1 2/12 PRIVATE & CONFIDENTIAL GMB National Office: 22-24 ...

GFTU Conference May 2011
TUC Disability Conference
(ii) Section National Committee Meeting – 28/29 July 2011
Minutes
RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Meeting of the Manufacturing Section
National Committee held on 28/29 July 2011, be received.
Matters dealt with
Visit Medway Queen
National Officers’ Report
EFBWW
Sayce Report
Section Conference 2012
(b) Public Services Section
(i) Public Sector Pensions
Brian Strutton, National Secretary reported on progress with negotiations on
the Public Sector Pension schemes. The decision on the challenge to the
High Court ruling on the move from RPI to CPI was awaited. The GMB Civil
Service reps were meeting to consider the offer for their scheme. They will
consider the GMB stance for the consultation process with members. The
NHS reps would be meeting next week to discuss the NHS pension offer.
LGPS negotiations were still outstanding.
(ii) Contractors Forum Update
Justin Bowden, National Officer reported on the Carillion strike at Great
Western Hospital (GWH) Swindon. GMB members had been on strike for 11
days to date, with another 7 days planned. A Carillion Manager and a
Supervisor at the centre of the allegations had both resigned which had
boosted members confidence and determination. A number of protests and
demonstrations had been held outside Carillion sites. 100 Tribunal
applications against Carillion had been lodged. GMB officers were meeting
the police to discuss criminal matters which had come to light including
payment of cash and other bribes to Carillion management. GMB had written
to the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee asking for an investigation
into the siphoning of NHS cash into tax free scams for foreign investors after it
came to light that Semperion, the company that owns GWH, is based in
Jersey to enable overseas investors to avoid tax on dividend income. A march
through Swindon was planned for 17 March.
In response to a question on the Contractors Forum mapping exercise, Justin
Bowden reported that to date two Regions had responded with their mapping
information and confirming their list of Regional targets.
(iii) Social Care Sector Update
Justin Bowden reported that litigation had been bought against Southern
Cross. An application lodged in August 2011 over a failure to consult had now
come to the attention of the care home owners who had jointly signed up to a
liability and indemnity clause. The maximum value of the claim if successful
4