GMB (trade union)

Structural history

GMB originates from a series of mergers, beginning when the National Amalgamated Union of Labour (NAUL), National Union of General Workers (NUGW) and the Municipal Employees Association in 1924 joined into a new union, named the National Union of General and Municipal Workers (NUGMW). Although the new union was one of the largest in the country, it grew relatively slowly over the following decades, perhaps due to its image as being on the right wing of the labour movement. This changed in the 1970s, when David Basnett created new sections for staff, and hotel and catering workers, and changed the union's name to the General and Municipal Workers' Union (GMWU) in 1974.

Mergers

GMB is the result of mergers with many others, although until the 1980s, most unions merging in were small. 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, from the initials of which its present name, which was officially adopted in 1987, is derived, although the abbreviation had been used since 1982. 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:

1924: Chatham Government Labourers' Union, St Helens Sheet Glass Flatteners' Trade Protection Society 1929: Cumberland Iron Ore Miners and Kindred Trades Association 1931: Cleveland Ironstone Quarrymens' Association, 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: Manchester Warehouse Employees Association, National Union of Waterworks Employees 1974: BSR Staff Association, National Pen Workers' Federation, 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 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 Organisation 2002: International Union of Sex Workers 2007: General Union of Loom Overlookers 2015: Unity

Thorne Credit Union

Thorne Credit Union Limited is a savings and loans co-operative established by the trade union for its members in 1998. Trading as TCU Money, it began life as GMB Lancashire Region Credit Union and was rolled out nationwide in 2000. TCU is named after Will Thorne, founder of NUGW forerunner, the National Union of Gas Workers and General Labourers and one of the first Labour Members of Parliament. The credit union is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the PRA. Ultimately, like the banks and building societies, members’ savings are protected against business failure by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.

Cost

Full-time workers will pay £13.00 a month to be a member of the GMB. This does entitle you to free insurance as well as other benefits of membership.

Landmark Uber employment tribunal case

On 28 October 2016, in a landmark ruling if not overturned on appeal, the Central London Employment Tribunal ruled that Uber drivers are "workers" entitled to the minimum wage, paid holiday, sick leave and other normal worker entitlements, rather than self-employed. Two Uber drivers had brought the case to the employment tribunal with the assistance of the GMB Union on 20 July 2016, as a test case on behalf of a group of 19 drivers. As a consequence, The Pensions Regulator is considering if the ruling obliges Uber to create a workplace pension scheme. The ruling could have implications wider than just Uber, throughout the so-called gig economy.

On 10 February 2017 a similar case involving Pimlico Plumbers was confirmed at the Court of Appeal. A worker who had suffered a heart attack was found to have been unfairly or wrongfully dismissed.

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. GMB gives Labour invests up to £2m a year in affiliation fees and other funds, making it the third largest union donor to the party.

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. Despite this the Congress opposed disaffiliation from the party.

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.

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, Mary Turner and Cath Speight. In Ireland, GMB is affiliated to the Irish Labour Party.

Under Jeremy Corbyn's leadership of the Labour Party, the GMB has clashed with the party over the issues of Trident renewal and fracking, both of which are opposed by Corbyn.

Leadership

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, Paul Kenny was elected unopposed as general secretary.

Tim Roache was elected in the 2015 and took over in 2016.

General Secretaries

1924: William James Thorne, CBE 1934: Charles Dukes, 1st Baron Dukeston 1946: Tom Williamson, Baron Williamson 1962: Jack Cooper, Baron Cooper of Stockton Heath 1973: David Basnett 1986: John Edmonds 2003: Kevin Curran 2005: Paul Kenny 2016: Tim Roache

Deputy General Secretaries

1991: Tom Burlison 1996: Steve Pickering 2003: Debbie Coulter 2010: Post vacant

Sports sponsorship

The GMB are sponsors of the Nottingham Panthers ice hockey team and the Castleford Tigers Rugby League team.

Until May 2011 they sponsored Swindon Town Football Club, but when Paolo Di Canio was appointed manager they terminated the relationship because of his 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.". They sponsored League One club Port Vale for the 2013–14 season.