The demise of GMPERAS.

Greater Manchester Pay and Employment Rights Advice Service (GMPERAS) advice line and website closed on Wednesday 27th February 2013.

Their web site said
“After 27 years of providing information and advice to workers across Greater Manchester, GMPERAS has been forced to close due to a severe cut to funding from the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA). Despite serious attempts to secure alternative funding we have not been able to raise an amount that is significant enough to keep our service open. Sadly, GMPERAS will close at a time when vulnerable low paid workers need advice and support more than ever to help them protect their pay and employment rights.
Cuts to public funding have led to the closure of many other advice agencies in the region including many Law Centres and independent advice agencies. These organisations provided unique services to workers, including free information, advice, advocacy and representation. In light of the decline of free employment rights advice services, we are advising workers to strongly consider joining a trade union. Whilst some bodies such as ACAS provide information on employment rights, they do not provide workers with support and representation that they need to secure their rights and gain justice.
If you are interested in joining a trade union but unsure about the union that is right for you please contact the Trade Union Congress:
By phone: 020 7636 4030 or on their website.
Here is a list of useful contacts that you may wish to keep:-
Agencies that can provide information about employment rights:
ACAS – 08457 47 47 47
Community Legal Services – Call 0845 345 4 345 or Text ‘legalaid’ and your name to 80010. CLA will call back within 24 hours.”

The final edition of  the GMPERAS publication The Bottom Line is now available. This final edition marks the closure of the service and a celebration of its achievements. It also reports on the end of project event, the work of the legacy project, and the campaign for advice services. Please feel free to pass this on to others.