GMB BO2 Birmingham Public Services Branch

Just a very quick reminder that the NJC Pay ballot closes on Friday 5th July 2024 @ Midday so any votes after that time will not be counted....Soooooo get voting as you need to give us the GMB a clear mandate to act on your behalf 😀😀

It's Carer's Week! 💙

Millions of people across the UK care, unpaid, for a friend or family member who due to illness, disability, a mental health condition or addiction cannot cope without their support.

It is estimated that they save the economy £162 million a year – the equivalent of a second NHS. Yet, many carers feel their role is forgotten and invisible.

We want carers to know they are not forgotten, and they are not alone 💚

If you're the parent carer of a disabled child and need support or someone to talk to, our Listening Ear service can be accessed here: https://contact.org.uk/help-for-families/listening-ear/

We would also recommend reaching out to Carers UK, and Carers Trust for more information and support.

Well the Pay ballot is well on its way, so all eligible members should have received thier Ballot links or papers by now. Please make sure you vote on the pay offer and give us a clear mandate to represent your views..VOTE VOTE VOTE!!

Video on this years NJC pay offer

NJC Pay Ballot Update | GMB Union An update from GMB National Officers Sharon Wilde and Stacey Booth as the GMB ballot on the 2024 NJC Pay Offer begins today.---------------------------------...

Get ready for Birmingham Pride

Dear Members,

The Joint Local Government and Schools Committee met today to discuss the NJC Pay Offer 2024/25 and agree the GMB position on the offer from the National Employers.

The National Joint Committees have considered the full and final offer in detail and agreed that they were disappointed with the offer, lack of meaningful negotiation and the length of time it has taken for the employers to respond to the unions pay claim. The Committee also expressed concern this offer is made without central funding from Government which means the financial responsibility will fall to local councils, employers, and schools' budgets.

The Joint Committee delegates have informed us, that GMB members are telling them that they do not want to prolong the ballot process. The Employer has put forward a full and final offer which demonstrates that the employer is not prepared to further negotiate.

The National Joint Committee have agreed not to make any recommendation on this year's offer, and they believe that the members should now decide.

The ballot timeline has been agreed and will open on Monday 3 June 2024 and close on Friday 5 July 2024 at midday.

Please see the video on this years pay ballot that starts on Monday, Please make sure you VOTE as this is your decision. Without a clear mandate we cannot move forwards

The ballot on pay for GMB members in Local Government, schools and academies is opening On Monday 3rd June, you will be asked to vote on the offer on pay for workers in Local Government, schools and academies!You can find out more the offer by f...

Dear member

Tomorrow GMB members at Thirty Five Birmingham schools will make history as they take strike action to force the Council to end the equal pay crisis.

Strike action will be taking place at the below schools – including a strike rally in Victoria square.

All other workplaces in Birmingham City Council will work as normal tomorrow.

There is clearly appetite from GMB members to fight to end this crisis, and we will be confirming details of next steps and how that impacts your workplace in the coming days. Please note however that unfortunately academies aren't in scope as Birmingham is not the employer of workers in these schools, and this strike is over equal pay in the Council.

In the meantime, why please follow GMB Midlands on social media for updates from tomorrows’ action.

GMB



Colmore Junior School
Minworth Junior & Infant School
Colmore Infant & Nursery School
Chad Vale Primary School
Bordesley Green East Nursery School
Hodge Hill Girls School
Newtown Nursery School
Nelson Mandela School
Jakeman Nursery School
Arden Primary School
St Benedict's Infants
Yardley Primary School
Marsh Hill Nursery
Forestdale Primary School
Kings Heath Primary School
Lozells Junior & Infant School
James Watt Primary
Clifton Primary School
Worlds End Junior School
Cherry Orchard Primary School
Bordesley Green Primary School
Benson Community School
Wheelers Lane Primary
Stanville Primary School
Beeches Junior School
St James CE Primary School Handsworth
Redhill Primary School
Elms Farm Primary School
Harborne Primary School
Gunter Primary School
George Dixon Primary School
Boldmere Infants & Nursery School
Yorkmead Junior & Infants School
Chilcote Primary School
Yardley Wood Community Primary School

It’s ok not to be ok!

A-Z List of organisations for Mental Health

Anxiety UK

Charity providing support if you have been diagnosed with an anxiety condition.

Telephone: 03444 775 774 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 5.30pm)
Website: www.anxietyuk.org.uk

Bipolar UK

A charity helping people living with manic depression or bipolar disorder.

Website: www.bipolaruk.org.uk

CALM

CALM is the Campaign Against Living Miserably, for men aged 15 to 35.

Telephone: 0800 58 58 58 (daily, 5pm to midnight)
Website: www.thecalmzone.net

Men’s Health Forum

24/7 stress support for men by text, chat and email.

Website: www.menshealthforum.org.uk/beatstress.uk

Mental Health Foundation

Provides information and support for anyone with mental health problems or learning disabilities.

Website: www.mentalhealth.org.uk

Mind

Promotes the views and needs of people with mental health problems.

Telephone: 0300 123 3393 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm)
Website: www.mind.org.uk

No Panic

Voluntary charity offering support for sufferers of panic attacks and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Offers a course to help overcome your phobia or OCD.

Telephone: 0844 967 4848 (daily, 10am to 10pm). Calls cost 5p per minute plus your phone provider’s Access Charge
Website: www.nopanic.org.uk

OCD Action

Support for people with OCD. Includes information on treatment and online resources.

Telephone: 0845 390 6232 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 5pm). Calls cost 5p per minute plus your phone provider’s Access Charge
Website: www.ocdaction.org.uk

OCD UK

A charity run by people with OCD, for people with OCD. Includes facts, news and treatments.

