GMB are the first union to have a dedicated branch for those in the judiciary. Our J25 Judges Branch belongs to our Southern Region and represents anyone working in the sector.
GMB recognises that these workers face the same hardship, discrimination and inequality as those in any other workplace and seek to challenge this wherever we encounter it. For too long the judiciary has been dominated by people from a very similar, very privileged background and we know that breaking through can be incredibly difficult. GMB has a long track record of equality campaigning to help smash this sort of inequality wherever it exists.
Our Judges' Branch meets regularly online and any judicial worker is welcome to join GMB by visiting www.gmb.org.uk/join and then join us at the next meeting.
Why Do Judges Need a Trade Union?
Many judges have realised the need for mutual support in dealing with issues connected with their work, rather than face these issues alone.
Some have tried to resolve matters by individually suing the MoJ in the courts. Sometimes this has been successful, such as in the fee-paid pensions cases of Miller and O’Brien, which recognised judges as ‘workers’. Often, individual judges lost to the MoJ who could deploy the full resources of government against them. The judges were left with ruinous legal costs.
A mutual support network, the ‘Judges Support Network’ was set up a few years ago, to help with issues such as victimisation, bullying and poor treatment. The Network realised that they could do much more to support judges if they had the support of a large trade union. They approached the GMB Union, which has over 500,000 members in all sectors, including the Legal Agency.
Our own judges’ branch of GMB was set up in 2023 and elected a committee – see the Law Society Gazette article https://www.lawgazette.co.uk/n... . We follow the ‘judicial duty of reserve’ and members do not pay the political levy.
The LCJ has confirmed that there is no objection to judges’ being union members. We are taking steps to be officially recognised by MoJ as judges’ trade union representatives, and take our place at the MoJ staff side.
Being a GMB member means someone is always on your side.
GMB exists to get better pay, terms and conditions for members and to support them if there is a problem at work. The sooner someone joins, the earlier they are protected.
Individual help
Salaried officers are there to help members with individual workplace issues, and have the resources of GMB behind them. GMB will provide legal help if necessary, and has a dedicated legal service at no cost to members
The sort of issues that GMB can help and represent judges with include:
- Representation and advice for JCIO disciplinary proceedings
- Absence management
- Reasonable adjustments at work for disability and carer issues
- Bullying and harassment
- Accidents/ incidents at work, including assaults by the public where security precautions are inadequate
A Collective Voice for Judges
We are unique in representing judges at all levels, across all courts and tribunals.
We are currently pursuing:
- Fair appointments procedures
- Better, less oppressive and fairer disciplinary processes
- Fair remuneration, including adequate fees for preparing for hearings and producing written judgements
- Safeguarding judges’ welfare, in supporting the Nairu UNODC Declaration on integrity and judicial well-being
GMB has 130 judges who are members, recruited purely by word-of mouth. Every new member helps us gain TU recognition by the MoJ, and a seat at the staff side that discusses terms and conditions.
Other MoJ workers including Legal Aid Agency staff, court/tribunal clerks/admin and Crown Prosecutors have a voice at the MoJ negotiating table as part of the official staff side represented by their trade unions. Judges deserve to be there as well.
