Jemma, Lisa and Lana
theACTIVIST Issue 94 April 2021
GMB News From Around The Region
In this issue…
• British Gas update Photographer: Neil Terry • Dave Noble retires • Early votes sign-up BRITISH GAS ENGINEERS TO STRIKE ON APRIL 14, • 1 in 3 key workers on less than £10 an hour NEW DATE THEY FACE MASS SACKINGS • Workplace Covid GMB British Gas members will strike for the 43rd day on Wednesday, April 14 – the new date they exposure: Shocking face mass sackings if they don’t accept imposed pay cuts of 15 per cent and other changes. findings Engineers were sent termination letters this week by British Gas CEO, Chris O’Shea, informing them • GMB Asda victory they would be dismissed on 14 April rather than the original date of 1 April. No explanation was • GMB delivers for Hermes workers offered for the change in dates. • Mental Health Awareness Week: 10-16 May In July, British Gas announced engineers who refused to ‘voluntarily accept’ imposed 15 per cent • Take a look at the new cuts in pay rates and other changes affecting the time they spend with their families, would be GMB social care hub sacked. GMB members at British Gas have already taken 42 days of strike action against the pay • GMB helps tackle digital cuts and fire and rehire notices. In addition, an official national lockout dispute between British poverty Gas and GMB will become effective from 14 April and will include further strike action and action short of a strike.
Justin Bowden, GMB National Secretary, said: “Sacking his own highly skilled, qualified and experienced workers on 14 April, because they would not submit to his reckless corporate bullying is the ultimate measure of failure from Mr O’Shea. There are no legal checks on this forcing of signatures under duress. The British Gas workforce are united in utter disgust and anger against the Centrica senior management team led by Mr O’Shea. This disgust and anger will be manifest across the country on 14 April. This dispute is far from over. It brings to mind the old adage that ‘any fool can start a war’. There is still time for Mr O’Shea to take the new date off the table.”
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HAPPY RETIREMENT DAVE NOBLE
EARLY VOTES SIGN-UP PAGE FOR TRADE UNIONS Getting as many people as possible signed up to vote by post is important for driving turnout in the May elections, it is also going to be the safest way to vote this year. The Labour UNION STALWART HANDS OVER THE Party has created an Early Votes sign-up page which makes it as easy as possible to get a postal vote. It allows voters to REINS AS HE STEPS INTO RETIREMENT print a completed postal vote form that they can sign and We finally say cheerio to long-serving GMB convenor send to their Local Authority. Dave Noble this week, following his retirement from Leeds City Council after nearly 47 years of service. It also provides a post-to-you option for people with no There wasn’t a dry eye in the house as GMB activists, printer access, so the completed form is posted (by the Labour Party) for a voter to sign and send to their Local staff and officers past and present paid tribute to Dave Authority. You’ll need to get cracking though as the postal during a 2-hour long Zoom meeting. In a video votes sign-up deadline is 20 April. Follow the link below to montage there were tributes from GMB Regional get the ball rolling: Secretary Neil Derrick, former GMB National Secretary, Brian Strutton, former GMB Deputy General Secretary Click here to sign-up Debbie Coulter and GMB Senior Organiser Desiree Risebury, plus many more. TUC: 1 IN 3 KEY WORKERS EARN LESS
Dave has supported and guided countless officers and THAN £10 AN HOUR convenors over the years and his local authority Around one in three (33%) key workers earn less than £10 an knowledge is second to none. Respected by both hour according to a new analysis by the TUC, published this members and management alike, Dave will be sorely week. The analysis reveals that around 3.2 million key missed. He is referred to as the font of all Local workers are paid less than £10 an hour. This makes it harder Government knowledge, a members’ champion, but to pay bills and put food on the table, says the TUC. above all, a great ally and true friend. We can’t Key workers being paid less than £10 an hour include: celebrate Dave’s retirement in the usual way, but when • Retail workers: Three-quarters (75%) of retail workers are it is safe to do so, we will! Happy retirement Dave. paid less than £10 an hour. That’s around 1 million retail assistants, cashiers and shelf fillers. • Carers: More than three in five (62%) (440,000) carers earn under £10 an hour. • Teaching assistants: Nearly seven in 10 (69%) (340,000) teaching and education support assistants are paid less than £10 an hour.
