MEMBERS

FIRSTGMB LONDON NEWS UPDATE

SODEXOVICTORYGMB help Aldrenget his job backPAGE 2

NHS MARCHSee the videoPAGE 4

OUR MARYTributes to the lateMary TurnerPAGE 10

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REINSTATEMENTOF ALDRENTOMLINSON ATKING GEORGE’SAldren Tomlinson, who has worked at King George Hospital for15 years, was sacked in February without notice for allegedly stealingcompany property, a £4.00 breakfast following a misunderstandingover payment in the hospital canteen.

His dismissal by his employer Sodexo, generated much angeramong his colleagues who are GMB members. Hundreds signedpetitions and held meetings to discuss strike action and protest toensure Aldren was reinstated.

The reinstatement came an hour before GMB were to hold aprotest outside the hospital and following three days of adversepublicity generated against Sodexo by the sacking.

Aldren Tomlinson said“If it was not for being a member of GMB I would not have got my

job back. My friends and work colleagues who were prepared to go onstrike are all GMB members. I am delighted at clearing my name andgetting my job back.

“Vanessa Feltz interviewed me on Wednesday morning and thesupport from her and her listeners blew me away. I look forward togoing back to work on Monday.”

“If I were nota GMB member,I would nothave got myjob back”

RECOGNITIONAT EATEat Kitchens is based in Fourth Way inWembley. Workers are employed inpreparing ingredients, cooking andpackaging food, ready to be deliveredto the EAT shops.

During week commencing 2nd MayACAS conducted a ballot ofapproximately 200 shop floor foodworkers at EAT plant in Wembley toestablish whether the workforce wantGMB union to represent them innegotiations with the company.

GMB members at EAT Wembleyrecently celebrated the Union’srecognition ballot held on 18th May2017.

The on-site ballot was conducted byACAS, on behalf of the Union, and theresults were issued to EAT and GMB on1st June.

75% voted in favour of recognitionso GMB can now represent them innegotiations with the company.

GMB and EAT signed the RecognitionAgreement on the 9th of June.

CONTACTRichard Owen, Regional Organiser

Richard.owen@gmb.org.uk 07974 179 285

Hiten Vaidya, Regional Organiser Hiten.Vaidya@gmb.org.uk 07552 120 740

CONTACTMichael Dooley, Regional Organiser

Michael.dooley@gmb.org.uk 020 8202 8272

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ASDA MEMBERSSUPPORT CENTREGMB ASDA Members Support Centre celebrates it’s 1st birthday.

GMB London is proud to be embracing modern technology tobring our region to a new generation. 12 months ago at GMBCongress in Bournemouth Regional Organiser, Keith Dixon,launched the GMB ASDA Members Support Centre.

The Support Centre allows our members within ASDA toconnect immediately to a GMB Steward who can assist with anyissue within the workplace. The service is free to all members andspeeds up the time to gain support or representation from GMB.

Keith Dixon says “The GMB Members Support Centre has gonefrom strength to strength over the past 12 months. We have inexcess of 100 Trained Stewards, 5 National Reps, 3 SecretarialSupport Staff and 4 Officers using the system daily. This ensures aspeedy, professional approach to our members concerns andkeeps all information securely stored.

There has been great interest and involvement from ourmembers within ASDA with well over 900 members in the LondonRegion alone utilising the support centre over the 12 months.

The support centre has recently been extended to cover otherGMB Regions nationwide.

It is a credit to GMB London Region and a great benefit to allour members.”

The support centre can be accessed atwww.gmb-asda.com/support

SUPPORTINGCHILDREN IN THECOMMUNITY GMB Shop Stewards from ASDA Bedfordvisited the Summer Camp Multi SportsCamp at The Goldington Academy in Bedfordon 10th August. The GMB A36 Branch fromASDA has paid £430 to cover the cost of theschool hire to help reduce fees for thechildren. The summer camp is for boys andgirls aged 14-15 who want to keep active andhave fun during the summer holidays. Thecamp is being run by Bruno Dos Santos, aGMB member who works at ASDA Bedford.

