26th JUNE - What the MCA Isn't Telling Parliament
Hi Folks, it’s that time again! Friday Update! And it’s another big one!
Key News: MPs Speak Out
MPs are speaking out, saying that the information the MCA is giving to ministers is not true. You can hear Joe Robertson MP here and Alistair Carmichael MP here. A debate has also been secured in Westminster Hall, with press coverage available here from Shetland News.
Westminster Meeting on 1st July
On the 1st July, CROs from across England, Wales, and Scotland are travelling to Westminster to meet with MPs. This event is now full, but there is a waiting list, and there are other options to watch the debate, be at College Green with MPs for photos, and join a social meet-up afterwards – drop a message if you’re available from 2pm onwards on Wednesday and would like to attend.
If you can’t attend, we still want to represent you and your area or station at Parliament – please take a minute to write a sentence or two to your MP to send via this anonymous and secure link that we will share on the day.
GMB News
This morning it was confirmed we have 514 CROs signing up to GMB. This is fantastic news, but we can’t rest now – we need to keep building.
Here are just some of the things GMB has been doing for us this last week: a national lead specialising in representing “workers” has been appointed. Nicola Savage has been representing Evri drivers, so she knows the issues and laws around the “worker” model. We met with her on Monday, and she has been working incredibly hard all week with the legal team to start getting things in place for us – including the letter to the MCA for voluntary recognition and securing a meeting with Heidi Alexander MP, Secretary of State for Transport, who said this week that she’s been informed that “the vast majority of CROs will do a few hours each week alongside their main job,” that they didn’t want people out of pocket when volunteering, but that the role we do is actually pretty miniscule and no remuneration will not be an issue. We know from speaking to CROs around the country that this is not accurate, and loss of remuneration is going to impact many people, and the service.
Having GMB represent us is one very important way that we can start to correct this narrative.
GMB press have also helped us get a number of articles into the national press, including this piece in The Guardian on Wednesday. Crucially, you might notice the difference in tone since the news first broke – remember, we are only just over 3 weeks in!
GMB media have also been working to ensure photos of CROs are used, and have requested retractions and website updates, for example in The Scotsman. The Guardian’s print piece was all CRO images – sometimes we lose out to an online photo editor, which is unfortunate. It makes you wonder how, after all these years, we don’t have a public face, and why people aren’t sure what we do.
Leading the way on this is our public Facebook page – some amazing posts, reels and videos have been created by active CROs to celebrate the work we do. Please like, share and follow our page here.
We are getting celebrity endorsements too – people who have been rescued by us, and people who are shocked by what is happening to a national emergency response. Watch our pages over the next few weeks as we share these.
And please don’t forget to check out our new website – all the information about the campaign, designed to be shared with CROs and with the public, and as a resource for you to use. It has downloadable posters, T-shirt designs, and lots of information.
I think there’s more, but it’s 6pm and my brain is tired, folks!
JOIN GMB
We are building, and we want you to join us – there’s lots more updates and information in the GMB WhatsApp group. Feedback this week from people has been around how important it is that we are having these discussions across teams and across areas. Lots of disparity between teams. It’s almost like we need to unionise, isn’t it?!
There are plenty of other examples – you can join GMB here. But most importantly, this whole thing has left us all with low morale – I promise you the spirits in the group are high. It’s been so lovely getting to know all of you over the last few weeks. My CRO world has expanded a hundred-fold, and I’m certainly better for it.
Also, write to your MP and ask them to come on Wednesday, both to the debate and to meet with us – more information and a template letter is in a featured post on our Facebook page.
PS (I remembered more!) We had a great Teams meeting on Tuesday, well attended with 148 people – I’m going to put a poll on this page for the best times to meet next week!
And finally, have a lovely weekend, and stay safe all!
Kelly
