Retired Members’ Association
Download a copy of the Over 65 Magazine.pdf
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)
Dates for your diary
GMB RMA Members’ Annual Outing
Leeds/Bradford to Whitby
Thursday, 2nd September 2010
Two coaches will leave Leeds Parish Church arriving in time for lunch at 12:00. This will be two course lunch with a roast meat as the main course at the Royal Hotel. (Please notify any dietary requests). After lunch is free time.
09:30am - Depart Leeds Parish Church
11:30am - Arrive Whitby - Royal Hotel
12:00 - Lunch
1:30pm - Free Time
4:30pm - Light tea
6:00pm - Leave for home
Arrive back at Leeds - 8:00pm (approx)
Sale of tickets = GMB Office in Sheffield Office
Price : £12 ( no refund) - Cheques payable to GMB.
Any queries can be directed to - .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or mob 07762 101426 or GMB Offices on 0845 337 7777.
GMB RMA Members’ Annual Outing
From York to Whitby
Wednesday, 1st September 2010
Two coaches have been booked routed via Pickering arriving in time for lunch with a two course roast meat option at the Royal Hotel. (Please notify of any dietary requirements)
10am - Depart Memorial Gardens, Leeman Road
11.30am - Arrive Royal Hotel, Whitby
12.00 - Lunch
1.30pm - free time
4.30pm - Light tea
6pm - Leave for home
7.30pm - arrive back York (approx)
Slae of tickets; GMB York, Gillygate any day except Friday from 12th July 2010. Price £12 (no refund) Cheques payable to ‘GMB’.
Queries to 01904 605658 on Tuesdays from 9.30am - 11.30am or email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or GMB York on 0845 337 7777.
Regional RMA Committee
The latest meeting of the Regional Retired Members’ Association Committee was held at Grove Hall, Wakefield at 10.30am on 26th February 2010(download the minutes of the meeting below) and the next will be on Tuesday, 15th June 2010, also at Grove Hall starting at 10.30am.
RMA Minutes 17th June 08.pdf
RMA Minutes 7th October 08.doc
RMA Minutes 19th February 09.doc
RMA Minutes 19th June 2009.pdf
RMA Minutes 6th October 2009.pdf
RMA Minutes 26th February 2010.pdf
Your committee members are Bernard Barron, Stan Bradbury, Dick Hazel, Billy Hinsliffe, Neil Moore, Barry Christopherson, Marjorie Jones and George 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 2010
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.
Business: April 1st (AGM); May 6th; June 3rd; July 1st; August 5th; September 9th; October 14th; November 4th and December 9th.
Social: March 18th; April 22nd; May 20th; June 17th; July 15th; August 26th; September 23rd; October 28th and November 25th.
Please check on 0845 337 7777 before setting off!
Default Retirement Age
11th November 2009
The government is reviewing the Default Retirement Age (DRA) in the UK which allows employers to forcibly retire workers over the age of 65 providing the appropriate procedure is followed. As GMB responded to the earlier consultations on the issue we have been asked to contribute to this latest review.
As outlined in this press release http://www.berr.gov.uk/whatwedo/employment/Default%20retirement%20age/index.html, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills is looking for evidence and experience of the DRA in practice. If you have specific experience that may be relevant for GMB’s submission please email the Pensions Department at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) no later than 31st December 2009.
The government review followed the ruling in the ‘Heyday’ case brought against the government. Details of that case can be found here: http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/legislative-framework/legal-updates/age-regulations-legal-challenge-the-heyday-case/
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