Retired Members’ Association

Retired Members’ Association

Since 1985 GMB’s Retired Members Association (RMA) has continued to grow. Retired members and their partners are urged to maintain an active interest in the activities of the RMA such as those below.

The RMA has four key objectives:

• to provide practical assistance in the recruitment, retention and organisational objectives of the GMB wherever and whenever possible
• to campaign on behalf of retired GMB members and thus bring about dignity in retirement
• to work in partnership with like-minded pensioner groups whenever it is appropriate to do so and
• at all times comply with the equal opportunity policies of the GMB.

These aims and objectives are about furthering the interests and aspirations of retired members and their partners, building and maintaining the goals of our 65,000 plus retired members nationally and developing a seamless link with the working membership of the GMB.

You joined the GMB to protect and advance your interests at work and the same criteria apply in retirement. If you are interested, or about to retire, and would like to stay active and involved in GMB activities, please contact either Lita Southam or Graham Benton at GMB Sheffield. (contact details below)

GMB RMA CONSTITUTION.pdf

Retirement Checklist - October 2010.pdf

Regional RMA Committee

The latest meeting of the Regional Retired Members’ Association Committee was held at Grove Hall, Wakefield at 10.30am on 11th October 2011 (download the minutes of the meeting below).

Dates for 2012 are 14th February, 19th June and 9th October, all at 10.30am at Grove Hall.

RMA Minutes 11th October 2011.pdf
RMA Minutes 14th June 2011.pdf
RMA Minutes 15th February 2011.pdf

Your committee members are Stan Bradbury, Dick Hazel, Billy Hinsliffe, Neil Moore, Barry Christopherson, George Tutill and Jackie Tutill.  If any of our retired members have issues for the agenda that you wish the committee to discuss please forward them to Lita Southam at GMB Sheffield.

Pictured at the RMA committee meeting in Grove Hall on Tuesday, 17th June 2008 discussing Congress ‘08 with the Regional Secretary are from left to right, Ralph Baxter, Dick Hazel, Neil Moore, George Tutill, Tim Roache, Bill Hinsliffe and Barry Christopherson.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

S99 South Yorkshire RMA Branch Meeting Dates for 2011

The branch meets regularly in the GMB Sheffield office at 188-190 Norfolk Street, Sheffield, S1 1SY, tel: 0845 337 7777 and all are welcome for a 10.30am start.

Dates for 2012:

Business: 9th February, 15th March, 5th April (AGM), 3rd May, 7th June, 5th July, 9th August, 20th September, 11th October 8th November and 6th December 2012.

Social: 22nd February, 28th March, 18th April, 23rd May, 20th June, 19th July, 29th August, 26th September, 31st October and 21st November 2012.

Please check on 0845 337 7777 before setting off!

March 2012 Annual RMA Trip Abroad

4* Hotel Santa Lucia, Majorca, 14 nights on a half-board basis:

16th March 2012 - Depart Doncaster at 14:55pm and arrive 18:35pm
30th March 2012 - Depart Palma at 11:45am and arrive back 13:35pm

at £635.00 per person.

There are a limited of double rooms available, but these will be offered on a strictly first come first served basis.Baggage allowance: 20kgs.

A deposit of £175.00 per person will be payable as soon as possible (cheques please made out to ‘GMB’) with the remainder due in December 2011.

You will have to have your own insurance and make your own way to Doncaster airport.

For further details or to book a place please contact Lita Southam at the GMB Sheffield office on 0845 337 7777.

Annual Outings

A day trip to Whitby from the York area has been arranged for Wednesday, 29th August 2012 with lunch at the Royal Hotel and a buffet tea.

A day trip to Whitby from the Leeds and Bradford areas has been arranged for Thursday, 30th August 2012 with lunch and a buffet tea at the Royal Hotel.

Further details in due course.

National Pensioners Convention

Declaration: “This Convention declares that every pensioner has the right to choice, dignity, independence and security as an integral and valued member of society.  These rights require an adequate state pension linked to average earnings, comprehensive free health care and concessionary travel on public transport.”

- for further details click here

Your regional RMA contacts are:

Lita Southam, Secretary, GMB Sheffield, tel 0845 337 7777 or email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

and

Graham Benton, Senior Organiser/Regional RMA Coordinator, GMB Sheffield, tel: 0845 337 7777 or email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

*Remember - retire from work but not from the union!*

GMB Pensions Policy

To ensure all GMB members have the ability to live with dignity and security in work and in retirement.

Occupational Pensions

*All employers should contribute a reasonable amount to their employees’ retirement through good occupational pension schemes
*Pensions should be a standard feature of all collective bargaining agreements reflecting the importance of this part of the remuneration package
*Better protection for pensions when a company’s ownership changes so that no employee is disadvantaged in terms of pension provision as a result of the change of ownership of their employer
*The Pension Protection Fund should incorporate provision for the terminally ill to access a lump sum benefit from the fund
*Consultation on pension changes should involved meaningful discussion of options and be approached with a genuine intention to reach agreement
*All pension schemes should have 50% member representation on their governance boards

State Pensions

*Immediate restoration of the earnings linked indexation of the basic state pension when better than RPI linking
*Cash injection to the basic state pension to restore its value since the link was broken
*Abolition of means testing for pension benefits
*Reform of National Insurance to enable more women and carers to build up pension entitlement
*Improved flexibility of the provision for individuals to buy back National Insurance contributions
*Opposition to the increase in the state pension age until there is an equitable distribution of longevity expectations
*Indexation of the Winter Fuel Allowance to cover pensioners’ utility bills

GMB MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS

Retired members can apply for membership of the GMB’s Retired Members Association (RMA).  The RMA campaigns on behalf of retired members to bring about dignity in retirement.  Among other issues, they campaign for better pension provision, affordable public transport and utilities, and improved care conditions.  Most branches of the RMA meet several times a year and there is an annual national RMA conference.  If you are interested in joining the RMA you should contact Lita Southam for further information.

