GMB congress 2011

24 May 2011

GMB CONGRESS 2011 IN BRIGHTON- Sunday 5th to Thursday 9th June

500 delegates representing more than 610,000 GMB members from all regions of the UKand all industries meet to discuss industrial, economic and political programme of Britain's third largest trade union

From Sunday 5th to Thursday 9th June the GMB Congress comprising of 500 delegates and lay officers representing 610,000 GMB members will meet in Brighton Conference Centre King's Road Brighton. They will be accompanied by 300 visitors drawn mainly from GMB organised workplaces around the UK. Those elected to attend the Congress will be drawn from every part of the UK and from every sector of the economy.

Among the items for debate will be the GMB approach to public sector cuts and changes to the public services pensions schemes (Tuesday). Delegates will receive reports on on-going negotiations, and GMB plans for the future depending on the outcome of these negotiations. Also on the agenda is a major GMB report on the economy and the policies that GMB will ask the Labour Party to adopt as its long term approach to the economy (Monday). Among the items to be considered will be the number of workers for each job vacancy in all areas of the UK. Ed Balls MP, Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer will attend the debate and will take part in a Question and Answer session chaired by Kevin Maguire of the Daily Mirror (Monday). There will be a debate on proposed changes in employment rights (Monday). A Senior Cabinet Minister from the UK coalition government has agreed to address Congress and take part in a general question & answer session (Monday).

There will also be a debate on an emergency motion regarding the plight of 31,000 elderly and vulnerable residents in the 750 Southern Cross care homes following the warning last week from the company that is will go into Administration if its landlords do not agree to cut the rents. This will coincide with the publication of a GMB report “The Cross We Have to Bear” naming the gullible and the guilty in the City who were involved in the 2006 float of the company for £2.20 per share which are now worth 9.4 pence each.

Paul Kenny, GMB General Secretary will give his keynote address to the Congress delegates on Tuesday afternoon.

Among the motions scheduled for debate is the proposal that all prisoners in UK jails should not be allowed to vote (Tuesday). There is also a motion on Prince Andrew and a motion proposing that GMB should affiliate to the anti-monarchy group Republic (Wednesday).

Among the visitors to address GMB Congress is Andy Clarke, Chief Executive of Asda Walmart (Wednesday); Maggie Hughes who waged a successful campaign, with the help of GMB, for an EU wide scheme for help UK citizens who are the victims of crime abroad (Monday); John Hendy and Professor Keith Ewing on employment rights in the UK (Monday); Tom Watson MP speaking on News International phone tapping allegations (Sunday); Vaughan Gething AM from the Welsh Assembly (Sunday). Other visitors are Yvette Cooper, Shadow Home Secretary (Monday) and Monica Smith from Lancashire speaking for the GMB Retired members section (Wednesday) and Fern McCaffrey from [South East London speaking for the GMB Young Members Section (Sunday) and Richard Moore from Derry based charity Crossfire which, with GMB support, helps children in East Africa (Wednesday).

In notes to editors below is the draft programme, day by day, which may be subject to change.

Notes:

1 Sessions: Sunday 5th June 2011 09.30 am to 12.30 pm then 2.00pm to 5.30pm. Monday 6th June to Thursday 9th June 9.30am to 12.30 pm then 2.00 to 5.30pm.

2 GMB Congress accreditation is available from Charlotte Gregory GMB Congress Press Office on 020 8971 4209 or mailto:charlotte.gragory@gmb.org.uk

3 The entire GMB Congress will webcast 'Live' on GMB Congress TV at www.gmb.org.uk

4 Draft GMB Congress programme subject to change

SUNDAY 5TH JUNE:

Mary Turner, GMB National President will address Congress on the work of GMB since Congress 2010 and present the GMB President's Leadership awards.

Debates – Motions on politics and a GMB political statement; motions on Labour Party Structure and Trade Union links, report on the Welsh elections and political funding and regional government. There will also be motions on pensions and on employment policies. A report on GMB's new equality structure will also be debated.

Fringe Meetings – Pensions, Environment, Anti-fascism, International Solidarity and a tribute to the late Jayaben Desai leader of the Grunwick dispute, and the lessons to be learnt.

MONDAY 6TH JUNE:

Debates – Employment Rights, Industrial & Economy policy with the Central Executive Council (CEC) Special Report on the economy. Social policy.

Fringe Events – Women into politics with Yvette Cooper, Shadow Home Secretary, Remploy, People Trafficking, and how to organise self-employed cabbies.

TUESDAY 7TH JUNE:

Paul Kenny, GMB General Secretary will address Congress in the afternoon.

Debates – Public Service Pensions, Public Services NHS, Rights at Work and National Minimum Wage, Social Policy, GMB Annual Accounts and Finance Report

Fringe Events: What next after new Labour?, Health & Safety, Palestine,

WEDNESDAY 8TH JUNE:

Debates – Union Organisation, Health & Safety Motions, Daniel Dennis Health and Safety Award, Social Policy, Commercial Services, Labour Party structures and trade union links, International. Gift to Zoë's Place Baby Hospice Liverpool.

Fringe Event: International solidarity after the economic crisis, Drug and alcohol policies at work

Restoring the Medway Queen. In the evening delegates and guests will attend the President's Night on Brighton Pier

THURSDAY 9TH JUNE:

Any remaining Congress business.

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