GMB NEWS
When north meets south
Meet the
Senior delegates from across the UK met to share some great ideas
Wilkinson team
As part of our efforts to improve GMB@Work, education and said, “I have always been a Keith Espin
our recruitment and organising training and staff administration strong believer in sharing Ex-miner Keith Espin initially found
performance, a number of best practice. good ideas and learning good life at the Wilkinson Distribution
senior people from the region practices from each other. We Centre in Worksop very different to
met with a similar group from Picking up new ideas certainly picked up some new the pits but, 19 years later, he is an
GMB Southern Region earlier In welcoming the Yorkshire and ideas and would like to think integral part of the team. Keith joined
this year. The areas discussed North Derbyshire delegation to our colleagues from Yorkshire GMB in the early days at Wilkinson as
included regional management, Dartmoor, Southern Regional Region did likewise. This departmental rep. He now holds the
membership development, Secretary Richard Ascough meeting and sharing of ideas position of convenor.
must be the way forward.”
Not long ago it was almost a disciplinary offence
Tim Roache, the Yorkshire Linda Lord
and North Derbyshire Regional Linda Lord has been at Wilkinson
to contact people from other regions. Happily,
Secretary, added, “Not so long for the last 21 years and provides an
the sharing of best practice is now encouraged
ago it was almost a disciplinary excellent administration service as
offence to contact people from part of her role of branch secretary.
other regions! Happily, the She is currently a Regional Council
sharing of best practice across member and was a delegate at this
the union is now encouraged. year’s Congress.
“We have learnt a number of
things which we have put into Derek Furniss
action and this has had a direct Derek Furniss is, in his own words,
and positive impact on our “the apprentice of the team”. He
region’s performance. joined Wilkinson three years ago, was
“This is something of an elected as a rep and now holds the
historic event, but I do hope it position of senior steward. Derek has
won’t be a one-off. Many thanks already been a big asset to the team.
to Richard and his colleagues
from the Southern Region for Coming to a
hosting this excellent event.” store near you...
The Regional Organising Team
Left: Tim Roache and his team
met senior delegates from the
and Wilkinson are embarking on a
Southern Region in Dartmoor to
series of store visits this summer.
discuss ways of improving and We’re looking forward to meeting
strengthening GMB’s work.
GMB members and rolling out the
GMB@Work ethos across the stores.
“Sorry to see you go”
A great promotion
Deputy General Secretary Debbie Coulter decides to stand down
Congratulations to James
The Yorkshire and North Derbyshire Stribley, Regional Council
Region has bid a fond farewell to member and full-time convener
Deputy General Secretary Debbie at the Remploy Sheffi eld factory.
Coulter, who joined the team in James has been elected into the
Wakefi eld for a farewell bash. Debbie Remploy National Consortium
confi rmed to the CEC in December as a senior shop steward to
last year that she would not be represent its members in the
standing for re-election and would be Yorkshire and North Derbyshire
leaving GMB in June. Region for the next four years.
As an organiser and senior James’ dedication and
organiser in the Yorkshire and North commitment will be a real asset
Derbyshire Region for 12 years, to the consortium.
Debbie is well known to many of the
offi cers and staff and will be sorely
James Stribley
missed by all. at Congress.
Regional Secretary Tim Roache
said, “The number of people wanting
to come and say goodbye to Debbie “Debbie is held in very high regard
Tim Roache
says it all. This included offi cers and I was delighted to present her
and Debbie
and staff from across the region, with a card and small gift from us
Coulter at
along with members of the Regional all. We wish Debbie the best of luck
the regional
offi ce.
Executive Committee and many other for the future. Whoever employs her
GMB activists. services will be very lucky.”
www.gmb.org.uk 27
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