A press release from the cross-party group of MPs says that is was highly critical of the Construction Workers Compensation Scheme (TCWCS) scheme, but does acknowledge that only those companies who set it up have taken any steps “to remedy the sins of the past”. Talks between the TCWCS and lawyers and unions representing claimants broke down in July 2014 over the amount of money being offered, and the scheme subsequently opened without their support.

Milk supplies to North of England supermarkets of Tesco, Aldi, Morrison and ASDA face disruption unless a 3 day strike by 100 drivers, who recently transferred from Leeds based Arla Foods to haulage company Moran Logistics, is averted. These members voted overwhelmingly for strike action in a dispute over union rights and cuts to pay and conditions. Notice has been given that the strike action will commence at one minute past midnight on Wednesday 1st April until one minute to midnight on Friday 3rd April, i.e.72 hours.

Newham Council, in partnership with GMB, today (24th March) publish a report called “Pay By The Rules”  which demands that Government allows local authorities to use their local knowledge and expertise to tackle exploitative businesses who fail to pay the National Minimum Wage (NMW). The Labour Party has committed to local enforcement of the NMW being included in their general election manifesto and the report outlines how that can be achieved. The publication of the report coincides with the release by BIS of the names of a further 48 employers named and shamed by BIS for failing to pay the national minimum wage.

GMB, the union for workers in the security industry, reacted with shock to allegations that will be aired tonight on BBC One’s Inside Out London programme at 19.30 that thousands of licensed security guards could be working in the UK fraudulently after buying fake Security Industry Association licences (SIA) and training for cash.

A Rotherham-based metals business has been sentenced after it repeatedly risked workers’ lives by making them use dangerous machines – notching up a shocking 31 enforcement notices for safety breaches in just three months. Sheffield Crown Court was told that Meadowbank Vac Alloys was a serial safety offender. It allowed employees to operate vehicles and plant with category ‘A’ defects, the highest possible level meaning ’immediately dangerous’, and continued to keep the machines in use even after being specifically prohibited from doing so by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

He got out of his car, walked into the centre, shook a few hands, walked out again, got back into his car and that was it and he can’t have been there more than 30 seconds says GMB.

Visit this page for details of campaigning in the key seats within Yorkshire & North Derbyshire Region.  We would strongly encourage all members to help campaign in their nearest key seat as these will be seats that decide the outcome of the next General Election.  We know there may be a lot of calls on your time but with not long to go to the election we are asking you to help us with a last push to get Labour MP’s elected in these seats.

Even if you’ve only an hour to spare and you may never have campaigned before, you’ll be made very welcome and offered support.  We will be updating this site regularly with campaigning dates / times / events across our region and we hope to see as many of you on the campaign trail!

Batley & Spen 26th March 2015.pdf
Leeds North West Pizza & Politics - 30th March 2015.pdf

GMB’s response to today’s visit by Jeremy Hunt to Pudsey Medical Centre. Trade Unions will be demonstrating outside Robin Lane Medical Centre in Pudsey today at 2.30pm as Jeremy Hunt, Secretary of State for Health, has the audacity to turn up after yesterday’s budget in which he offered nothing on the future funding of the NHS.

The result will be, more people paying to see their GP, longer waiting lists and more privatisation: in effect, the end of the NHS as we know it.

If the Tories are re-elected people would have more chance of winning the lottery than seeing police patrolling their streets or seeing waiting lists in the NHS coming down says GMB.

GMB is calling on the Appeal Court judge, Lord Justice Pitchford, appointed yesterday 12th March by Home Secretary Theresa May to head an inquiry into undercover policing, to investigate the new statement by Peter Francis, a former undercover police officer, that he spied on NUS, NUT, Unison, CWU, UCATT and FBU members as part of his job. This information is contained in a statement by Peter Francis read out at the launch of a new book “Blacklisted: The Secret War between Big Business and Union Activists” on Thursday evening 12th March in Committee Room 15 - Houses of Parliament, Westminster. London. See text of statement below.