Members of at least five years standing can apply for retired life membership of GMB.  This is available for a one-off payment (which is currently £25 and with any outstanding membership subscriptions also due).  Benefits of life membership include:
• Legal Assistance for those aged 60 and over and who have been members for at least 10 years – provided primarily in matters concerning employment but can be authorised by a Regional Secretary for any class of matter
• Funeral Benefit of £275 is payable to members with at least 8 years continuous membership.

STATE BENEFITS
Full information on the benefits available to you can be obtained from your local Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Office.

State Pension
For Men – This is currently payable from age 65. 
For Women – This is currently payable from age 60 for those born before 6 April 1950, and is gradually increasing to 65.
Under recent Government announcements, women’s State Pension Age would increase more quickly to 65 between April 2016 and November 2018.  Also from December 2018 the State Pension Age for both men and women will start to increase to reach 66 by April 2020.  You can find out more on your State Pension Age at http://www.direct.gov.uk

To find out how much you will get you can request a forecast from The Pensions Service on 0800 731 7898. 
The State Pension can be made up of several elements:
• Basic State Pension – available to all who have made sufficient National Insurance Contributions;
• S2P – this is an additional state pension available to those who did not contract out from April 2002 onwards;
• SERPS – this is an additional state pension available to those who did not contract out between April 1978 and March 2002.
Pension Credit – This is a means tested benefit designed to ensure that those aged 60 and over receive a guaranteed weekly income.  You can apply for this by calling The Pensions Service on 0800 991 234.
Anyone receiving Pension Credit may also be entitled to Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit and Cold Weather Payments.
Over 80’s Pension – This is available to over 80s whose state pension income is below a certain level.  Further details are available from your local DWP office.
Winter Fuel Payment – This is payable to UK residents aged over 60.  It can be claimed by calling the Winter Fuel Payment helpline on 0845 915 1515.
Attendance Allowance or Disability Living Allowance – If you are aged 65 or over and have a disability that requires help in caring for yourself, you may be able to claim Attendance Allowance.  If you are under age 65 and your disability means that you require help with care, you may be entitled to Disability Living Allowance.  You can find out more on these by calling the Benefit Enquiry Line on 0800 882 200. 
Carer’s Allowance – If you care for someone who is disabled and is in receipt of Attendance Allowance or Disability Living Allowance, you may be entitled to Carer’s Allowance.  However, if you receive other state benefits such as the basic state pension, you may not be entitled to Carer’s Allowance.  More information can be obtained from the Benefit Enquiry Line on 0800 882 200.
Bus Pass – This is available for free to those aged over 60.  Residents of London Boroughs also qualify for a Freedom Pass.  Your local Council can give you more information on this.
Free Prescriptions & Eyesight Tests – If you are aged over 60 you are entitled to free prescriptions and eye examinations.  You may also qualify for financial assistance with other medical costs.  For more information, call NHS Direct on 0845 4647.
TV Licence – This is available for free for those aged 75 and over.  To apply for this call TV Licensing on 0844 800 6790.

TAX BENEFITS
Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) grants a higher personal allowance to those aged over 65, meaning that you will be allowed more tax free income if you are above this age.  The level of increased allowance depends on your income.  HMRC should apply this increased allowance automatically, but it is worth double checking this.  You can do this and check if you think you have paid to much tax by virtue of not previously receiving this increased allowance by contacting your local tax office.

OCCUPATIONAL PENSION
If you have contributed to a work based pension at your current workplace, you should have heard about your pension entitlement.  If you have not, you should contact your employer’s Human Resources or Pensions Department.

If you think you have an entitlement to a pension from a previous employer, or another pension provider, the government-run Pension Tracing Service can help you track down those responsible for paying these pensions.  You can contact the Pension Tracing Service on 0845 600 2537.

AGE DISCRIMINATION
If your retirement was forced by your employer:
• Were you notified of your retirement date at least six months in advance? 
• Did they advise you of your right to request continuing working past retirement age?
• Was your age at retirement 65 or more?
• If not, did your employer justify why they have enforced retirement at this earlier age?

If your answer to any of these is “no”, there may be a breach of the retirement procedure as set out in the Age Discrimination Regulations.  Speak to your GMB Rep or Regional Organiser for more details.  The facility that allows employers to enforce retirement is due to be removed from October 2011, although employers will legally be able to enforce retirements that are justified from this time.

Your Memories Wanted

Your memories are wanted for a new book - Did you work in or around Sheffield in the 1950’s or 60’s?  Perhaps you worked in the cities famous steel industry or within one of the many engineering or manufacturing works?  If so we’d love to hear your stories and memories from that time.  Shop floor up to management, we’re interested in all your industrial tales.

Your Memories Wanted.pdf