WO toolkit 2012 complete.pdf - GMB

INTRODUCTION AND WELCOME
THANK YOU FOR BECOMING A GMB WORKPLACE ORGANISER
Many members of our union get active at work.Some hold official GMB positions such as Safety
Representatives,Shop Stewards and GMB Learning Representatives.Others just help the union in any
way they can–taking the newsletter round their workplace or looking after a noticeboard for example.
But however our members volunteer to support GMB where they work,whether in an official capacity or
not,we see you as our GMB Workplace Organisers and this toolkit exists to give you a reference point
and to support and advise you in all you do.
I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank you for agreeing to represent and help organise
GMB members in your workplace.From my time as an Official I know how important Workplace
Organisers are to growing and representing GMB in the workplace and that we should never take them
for granted.
Our goal is an active and strong union,where our members have more say over their jobs and where
GMB is growing in every workplace.Skilled and trained GMB representatives are the union leaders in
their workplace and make sure our members set the agenda where they work.Our aim is to make sure
every workplace where we have members has a Workplace Organising Plan drawn up by the members.
Section two of this toolkit will help you draw up your own plans with your fellow activists and members
where you work.
The role of the Workplace Organiser is also to represent,advise and support GMB members at work in
every way possible.Section four of the toolkit will help you do this.Sections seven and eight provide you
with information on Health and Safety and Pensions,two of our biggest campaigning areas today.
Good luck with your campaigns and thank you once again on behalf of GMB members for all that you do.
Keep talking to and listening to the members you represent and you wont go far wrong.Enjoy yourself.
Paul Kenny
General Secretary