Report from GMLC’s 2022 AGM

GMLC’s Campaigns Officer Kate Bradley summarises GMLC’s 2022 AGM.

This year’s GMLC AGM on Tuesday 22 November 2022 saw over 50 attendees join us to talk about the Law Centre’s year so far, and the year ahead. The meeting was attended by GMLC members, staff and volunteers, representatives from our affiliate union branches, members of other organisations we work with, and other members of the public who are interested in what we do.

We heard from our Chair, Andy Walsh, who emphasised the importance of campaigning alongside providing advice and services. He praised the work of our staff and volunteers, and said: “we are a campaigning organisation that gives legal advice; that’s because the need is so great we could never meet it”. He highlighted the great work GMLC has done over the last year, as outlined in our 2021-22 Annual Report, but also the grave need that exists during the cost of living crisis. He especially focused on the intersectional injustice experienced by Black and Minority Ethnic communities, women, those on benefits, asylum seekers, and other groups systematically disempowered in our society. Ending on a positive note, he pointed out that the last year of strikes, protests and organising show that people are beginning to fight back together – and this is crucial.

GMLC’s campaigning network has grown stronger this year, which was reflected in the next speakers – Simon Pook from Green and Black Cross and Tofunmi Odugbemi from Greater Manchester Tenants Union – both organisations we have worked with recently.

Simon Pook outlined the threats to protest rights in both the Police Crime Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 and the Public Order Bill currently going through Parliament. He shared information from Green and Black Cross’ excellent guide to the Act and what it means for your rights. Despite the new risks created in the legislation, he argued that we should all continue to protest, as repressive laws can only be defeated by peaceful protest and civil disobedience. He encouraged people to get in touch with Green and Black Cross for training on what the new laws mean for us, how to stay safe on protests, and how to become a Legal Observer – a role that will be even more important from now on as police and the courts begin to make use of new anti-protest laws.

Tofunmi Odugbemi spoke about housing, with particular attention to the government’s proposals for renters’ reform. She talked about the issues faced by private renters, including ‘no-fault’ evictions, uncontrolled rent rises and poor housing conditions, and argued that reforms are much-needed – but organising in our communities to empower ourselves is needed even more urgently. She also raised issues around disrepair, mould and damp in social housing after the tragic death of 2-year-old Awaab Ishak in Rochdale. Tofunmi also spoke about the Oak Foundation-funded work we are embarking on together with GM Tenants Union and Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit (which together form the new Housing Justice Network). We will be working together over the next year to ensure people can access legal advice where necessary, but also to support the tenants’ union to build a strong, fighting base of tenants who are skilled up to run campaigns, whether that is to support members with collective disputes, or to achieve policy change for tenants.

Jason Tetley, GMLC’s Director, spoke at the end of the meeting to summarise the main points: that in the current climate, there will never be enough advice to meet demand; that our rights have been under attack for a long time, so they are often inadequate, even on the rare occasion when people can enforce them. The need, therefore, is for people to come together to go beyond enforcing our current package of rights and instead fighting for better for ourselves and our communities.

We heard in a short update from Arwa Graf that Ben Clay and Denise McDowell were re-elected to our Board. We also heard a finance report from Ben, with emphasis on how you can donate to the Law Centre or become a member.