GENERAL SECRETARY'S LETTER TO MEMBERS
I am writing to tell you about an important decision that we will soon need to make
about the GPMU joining a bigger, stronger union. You will probably have seen in recent
issues of GPMU Direct that we have been discussing the possibility of merger with 2
or 3 other unions. The Executive Council has now decided on a preferred partner and I
would like to ask for your support to turn that decision into reality.
The Executive Council, and myself as your General Secretary, are firmly recommending
that we open formal merger discussions with Amicus.
Firstly, Amicus is, just like us, a predominantly private sector manufacturing and
services based trade union; their membership is, in many ways, similar to ours and
has the same concerns. Indeed, they already have many members actually in our
industries. Those members, up to 20,000 in newspapers, paper, print and publishing,
will be transferred into our sector making us stronger immediately.
Secondly, Amicus have similar policies on all the issues that are so vital to everyone
in manufacturing. Skills and training, rights at work, Europe, and the need to organise
in new areas being just a few examples. Most importantly they have the industrial
strength and financial resources to put those policies into practise.
Thirdly, with over a million members, Amicus can provide us with similar membership
benefits much more economically. Our subs, which are on average over £3 per week
now, will reduce to just over £2 per week if we vote to join Amicus.
As your General Secretary I firmly believe that only a merger with a strong, private
sector, manufacturing and services based union like Amicus can protect our
interests, defend our members, and grow our industrial and political influence.
I will be sending you further information and a ballot paper soon. Please read the
ballot paper carefully, consider what is best for you and your union, and support me
and your Executive Council by voting YES to Amicus in that ballot.
Yours sincerely,
Tony Dubbins
General Secretary
GPMU TO BALLOT MEMBERS ON MERGER
WITH AMICUS
The GPMU's Executive Council has endorsed a recommendation from
General Secretary Tony Dubbins to ballot GPMU members to open formal merger
discussions with the skills and manufacturing union Amicus.
Commenting on the ballot Tony Dubbins said:
"This is an important decision. It is not about what is good for
full time union officials, it's about our members, what is in their interests
and the future of our union."
"Amicus members work with our members in printing, papermaking, packaging,
newspapers, publishing and the media. We hold joint agreements with them in
many companies. A merger will create one union across the industries we cover,
making a stronger union for our members, protecting and advancing their
interests at work."
"We also have much in common with Amicus. Like the GPMU they are
predominantly a private sector and manufacturing union with a skills and
technical base; training, mid life training and lifelong learning are a high
priority for them, and like the GPMU they are pro-Europe. They are committed to
building union membership by injecting significant resources into our sector
through recruitment and organising – particularly in publishing, newspapers,
white collar and new media.
"Amicus is also a lay member led union – with lay member
representation only at the unions main conference and on the Executive Council.
It is also a new union and our members will help shape its future."
"Union subscriptions will also reduce for GPMU members to £2.12 a
week in total; they will continue to receive first class representation from
our officials, plus excellent services such as free legal assistance and
pensions advice."
The GPMU will have an autonomous industrial sector within Amicus.
All agreements with employers and employers organisations will continue to be
negotiated by GPMU officials at chapel, branch and national level. Amicus have
already indicated they will transfer some 20,000 of their members (technicians,
engineers, electricians, publishing staff, white collar workers) currently
employed in print, paper, packaging, newspapers and the media into the new
sector.
Tony Dubbins said: "A merger with Amicus makes sense for our
members. We will be creating a strong, forward looking and progressive union
that looks to the future and not the past."
Note: Amicus was formed earlier this year through a merger between
the AEEU and MSF. It represents more than 1 million manufacturing, engineering,
finance, professional and skilled workers in the private sector.
For more information please contact John Abbott on 01234 351521.
Amicus statement on the recent decision by the GPMU
Executive to recommend to their members a merger with Amicus
The decision by the GPMU's Executive to recommend to their members
to open formal discussions with a view to merging with Amicus provides an
historic opportunity for the trade union and labour movement.
Amicus is currently the UK's second largest and fastest growing
union and, with your potential involvement, we're on our way to being the
biggest.
With over one million members throughout the private and public sectors, we are
already a major industrial force and of course size means strength, but we and
the GPMU share an understanding that it's by putting our members first, that we
can also be the best.
Amicus and the GPMU appreciate that easy access for members to the
democratic process of the Union is vital to the success of a modern
representative organisation.
Amicus' structure encourages and empowers its' members to get
involved through industrial sectors and special interest groups that are
capable of reflecting individual aspirations. W e also pride ourselves on a
modernising and campaigning approach in our relations with industry and
government, with our members concerns and aspirations at forefront of our
initiatives.
The collective strength of our two unions can provide an even more
powerful voice for workers, on vital issues such as pensions, employment
protection and skills training.
We can also be pioneers when it comes to education and training –
having the facilities to provide residential training courses to empower
thousands of members every year - and for free.
We believe GPMU's proud traditions will add to and enhance the
diversity and breadth of experience within Amicus and will sit well with those
of our existing members.
It will be a privilege to welcome and work with our colleagues from
the GPMU and widen both our union's representation.
We hope that you will choose to join Amicus, an active campaigning
Union, which will defend and fight for its' members rights.
In return we pledge never to stop improving the way we represent
and serve our members and it is my personal aim that no voice in Amicus will go
unheard and none of our member's aspirations will be overlooked.
Derek Simpson, General Secretary of Amicus
Derek Simpson, General Secretary of Amicus, said:
"The decision by the GPMU's Executive to recommend to their members
to open formal discussions with a view to merging with Amicus provides an
historic opportunity for the trade union and labour movement".
"It would be a privilege to welcome our colleagues from the GPMU
and widen our joint representation. By joining UK's largest private sector
union and the Labour Party's largest trade union affiliate, our potential GPMU
colleagues would enhance a powerful political and industrial voice for both of
us."
What will a merger with Amicus do for GPMU members working in the Papermaking and Converting sector?
"The GPMU has worked closely with Amicus on health and safety issues – particularly in the papermaking and converting sector.
Many papermaking and converting Chapels are already working with Amicus reps to improve health and safety. We now have the opportunity to make that relationship a formal one - with all the benefits that will bring.
Through the work of the Paper and Board Industry Advisory Committee (PABIAC), and through GPMU Branches and Chapels, the GPMU has had a major influence on health and safety in papermaking.
A merger with Amicus will give the new union a very high level of membership in the paper and converting sector, meaning that our influence can be maintained and increased.
Our goal remains a massive reduction in deaths, injuries and ill-health in papermaking and converting. Improvements are now apparent.
A stronger union, with even greater coverage, means we can bring more pressure to bear, more quickly, and reduce the toll of accidents for all workers in paper mills."
Bud Hudspith
GPMU Health & Safety Adviser
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