Bruno said, “This is the 3rd year runningthat we have had a summer camp, weencourage children to take part in a host ofmulti-sport activities such as football,dodge ball, running, rounders and tennis.

It is hard work but rewarding when yousee the enjoyment on the children’s faces.Justin and Andre from my GMB Branch havealways been very supportive and this is thesecond year that they have helped to fundthis project.”

Justin Openshaw, Branch President said “This is a great example of how we can

take our Branch out of the workplace andinto the community.

We fully support giving children theopportunity to remain active during thesummer holidays and by paying for the hireof Goldington Academy it allows theChildren’s fees to be affordable.”

Andre Marques, Branch Secretary said “anyone with young children will know

that the summer holidays can be a difficulttime to keep them entertained. This projectis a good, fun way of keeping children bothactive and busy.”

For more details you can visit theirwebsite at www.brazilsoccer.co.uk

CONTACTKeith Dixon, Regional Organiser

keith.dixon@gmb.org.uk 01603 626492

CONTACTAndre Marques, A36 branch Bedford

07850 970985Justin Openshaw, A36 branch Bedford

07709 023692

LONDONREGIONSCHOOLSTEAMOn Saturday 22nd April 2017, GMB London and SouthernRegions held their second Joint School Support StaffConference at GMB Euston Office.

The conference was attended by 70-80 school support staffranging from play leaders, cleaners, lunchtime middaysupervisors, caretakers, full-time convenors, branchsecretaries, admin staff and teaching assistants.

The day-long event was a great success, with a mixture ofpresentations, guest speakers and interactive sessions withthe delegates.

The Government has cut school funding by £2.8 billion since 2015 and between now and 2022, it wants to cut £8.9billion more.

We need to stand together, if we are going to save ourschools, jobs and the education of millions of children.Therefore, we will launch a school petition, which will beemailed to every school based member to be signed bymembers, family and friends as we will need 100,000signatures to get it debated in the House of Commons. Atpresent, government petitions have had to stop because ofthe recent general election, but after a new petitionscommittee is set up by the House of Commons, petitions willstart again.

If you’d like a member of our Regional Schools Team tocontact you or arrange a visit to your School, then please getin touch using the details below.

CONTACT schoolsteamlondon@gmb.org.uk 01245 345165 @GMBLondonschools

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MARCH 4THE NHSGMB London joined the NationalDemonstration to defend the NHS againstcuts, closures and privatisation onSaturday 4th March. The march was insupport of a fully funded, publicly ownedNHS & social care service.

We marched with thousands of people inthe fight to save the NHS from destruction.

We have to keep fighting, as hospitals,GPs, mental health, ambulance andcommunity services are already on their knees.

Sadly, Our NHS continues to be underconstant threat of being completelydismantled by this callous and uncaringGovernment. It is therefore vitallyimportant we do all we can to continuecampaigning to protect and preserve oneof our greatest National assets – Our NHS!

We made a short video capturingmoments of the day that brought so manypeople together.

View the video on ouryoutube channel

tinyurl.com/GMBNHSMarchVideo

Taranjit Chana, a member of GMB London region, picked up thePresident’s Leadership Award for Equality 2017 at GMB’s 100thCongress.

Taranjit, Lambeth legal advisorwas handed the prestigious EleanorMarx national award for herinspirational equality work.

Taranjit, a member of GMB’sLondon Region who works for awomens’ organisation in Ealing, waschosen ahead of dozens of others forher work organising marches,volunteering at women’s refuges,giving up her spare time to giveadvice on the radio for Asian women.

She is also an ardent campaignerfor LGBT rights, a champion ofwomen’s rights in the workplace,works with refugees and helpsdeliver aid packages in Calais andhelps women survivors of domesticviolence.

Angela Smith, Shadow Leader ofthe House of Lords, has now invitedTaranjit to have tea in the Lords with her.

Two stewards from the region wonthe Mary Macarthur award atcongress 2017, Lee Hillam ofCambridge County Council who wonthe main award and Helena Sharpe of Asda Luton who received a runnerup award.

