NEWS GMB
Why I became
an equality rep
Regional roundup
Michael Elliott-Dopson
I have only been a GMB equality
The latest news from your local health & safety and equality reps
rep for a few months and I am
relatively inexperienced, but my
enthusiasm for becoming a rep
Tristan Chard and made me push myself forward.
Lesley Bradley
I have always been a believer in
have assumed
human rights and in supporting
responsibility for
our new health,
those who don’t get a fair crack
safety and welfare of the whip.
department.
The real crime
Nobody wants to admit it, but
everyone has prejudices at some
point in their life. Does this make
us bad people? No. To be lacking
in education, to have never seen
different cultures, to be denied
other people’s views and to never
have contact with other people of
different races, sexes and ages is
Want to
the real crime.
be a rep? My motivation
For more details
I work in a hospital, which
Health & Safety
go to www.gmb.
employs people from many ethnic
org.uk
backgrounds, many faiths, many
nationalities and all ages. So
equality is a big issue. I want to
department relaunch
help all migrant workers to enjoy
working life, to make sure they
get paid the same as co-workers,
Meet the team responsible for protecting your welfare in the workplace that they get their holiday
entitlement and they join GMB.
On March 1, the Yorkshire & North safety reps, before handing over to
The main
Derbyshire Region launched a new veteran TUC tutor Tony Fletcher, who
focus of the
So many causes
department dedicated to health and spoke about health and safety rights.
safety issues. The new health, safety After Tony, Michael Diskin of
department
There are other issues too. I know
GMB is fi ghting to eradicate
and welfare department is being run Whittles Solicitors (which has now
will be
insecure employment and lower
by Tristan Chard. merged with Thompsons – see page campaigning wages for agency workers.
Tristan has held responsibility for 28 for details) gave an informative
on health
Equality in pay for women is a real
health and safety for the past fi ve speech on issues around personal
and safety
issue too. Now is the time to fi ght
years, but previously managed the injury claims.
role in addition to his employment The last speaker of the day was Pat
issues in the
the good fi ght, and becoming an
equality rep will give me a chance
advice and employment tribunal work. Caunt, a highly experienced inspector
workplace
to level the playing fi eld. Maybe I
Lesley Bradley, health and safety from the Health & Safety Executive. as well as should have stepped in earlier…
administrator and a member of She addressed the audience on how
providing
the Yorkshire & North Derbyshire to use the HSE’s services, and when
training,
“Now is the time to
Region team for 12 years, is providing to involve the organisation.
valuable support.
advice and fi ght the good fi ght.
The main focus of the department Positive success
support
Maybe I should have
will be delivering the GMB@Work The forum session was an excellent
organising strategy by campaigning opportunity to take advantage of
stepped in earlier... ”
on health and safety issues in the the pooled experience of the GMB Michael Elliott-Dopson
workplace, as well as providing reps on how best to drive health and
training, advice and support on all safety in the region forward. The day
matters of health and safety. was positively received and will now
become a quarterly event. The next
Departmental relaunch meeting will take place in September
On May 21, the region held a and details will be circulated shortly.
successful departmental relaunch If you would like to receive health
focusing on the rights of health and safety-related information,
and safety reps and workplace or would like to be involved in the
organisation around health and safety. Regional Health and Safety Forum,
Following Tristan’s introduction, please contact either Tristan Chard
Regional Secretary Tim Roache gave (tristan.chard@gmb.org.uk) or Lesley
a rousing speech to the health and Bradley (lesley.bradley@gmb.org.uk).
26 www.gmb.org.uk
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