WO toolkit 2012 complete.pdf - GMB

SECTION 4.1
REPRESENTING INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS
ADVISING MEMBERS:RIGHTS AT WORK
As important as arguing for collective improvements in your members’terms and conditions is your
role in resolving individual members’issues.
Individual problems that keep coming up are a sign of an underlying problem at the workplace that you
can build a campaign on.
Members will come to you for advice about problems they face at work.It is important that you support
your members and do your best to give them the best advice you can.
A good starting point is to know the basic rights at work people have and the standard advice GMB
gives to its members in other workplaces.Attached is a one page summary for you to keep handy.You
may need more in depth advice from your GMB Officer on some of these issues.
Also included in this toolkit in section five is the‘Most Asked Questions’guide which sets out the advice
you should give members for the most common problems that arise at work.
Other issues will come up and you are not expected to have the answer to every query straightaway.If
you don’t know the answer to any question you are asked,tell the member you don’t know but will find
out and get back to them.Then call your Branch Secretary or talk to other GMB Representatives where
you work before going back to the member with your advice.
Remember: Many members only need to call on GMB’s advice and help very occasionally.It is
essential to take every query seriously and to be as helpful as you can.
Note:
On the following page is a summary of Employment Rights that can be photocopied as required.