GMB Union
Encyclopedia
The GMB is a general
trade union
in the United Kingdom
, and has more than 600,000 members. Its members are drawn from many sectors, with particular strength amongst manual workers in local government and the health service. There are organised GMB branches at 34 of Britain's 50 largest companies.
, National Union of General Workers
and the Municipal Employees Association in 1924, named the National Union of General and Municipal Workers.
The union merged with many others including the Association of Professional, Executive, Clerical and Computer Staff
(APEX), the Furniture, Timber and Allied Trades Union
and the National Union of Tailors and Garment Workers
.
In 1982, following a merger with the Amalgamated Society of Boilermakers, Shipwrights, Blacksmiths and Structural Workers
, the union was renamed the General, Municipal, Boilermakers and Allied Trade Union, from the initial
s of which its present name is derived. The initials 'GMB' do not stand for just 'General, Municipal, Boilermakers'.
in the UK alongside UNISON
and Unite. It is a significant financial contributor to the party's national and local organisation.
In 2008 GMB Congress voted to withdraw local funding from around a third of the 108 Labour MPs whose constituencies received support from the union, due to the perception that some MPs within the party were treating workers with "contempt" and generally not working in the interests of the working class and GMB members. Despite this the Congress opposed disaffliation from the party.
GMB has 2 representatives on the National Executive NEC of the Labour Party; Mary Turner and Andy Worth. GMB's National Political Officer is Iain McNicol
.
In Ireland, the union is affiliated to the Irish Labour Party
.
. In 2005, Paul Kenny
was appointed the acting general secretary, in place of Kevin Curran who stepped down after being suspended on full pay during an inquiry into alleged ballot-rigging during the union's leadership election. The episode was seen as a power struggle between the national office and powerful regional heads, led by Kenny, who opposed centralisation. Kenny had lost the 2003 vote to Curran. In May 2006, Kenny was elected unopposed as general secretary.
ice hockey
team. Until recently, they sponsored Swindon Town F.C.
, but they terminated the relationship when Paolo Di Canio
, was appointed manager, showing what some people saw as "immaturity". Di Canio is known for his far-right wing political views.
General union
A General Union is a trade union which represents workers from all industries and companies, rather than just one organization or a particular sector, as in a craft union or industrial union...
trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, and has more than 600,000 members. Its members are drawn from many sectors, with particular strength amongst manual workers in local government and the health service. There are organised GMB branches at 34 of Britain's 50 largest companies.
History
The GMB originates from a merger of the National Amalgamated Union of LabourNational Amalgamated Union of Labour
The National Amalgamated Union of Labour was a general union in the United Kingdom.The trade union was founded in 1888 as the Tyneside and District Labourers Union, and it participated in the National Labour Federation...
, National Union of General Workers
National Union of General Workers (UK)
The National Union of General Workers was an early general union in the United Kingdom.The union was founded in 1889 as the National Union of Gas Workers and General Labourers by Will Thorne, Ben Tillett and William Byford, following lay offs at Beckton gas works...
and the Municipal Employees Association in 1924, named the National Union of General and Municipal Workers.
The union merged with many others including the Association of Professional, Executive, Clerical and Computer Staff
Association of Professional, Executive, Clerical and Computer Staff
The Association of Professional, Executive, Clerical and Computer Staff was a British trade union which was formed in 1890 as the Clerks Union and later was renamed as the National Union of Clerks...
(APEX), the Furniture, Timber and Allied Trades Union
Furniture, Timber and Allied Trades Union
The Furniture, Timber and Allied Trades Union was a trade union in the United Kingdom.The union was founded in 1971 by the merger of the National Union of Furniture Trade Operatives and the Amalgamated Society of Woodcutting Machinists. In 1978, the National Union of Funeral Service Operatives...
and the National Union of Tailors and Garment Workers
National Union of Tailors and Garment Workers
The National Union of Tailors and Garment Workers was a trade union in the United Kingdom.The union was founded as the Tailors and Garment Workers' Union in 1920 with the merger of the Scottish Operative Tailors and Tailoresses' Association and the United Garment Workers' Union...
.
In 1982, following a merger with the Amalgamated Society of Boilermakers, Shipwrights, Blacksmiths and Structural Workers
Amalgamated Society of Boilermakers, Shipwrights, Blacksmiths and Structural Workers
The Amalgamated Society of Boilermakers, Shipwrights, Blacksmiths and Structural Workers was a trade union in the United Kingdom.The union was founded in 1852, when the Scottish Society of Boilermakers, the United Friendly Boilermakers' Society and the Amicable and Provident Society of Journeymen...
, the union was renamed the General, Municipal, Boilermakers and Allied Trade Union, from the initial
Initial
In a written or published work, an initial is a letter at the beginning of a work, a chapter, or a paragraph that is larger than the rest of the text. The word is derived from the Latin initialis, which means standing at the beginning...
s of which its present name is derived. The initials 'GMB' do not stand for just 'General, Municipal, Boilermakers'.
