GMB Congress 2023

GMB Congress this year was held in Brighton, the sun shone it was warm as was the atmosphere inside the hall.

In the foyer as you entered the building  a range of stalls from , specialist books, Amazon, Waspi , Credit Union, support for Cuba, Bladder cancer to name a few and of course the Equality one !

Highlights over the days included representatives from the Amazon workforce at Coventry who gave a moving speech on their fight for recognition.( and a standing ovation) The National Secretary supported the Amazon workers and said he won’t rest until Amazon is recognised.

T Shirts were available to pick up with various slogans giving support to the Amazon workers.... the T shirts became in handy as congress wore them for when Keir Starmer arrived to give his vision for the future.

Keir Starmer spoke to the conference and committed to

• Supporting working people,
• Strengthen the role of Trade Unions,
• No more fire and rehire ,
• No zero hours and make workpay.
• Clean energy which will also equal jobs
• In the first 100 days  of a Labour government legislation “ New Deal for Working People”
• Public Procurement –  for British jobs.

Keir Starmer was very clear the move to clean energy will be managed  to create jobs and we will not have the same legacy wastelands left from the closure of coal mines, but a working community.

Congress finished with speeches from the international community, Cuba and Ukraine thanks GMB for our ongoing support.

I invited the women form our region to a meeting where we discussed and scoped out plans for a Regional Conference.

An inspiring week.

Thank you, for the privilege of attending.

Pat Willmott
GMB Northants Branch Equalities Officer
GMB Midlands Regional Women’s Chair