Lee is recognised for his role asGMB Health and SafetyRepresentative and his work at aNational level designing a workerinvolvement tool for the WasteIndustry which has been adopted bythe HSE’s Waste Industry Safety andHealth Forum.

Lee used his experience toorganise staff within the SharedWaste Service between CambridgeCity Council and SouthCambridgeshire District Council. Leeplayed a critical role in ensuringproper oversight and developed newguidance for Waste staff.

Lee facilitated a workshop onemployee involvement at the 2016WISH Conference and from thisdeveloped a worker involvement toolfor the Waste Industry and RecyclingSector. This was Lee’s initiative usinghis own IT skills.

Organising and raising standardsin a dangerous Sector such as Wasteis a credit to Lee’s commitment tokeeping our members safe.

GMB Workplace Organiser HelenaSharpe was on her day off. However,upon hearing the devastating newsthat a fire had broken out at theASDA Luton store on the afternoonof Monday 6th March, sheimmediately made contact with herGMB officer to suggest what neededto be done to support her members.

The next day she worked alongsideher GMB Officer, Keith Dixon, toorganise a support centre at thelocal GMB Luton office. This washeavily promoted through socialmedia. Throughout the day over 30colleagues attended the GMB officefor advice and support with 15 newcolleagues joining GMB for support.Helena also responded to hundredsof members’ questions via the GMBASDA support centre on the daysfollowing the fire.

Helena has worked tirelessly toensure members at her store receivethe support they need.

ASDA recognised the supportHelena offered to her members andplaced her in the nearby Stevenagestore as a GMB liaison colleaguewhere she continues to prove fulltime ongoing support for the ASDALuton Members along with assistingmembers in neighbouring stores.

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Taranjit Chana Lee Hillam (centre) Helena Sharpe (centre)

CONGRESS 2017 GMB LONDONAWARD WINNERS – PLYMOUTH

GMB LONDONSECURE JOBSAT HEATHROWGMB London has reached an agreement to secure jobs atHeathrow for workers hit by insolvency at airline catering firmPlane Catering.

GMB learnt that Plane Catering, who used to provide Cateringservices to a number of Airlines at Heathrow Airport, had lost anumber of contracts at Heathrow and were owed nearly £2million by one Airline that has yet to pay the insolvent companythe outstanding balance it owes.

As a result of the company going into Liquidation, GMBmembers were confronted with the gates being locked and anotice stating “Closed For Business” with a loss of all jobs.

Perry Phillips, Regional Organiser, met with workers fromPlane Catering on Monday 3rd April 2017 at the Alpha LSG SkyChefs factory in Heston with a view of securing job positionswith the company.

Alpha LSG Sky Chefs, who also provide catering services forAirlines at Heathrow. They agreed to offer job positions to theworkers left on the street by Plane Catering without a job.

Perry Phillips said:“This is fantastic news, that Alpha LSG Sky have agreed to

take on these workers, the majority of whom are GMB members,who had lost their jobs with Plane Catering as a result of thecompany going into Liquidation. In some cases, the companyhave identified that TUPE applies to a section of the affectedworkers that protects their terms and conditions andcontinuation of employment.

I was outside the locked gates of Plane Catering with our GMBmembers who were extremely distraught and upset after losingtheir jobs without any prior communication from the company.

I understand that they had not been paid their one monthssalary for March and there is also the issue ofRedundancy/notice pay which will be most likely claimed backthrough the Secretary of State, once an Administrator has beenappointed to the Insolvent firm.”

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STEEL FIRM AGREE GMBMEMBER PAY INCREASEAFTER 10 YEAR FREEZESubstantial 3 year pay deal for GMB membersat Essex steel company after 10 year payfreeze. The employer has finally recognised thatworkers deserve recognition for the major partthey play in the business, says GMB London.

At Rom Ltd in Witham, 14 GMB members haveagreed a new 3 year deal as follows:

Effective from 1 July 2017, a LondonWeighting of £500 per annum.

Effective from 1 July 2018, a LondonWeighting of an additional £500 per annum= £1000

Effective from 1 July 2019, a LondonWeighting of an additional £500 per annum= £1,500.

