WO toolkit 2012 complete.pdf - GMB

SECTION 3.1
REPRESENTING YOUR MEMBERS
COLLECTIVELY
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
BARGAINING TO ORGANISE
Bargaining to Organise means making sure we see recruitment,representation and retention of
members not as separate activities,but the three essential parts of good workplace organisation.We
shouldn’t‘sell’GMB like a product but use GMB pay talks,grievances and negotiations with
management to build GMB.
Our members look to GMB to protect the pay and terms and conditions of work they have and then to
improve them.This is done by being as strong in members and in organisation as GMB can be in every
workplace.
Recruiting new GMB members builds GMB which supports GMB bargaining and negotiations.In turn,
GMB’s bargaining and negotiations support GMB’s efforts to recruit,organise and build GMB further.
Bargaining to Organise involves a number of key elements which you should adopt at work:
• Every agreement with management should be put to a ballot of members,with non members
getting a vote if they join.
• Letting everyone affected by negotiations know the union’s position and keeping them updated.
Making sure every part of your workplace and every group of workers is covered by a GMB
Workplace Organiser.
• Making sure high profile‘members only’meetings are held at work but making sure non members
are invited to come along and join‘at the door’.
• Asking for volunteers from GMB members to update noticeboards and distribute GMB information
on the negotiations where they work.
• Making sure the results of successful disciplinary and grievance hearings are publicised widely.
• If necessary,slowing down negotiations with management to make sure the greatest possible
numbers of members are involved in supporting the GMB’s position.
• Looking for every and any opportunity to build the union through our bargaining and representing
of members,including surveys,mass meetings and one to one discussions.
• Making sure that at all times GMB has a claim on the table for discussion with the employer and
making sure GMB sets the agenda where you work not the employer.