GMB (trade union)

GMB (trade union)
Name	GMB
Founded	31 March 1889
Members	560,000 (approx., 2023)
Full name	GMB
Head	Gary Smith
Office	London, England
Country	United Kingdom
Affiliation	Trades Union Congress, Labour Party, Unite the Union, European Trade Union Confederation, International Trade Union Confederation
Website	www.gmb.org.uk

GMB (trade union) is a major general trade union in the United Kingdom, representing workers across a diverse range of public services and private sector industries. With its origins in the late 19th century, it has grown through a series of mergers to become one of the country's largest unions, affiliated with the Labour Party and the Trades Union Congress. The union is known for its campaigning work on issues such as workers' rights, fair pay, and health and safety in the workplace.

History

The union traces its origins to the formation of the National Union of Gas Workers and General Labourers in East London in 1889, a key organization in the New Unionism movement that sought to organize unskilled laborers. This union, led by figures like Will Thorne, successfully fought for an eight-hour working day. It later evolved into the National Union of General and Municipal Workers (NUGMW) after merging with several other unions. A significant merger in 1982 with the Amalgamated Society of Boilermakers, Shipwrights, Blacksmiths and Structural Workers created the General, Municipal, Boilermakers and Allied Trades Union (GMBATU), which was shortened to GMB in 1987. Further amalgamations followed, including with the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen (ASLEF)'s white-collar section and the Iron and Steel Trades Confederation, solidifying its presence across multiple sectors of the British economy.

Structure and governance

GMB is structured into a series of geographically-based regions across the United Kingdom, including Scotland, Wales, and the English regions such as the North West and Yorkshire and the Humber. Each region has its own elected officials and supports workplace representatives, known as shop stewards. The supreme governing body is the Congress, which meets biennially and sets national policy. Day-to-day management is led by the Central Executive Council (CEC), elected from the regions, and the General Secretary, who is the union's chief executive and principal spokesperson. This structure is designed to balance national coordination with regional autonomy to address local industrial issues.

Political activity and campaigns

As a founding affiliate of the Labour Party, GMB is a significant political force, providing funding, campaigning support, and wielding influence within the party's structures, including at the Labour Party Conference. The union actively campaigns on a wide array of issues, from national minimum wage increases and opposing zero-hours contracts to sector-specific fights for better pay in the National Health Service and local government. It has also been involved in high-profile campaigns for corporate accountability, such as those targeting retail giants like Sports Direct and Amazon over working conditions. Internationally, it works through the European Trade Union Confederation and the International Trade Union Confederation.

Membership and sectors

GMB's membership of approximately 560,000 is spread across both the public and private sectors, reflecting its general union character. Major sectors represented include the National Health Service, local government, the NHS, education support staff, the energy industry, including British Gas and the North Sea sector, manufacturing, distribution, and the voluntary sector. This broad base allows it to represent a wide spectrum of workers, from care workers and ambulance staff to engineers and factory workers, particularly in strategic industries like automotive manufacturing with plants for Jaguar Land Rover and British Steel.

Leadership and general secretaries

The General Secretary is the elected leader and chief strategist. Notable past leaders include the union's founder, Will Thorne, and later figures such as John Edmonds and Paul Kenny. Tim Roache was elected in 2016 but resigned in 2021. The current General Secretary, Gary Smith, was elected in 2021, having previously led the union's Scotland region. Other key elected officials include the President, who chairs the Central Executive Council, and the National Treasurer. The leadership is elected by the membership and is accountable to the union's Congress and executive bodies.

Recognition and influence

GMB is widely recognized as one of the "big three" unions in the UK alongside Unite the Union and UNISON, giving it substantial influence within the Trades Union Congress and the wider Labour movement. It holds significant collective bargaining rights in many parts of the public sector and in major private companies. The union's influence is evident in its role in national pay negotiations for local government and the NHS, its legal actions on behalf of members, and its ability to mobilize industrial action. Its research and policy work on issues like health and safety, equal pay, and the gig economy frequently inform political and media debates on employment in the United Kingdom.

Category:Trade unions in the United Kingdom Category:Organizations established in 1889 Category:1889 establishments in the United Kingdom