In addition, a one off cash bonus of £250 inthe first year, and recalculation of the bonussystem worth an additional 22 pence per houruntil new machinery is installed.

This represents 2.5% on basic pay for eachof the 3 years as well as revamped welfarefacilities. It follows a ten year pay freeze.

Rom Ltd is a small plant based in WithamEssex, manufacturing steel reinforcement barsfor the construction industry. The company isowned by multi national steel giant Celsa.

Other sites around the country are still indispute with Newport in the process ofballoting and Sheffield currently taking strikeaction and action short of strike.

Gareth Davies, GMB member, said;“It has been a long struggle for fairness, but

we are grateful to GMB for helping us get anacceptable outcome.”

Michael Ainsley, GMB Regional Organiser, said;“Workers in the UK are still being asked to

pay for the greed of bankers and big business,our members at this Celsa steel site will not bethe only workers to have had to do increasingamounts of overtime and be creative withhousehold budgets to make ends meet.

It’s been over 10 years since our membershave had an increase in basic pay but they’veexercised extraordinary restraint. We arepleased that the employer has finallyrecognised that the workers here deserverecognition for the major part they play inthe business.”

CONTACTMichael Ainsley, Regional Organiser

Michael.ainsley@gmb.org.uk 01245 345165

CONTACTPerry Phillips, Regional Organiser

perry.phillips@gmb.org.uk 0208 573 6969

GMB ADDISON LEE EMPLOYMENTTRIBUNAL VICTORYOn 25 September 2017, EmploymentJudge Pearl decided that AddisonLee drivers were not self-employedworkers and that the company waswrong to deny drivers holiday pay,the National Minimum Wage and theright not to have their contractsterminated because of trade unionactivities. Addison Lee tried toargue that each driver was anindependent contractor and thatthey were self-employed, but notintegrated into Addison Lee’s

business.  The Employment Tribunalrejected this argument, saying thatit “defies evidential gravity”.

The Employment Tribunal alsodecided that drivers were workersas soon as they log onto the AddisonLee driver portal system and notjust for the time when they are on aparticular job. This is important, asthe National Minimum Wage appliesto all the periods that the driversare working. The significance of thisdecision is that it does not take

away any of the flexibility thatdrivers currently have – they arestill self-employed – and thejudgment says nothing aboutAddison Lee having more controlover drivers’ working patterns orhours. However, the decision thatdrivers are workers does mean thatthey should get paid holiday and beproperly paid for all the hours thatthey work.

TAXI AND PRIVATE HIRE DRIVERSGMB, the union for Taxi & Private HireDrivers, has been campaigning tohave much needed legislation reformfor the Trades, to enable a secure,viable, safe and healthy industry.

The Deregulation Act 2015 has ledto a proliferation of a Wild Westsituation in many towns and cities,putting safeguarding at risk. We havealso seen private hire drivers beingdirected in their work by operators,who claim these drivers are self-employed, thus denying themworkers’ rights such as the nationalminimum wage, holiday pay andother rights. Many who have workedin the trades for many years, havebeen forced out of business. Yet anumber of licensing authorities,enforcement officers, make repeated excuses, turn a blind eye,and fail to act to protect their locallicensed Drivers.

The vast majority of drivers playwithin the rules, and provide a safeand reliable service to their localcommunities. The majority are beingpenalised, seeing their earningsvastly reduced by the actions ofcertain high profile Operators whoare actively encouraging theirdrivers to work in areas where theyare unlicensed and go unchallenged,driving down standards, and forcinglocal drivers out of business.

There needs to be urgent reformof legislation that protects drivers,standards, safety of the public andearnings. GMB Union stronglybelieves that if all Drivers are united,with both Hackney and Minicabdrivers speaking with one voice, thenthat voice is powerful and many ofthese problems can be resolved. GMBUnion has managed to persuade anMP to put forward a private

members parliamentary bill tosecure necessary legislation to bringfairness back to the industry, andcreate a safe, viable and vibrantindustry for all. Join GMB Unioncampaign to SAVE THE TRADES andhelp Campaign to make the PrivateMembers Bill law.

