GMB Southern Region’s Retired Members Association (RMA) is a group of retired GMB members who function like any other union group. They have regular meetings and discuss issues which affect retired members (such as pensions) but also look to offer support to active workplace campaigns too.

Put the date of our annual conference in your diary – Thursday 20 June at 11am in our Chessington office (Cooper House, 205 Hook Road, Chessington KT9 1EA). The agenda will be circulated in due course but the meeting will be electing delegates to the union’s national RMA conference in October, and also discussing possible motions to go to the conference. In addition I am really pleased to say that one of our guest speakers will be Lord Iain McNicol – a former officer of the region, who is the Labour Party’s front bench spokesperson in the Lords on Business & Trade. A sandwich lunch will be provided and reasonable travel costs can be claimed with a receipt.

The national RMA constitution sets out the aims of RMAs, and this is as follows:

• The GMB RMA aims to provide practical assistance to the recruitment, retention and organisational objectives of the GMB wherever and whenever possible.

• The GMB RMA aims to campaign on behalf of retired GMB members, to bring about dignity in retirement.

• The GMB RMA will work in partnership with like-minded pensioner groups whenever it is appropriate to do so.

• The RMA aims at all times to comply with Equal Opportunity policies of the GMB. None of these important aims will be won by officers and committee alone – we need your support and involvement! You can see a message from the President here.

If you wish to raise any issues with the Committee please email megan@gn.apc.org

Here’s a flyer about us to read and share: https://www.gmb-southern.org.uk/rma-flyer

To join the Southern Region RMA, simply complete the online form at https://www.gmb-southern.org.uk/rtlfe

Some more useful information for our Retired Members:

• Follow this link for a really useful guide to the National Pensioners Convention toolkit to help you apply for Pension Credit.
• Did you know that your membership of the GMB may entitle your family to claim a Funeral Grant when you die? It’s currently £400 so is a really helpful amount to assist them with funeral costs. Your family should contact the GMB regional office on 020 8397 8881 and ask for the Funeral Benefit Claim Form as soon as possible.
• Leila Kassam is a member of our Regional RMA Committee. She represented us at the GMB’s national RMA conference – here is a link to her report.