GMB joins Fair Deal for Your Local

GMB, the union has become the latest organisation to formally back the national ‘Fair Deal for Your Local’ campaign calling for a fair deal for Britain’s tied licensees and pubs.

It joins the 10 other organisations which support the coaliton - Guild of Master Victuallers, Campaign for Real Ale , Federation of Small Businesses, Forum of Private Businesses, Fair Pint Campaign, Licensees Supporting Licensees, Justice for Licensees, Save the Pub Group and Licensees Unite.

The group was formed in May to fight for a 'market rent-only option' for pubco lessees.

Greg Mulholland, chair of the All Party Parliamentary Save the Pub Group and Campaign Coordinator of Fair Deal for Your Local, said: “I am delighted that the GMB has signed up to formally support Fair Deal for Your Local and be a campaign partner joining the other nine organisations and the Parliamentary Save the Pub Group to work together to get a fair deal for pubco licensees.

“The Fair Deal for Your Local campaign is simply calling for hard working licensees to receive a fair share of the profit they themselves earn and it is notable that the campaign has the support of small business organisations and trade unions alike as well as MPs from all parties. That should send a very clear message to the Government as they consider what to introduce in the forthcoming statutory code.”

Steve Kemp, GMB political officer, said: "GMB is delighted to join the 'Fair Deal for Your Local' campaign as the draft statutory code covering tied pub rents comes before Parliament.

“GMB want MPs to support option 3 which will give tied pub tenants the ability to buy products from the open market and pay a fair market rent for the building. 

“GMB will work alongside the 'Fair Deal for Your Local' campaign to ensure that the right decision is made in Parliament to stop the scandalous way in which pubcos have behaved and that the exploitation ends forthwith."