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CONTACTGary Pearce, Regional Organiser garypearce@gmb.org.uk 07850 036952

GMB Professional DriversG56 Branch gmbdrivers.org info@gmbdrivers.org @ProDriversGMB

GMB WOMEN’S CONFERENCE 2017GMB London Region held their second very successfulWomen’s Conference earlier this year, we grew innumbers attending and were very encouraged by theamount of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME)members attending, we are hoping this will be a trendfor all our equality groups.

The Women’s Conference is aimed at all self-definingwomen in our region to take part, you don’t have to be abranch official or workplace rep/shop steward to attend,although we do welcome all our reps to apply. Look outfor the application form and poster for next year, laterin the year, and you can nominate yourself to attend.

NEW SkiLLS – PUBLiC SPEAkiNG COUrSE 2017All attendees were given the opportunity to take part infurther training and GMB Sisters held their first everwomen only Public Speaking and Speech Writing coursein August 2017. What a great event this was; thefeedback from members has been so very positive.

BArkiNG & DAGENHAM WOMEN’S FrEETrAiNiNG EVENTGMB are holding a women only training event in Marchfor International Women’s day, which will be open to allwomen who live or work in Barking and Dagenham.

Make sure to keep an eye out for further details!

OUr rEGiONAL EqUALiTy CONFErENCE –OUr BiGGEST yET!

We are gearing up for our Regional EqualityConference on 4 November 2017.

We’ve had a tremendous response from many of youwanting to be delegates.

If you would like to attend this conference next year,let your Branch know, and get involved! You’ll get loadsof support, and we’re sure you’ll want to come back formore!

To keep updated with all the latest from GMB LondonEquality, you can visit our websitewww.gmblondon.org.uk/departments/equality.

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CONTACT @gmbability gmbability@outlook.com

@gmbshout info@gmbshout.net gmbshout.net GMB Shout! – LGBT+

@GMBSisters fb.com/gmbsisterslondon

@GMBRACE fb.com/groups/411778275687169 gmbracelondon@gmail.com

@GMBYoungLondon fb.com/younglondonGMB younglondongmb@gmail.com

Photo: Helen Purcell

GMB LONDON EQUALITYThe regional equality department have been distributing so far threeseasonal editions of all the latest updates packed full of news, opinions,campaigns, and details of events and regional equality contacts.

You can view these newsletters on our equality page on the regionalwebsite via this link www.gmblondon.org.uk/departments/equality.

There is also news and updates from all of the equalities self-organisedgroups (SOGS) – Race, Young London, Shout LGBT+, Ability and Sisters.

Don’t forget to send them your articles and news of workplace equalitysuccesses to sue.hackett@gmb.org.uk.

GMB Sisters London Region

@GMB WORK

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POLITICSOver the last few years GMB has built up a large group ofpolitical activists within the London Region.

These activists have come out on many occasions tocampaign against national and local government,irrespective of political party – campaigns such asprotecting the NHS, fighting for our members in localgovernment and facing the austerity cuts imposed on usfrom a Tory government. Our activists have alsocampaigned on affordable housing, equalities, unfairdismissals and have taken on the far right BNP.

Everything we do is political. Whether it’s train fares orenvironmental issues, we challenge the powers-that-be.

WANT TO BECOME A TEAM GMB POLiTiCALACTiViST?Complete the form on our website viawww.gmblondon.org.uk/departments/political/political-activists-sign-up and submit to sign up as aTeam GMB Activist, and we will keep you informed of our

activity in London so you can make achange with us.

This also means you can be kept upto date with political activityhappening in the London region.

LABOUr PArTy PArLiAMENTAry AND LOCALCOUNCiLLOr CANDiDATE APPLiCATiONFrom time to time, the GMB London Region opensapplications and holds interviews for any GMB memberswho wish to enter the world of politics either as an MP ora Local Councillor.

We believe that to represent society as an MP or alocal councillor, then selections should not just be forprofessionals. There is a strong belief that to representthe needs of a constituency, you should take intoconsideration the life and working experiences of anycandidate wishing to stand for election.

It’s with this in mind we are encouraging all memberswishing to be added to the GMB London RegionParliamentary and or Local Council List, especially thosefrom working class backgrounds, to come forward.