Political activity
The union is one of the three largest affiliates to the Labour PartyLabour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
in the UK alongside UNISON
UNISON
UNISON is the largest trade union in the United Kingdom with over 1.3 million members.The union was formed in 1993 when three public sector trade unions, the National and Local Government Officers Association , the National Union of Public Employees and the Confederation of Health Service...
and Unite. It is a significant financial contributor to the party's national and local organisation.
In 2008 GMB Congress voted to withdraw local funding from around a third of the 108 Labour MPs whose constituencies received support from the union, due to the perception that some MPs within the party were treating workers with "contempt" and generally not working in the interests of the working class and GMB members. Despite this the Congress opposed disaffliation from the party.
GMB has 2 representatives on the National Executive NEC of the Labour Party; Mary Turner and Andy Worth. GMB's National Political Officer is Iain McNicol
Iain McNicol
Iain McNicol is the General Secretary-select of the Labour Party of Great Britain, assuming his duties in September 2011. He currently serves as National Political Officer of the GMB Union...
.
In Ireland, the union is affiliated to the Irish Labour Party
Labour Party (Ireland)
The Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in the Republic of Ireland. The Labour Party was founded in 1912 in Clonmel, County Tipperary, by James Connolly, James Larkin and William X. O'Brien as the political wing of the Irish Trade Union Congress. Unlike the other main Irish...
.
Leadership
The GMB is led by a general secretaryGeneral secretary
-International intergovernmental organizations:-International nongovernmental organizations:-Sports governing bodies:...
. In 2005, Paul Kenny
Paul Kenny
Paul Stephen Kenny is General Secretary of the GMB, Britain's third biggest union.-Trade unions:He became a full-time GMB official in December 1979. In 1991 he became the Regional Secretary of the GMB London Region....
was appointed the acting general secretary, in place of Kevin Curran who stepped down after being suspended on full pay during an inquiry into alleged ballot-rigging during the union's leadership election. The episode was seen as a power struggle between the national office and powerful regional heads, led by Kenny, who opposed centralisation. Kenny had lost the 2003 vote to Curran. In May 2006, Kenny was elected unopposed as general secretary.
List of general secretaries of the GMB
- 1924–1934 Will ThorneWill ThorneWilliam James Thorne CBE , known as Will Thorne, was a British trade unionist, activist and one of the first Labour Members of Parliament .-Early years:...
- 1934–1946 Charles Dukes
- 1946–1961 Tom WilliamsonTom Williamson, Baron WilliamsonThomas "Tom" Williamson, Baron Williamson CBE was a trade unionist and Labour Party politician in the United Kingdom....
- 1962–1973 Jack CooperJack Cooper, Baron Cooper of Stockton HeathJohn Cooper, Baron Cooper of Stockton Heath , known as Jack Cooper, was a British Labour Party politician and trade union leader....
- 1973–1985 David BasnettDavid BasnettDavid Basnett was a prominent British trade union leader.Born in Liverpool, Basnett studied at Quarry Bank High School before becoming a bank clerk...
- 1986–2003 John EdmondsJohn EdmondsJohn Edmonds is a former trade union official in the United Kingdom.Edmonds grew up in South London, and was educated at Christ's Hospital School and Oriel College, Oxford...
- 2003–2004 Kevin Curran
- 2005–present Paul KennyPaul KennyPaul Stephen Kenny is General Secretary of the GMB, Britain's third biggest union.-Trade unions:He became a full-time GMB official in December 1979. In 1991 he became the Regional Secretary of the GMB London Region....
Sports sponsorship
GMB are sponsors of Woking Football Club and the Nottingham PanthersNottingham Panthers
The Nottingham Panthers are a British professional ice hockey club based in Nottingham, England. They are members of the Elite Ice Hockey League...
ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
team. Until recently, they sponsored Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
, but they terminated the relationship when Paolo Di Canio
Paolo Di Canio
Paolo Di Canio is a Italian former professional footballer and current manager of League Two side Swindon Town. Di Canio made over 500 league appearances and scored over 100 league goals as a player....
, was appointed manager, showing what some people saw as "immaturity". Di Canio is known for his far-right wing political views.
See also
- List of trade unions
- Association of Professional, Executive, Clerical and Computer StaffAssociation of Professional, Executive, Clerical and Computer StaffThe Association of Professional, Executive, Clerical and Computer Staff was a British trade union which was formed in 1890 as the Clerks Union and later was renamed as the National Union of Clerks...
- G.M.B. National CollegeG.M.B. National CollegeThe British Muslim Heritage Centre, formerly the GMB National College, College Road, Whalley Range, Manchester is an early Gothic Revival building. The centre was designated a Grade II* listed building on 3 October 1974.-History and description:...
, Manchester