Workplace Industrial Representatives

by Sean Miskimmon, RMT National Executive member - Maritime Region 2

Our union structures have many vital cogs in its machinery, but none more so than our workplace industrial representatives. They are the vital cog that makes your NEC, respective lead officers and National officers aware of the problems you and your colleagues face within your workplace. Workplace industrial reps are trained and ready to respond when you are likely to need help most and can advise how to access and utilise your RMT membership in full.

As a workplace industrial rep, you’ll learn how to provide advice and representation on employment rights and terms and conditions, you will be educated by the union in how to represent members at disciplinary and grievance hearings and be RMT’s conduit in your workplace promoting equality, recruitment and union training.

I was an industrial rep for over 10 years. At times I felt a huge responsibility dealing with members and often friend’s issues, but nothing is more rewarding than getting a member reinstated, a good settlement or fixing an injustice in your workplace. Nothing is more satisfying than being part of a strong collective and being trusted by your peers to be the person they want representing them in these circumstances.

A well organised workplace on average earns 28% better wages than a nonunionised workplace, is a safer place to work and forces employer engagement. If you don’t have a workplace rep, you’re sending the green light to employers to attack you terms and conditions and impose what they wish, if you don’t have a rep why not volunteer yourself? We have to be more organised than we ever have and that starts with having well trained, well supported reps on every watch on every vessel.

If you’re standing back waiting for someone else... you’re part of the problem! RMT will provide you with all the training you need, you will be supported with everything at our disposal. So lets improve how organised we are on every vessel by maximising the amount of reps we have and working together as a collective to best represent you and your colleagues.

I can be contacted at s.miskimmon@rmt.org.uk for more information about becoming involved as a representative.