If you want to be considered for an interview and goonto the GMB London Regions selectionlist, and all the training that goes withit, (should you be successful atinterview), then please complete theform on our website viawww.gmblondon.org.uk/application

JOIN USGMB’s main purpose is to improve the pay andconditions of GMB members in their workplaces. Thebest way to do that is to increase the number of GMBmembers, as this strengthens the Union’s negotiating,campaigning and organising agendas. The more GMBmembers in a workplace, the more influence you willhave with your employer in negotiating improvementsto employee benefits.

If you have yet to join GMB and would like to do so,you can join online at www.gmb.org.uk/join.

SUPPOrTDo you have an issue in the workplace? Would you likeus to help? If so you can fill out and submit the form on our support page www.gmblondon.org.uk/supportand a representative of the GMB London Region will bein touch.

Follow us on twitter @GMBLondonregion andfb.com /GMBLondonregion to be kept up to date withall the latest news, events and campaigns.

If you haven’t already, you can visit our brand newregional website at www.gmblondon.org.uk.

If you have a query to do with your membership youcan contact our regional membership department onLondon.Membership@gmb.org.uk

DON’T LOSE YOURVOICE AT WORKSWITCH TO DIRECTDEBIT NOW!GMB are expecting thegovernment to roll outthe “Trade Union Bill”,from March 2018. Partof this Bill/Act is to bethe possible removal ofthe right for GMBMembers to pay theirmonthly subscriptionsthrough their salary.

Therefore, to ensurethat you do not loseyour membership when this happens, we are in theprocess of changing all our members over to direct debit.

It’s quick and easy to Switch to Direct Debit.Just follow this link www.gmb.org.uk/switch-to-direct-debit and log in to fill out your personaland account details in our secure members areato perform the switch. It’s that simple, or you cancontact your local branch/office and get a newform sent out to you.

CONTACTMarian Healy, Political, Policy & Research Officer

marian.healy@gmb.org.uk 020 8202 8272

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OUR MARY – MARY TURNERA servant to the people and hero of GMB, Mary gained the respect andrecognition of everyone in GMB, the wider Trade Union and Labour movementas well as those from all political spheres.

Mary was a tenacious and unflappable trade unionist, combining toughnessand care and soared through against all the odds. She was known throughoutthe Labour movement for her indomitable stamina, kindness and compassion.

On a personal note, I knew Mary for more than 30 years, she gave GMB hertireless commitment to tackle injustice and unparalleled loyalty to ourmembership.

Mary was everything that an outstanding Trade Unionist and Socialist should be.

Mary inspired so many to realise their potential in life as she dedicated her life to helping others.

A giant, warm giving person whosepassing will be mourned by all.

Mary Turner, remembered forever.

Warren kenny – London regionalSecretary

The following Article by Julia Langdon,was published in The Guardian,Thursday 3 August 2017

The trade union leader Mary Turner,who has died from cancer aged 79,had a particular set of personal skillsthat enabled her to survive alifetime in the difficult andchallenging world of trade unionpolitics while engendering respectand affection on all sides. Aspresident of the GMB for 20 years,where she was known as “our Mary”,she spoke truth to the people sherepresented, as well as to power.

When she was elected in 1983 tothe central executive council of theGeneral and Municipal Workers’Union (now GMB), Turner was the onlywoman among 40 members. Morethan two decades later, and aspresident since 1997, she saw thenumber of women on the executiveincrease to 26 out of 55.

She was the authentic voice of theordinary man and woman, thehospital porter, the office cleaner,the shop assistant and the dinnerlady. She spoke a commonsenselanguage they understood, and they knew that she knew what shewas talking about, because she hadbeen there and done those sort ofjobs herself.

A former school dinner lady atSalusbury primary school in Brent,north London, and a ferventsocialist, Turner campaigned for 40years for free hot meals atlunchtime for schoolchildren. Theintroduction of free meals forinfants, implemented as part of theLiberal Democrats’ policyprogramme for the coalition withthe Conservatives in 2010, was aconsequence of Turner’s unremittingpursuit of this cause, but to her furyand dismay was destined forabolition in the recent Torymanifesto. The proposal wasabandoned, however, as a result ofTheresa May’s failure to secure anoverall majority, an outcome in whichTurner rejoiced.

