Do please read and see what we have been up to in the region.

Any queries please contact us , your branch- thanks Martin & Trudi

Welcome to the latest issue of our regional newsletter ‘Members First’.

Since we last updated you, the regional staff and activists have been heavily involved in campaigning across our workplaces and, as you’ll see from the various stories included in this newsletter, we’ve had some fantastic results for our members. I am also pleased to report that throughout 2023 and 2024, the London Region experienced positive growth in membership across almost all sectors.

Our regional organisers have been working hard to support our branches and workplace representatives who work tirelessly to support members every day to deliver the outcomes that  our members deserve. These are still worrying times for so many who struggle on low incomes and work in workplaces where much is wrong. It is GMB’s job to #MakeWorkBetter.

If you want to get involved with the activities of your Union or you would like to find out more before you decide, please visit our regional website at www.gmblondon.org.uk or if you have a specific enquiry you can contact us by using this link  https://www.gmblondon.org.uk/support

Thousands of our members choose to get involved every year and many of those go on to become workplace representatives too. If that’s something you’re interested in finding out more about please let us know. We provide training for all our GMB workplace representatives and you can find out more by watching this short video – https://youtu.be/bnUc0iK0oZc

Perhaps you need support accessing courses to assist you in developing skills in your workplace?  If that’s you then please take a look at our John Cope Trust application where the region can help fund courses https://www.gmblondon.org.uk/assets/attachments/GMB-John-Cope-Trust.pdf

Finally, this year it is almost certain we will have a General Election. If you haven’t registered to vote please do – your voice and your vote really matter and when you go to vote, please remember your ID. No ID – No Vote!

Labour’s New Deal
The ‘New Deal’ is really important to working people across the country and members have helped shape this so far. This important policy will give working people fairness, equality, and respect at work – something that’s been sadly lacking under the current government. To find out more about the New Deal please use this link or give our Political team a call – https://www.gmblondon.org.uk/departments/political/political-news/labour%E2%80%99s-new-deal-for-working-people

Best wishes.

Warren Kenny
GMB London Regional Secretary

Penny Robinson
GMB London Regional President

Evri couriers accept a bumper pay increase

GMB Union, the trade union for couriers and drivers, reached an agreement with the online delivery platform Evri, that will deliver a significant increase in the rates paid to GMB members who provide courier services for Evri.

The agreement, confirmed by a ballot of GMB members during November 2023, will mean a rate increase of up to 13 per cent, based on the courier’s average daily earnings and backdated to June 2023. Read more here.
New ‘dough’ deal for Best Food Logistics’ Pret warehouse and delivery workers

Following negotiations between management and GMB members working for Best Foods (Pret A Manger), members accept a 6.6 per cent pay increase

GMB, the union for food delivery and warehouse staff reached an agreement on a pay raise for staff employed by Best Foods under its Pret a Manger contract. The offer was confirmed by a ballot of GMB members on 22nd December 2023. Read more here.

Recognition win at Lampton Group in LB Hounslow

GMB trade union has signed a recognition agreement with Lampton Group, the London Borough of Hounslow’s wholly owned trading company.

Lampton workers carry out a number of key roles in the borough, including property and grounds maintenance, waste and recycling and operating council leisure facilities. Read more here.

Regent’s Park gardeners win dispute after historic strike

Award-winning gardeners win same pay as workers in other parks, says GMB Union

GMB members employed as Regent’s Park gardeners have won their dispute after a historic strike.

Workers, employed by private contractor Idverde, agreed to accept new pay rates which give them parity with workers in the other Royal Parks. Read more here.

  
GMB CAMPAIGNS

Heathrow workers hammered by 200 per cent parking fee hike 

Hard-up Heathrow workers are set to be hammered by a 200 per cent hike in car parking charges.

GMB members working for third-party contractors at the airport have been told their monthly parking tariffs will rocket from £27.19 to £81.05 per month from Jan 1 – an increase of 198 per cent. Read more here.

Wisbech Asda workers in two-day Easter strike

Asda Wisbech workers who voted for strike action took to the picket line at the Easter weekend, one of the supermarket’s busiest periods.

Around 170 Wisbech Asda members walked out from 00:01 to 23:59 on Friday 29 and Saturday 30 March – Easter weekend. The strike was caused by cuts to hours and an increase in a bullying management culture. Read more here.

GMB members working for the TSSA rail union begin voting in an industrial action ballot over a “culture of bullying, harassment and victimisation”.

The ballot began just six months after Maryam Eslamdoust was elected as General Secretary. Since her election members have complained of bullying and harassment, and an “unacceptable management style leading to an atmosphere of fear, anxiety and hypervigilance amongst staff.” Read more here.
GMB FIGHTING FOR OUR MEMBERS’ RIGHTS

Morrisons, Aldi and Waitrose ready-meal makers slash hundreds of jobs.

GMB will fight tooth and nail for workers to be paid every penny they are due.

A food manufacturer which makes ready meals for Morrisons, Aldi and Waitrose is set to slash hundreds of jobs.

Pilgrim’s Food Masters makes chilled and frozen meals, announced up to 260 redundancies at the company’s site in Dean Way, Southall. Read more here.

Basildon Care Home Permacare signs new recognition agreement with GMB

GMB, the union for care workers sealed the agreement with Permacare Ltd on Tuesday 19th March following the TUPE of staff after the business transferred ownership.

The agreement means that GMB will represent our members to negotiate pay and conditions, health and safety, and employment-related matters that will benefit our members, and in turn, the residents and the business. Read more here.

GMB EQUALITY 

Mind the ethnicity pay gap

A London council became the first to call for better reporting of the ethnicity pay gap.

A London council became the first to call for better reporting of the ethnicity pay gap. On Monday (18th March) a motion was passed by councillors in Newham calling for more to be done to combat the ethnicity gap across the borough. This follows a similar GMB motion passed by Assembly Members on Thursday 6th July, 2023 at the Greater London Authority. Read more here.

GMB CONGRESS 2024

Branch Nominations open for GMB Congress 2024 Rep of the Year Awards

Members and Branches are asked to nominate for National awards which will be presented at Congress 2024 and the deadline for all is 28th April 2024

There are so many members throughout our union doing amazing work who don’t get the recognition they deserve. Whether it’s campaigning for safer working conditions or leading the fight for the fair and equal pay that GMB members deserve, we want to recognise the GMB members across the country who have inspired you. Do you know an inspiring GMB  member or rep whose activism and commitment deserve to be recognised? Is there an outstanding activist in your branch or workplace? If so, nominations can be completed online by 28th April 2024 using the links below:

• Women’s Rep of the Year (Eleanor Marx Award)
• Health & Safety Rep of the Year (Mary McArthur Award)
• Health & Safety Branch / Workplace of the Year (John McClean Award)

Labour’s New Deal for Working People – a plan to make Britain work for working people.

We know it’s tough for working people and their families at the moment. The price of everything is increasing – from fuel, to energy bills, to the weekly shop – but incomes haven’t been keeping up. To top it off, the government seems more interested in delivering the distractions and gimmicks they think will win them an election, rather than tackling the cost of living crisis they created.

The Tories promised a high-wage economy, but the brutal reality is they’ve overseen more than a decade of flatlining and falling pay, while work has become even more insecure. The Tories have broken Britain, and we’re all paying the price. Read the full article here.

There are times when we must run a work-related survey, a ballot, or an election of GMB lay officers, and the General Secretary. As a democratic, member-led trade union you have the right to have your say and to cast your vote. 

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