23 February 2018, saw GMB Convenor Bob Welham receive his final visit to Crown Paints Darwen site.
MEP Wajid Khan accepted the invitation to give Bob an opportunity to expand on his concerns for UK Manufacturing that was suffering during the Brexit discussions. Bob informed Wajid he wanted Labour to listen to the crippling costs of importing raw materials and the effect this was having for the future security of UK Manufacturing jobs that were producing for the UK Market.
The visit was a great success and so after 48 years as a trade union activist and 29 as GMB Steward and Convenor Bob talked of his pride in representing his members over those years where his recruitment is at 98%, his members have received 24% pay awards over the last 8 years, his pride in chairing the EWC between 96-08 during which time Bob organised an EU wide campaign that stopped the closures of many sites his own included, he also secured one of the best pension deals in the UK for the GMB Members at Crown Paints after the business was sold by Akzo Nobel.
Bob retired on 02 February 2018; but will still be active for the GMB at local, regional and national levels for some years to come.