Turner was an active member ofthe Labour party throughout heradult life and was elected torepresent her union on the party’snational executive in 1995. Shechaired the NEC from 2003 to 2004.When the last Labour governmentintroduced a policy initiative calledThe Big Conversation during thattime, it included the appointment ofmore women on the boards of thecountry’s top companies among itslists of objectives. Turner wanted toknow why it did not, rather, say moreabout equal pay.

She was not an enthusiast forTony Blair’s New Labour project anddid not hesitate to make her viewsknown on the private financeinitiative, which she was

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“We can all name many greatinspirational trade union leaders throughour lifetime, but Mary you come top of thislist as far as we are concerned.

There is no one that has given as muchtime and passion to the trade unionmovement than you, you are theshoulders we all stand on today.”PENNy rOBiNSON, rEGiONAL COMMiTTEE, CEC MEMBEr, VOTE OF THANkS,CONGrESS 2017

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vehemently against. She alsobadgered Blair to take theinitiative on free school meals.

As chair of the Labour party’spolicy forum, she worked with EdBalls as shadow chancellor to securethe inclusion of free school meals inofficial party policy. But she tickedhim off in 2012 for refusing tocommit Labour to reverse GeorgeOsborne’s approach to public-sectorpay restraint, and she told EdMiliband in 2013 that his plannedunion reforms would have KeirHardie turning in his grave. Sheformed a warm friendship withJeremy Corbyn, shortly after he waselected as an MP in 1983, and theycampaigned together to resist amove to cut back on school mealsprovision in Barnet.

She was a familiar figure atWestminster, while socialising withher many friends in the Labourmovement. One such recalled herprestigious capacity for drinkinginto the small hours and “being freshas paint the following morning”.

Turner made two attempts tostand for the House of Commonsherself. She opposed Ken Livingstonewhen he faced reselection in hisBrent East constituency in 1989, in acontest he won with a two-thirdsmajority. A decade later she was one

of six on the shortlist to replace himafter he became mayor of London,and was runner-up in a hard-foughtcontest for the selection, which waswon by the Brent council leader,Paul Daisley.

This was probably to the benefit ofthe GMB. It was facing a possiblemerger with the Unite trade union,and Turner’s relaxed style ofleadership was credited with helpingthe union through a lively period ofpolitical in-fighting.

As chair of the union’s conferenceover many years, she was loved forher humorous style and lack ofadherence to procedure. “Get a grip,Mary!” she would admonish herself ifshe made a mistake. She was still avocal presence this year, despite herevident poor health.

Her instincts owed much to theexperience of her parents, as well asher own life story: her motherworked in childcare and her fatherwas a cleaner and a security guard.Born Mary O’Brien in Thurles, CoTipperary, in Ireland, she waseducated initially at a conventschool. Her parents moved to thenorth of England in the early 1950sand later settled in Kilburn, northLondon, where Mary went to CarltonVale secondary modern school.

She left at 16 to train as abookkeeper at Jackson’s Tailors inOxford Street, joining the NationalUnion of Tailors and GarmentWorkers, now part of the GMB. Shealso worked in the print industry,joining Sogat and becoming motherof the chapel of her branch.

She married Denny Turner, apainter and decorator, in 1956, andtook time out from work while theirchildren, John and Denise, weresmall. She returned to work as adinner lady in 1970 and immediatelyset about recruiting her colleaguesinto membership of the General andMunicipal Workers’ Union,persuading them that it was worththe ninepence weekly subscription.One of her early successfulcampaigns was to secure theroutine issue of rubber gloves tokitchen catering staff.

Thereafter she becameincreasingly active in the Londonregion of the GMB. She was secretaryof the Hendon branch for 26 yearsand a member of the union’s regionalcouncil. As a shop steward she wasproud of her ability to mobilise asmall army of secondary pickets tosupport industrial disputes orconfront political opponents such asthe National Front. During the 1981People’s March for Jobs, sheorganised a mobile field kitchen tofeed the unemployed marchers.

