GMB Southern announce partnership with Southampton Advice and Representation Centre

GMB Southern announces new partnership with Southampton Advice and Representation Centre following concerns about roll out of Universal Credit. “We continue to call on the government to scrap universal credit and implement a benefits system to give dignity and respect to disabled people and those relying on benefits”, says GMB Southern

GMB trade union has announced that it will develop a new partnership with Southampton Advice and Representation Centre (SARC) to supports its work with the unemployed and to provide training to GMB workplace representatives.

GMB which has worked with SARC for many years in Southampton is now expanding the joint working across the whole of the Southern Region.

SARC was founded over 37 years ago and provides quality advice and representation in welfare benefits and employment. As a registered charity they specialise in welfare benefits and employment advice.

SARC will provide direct benefits advice to GMB members in Southampton and will provide training and advice to GMB activists across the region to help them support their members locally. GMB Southern Region have announced that they will also donate £5k to the centre.

Paul Maloney, GMB Southern Regional Secretary said: "GMB are proud to build on the long term relationship we have had with SARC over many years. With the government’s savage cuts to benefits GMB members are already being hit. We have disabled members who are unemployed through no fault of their own who are now being punished by the Tories heartless attacks on those who rely on benefits.

"A shocking 60% of people in poverty in UK are working. GMB already know that many of our low paid members, for example teaching assistants in schools and retail workers, are already relying on foodbanks. The roll out of Universal Credit, which has caused so much harm in areas in which it was trialled, means, we felt it was essential to put in place support for GMB members on accessing benefits. We are very pleased SARC has agreed to do this work with us."

Alan Fraser, GMB Southern Regional Training Officer added: "GMB is always looking for ways to improve the training and education we provide to our hundreds of activists across the region. We know that when GMB reps are supporting members with issues at work such as redundancies, disciplinaries, changes of jobs it can have an impact on their benefits. That is why we are pleased to work with SARC on this initiative."

Barry Beaven, Southampton GMB Branch Secretary commented: "As well as the practical support GMB will give our members via SARC, GMB will continue to hold this government to account for its attacks on disabled people resulting in disabled people losing support they so desperately need. We continue to take on the government for their absolute failure to deal with the low wage economy and their failure to force corporations to pay their workers a genuine living wage.

"Universal Credit is a damaging and destructive policy which has been shown to cause huge hardship and to not save a penny. We continue to call on the government to scrap universal credit and implement a benefits system to give dignity and respect to disabled people and those relying on benefits.

"Obviously our present government does not want this process to be easy and once again it falls to the GMB to lead the way. The leadership of the GMB has taken on this challenge and will ensure our members are not left out on their own during this difficult time.

"The local Branch will continue to work on being able to support the membership and the disadvantaged of Southampton. If you want to make a change, come and join us."

Contact: Barry Beaven 07961 575 524 or GMB Southern Press Office 07970 114 762