In this issue…
Paul McCarthy etary
GMB Regional Secr
GMB started building a 21st century
union at Congress 2016 Page 8
4 Bedblocking in the NHS
18 Standing up for H&S
GMB research shows that bedblocking is on the
rise but better social care funding could solve it
Our health and safety protections are taking
body blows, and it’s time for us to fight back
6 Political update
20 GMB financial report
GMB comes to the fore at Northern Ireland
Committee Irish Congress of Trade Unions
Plus some pensions advice for GMB members
7 We will remember
It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3 with our special offer
23 Building a branch website
GMB members across the Region pay their
respects on International Workers’ Memorial
day. Plus, the Tolpuddle Festival 2016
24 UNIONLINE
8 Our Region at Congress
25 Golden Rules
It was a great success in Bournemouth for
North West and Irish Region
9 Congress report
Jeremy Corbyn, Blacklisting,
Hillsborough and more…
The summers are getting hotter, here’s how
to deal with hot workplace conditions
26 Equalities update
Poverty is becoming a key
equalities issue, says Lisa Ryan
28 End of an era
11 Tim Roache
speaks
GMB reps Bobby Daniels
and Arthur Moss retire from
Liverpool City Council. Also,
have a laugh at Fat Cat Boss
Why trade unions are
a force for good
14 Tax dodgers
30 Notice board
Paul Routledge on tax
avoidance and the Tories
GMB sponsors Ballyclare boxing
club. Switch to direct debit with
our handy form
16 Pull-out map!
GMB members in every region
are keeping the UK’s power
stations up and running
On average
union members
are 16.7%
better paid
than nonmembers
GMB members’ own legal service
GMB
membership
covers you
wherever
you work
GMB’s victory against the
blacklisters page 12
UNIONLINE
Your trade
union law firm:
0300 333 0303
Not a GMB member? Join today
www.gmb.org.uk/join/join-online
GMB25.Fusion_03.indd 3
No-one can
stop you
joining GMB
Current
Vacancies
@GMB See
www.gmb.org.uk/
about/gmb-jobopportunities
Welcome to
the summer
edition of
Fusion.
Delegates have just
returned from another
successful GMB Congress, which was
held this year in Bournemouth. As usual
our delegation played their part in moving
and debating motions put forward by
branches across the Region. Work has
already started on preparations for
Congress 2017 and details of how to get
involved are inside.
I was especially proud of the Gold Badge
presented by Mary Turner to Margaret
Aspinall on behalf of the Hillsborough
Family Support Group – this