The TUC argues that all key workers deserve a ‘decent’ pay rise as they have been expected to continue to work throughout lockdown and local restrictions, during the height of the pandemic. The union body says that retail workers have been keeping essential shops going, often in conditions that don’t allow for proper social distancing. And care workers have been looking after some of the most
vulnerable, and putting themselves at risk to do so.
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MORE THAN 350 DEATHS AND 31,000 INFECTIONS
LINKED TO COVID-19 EXPOSURE AT WORK
More than 350 deaths and 31,000 infections have been linked to Covid-19 exposure at work, new Health and Safety Executive (HSE) figures reveal. The data, released in response to a GMB Freedom of Information request, shows that 31,000 suspected cases of occupational exposure to coronavirus were reported to the Health and Safety Executive between 10 April 2020 and 13 March 2021. 367 workers’ deaths were suspected to be linked to workplace exposure to the coronavirus during the same period. The figures likely underestimate the true extent of exposure and deaths among workers. GMB has called for urgent investment to make workplaces safe and full sick pay cover so that workers can afford to self-isolate.
Health and social care workers accounted for the overwhelming majority of infections and deaths notified under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR). 70 per cent of occupational deaths, or 257 fatalities, were recorded for workers in this group. 2,134 staff infections and seven deaths that were linked to workplace exposure were also recorded in educational settings since the start of September, despite Ministers’ repeated assurances that schools and other educational establishments were safe.
Occupational infections peaked in January at 5,710 and the highest monthly count of worker deaths (60) was recorded in February, according to the figures. 26,705 infections were reported in England since 10 April 2020, while 2,228 infections were reported in Wales and 2,447 were reported in Scotland. Northern Ireland is not covered by the figures. Reports of infections and deaths should be filed ‘where there is reasonable evidence that the worker was exposed because of their work,’ according to the HSE, which means that many infections that cannot be directly attributed to a person’s work will not be recorded. The HSE acknowledges that ‘RIDDOR suffers from under-reporting’ and that ‘it is likely that [COVID-19] disease reporting is lower’ than the true rate.
Rehana Azam, GMB National Secretary, said: “No one should go to work in fear of their life. Each worker’s death was preventable, and the damning reality is that too many workplaces are still not safe. The fact that 70% of reported workers’ deaths are in the health and care sector should be a wake-up call, and sadly these figures are likely to be the tip of the iceberg. Two thousand infections and seven deaths in educational workplaces since September is the final proof that Ministers reopened schools before they were safe.
“Across the country too many people still face insecure workplaces and inadequate PPE. Seven out of ten reported infections were since the start of the second wave, when the steps required to limit the spread of the virus were well understood. GMB calls on Ministers to urgently meet with unions, and for full sick pay cover to be provided to end the financial pressure that is leading to presenteeism and a greater spread of this terrible disease."
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GMB AND HERMES AGREE FURTHER
BENEFITS FOR SELF EMPLOYED PLUS
COURIERS Around 20,000 couriers now have a real voice in their workplace and the right to take holidays and the right to guaranteed pay
GMB and Hermes UK - the leading consumer delivery company - have announced they have concluded their annual negotiations which have resulted in further benefits for all self-employed plus (SE+) couriers.
