GMB helped found the Labour Party in 1900 and has campaigned for Labour governments at all levels ever since. We believe electing into government a Party that is made by working people and committed to
benefitting working people is the best way to achieve our vision of fairness, equality and social justice in the workplace and society. GMB works to make sure Labour stands up for our members through our affiliation, with a say in decisions made at Party Conference and the Manifesto policies Labour goes into Government with.
Campaign for Labour with Team GMB
We Are Labour
Working people standing up for each other was what founded our union in 1889 when by acting collectively as one voice our members matched the power of employers who could do nothing but agree to their demand for a reduction of working hours to an 8-hour day.
Like today, in a society built in the interests of the wealthy few our members knew that rights and protections would not be handed down by those who have the power to make decisions that affect the world of work. They saw that only with working people in politics we could make sure those who make the laws were on our side, to improve the world of work for good.
In 1900 our members joined other trade unionists and socialists to form the Labour Party to take these demands for an 8-hour day amongst others into Parliament. They did so on the same principle - that by working together we can achieve more than we can alone.
It was trade unionists across the country who then traded in their work clothes and stood as Labour Members of Parliament, elected to speak up in the House of Commons for millions of working people. Our union's founders were among them, including Will Thorne, Jack Jones, Pete Curran and Charles Dukes. Our union also provided the Labour Party with one of its leaders, J.R. Clynes who lead the Party to electoral breakthrough in the 1922 election, as well as Margaret Bondfield who became the first woman cabinet minister in British history.
From the creation of our NHS, the establishment of the Open University, the Equal Pay Act, decriminalisation of homosexuality to the introduction of the national minimum wage, Labour in government has always sought to move society towards a fairer and more equal future and improve the livelihoods of working people and the most vulnerable.
None of these successes were possible without hundreds of thousands of trade union members mobilising to support the Party they founded. These are the achievements of working people coming together to fight for a better tomorrow.
Today GMB and Labour continues that fight. We’ve seen nearly a decade of Conservative governments' brutal austerity cuts, attacks on trade union rights, privatisation of our public services, the pitting of communities against each other and support of unscrupulous employers who increase their wealth at the expense of the workers who create it. We believe in the fight for a general election and a Labour government more than ever.
GMB works to ensure our members have a say in the Party we founded, so that Labour stands up for working people when in government and makes a difference to their lives
20 Labour Policies for a fair deal at work
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Ban zero hours contracts
So that every worker gets a guaranteed number of hours each week
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Hold a public inquiry into blacklisting
To ensure that blacklisting truly becomes and remains a thing of the past.
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Stop the undercutting of pay and conditions
Because no worker benefits when employers divide and rule, using overseas labour to undercut worker here.
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Repeal the Trade Union Act and roll out sectoral collective bargaining
Because the most effective way to maintain good rights at work is through a trade union.
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Guarantee trade unions a right to access workplaces
So that unions can speak to members and potential members.
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Introduce four new Bank Holidays
Labour will bring us in line with other countries and create new national holidays, on the days of the four national patron saints.
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Raise the minimum wage
To the level of the living wage (at least £10 per hour by 2020) – so that no one in work gets poverty pay.
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Give public sector workers a proper rise
Ensure that public sector workers’ pay recovers from a decade of the pay cap, thereby improving retention and reducing agency costs.
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Amend the takeover code
To ensure every takeover proposal has a clear plan in place to protect workers and pensioners, who shouldn't suffer when a company is sold.
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Maximum pay ratios of 20:1 in the public sector and those bidding for public contracts
Its not right that wages at the top keep rising while everyone else’s stagnates.
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Ban unpaid internships
Because it’s not fair for some to get a leg up when others can’t afford to.
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Enforce all workers’ rights to trade union representation at work
So that all workers can be supported when negotiating with their employer.
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Ensure employers comply with gender pay auditing
So that all workers have fair access to employment and promotion opportunities and are treated fairly at work.
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Give all workers equal rights from day one
Whether part-time or full-time, temporary or permanent, so that all workers have the same rights and protections whatever kind of job they have.
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Give equalities reps statutory rights
So they have time to protect workers from discrimination.
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Use public spending power to drive up standards
Including only awarding public contracts to companies which recognise trade unions.
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Abolish tribunal fees
Stop the scandal of workers being priced out of receiving justice.
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Strengthen protections for women against unfair redundancy
Because no one should be penalised for having children.
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Double paid paternity leave to 4 weeks, increase paternity pay
Because caring responsibilities shouldn’t just be left to mothers and fathers deserve the time to spend with their babies too.
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Reinstate protection against third party harassment
Because everyone deserves to be safe at work.