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GMB Birmingham & West Midlands Region

The Benefits of GMB Membership

The GMB is one of the largest unions in the UK and because of its size and influence, has considerable strength to negotiate on behalf of its members for better pay and working conditions, higher health and safety standards, better member benefits and – importantly – the strength to support and advise members should they ever find themselves in conflict with employers.

On this page you'll find further information about some of the ways you can benefit from being a GMB member.

Cash Benefits and Support

Being a member of the GMB is good for your health – and your pocket. The GMB helps by paying members the following benefits:
  • Weekly Accident Benefit for up to 13 weeks
  • Permanent Total Disablement Grant
  • Occupational Fatal Accident Benefit
  • Non-occupational Accident Benefit
  • Funeral Benefit
  • Regional Motor Drivers Fund
  • Victimisation Benefit
  • Regional Sickness Benefit Fund

Membership Contributions

GMB keeps membership costs as low as possible.

From 1 October 2011 if you work full time, you pay only £2.65 a week (£11.49 a month).

Part time employees working up to 20 hours per week and those under 18 years old pay only £1.50 a week (£6.50 a month).

The union also offers a special lifetime membership for those who are retired, for a one-off payment of £25.

Unemployment, Maternity or Illness

Membership of the GMB isn't only available to those in work. If you are an existing GMB member and you become unemployed, or are on long-term sick and you are no longer receiving a salary from work you can still enjoy all the benefits of GMB membership - at the reduced rate of 5p a week (22p per month or £2.60 per year). However, you are not covered for work related issues and you must inform us as soon as you return to work to enable us to place you on the appropriate contribution grade. 

If you are on maternity leave and receive less than 50% of your salary or are receiving Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) you can also enjoy the benefits of GMB membership and only pay 5p a week (22p per month or £2.60 per year).

Health, Safety and Environment

The health and safety of members is our central concern. The GMB has a network of specialist Health and Safety Officers ready to advise GMB Safety Representatives or members on their working environment and health and safety problems.
The GMB is recognised as the leader in this field and allocates huge resources both to campaigning to improve prevention and implementation of the law. Further information can be found on the Health & Safety page.

Pensions

The GMB offers truly independent pension advice. Not only does the Union represent members on over 1,500 occupational pension schemes, we also offer individual advice to our members on personal, occupational and state pensions.

Legal Services

The GMB offers the best legal service in the Trade Union movement. We help members injured at work or suffering from occupational diseases to gain compensation from their employers. GMB represents members going to Employment Tribunals to complain of underpayment of wages, discrimination, unfair dismissal or other infringements of their rights.

We also help members claim industrial injury benefits, including representation in social security tribunals.

In addition, each Region provides its own extended support for members with non-work problems, such as assistance for family members involved in road traffic accidents, or a free first interview with a solicitor on personal issues.

Every week the GMB recovers £1 million compensation for its members.

For more information on the Legal services we offer to our members in this Region, please visit the Legal page.

Equal Pay Claims     
      
 
The GMB are raising awareness of Equal Pay issues across the region, as many members feel they are underpaid and undervalued. The GMB have today in excess of 4000 potential claims being investigated by our specialist team of solicitors. For more information or to find out how you can submit a claim please go to Equal Pay or alternatively contact the regional office 0121 550 4888.

Equality

The Birmingham & West Midlands Regional Equality Forum has pushed equality issues to the top of the agenda wherever possible. The forum has continually promoted equalities at events in the region, including the Hope Not Hate Campaign, Birmingham Gay Pride, Give Racism the Red Card, Young Members’ Football Event and the Women Chainmakers’ Festival amongst many other events. The REF members ensure that GMB stands out from the crowd and we have our own regional equality banner.

For more information on Equality please click here.

Research
 
Our Research Department is acknowledged as one of the best in the Trade Union movement, providing our Officers with a wide variety of information and equipping negotiators with the back-up they need to get the best possible deals for our members. Your regional contact is Samantha Jones, based at Halesowen Office with also a department based at our national office in Wimbledon.

FREE financial advice
We work in conjunction with PFP Independent Financial Advisers to offer you discounted insurance and advice on savings and investments.

Income Protection The Schemes Division of Kerry London Ltd has arranged a bespoke Personal Accident & Sickness Scheme for GMB Union members and their families. It provides weekly benefit resulting from loss of income. Limited cover is provided by most employers if you are off work due to illness or injury, however recovery may take a lot longer. If you were unable to work, you still need to cover everyday costs. This cover provides piece of mind knowing that you will receive a regular weekly benefit whilst off work.  

For further information please visit www.kerrylondon.co.uk/gmbunion or telephone 0208 225 1014

Free income tax check
The Tax refund Company, in association with the GMB, offer a FREE income tax check to all GMB members and their families. For an application form please ring 0845 058 2288 or 0845 129 7017.  Alternatively you can log on to their website at www.taxrebates.com/ref/wsgmbbir and download an application form. Application Info Line - 0161 968 7388. 

Please Note: With VAT increasing to 20% in 2011, members applying for this service from 1st February 2011 will receive 59p from each £1 recovered, so beat the increase and apply NOW.

GMB Tax Credit Service

Thousands of GMB members in Birmingham & West Midlands Region could be missing out on receiving extra money because they think tax credits are just for the low paid, or even had problems with tax credits in the past and are put of claiming them.

The reality is:

  • Families earning £42,000 or more could still be eligible for credits
  • The average Child Tax Credit payment is over £3,500 a year.
  • 1 in 4 of those due Child Tax Credits worth £1,875, don't claim it.
  • Up to 4 out of 5 low-paid workers without children are missing out on tax credits worth £1,75 a year

If you do, this brand new tax credit service will help make sure you get Tax Credits you're entitled to.

Through our partners at Tax Credit Solutions, the GMB Tax Credit Service tells you instantly how much extra cash you should be getting. Better still, it's TOTALLY FREE to find out!

Click HERE to go straight to the GMB Tax Credit Service.

Annual Travel Insurance
The GMB has a specially negotiated worldwide travel insurance scheme with Towergate Schemes. This comprehensive scheme has been arranged exclusively for GMB members and their families and covers all aspects of your holiday arrangements. For more information and to receive a quote please call 08009 159093.

GMB Travel Club
Membership of the GMB Travel Club entitles you to get discounted rates on holiday brochure prices, paying less than through high street travel agents. Or you can create a tailor-made holiday to suit your needs.

Convalescent Homes

If a member needs a few weeks to get over a serious illness or accident, the GMB can arrange free facilities at one of its approved convalescent homes. Please contact the Regional Office on 0121 550 4888 for further details.

Training and Education

The GMB is at the forefront of the trade union movement in providing education and training for its Representatives, Branch Officers and Full Time Officials.

Our training programme offers a systematic package of courses, from induction and support training for new Representatives to advanced training for more experienced representatives. The initial training, provided within the Region, will cover Health & Safety, Legal Rights in the Workplace and Equality issues. Reps can progress to more advanced training and education opportunities.

Members who wish to go on to attend full or part-time courses in College or Universities or through other further educational avenues such as distance learning or evening classes, can apply to the Union for Scholarships or financial support. For further details on the Union’s education and training, contact the Regional Education Department on 0121 550 4888. Further information is available on the Education page.

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GMB, Will Thorne House, 2 Birmingham Road, Halesowen, West Midlands, B63 3HP

T: 0121 550 4888  F: 0121 550 4272

e:
westmids@gmb.org.uk

© GMB 2002-2012