHT CLASS It was a packed house for the GMB

Yorkshire Learning Webinar on

Monday night.

Chaired by GMB activists, Lou

Kavanagh and Amanda Burley, the

line-up of panellists included Project

Manager Roseanna Ford, Project

Director Colin Kirkham, Regional

Secretary Neil Derrick and Regional

President Cath Pinder.

The Government’s decision to cease

funding for Union Learning forced us

to rethink our strategy and through

the sterling work of Colin, Rosie and

the rest of the project team, we now

have a mechanism to take learning

forward when the region’s project

comes to an end. Co-ordinated by

Lou, Amanda and the rest of the

Lifelong Learning Committee,

learning will still remain high on or

agenda. See their latest newsletter

Click here

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THE ACTIVIST

GMB - Grove Hall - 60 College Grove Road - Wakefield - WF1 3RN

0345 337 7777 www.gmbyorkshire.org.uk

THE ACTIVIST

PICTURES SPEAK

A 1000 WORDS In October last year

Kirklees K20 Branch

organised a hate crime

poster competition in a

local school. Due to not

being together because

of Covid, the winners

were chosen last week.

The overall winner was a

wonderful picture drawn

by Isla Birchall Y3/3. All 6

winners won book

tokens donated by the

Regional Equality Forum.

These pictures will be turned into posters that will be

used in the Kirklees activist centre during this year’s

Hate Crime Awareness week.

WE CELEBRATE NEURODIVERSITY On Thursday, 18 March, as part of Women's History

Month and Neurodiversity Celebration Week, a session

was held nationally to discuss why females are less likely

to be diagnosed as neurodiverse than males and the

impact this has in the workplace.

Claire Turner (British Gas rep in our region) chaired the

event and reps from across the country, who have

negotiated reasonable adjustment passports,

neurodiversity policies and led campaigns, all spoke.

The event resonated with many members in

attendance who have called on GMB to make

campaigning for neurodiverse friendly workplaces a

priority.

WE WANT A WORLD

AGAINST RACISM Members of the public in

York, dropped down on one

knee in a moving and power-

ful protest against racism last

weekend, as part of the

#World Against Racism Day.

One of those taking part was

GMB Branch Secretary of

York General Branch,

James Cooper. James

said: “I was only too

proud to ‘take the knee’

and be pat of

#WorldAgainstRacism,

representing the York

General Branch.”

WINNER