Telephone: 0333 212 7890 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)
Website: www.ocduk.org

PAPYRUS

Young su***de prevention society.

Telephone: HOPElineUK 0800 068 4141 (9am to midnight, every day of the year)
Website: www.papyrus-uk.org

Rethink Mental Illness

Support and advice for people living with mental illness.

Telephone: 0300 5000 927 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 4pm)
Website: www.rethink.org

Samaritans

Confidential support for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair.

Telephone: 116 123 (free 24-hour helpline)
Website: www.samaritans.org/

SANE

Emotional support, information and guidance for people affected by mental illness, their families and carers.

Textcare: comfort and care via text message, sent when the person needs it most: www.sane.org.uk/textcare
Peer support forum: www.sane.org.uk/supportforum
Website: www.sane.org.uk/support

YoungMinds

Information on child and adolescent mental health. Services for parents and professionals.

Telephone: Parents’ helpline 0808 802 5544 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 4pm)
Website: www.youngminds.org.uk/

Abuse (child, sexual, domestic violence)

NSPCC

Children’s charity dedicated to ending child abuse and child cruelty.

Telephone: 0800 1111 for Childline for children (24-hour helpline) 0808 800 5000 for adults concerned about a child (24-hour helpline)
Website: www.nspcc.org.uk

Refuge

Advice on dealing with domestic violence.

Telephone: 0808 2000 247 (24-hour helpline)
Website: www.refuge.org.uk

Alcohol misuse

Alcoholics Anonymous

A free self-help group. Its “12 step” programme involves getting sober with the help of regular face-to-face and online support groups.

Telephone: 0800 917 7650 (24-hour helpline)
Website: www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk

Al-Anon

Al-Anon is a free self-help “12 step” group for anyone whose life is or has been affected by someone else’s drinking.

Telephone: 0800 0086 811 (daily, 10am to 10pm)
Website: www.al-anonuk.org.uk

Drinkline

A free confidential helpline for people worried about their own or someone else’s drinking.

Telephone: 0300 123 1110 (weekdays 9am to 8pm, weekends 11am to 4pm)

National Association for Children of Alcoholics

National Association for Children of Alcoholics offers free confidential advice and information to everyone affected by a parent’s drinking including children, adults and professionals.

Telephone: 0800 358 3456 (Friday, Saturday and Monday 12pm to 7pm and Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 12pm to 9pm)
Website: www.nacoa.org.uk

SMART Recovery UK

SMART Recovery UK face-to-face and online groups help people decide whether they have a problem with alcohol and drugs, build up their motivation to change, and offer a set of proven tools and techniques to support recovery.

Telephone: 0330 053 6022 for general enquiries about SMART Recovery UK (9am to 5pm, Monday-Friday)
Website: smartrecovery.org.uk

Alzheimer’s Society

Provides information on dementia, including factsheets and helplines.

Telephone: 0300 222 1122 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm and 10am to 4pm on weekends)
Website: www.alzheimers.org.uk

Cruse Bereavement Care

Telephone: 0808 808 1677 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)
Website: www.cruse.org.uk/home

R**e Crisis

To find your local services phone: 0808 802 9999 (daily, 12pm to 2.30pm and 7pm to 9.30pm)
Website: www.rapecrisis.org.uk

📢Today we launch the Great Get Together toolkit, complete with everything you need to plan your event - whether you’ve been running one every year since 2017, or you’re totally new.

Anyone can be an organiser and our toolkit makes it as easy as possible👇
https://www.jocoxfoundation.org/our-work/stronger-communities/great-get-together/toolkit/

Calling all, the time is now for Birmingham City Council to settle and end the Equal Pay injustice in Birmingham City Council

Thirty five Birmingham schools facing strike threat Council bosses must act urgently to avoid springtime school strikes.

Today is GMB members at Birmingham City Council gave notice of a formal strike ballot of workers in 35 BCC schools.

The strikes will end pay discrimination and stolen wages from Birmingham’s hard working women.

More:

Thirty five Birmingham schools facing strike threat Council bosses must act urgently to avoid springtime school strikes.

Where is every one

Well hello all we are at it again demo in Victoria Square about the cuts BCC are about to set

March LBTQ+ Women's meet up ☕

🌈 Saturday 9th March, 4pm-6pm & Saturday 30th March, 4pm-6pm
🫖 Refreshments provided
📍Birmingham LGBT, Cafe Space

For more info [email protected] or call 0121 643 0821

Have you registered yet?
Sign up today and take part in equality training conference

To reserve your spot, simply visit gmb.li/ZnmQLV and complete the registration form.

📌GMB Stoke office,Garth Street ST1 2AB
📅 25th March 2024
🕙 10am onwards

Hi everyone if you are currently in the West midlands Pension fund you will find the following very useful. I highly recommend you take a look.

Member Pension Support

***IMPORTANT Job Evaluation update***
If you are a Birmingham City Council, Children’s Trust Employee, Acivico Employee or a Birmingham City Council School Employee and are contacted by the Job Evaluation team or your manager to attend a workshop to complete a Job Description Questionnaire (JDQ).
It is important you ensure that the Job Description is the one that is the one agreed for your role. It is vitally important that the agreed Job Description that you are provided with is the correct one as this could detrimentally affect any score for the job role and ultimately your pay.
Management are trying to use a process called ‘rolemapper’ where they are reducing duties and responsibilities in your Job Description’s. GMB are not in agreement with this and advise our members to ensure that these amended/revised job descriptions are not used for this process.
If you believe your job description is not accurate, it is essential as a matter of urgency that you advise the Job Evaluation Team as soon as possible after receiving the pack with all the associated paperwork and also notify your local Trade Union Representative or the Branch.
GMB B02 Branch can be contacted by
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 0121 303 4123