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Tolpuddle Martyrs' Festival
18-20 July 2008
The flames were burning high. In 1830 the Swing Rebellion was fighting pay cuts,
unemployment and fear. In 1834 in the Dorest village of Tolpuddle farm workers met under an old sycamore tree to organise
a union. Six were arrested for taking an illegal oath and sentenced to seven years' transportation to Australia.
They became known as the Tolpuddle Martyrs.
The fledgling trade union movement mounted the first mass protest that won free pardons.
From this victory unions grew and won rights for workers around the world. The fight for justice continues.
(Source: TUC)
Support the GMB today.
For further information on the Tolpuddle Martyrs' Festival go to www.tuc.org.uk/tolpuddle
Corporate Manslaughter
Employers will face a new offence of corporate manslaughter
from 6 April 2008. After a stand-off between the Houses of Commons and
Lords that went down to the wire, the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 20071 received royal assent
on 26 July, one day before the extra time that the government had granted - to find a solution to a dispute over deaths in
custody - would have run out. The Act replaces the application of the current common-law offence of manslaughter to organisations
with a new offence of "corporate manslaughter" in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and "corporate homicide" in Scotland. Nomenclature aside, the two new offences are identical and, for convenience, are
referred to in this feature as corporate manslaughter.
THE NEW OFFENCE
The Act makes an organisation guilty of a new offence
of corporate manslaughter if the way in which it manages or organises its activities causes a person's death and amounts to
a gross breach of a duty of care. Importantly, an organisation will only be guilty if the way in which its senior managers
manage or organise its activities is a substantial element in the breach. Senior managers are those who play significant roles
in either the making of decisions about how the whole, or a substantial part, of the organisation's activities are to be managed
or organised, or in their actual managing or organising.
New recognition deal signed with West Mercia Women’s Aid
GMB
Organiser, Wayne Powell, who is based at the Tewkesbury Office, recently achieved a new recognition deal for the GMB. West
Mercia Women’s Aid, based in Hereford, is the national domestic violence charity that helps over 320,000 women and children every year. West Mercia Women’s Aid
work to end violence against women and children, and support over 500 domestic and sexual violence services across the country. Wayne has been busy recruiting
employees and has now completed a recognition deal with the company.
Women’s Aid helpline numbers are as follows:
Herefordshire & Shropshire: 0800 783 1359 Worcestershire:0200 980 3331
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Members denied legal rights of being represented by a Trade Union
43 Parking Attendants who work for National Car
Parks (NCP) and belong to GMB are to be balloted on taking strike action over the company's refusal to recognise GMB for bargaining
on pay and conditions. GMB will not stand by and see our members denied their legal rights of being represented by a trade
union. The protection which GMB provides to members is vital for workers within this industry.
The fight to save our Remploy
factories goes on!
GMB Campaigned to protect Remploy Factories from closure.
The Remploy Crusade travelled throughout Scotland, England and Wales, visiting all 43 Remploy
factories threatened with closure and gathered public and political support to keep them open along the way.
The crusade was managed by the GMB on behalf of the other unions, Unite
and Community. The General Secretary, Paul Kenny given 100% backing and called upon all of the Trade Union and Labour Movement
to support this crusade from start to finish.
The GMB, Unity and Community were making history in attempting such a gruelling schedule and never before
have the trade unions taken on such a difficult commitment. The crusade was a great success and support from GMB members was
amazing, but we are still not there, the GMB still need your support.
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National
Minimum Wage has increased
An increase in the national minimum wage will increase in the 1st October 2008.
· The main adult rate for workers aged 22 and over will be £5.73 (2007 - £5.52) an hour
· The development rate for workers aged 18 – 21 inclusive will increase to £4.77 (2007 - £4.60) an hour
·
The development rate for workers aged 16 – 17 inclusive
will increase to £3.53 (2007 - £3.40) an hour
Contribution
Rates
As you may know GMB Congress 2007 agreed
an increase in contribution rates with effect from 1st October 2007. These are as follows:
Grade 1 An increase of 10 pence
a week to £2.40, which is £10.40 per month.
Grade 2 An increase of 5 pence a week to
£1.28, which is £5.55 per month.
Promotional Rate An increase of 5 pence to 70 pence per
week (£3.04 per month)
Sick & Unemployed No Change – 5 pence.
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