Getting involved in politics

GMB banners on a march/demo

I went to London region's fringe meeting. These are held inside the conference centre and must be sponsored by a region. This meeting was called “Getting involved in politics”. It’s platform consisted of Dawn Butler MP, Robbie Scott (TULO), Miriam Myrwitch (London Labour), and two GMB voluntary officers from the Labour Party branch and the Parliamentary Staffs branch. I don’t know if the platform learnt anything, but some probing questions were asked, mainly about the Labour Party. This article uses my notes to report in the meeting, and I cross-reference and comment on Labour's rules on debate, social media and bullying. The full article is overleaf ...

GMB & Trans-rights

GMB Congress 25, delegates sitting and posters on the wall

There was one motion on the issue of Trans-rights, this is/was 242. RETURN THE CONCEPT OF FEMINISM WHERE IT BELONGS on p121 of the agenda document. At the centre of this motion is the call that “the position that feminism should focus on embracing intersectionality and supporting all women, including transgender women, and not just those who conform to traditional gender norms. “ It was moved by Chiorstaidh Reichle; the moving and seconding speeches are on youtube.

I felt that both speeches were of high quality, full of empathy and knowledge.

There were also two emergency motions, (5&6) one on a workplace response primarily to the EHRC guidance since modified and one on the inadequate and un-inclusive process followed by the Supreme Ciurt and EHRC in developing their guidance.

These debates were preceded by a speech by Dr Victoria McCloud on the iniquity of the court ruling and the EHRC guidance. This is a powerful and moving speech.

The motion text is overleaf/below.  …

Solidarity with David Heurta

a demo of striking los angelos carrying seiu banners

On the day before Congress started a leading US West Coast trade unionist David Huerta was violently arrested in Los Angeles while observing a demonstration. I drafted an emergency motion expressing our solidarity and commitment to the right to assemble and organise and then moved it on the Congress floor. it was carried unanimously by the over 300 delegates representing over 465,000 members.

The text of the resolution is below/overleaf, … …

Universities at GMB25

a group of people from above wearing U. of Bradofrd academic gowns

I moved a motion entitled higher education, knowledge and funding.  In my speech I placed the crisis of HE funding in the context of macro-economic policy and as the results of Labour’s hostile environment. I had been inspired to write the motion as a result of Rachel Reeves autumn statement 24 and after reviewing the industrial policy white paper. The seconder of the motion made what I believe is a powerful statement in favour of universal access to higher education. In this article, below, you will find a video clip of the debate, the words of the motion and my notes, that I used to make the speech.

In this article, below or overleaf, you will find the words of the motion and my notes, that I used to make the speech. …

On AI at GMB 25

On AI at GMB 25

There were two debates on AI, calling for Transparency, Accountability and Job Security. I briefly review the and reference the two motions, point at the TUC proposals, the French SA's fining of Amazon, ORG's critique of the Data Use and Access Act and cross reference other articles I have written on the coming impact of AI/LLMs. The full article is overleaf ....

The Presidential Hustings @ GMB25

GMB Congress 25, delegates sitting

Congress 2025 was required to elect the Union’s president and vice-president. I have only been attending Congress for a few years and Barbara Plant has always chaired them. I am told that her predecessor, held the role for many years and was not required to defend her position in an election. This year, however, the election was contested. The vice-presidential position was also vacant and so Congress had hustings and elections for a new leadership team. For more see overleaf ...

GMB and a humane immigration policy

Yesterday, the GMB adopted a motion entitled, “For a fair and humane immigration policy”. This was proposed by my Branch and moved at Congress by me.  The motion confirms its policy on fairness and dignity in immigration policy, calling for the repeal of Tory laws, action on ending the hostile environment, and the establishment of safe routes for refugees. It also sets out opposition to some of the proposals in “Restoring control over the immigration system”.  The debate on the motion is embeded below.

I have created a document with the full text of the motion. My speech notes are available as a file and also below/overleaf. … …

A better privacy policy

M20, from my branch, on making the privacy policy better was moved  by and carried, annoyingly I didn’t make the point powerfully enough that the problem is that the GMB will not permit the use of email for contract purposes if members have opted out of email. The requirement for channel opt-outs precede the GDPR and depending on the privacy policy, an artefact required by the GDPR, means that email cannot be used for correspondence required by the membership contract such as dunning letters, or meeting convening notices, or even elections. The default communication mechanism is real mail. The debate is captured on youtube and starts here with my moving speech

This blog article is best read with [some of], the following documents, the final agenda document, GMB’s Congress page which contains all the documents and the video index is available as a playlist or as individual videos  at the GMB’s youtube channel. This article has been back dated to about the time of occurrence. …