She was good at rostrum rhetoricas well as the small stuff, skills thatwere rewarded when she was electedto the union’s executive in 1983. Shefought for those who needed help,for part-time workers, for the low-paid and for protection againstunfair dismissal. Latterly shecampaigned for those suffering fromdementia, the cause of her husband’sdeath in 2015.

She was appointed MBE in 2010and CBE in 2016. She was an annualspeaker at the Trades UnionCongress and was awarded the TUCwomen’s gold badge in 2012 and theGMB’s Eleanor Marx award in 2016.

She is survived by John andDenise, and five grandchildren.

Mary Josephine Turner, tradeunionist, born 15 June 1938; died19 July 2017

If you haven’t already done so, you can leave a message on our condolence page forMary by visitingwww.gmblondon.org.uk/about/our-mary

“Mary was such agreat campaignerfor people”JErEMy COrByN, LABOUr LEADEr

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ASBESTOSAWARENESS GMB believes that Asbestos removalis a priority and that failure ofcompanies to protect workers fromcoming into contact with it shouldlead to prosecution andcompensation. But above all, weshould prevent contact by knowingwhere it is, and dealing with theproblem through specialistcontractors.

GMB, along with Hazards,continues to campaign to make ourschools, factories and homes as safeas possible, by highlighting thedangers Asbestos can cause tothose who come into contact withthis deadly material. Raisingawareness of Mesothelioma issomething we must continue to do,by reporting and highlighting thedangers this poses to all who comein contact with Asbestos.

DO YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVEBEEN EXPOSED TO ASBESTOS?What to ask your employer?Ask your employer if you can see theasbestos register, certificates ofinspection and any asbestoscertificate of inspection.

What will this tell you?It will tell you what type of asbestosyou have possibly been exposed to;and it will recommend certainaction i.e. removal or make it safe,depending on the damage level orrisk on the certificate. The airbornetest, if deemed necessary, will alsohave a risk factor and show either ahigh or low level.

Who to contact?If you believe you have beenexposed to asbestos within yourworkplace, then you need to talk toyour Health and Safety Officer,Shaun Graham.

Shaun can be contacted at hisoffice on 07885 706556 orshaun.graham@gmb.org.uk, and willbe able to advise you around anyexposure concerns you may have.

UNIONLINEOnce you havetaken advice,you will morethan likely beasked tocontactUnionline on0300 333 0303 to register that youhave been exposed to asbestoswithin your work place. You can alsovisit their UnionLine website forfurther details via this link:unionline.co.uk/personal-injury-services/natural-disease/asbestos-related-claimsRemember don’t leave it; deal

with it, ASBESTOS KILLS.

GMB MEMBERS’ BENEFITS:Free legal advice from your very own trade union law firm•UNIONLINE

The John Cope Trust for training and learning•opportunities

There are many other benefits too:

Travel & Home Insurance•

Free legal assistance for Personal & Road Traffic Injuries•

Free Will Service•

NHS Dental Plan•

Convalescent Facilities•

Guardian Taxation•

GMB Credit union•

UNIONLINEDid you know that your GMB Membership allows youaccess to GMB Solicitors and Legal Advisors?

Our professional legal advisors can assist you with anypersonal injury claims, whether they be accidents at work or elsewhere. You don’tneed to contact a private solicitor.

For more information visit our website: www.gmblondon.org.uk/benefits

Put UNIONLINEin your phone now:0300 333 0303

Join now at www.gmb.org.uk/joinor fill in the form belowthen simply write FREEPOST GMB LONDON REGION on an envelope and post it to us –you don’t need a stamp or any other address details. If you have any questionscontact GMB London, email: london.membership@gmb.org.uk or visit our website:www.gmblondon.org.uk.

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It can be as simple as a new manager, or a new way of working that causes you a problem at work. Guard against that day by joining GMB now. GMB membershipcovers you wherever you work. Only GMB members get GMB help.iF yOU WOrk yOU NEED GMB@WOrk – CALL 020 8202 8272

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