It follows the ground-breaking deal in 2019, the first of its kind designed to support the rights of self- Play video employed workers operating in the so called ‘gig economy’, which included paid holiday and guaranteed minimum payment rates for SE+ couriers GMB HAILS ‘MASSIVE VICTORY’ IN SUPREME and the ability for the GMB to secure further benefits COURT FOR 40,000 ASDA WORKERS ON EQUAL on their behalf. PAY Under the terms of the new deal, effective from GMB, the union for Asda workers, has hailed a ‘massive victory’ Saturday, 27 March 2021, all SE+ couriers benefit from as the Supreme Court ruled in favour of 40,000 workers. a range of increased payments for the services that The ruling means shop floor staff at Asda can be compared to they provide, including increased rates for workers in the distribution centre for the purposes of their equal parcel collections and additional incentives. pay claim. GMB has now called on Asda bosses to meet with them and discuss the next stage of the shop workers’ The option to become an SE+ courier has been compensation claim, which could run to £500 million. available at Hermes since 2019 and it is estimated that by the end of June 2021 more than 70% will have This is the fourth time Asda has lost a court battle on this issue. made the decision to move – around 20,000 couriers. In January 2019, the Court of Appeal ruled that GMB members could compare themselves in this way – upholding the rulings made by an employment tribunal in 2016 and the Employment Their continued self-employed status means that they Appeal Tribunal in 2017. are still able to maintain the flexibility that so many couriers treasure, fitting in their deliveries alongside GMB has enlisted law firm Leigh Day to work the case on their other, often family, commitments. behalf of GMB members. There are almost 40,000 claimants involved. Mick Rix, GMB National Officer, said: “Hermes is Susan Harris, GMB Legal Director, said: “This is amazing news continuing to show other companies that looking and a massive victory for Asda’s predominantly women shop after those who work for you is not just the right thing floor workforce. We are proud to have supported our to do, it’s good for business. members in this litigation and helped them in their fight for pay justice. “Couriers now have a real voice in their workplace and the right to take holidays and the right to “Asda has wasted money on lawyers’ bills chasing a lost guaranteed pay. These are basic rights that the GMB cause, losing appeal after appeal, while tens of thousands of has fought hard for on behalf of members and the retail workers remain out of pocket. continuing evolvement of this deal shows the gig
“We now call on Asda to sit down with us to reach agreement economy doesn’t have to rip off workers and that on the back pay owed to our members – which could run to exploitative employers need to sit up and take hundreds of millions of pounds.” notice.”
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This year's theme for Mental focus on providing help and The survey will give us an idea of Health Awareness week is ‘Nature advice. We have several online which sessions are proving and the Environment’. support sessions, and it would popular. You will receive an The evidence is clear that access great if you could come along invite to register for your chosen to nature is crucial for our mental and join us. sessions over the next few weeks. health and millions of people rediscovered that during If you can, then please indicate All sessions start at 6pm and last lockdowns. Mental Health which sessions you would like to for approximately 60 minutes. Awareness Week is an opportunity attend by following the link to for people to talk about all complete our short survey. Click here to fill in our short survey aspects of mental health with a
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Neil Derrick, Maureen Cummings & Neil Cole
GMB SOCIAL CARE HUB: THE LATEST WAKEFIELD COUNCIL TACKLE DIGITAL NEWS AND CAMPAIGNS AT YOUR POVERTY WITH SUPPORT FROM GMB FINGERTIPS At Wakefield Council’s Children and Young People’s Partnership Board held in November, a number of The new GMB Social Care Hub is now live and young people talked about the issues surrounding accessible by visiting the GMB national website. It can access to IT and online learning during the current be accessed via the Campaigns Tab on the main page pandemic and beyond. The support from the and also using the link below. Department for Education scheme has helped a
substantial number of children to access online The Hub includes details on: learning. However, there remain a number of children • Joining GMB and young people who are still in need of computer • Links to social care social media pages equipment and access to the internet. • GMB 5 key asks for social care The partnership and elected members committed to • Dom Care campaign responding to this need and officers within the
• Sick pay petition Children and Young People (CYP) Project Team have • Becoming a rep been tasked with developing and implementing a project to take this forward. Through consultation with children and young people the project has now been The union for care workers | GMB named ‘WF Connect’ and will consist of a donation scheme for unused IT equipment to be recycled and redistributed to families whose children are unable to access remote learning.
GMB was approached by Councillor Maureen Cummings to see if we could assist in some way with Latest Inflation: FEBRUARY 2021 the scheme, and we were only too pleased that we RPI: 1.4% CPI: 0.4% were able to help out by donating two laptops.
Commenting, Maureen said: “I’d like to say a massive GMB Yorkshire and North Derbyshire Region thank you to GMB for the donation of two wonderful @GMBCampaigns laptops. These will go to homes where families are struggling and living in digital poverty, their children will now have a resource other kids take for granted.”
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