Remploy workers out in Chesterfield

Phil Davis, GMB National Secretary visits Chesterfield

This has been a week for visiting picket lines in the region. Today we added our support to Remploy workers in Chesterfield who are protesting about the company signing a contract which means that a private company is using able bodied staff to work in Remploy factories - when the whole purpose of Remploy is to provide work for those with a disability.

Pictured is GMB National Secretary for Remploy workers, on his visit to Chesterfield today.

The factory was closed for business, and hearteningly delivery lorries were refusing to cross the picket lines.

This was one picket line with a traditional brazier burning brightly - not that I'm knocking the patio heaters on display yesterday at Unilever in Burton on Trent!

GMB National Officer to plead not guilty with regard to alleged public order offence at Saltend

GMB is in further talks with the employers this afternoon seeking a formula to get members back to work and a financial settlement for those who wish to leave.
GMB National Official for Engineering Construction, Phil Whitehurst will attend a preliminary hearing at Hull Magistrates Court tomorrow, 17th May 2011 at 11.00 to answer a public order Act charge under Section 14 in connection with the 'lock out' dispute at the BP site in Saltend. GMB is fully supporting our National Official who will be pleading not guilty. GMB have instructed one of the most prominent human rights firms in the country – Bindmans – to represent Phil Whitehurst and will be vigorously contesting this charge.


Mr Whitehurst was arrested on Wednesday 4th May while he was attending the lawful protest against the lock out of 430 workers at the BP site at Saltend, Hull. Mr Whitehurst was taken into police custody at Hull police station and video footage that he took of the event were confiscated. He was released later in the day having been charged with being in breach of Section 14 of the Public Order Act. Hull Magistrates Court is at, The Law Courts, Market Place, Kingston-upon-Hull, HU1 2AD.
Further talks, convened by ACAS, are due to take place at 4 p.m. this afternoon between the employers and the Unions. This follows consideration by the workforce of a proposal put by the employers to pay £3,700 to employees to end the dispute. These 430 workers have been locked out of the site since 14th March 2011.
Talks to date, convened by ACAS, have failed to resolve the dispute. A mass meeting on 21st April of the members lock out rejected an offer to buy out their rights and vowed to continue the dispute until they are allowed back to work at Saltend. The members resume the protest demonstrations outside the site and the first protest demonstration took place on the 21st April.
In the middle of last month GMB announced a four part plan to end the lock out of the 430 workers locked out at the BP construction site in Saltend in Hull.
For the full story visit the GMB Press Office pages on their website at:
http://www.gmb.org.uk/newsroom/latest_news/not_guilty_at_saltend__lockout.aspx

Health and Safety Parliamentary Lobby and Rally - Tuesday 10th May, 14:30-16:30, Committee Room 14

The GMB has organised the above event to discuss the impact of the Government's changes to health and safety policy on workers. Invited speakers include Peter Hain, Jim Sheridan, Chuka Umunna, Lord McKenzie of Luton, Len McCluskey and Dave Prentis. The forthcoming review of health and safety legislation, combined with the budget cuts to the Health and Safety Executive and Local Authorities, will have far reaching consequences for workplace health and safety. The rally will hear views from across the labour movement, and identify priorities for political action.
Further information is available on request from the GMB National Health and Safety Department - John McClean (01462 492400; john.mcclean@gmb.org.uk) and Dan Shears (0208 971 4246; daniel.shears@gmb.org.uk).