GMB ANNUAL CONGRESS held on: SUNDAY 6TH JUNE – WEDNESDAY 9TH JUNE 2010 at SOUTHPORT FLORAL HALL, SOUTHPORT ………………………….. SIS. MARY TURNER MBE (President of the GMB Union) (In the Chair) …………………………… P R O C E E D I N G S D A Y T H R E E (Wednesday, 9th June 2010) ………………………………. Conference reported by: Marten Walsh Cherer Ltd., 1st Floor, Quality House, 6-9 Quality Court, Chancery Lane, London WC2A 1HP. Telephone: 020 7069 2900 email: [email protected] 293 THIRD DAY’S PROCEEDINGS WEDNESDAY, 9TH JUNE 2010 MORNING SESSION Congress assembled at 9.30 a.m. THE PRESIDENT: Good morning, Congress. Will Congress come to order, please. I know you all had a great night last night. I have some announcements to make. The London Region collection for STEPS – Specialist Toys and Switches – raised £635. Well done. (Applause) London Region is going to double that amount. (Cheers) I think we are going to double it after they’ve doubled it. Remember that at lunch-time there is one fringe meeting. You have been asked to attend. While we are all collected together, I want to say a special thank you to our sponsors, who are Liverpool Victoria, EAD Solicitors, Pellacraft Limited, Future Plus, Simpsons Solicitors, Thompsons Solicitors and Digby Brown Solicitors. I hope you have all visited the stalls and to thank them for the effort that they have made this week. (Applause) Let me say that myself and Paul McCarthy visited Edna Greenwood last night. She sends you all her best wishes. She was so proud to have received that award. She is not looking to bad. I ask all delegates and visitors to check that you have switched off your mobile phones or make sure that they are on silent, because Mary’s bucket is next to me. The winner of Simpson Millar Solicitor’s prize draw for a Blue Ray DVD player is John Powell of Weymouth, W27 Branch, in the Southern Region. This is a final reminder for delegates to pick up their Congress gift, a T-shirt from Ethical Threads’ stand in the exhibition. I picked mine up and I’ve got it on. (Applause) I remind you that a delegate questionnaire is available from the information desk/tea and coffee area, and at the Ethical Threads’ stand. Please complete and put in the box. There is a free prize draw for those who complete it to win GMB whisky and glasses. I welcome delegates from the section conferences where, I am sure, you have had lively debates and interesting speakers. Yes, we did. The next order of business is for Helen Johnson to present Standing Orders Committee Report No. 5. STANDING ORDERS COMMITTEE REPORT NO. 5 SIS. HELEN JOHNSON (Chair, Standing Orders Committee): President and Congress, I move SOC Report No.5. Congress, on the subject of withdrawn motions, we have one 294 further withdrawn motion, which is no. 143 on Internet Piracy. That motion has now been withdrawn. On the subject of times for speakers, you will be aware that, in accordance with paragraph 9 of the Guidelines for Congress Business, the SOC recommends the times for speakers taking account of business on the agenda. You will also be aware that in accordance with paragraph 9 of the Guidelines it may be necessary, in order that the business of Congress is properly conducted, for speaking times to be curtailed. On Monday, on SOC Report No. 4, the SOC advised that we were considering whether it would be necessary to do so. President and Congress, in view of the business that remains on the agenda, the SOC is recommending that speaking times should be revised as follows. Movers of general motions should have their speaking time reduced from four minutes to three minutes, and that movers of Special Reports and CEC Statements should have their speaking time reduced from six minutes to five minutes. I move SOC Report No. 5. THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. Are there any questions on the report? (No response) Does Congress agree to accept? SOC Report No. 5 was adopted. ADDRESS BY SIS. MONICA SMITH, NATIONAL SECRETARY OF THE RETIRED MEMBERS’ ASSOCIATION THE PRESIDENT: Congress, it gives me great pleasure to call Monica Smith, the National Secretary of the Retired Members’ Association. SIS. M. SMITH (National Secretary, Retired Members’ Association): Once again, colleagues, I am proud and honoured to be addressing Congress on behalf of the GMB Retired Members’ Association. The RMA wishes to thank Tommy Nimmo and Roger Bolstone for selling raffle tickets on the stall and for all the prizes and donations given by you lovely people and not forgetting the plug given by the worthy President of the Northern