Random LOLs whilst reading this month’s GMB magazine. Kevin Maguire has done a nice feature on GMB President (and patron saint) Mary Turner, now Mary Turner MBE, with some great stories about her contributions to the labour movement. Best quote though is saved right to the end:
Mary Turner MBE is happy to retell how she’s been the victim of practical jokes by GMB General Secretary Paul Kenny. “One of Paul’s favourites was to pretend he was the taxman. He was very good at that until the giggling started, which was a giveaway.” says Mary.
“The phone rang one night at home and my husband answered. He’d got used to Paul’s jokes. I heard him saying “oh yeah!” and “of course” in a sarcastic manner. After a bit he shouted ‘Bollocks chops is on the phone. Kenny’s up to his old tricks again.'”
“I took the phone to speak to Paul, but it was the Mayor of Brent, wondering what on earth was going on.”
Hello there, Happy April Fool’s Day!!
An industrial expert went around asking different people, “What do you like best about your job?”
“The good pay,” one factory worker replied.
“What do you like least about your job?” asked the expert.
“The good pay,” he said again.
The expert was surprised. “What do you mean? You like it the best and you like it the least?”
“Well, I like it because it pays me well, so that’s the good part. But if it didn’t pay so well, I’d quit! That would be better!”
Happy April Fool’s Day!
I spoke with Mary today to wish her belated congratulations. I wonder whether this tale may be apocryphal, however. A good yarn nonetheless.
Thanks for that Finniestone – you may well be right, but it tickled me to see a union journal where the Gen Sec didn’t mind getting the sharp end of a lively joshing. I get to see a lot of journals, and it’s true that in recent years we’ve moved miles from the old cliche of the GS’ photo on every page, and developed some pretty good magazines – but still I’d thought it was only my own union, the NUJ, with its policy of full independence for the Editor, that actively went in for GS baiting!
Oh and PS – welcome back to blogging!
Ha, cheers, John. Glad you remembered me.
It’s a slow return; the hit counter isn’t quite spinning yet. But I’ll put on the odd post and see how it goes.
Nice look on here by the way. It’s changed a bit since I was last on.