KINGS COLLEGE LONDON TO ENSURE ALL OUTSOURCED STAFF ARE PAID £8.80 LONDON LIVING WAGE AFTER JOINT GMB AND STUDENT LED CAMPAIGN Many of the cleaners who are members will see the pay rise when the new cleaning contract begins in September says GMB The council of Kings College London agreed on March 11th to include living wage clauses in all newly tendered contracts and to renegotiate existing contracts for those that aren't yet due for tender. This means that all outsourced staff at Kings College London, including cleaners, caterers and security staff will see their pay rise in line with a London Living Wage which is currently £8.80 an hour. Many of the cleaning staff are currently paid the National Minimum Wage of £6:31 an hour. A large demonstration outside the meeting was referred to as putting direct pressure on the council to agree to pay the living wage. In a statement the Principal, Rick Trainor, acknowledged the 'strength of feeling within the college community' referring directly to the joint GMB and student campaign which put pressure on the university to do the right thing and pay a living wage. Nadine Houghton, GMB regional organiser, said “Many of the cleaners who are GMB members will see the rise in their pay when the new cleaning contract begins in September. GMB is pleased that Kings College leaders did the right thing and made the decision to honour a decent days work with a decent days pay. We all too often hear the argument from large institutions that outsource many of their functions, including cleaning, that the pay of the outsourced staff is not their responsibility - clearly this is utter rubbish as it is they who set the terms of the contract. The success of this campaign, and many other living wage campaigns, shows that when we campaign, when we make demands on the employer and when we organise collectively - we can win. GMB will not stop here though. The workers at Kings deserve more than just a living wage. They deserve a decent sick pay scheme and annual leave on a par with directly employed staff and we will strive to win this." End Contact Nadine Houghton on 07714 239 227 or 0208 303 3407 or GMB press office 07921 289880

Seamus McBride President Battersea and Wandsworth TUC All our affiliated members and the volunteers who work for the Workers Beer Company will endorse the tribute to Bob Crow by Paul Kenny, GMB General Secretary. Paul Kenny said, “It is with the deepest sorrow and regret that we learned of Bob’s death. The loss for members of the RMT is immeasurable. They have lost their champion. The loss to the trade union movement and to the cause of advancing the living standards of working people across the globe is devastating. Even people who didn’t like what he did agreed he did it very well. Our thoughts are with Bob’s family and the RMT. Bob’s strength, personal integrity and straight forward speaking won many battles for his members. He took his job very seriously and never stopped working. A giant of the labour movement. He is irreplaceable.” Bob was a huge supporter of trades union councils. We were delighted to have Bob speak at Leftfield at Glastonbury on a number of occasions and he also addressed our monthly meeting. He was a great friend of the Bread and Roses. We are devastated by the news of his untimely death. There is a book of condolence at Unity House that all Trade Unionist are welcome to write in.