Region, Billy Hughes. The retired members have worked hard this year both at regional levels and at national meetings. Most regions hold regular meetings and the National Committee meets at least four times a year. We all know we have a new government, but what they intend to do to get the finances in order will, without a doubt, fall on the working class and the elderly with cuts to public services, etc. If funds are to be withdrawn from anywhere it is always the elderly who are least able to fight back. The level of care within hospital beggars belief at times, with the elderly the least able to help themselves, left hungry for want of a kindly hand to steady their spoon or cup to their lips. How is it that there is no one around when they need the toilet? Colleagues, there is nothing to old age unless you have your health. Can any government not realise that they will be our age and will even want the same things that we do? 295 We don’t want much. We would like sufficient money to live on and not to have to choose between heating or eating. We don’t want millions, just what we have put into the system over the years. Remember, some of us have worked for 50 plus years and paid into the system for those years, not like some today who don’t start work until they are well into their 20s. Why don’t governments have respect for the elderly and the vulnerable? It is an achievement to grow old and share knowledge. Why is it continually seen as a penalty? To move on to brighter topics, the GMB Retired Members’ Association now has a new constitution, instigated mainly by the National Co-ordinator, Jerry Nelson. As in all things new, there were some minor setbacks, but the constitution has now been ratified by the CEC. At the National Committee’s AGM five officers were elected to hold office for four years. ‘Ee by gum’, I will have to keep taking the pills. (Laughter) Jerry Nelson was elected to sit on the Executive Committee of the National Pensioners’ Convention, with Derek Baker MBE, as his deputy. You might think, colleagues, “Why bother with meetings when you’re retired? Just sit back and enjoy life.” Colleagues, the secret is that we very much enjoy being active members of the GMB. When speaking with a colleague of mine, we discussed getting a buzz by being part of this great Union and the comradeship which becomes an extension of your life. On a recent visit to London, travelling solo, for the rally on 10th April, and arriving rather early and feeling slightly lonely, I spotted a man with GMB@Work on his jacket. I thought, “A kindred spirit”. I forget his name but I know he was an officer from the London Region. We chatted for quite some time until he was called away to assist with the rally. That, to me, is the GMB@Work. Let me conclude by saying that although we are past the first flush of youth, the RMA members are flourishing and we hope that we have proved that there is plenty of life, energy and, most of all, comradeship and commitment to our great Union, the GMB. (Applause) THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, Monica. The RMA Conference is tomorrow, which I will be chairing. So if any people are left around tomorrow, it is in this hall starting at 9.30. I call Motion 17 and Motion 22. I remind colleagues that Motion 24 has been withdrawn as was stated in the first SOC Report. GMB CONTRIBUTIONS MOTION 17 17. GMB CONTRIBUTIONS This Conference calls upon the Central Executive Committee to investigate the prospect of varying GMB contribution levels in relation to the earnings of members. 296 The CEC to present its findings and recommendations to the next Congress. DURHAM GENERAL BRANCH Northern Region (Withdrawn) BRO. A. KIGHTLY (Northern): Congress, I move Motion 17 on contribution rates. Membership of the GMB is not cheap. Over the years our rates have progressively increased to the extent that we all have real problems in recruiting new members. How many times, colleagues, have you been to a school or factory, you have handed out the forms, you tell the workers about our services and about the support they will receive? You realise that the workers want to join, but when you tell them the rates you can see their faces change. “How much?” It suddenly becomes, “Umm, I’ll take the form. I’ll think about it.” “I’ll tell you what, I’ll put the form in the post.” The truth, colleagues, is that for many of the workers who need our support the most, it is the cost that puts them off. Yet we have members earning £30,000, £50,000, £100,000 and, like Paul Kenny, £150,000 a year.