GMB North West and Irish Region Connect Magazine May 2019 | Page 2

In this issue.........
news
Manufacturing Success at
Columbus Quay Forum
FEATURES
04 International Women’s Day
Challenges in the Workplace
08 Cammell Laird
Good news all round
EDUCATION
09 Stress Course
Over 30 GMB members attending
a forum in regional head office
have agreed a future strategy and
created a new structure which will
dovetail with activists from other
regions.
Managing Daily Pressures
11 Interactive Training
Future Seminars Welcome
There was praise for the research
and policy team at head office
and the lead they have been
It means that our region will have providing with comprehensive
an input into the nine, National
research into rebuilding the UK’s
Manufacturing Activist Forum to defence shipbuilding industry.
improve lines of communication
and mutual support between reps. The GMB has stepped in and
challenged the government’s
Those present came from as
decision to put the Fleet
many as seventeen different
Solid Support vessel out to
employers and Neil Holden the
international tender instead of
Region’s Senior Organiser for
guaranteeing its manufacture in
Manufacturing was delighted
UK shipyards.
with the turnout and the level of
debate.
It then became a tale of two
bobs, with Bob Welham, who
“I want to see the set up evolve
is a regional delegate on the
and eventually see the activists
Central Executive Committee and
leading their own forum. We
Bob Gunn, National President
want to see the manufacturing
of GMB Manufacturing Section,
sector at the forefront of activities explaining the benefits and
in the GMB and this event will
advantages of good activist
definitely improve our ability to
networks and highlighting
communicate, share common
the forthcoming Conference
problems and find solutions and in Belfast in November as
become a force in its own right.” something to look forward to.
OTHER NEWS
02 How to Join
Progress at
Cammell Laird
leading to delays in investment
which in turn caused job
insecurity.
Make the most of your membership
03 Manufacturing
Success at Columbus Quay Forum
06 Equalities
It’s been a busy few months
07 Political
Renewal of Health & Safety Regs
10 Passport to better future
GMB & TUC team up
A national perspective on how the
forum was working across the
union was eloquently provided
by Jude Brimble GMB National
Secretary for manufacturing.
She slammed the Tory
government on how it has
mishandled Brexit, creating
uncertainty,
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After the industrial strategies
it was left to Neil Smith GMB
Political officer to provide
some positive examples of
political lobbying in the last
year including Cammell Laird
shipyard.
“
inbrief ...
Not
INTERNATIONAL
only WOMEN’S DAY
A special event
did we have a marking International
decent cross
Women’s Day
section of reps triggered the launch
of a new campaign at
debating the
the GMB regional HQ
way forward,
in Columbus Quay.
the level of
commitment
to this project,
I believe was
GMB EQUALITY
ACTIVISTS
inspiring for
everyone there. GMB SHOUT! LGBT+
second meeting this
Neil Holden
year takes place in the
Jack Mercer room in
Bill Smith House, on
Wednesday 17th April,
from 11am to 2pm.
RECOGNITION
RESULT WITH A
NEW AGREEMENT
The extensive efforts
and commitment
of GMB members
and staff appears to
have paid dividends
in a long running
campaign.
POLITICAL
COMMITMENT
The GMB’s Regional
Political Officer has
welcomed a major
review of health and
safety regulations by
Westminster MPs.
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