The History
In 2007 The Co-operative
Board de-recognised GMB after more than 100 years, terminating a
relationship that went back to the 19th Century
Victorian era. This was a sad day for democracy, Trade Union rights
and ethics given the background of The Co-operative movement, a
group owned by its members which claims to be ‘Different.’
The Co-operative then found
itself ostracised form the wider TUC movement and a motion moved by
GMB and seconded by USDAW was passed unanimously at the TUC
Congress in 2008 condemning their draconian decision and pledging
all unions support to work to overturn that decision. The
Co-operative Party also passed a motion supporting GMB members in
Funeralcare at their annual conference.
The Co-operative found
itself banned from TUC and Labour Party Conferences, Tolpuddle
Martyrs festival, Workers Beer events, Wortley Hall and a whole
host of other events and activities where they had been previously
welcomed. Undeterred the Co-operative Board ploughed on regardless
and moved even more to the right doing deals with the likes of
Rupert Murdoch’s News of The World. Just look where that principled
paper ended up.
GMB disgusted by such an
organisation that trades on its ‘Ethical principles’, promotes
‘Fairtrade’ and urges members to carry the card with a conscience
when clearly the board have lost theirs remained determined to
overturn the boards decision and fight on for GMB members employed
in Funeralcare.
A propaganda sheet put out
by the Co-operative in July 2009, unsigned but titled ‘Funeralcare
and GMB background briefing’ tried to counteract all the anger that
was being directed at The Board by Trade Unions and individual
Co-operative members, many of whom were now boycotting the stores
in disgust. It tried to justify their decision dismissing GMB as a
‘Non specialist Trade Union’ and as ‘Not being representative of
their entire business.’ Further it went on to say we had a ‘Small
membership in Funeralcare.’ The facts are somewhat different. GMB
is the only specialised union in Funeralcare and not just The
Co-operative. GMB is made up of amalgamations of many other unions
including the former National Union of Funeral Service Operatives
which merged with FTAT in 1978 and then GMB in 1993 making us
the only specialised union in the funeral
business.
GMB have membership right
across the group in travel, retail and are the only union
recognised in Co-operative Clothing factory.
GMB membership was
growing at the time of de-recognition because only GMB
were taking up and dealing with the issues of concern to our
membership. We don’t sit in the pocket of any management.
Whilst initially (due to
bullying and management intimidation and some managers handing out
application forms for another union) GMB membership declined in
Funeralcare, since January 2011 GMB membership has increased by
around 20% and before the end of this year we confidently predict
that GMB membership will far exceed 2007 levels. GMB are
back, although despite what senior management said, we
never went away in the first place.
The Co-operative Congress in
2009 passed a special report entitled ‘Building links between the
Co-operative and Trade Union movement.’
They said ‘Given the
similar values, principles, and history shared by The Co-operative
and Trade Union Movements, greater and more creative efforts should
be made to build links and collaboration between the two
movements.’
Mick Laws, South
East Co-operative Regional Board member and GMB Branch Secretary,
Regional and Central Executive Member pointed out in his speech
that this could not happen until the board changed its mind on the
de-recognition of GMB due to the TUC
Motion passed in 2008.
www.gmb.org.uk/join