RMT News November/December 2018 by RMT Union

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ISSUE NUMBER 10 VOLUME 21

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018

Essential E Es ssen sen se nttia ial re rreading eaad diin ng for ffo or to ttoday’s oda day’ y’s ttr transport raan nsp spor ort w wo worker ork rker er

CLAPHAM 30 YEARS ON

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

ROCK SOLID ACTION ON NORTHERN AND SOUTH WEST RAILWAYS

DECISION ON TICKET OFFICES HALTED

PAGE 6

RENATIONALISE THE BUS INDUSTRY

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END 25 YEARS OF THE GREAT RAIL RIP-OFF

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www.rmt.org.uk

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WORKING FOR YOU RMT membership helps you at work and saves you money

RMT has developed a number of benefits to save members money. This includes negotiating access to savings and special offers from our approved partners. COLLECTIVE BARGAINING The union has a dedicated team of elected officers and local reps to serve your interests negotiating with employers on issues from pay, hours of work, pensions and working conditions. They are supported by a team of researchers to formulate pay claims to obtain the best negotiated terms for you.

CAMPAIGNING The union has a political fund to run campaigns and provide a political voice to benefit members’ interests in the workplace. RMT has a very active parliamentary group which raises issues of concern for members at Westminster, the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly.

PERSONAL INJURIES Personal injury claims cover if you suffer an accident in work or outside work. RMT underwrites settlements that would not be provided by nowin, no-fee companies. Call 08457 125 495.

INDUSTRIAL DISEASES Members who have suffered an industrial disease will receive free legal support to make a claim. Such claims are underwritten by the union and members will not have any deduction from their settlement unlike claims run by no-win, no-fee companies. Call 08457 125 495

EMPLOYMENT TRIBUNALS Should a member find themselves unfairly dismissed, discriminated against or have any claim which has reasonable prospects of

success at an Employment Tribunal, RMT will provide legal representation and pay the fee. Even if the union is advised that the claim is unlikely to succeed, members who make a claim are eligible to receive free legal advice.

ACCIDENT BENEFIT Payable if you have an accident at work or on the way to or from work. Accident benefit is only payable if you have been off for three days or more. Accident must be reported to branch secretary within 26 weeks in order to qualify for accident benefit.

RETIREMENT BENEFIT Payable to any member who retires over the age of 60 or aged 55 if retired through redundancy or resettlement. Ill health retirement is also payable; proof of this must be sent with application for retirement benefit.

TAX AND WILL PREPARATION The union can provide a personal taxation service and will preparation service.

DEMOTION COMPENSATION Payable to any member who is experiencing loss of wages through being permanently demoted or downgraded as a result of illness or injury. Payment of £300 provided that member reports this to branch secretary within 12 weeks.

ORPHAN FUND The beneficiaries of this fund would be any child of a

member or spouse if the member dies in service or if a members’ spouse dies and the member has responsibility of the children. Benefit is paid while a child is in full-time education up until the age of 22. Payment is made quarterly and the rate is £12.00 per week for children up to the age of 16, then £12.75 per week from 16 to 22.

RMT CREDIT UNION Accessible savings and affordable loans from RMT’s Credit union. www.rmt.org.uk/about/creditunion

ONLINE SHOPPING DISCOUNTS Shop online with RMTrewards.com and earn cashback savings from hundreds of retailers, like B&Q, Argos and Tesco. It’s free to join, plus you’ll get a FREE £10 Welcome Bonus in your online account! (Terms and conditions apply) www.rmtrewards.com

FINES POOL if you drive a company vehicle as part of your job you can join the RMT fines pool for £7 per year. The Fines Pool will reimburse members for any speeding fines, related court costs and lost time to attend a court hearing. www.rmt.org.uk/memberbenefits/fines-pool

BEREAVEMENT BENEFIT A Death Grant of £600 is payable to the nearest relative or legal representative if a member dies through any cause prior to retirement.

CASHBACK PREPAID CARD Fancy cashback on your everyday shopping? Use your RMT Prepaid Plus Cashback card at over 50 partner retailers, including Sainsbury’s, ASDA and Boots, and earn unlimited cashback! It’s different to a credit or debit card - you can only spend what you load so there’s less chance of getting carried away. www.rmtprepaid.com

FREE £5,000 ACCIDENTAL DEATH COVER As a benefit of your RMT membership you can register for £5,000 Free Accidental Death Cover. Cover is for UK residents aged 18-69. 12 months free cover. Annually renewable and always FREE. The Cover is underwritten by Advent Insurance PCC Ltd – UIB Cell. www.rmtprotect.com

HOME INSURANCE Get a £50 Love2Shop Reward when you buy a UIA Home & Contents insurance online. www.uia.co.uk/rmt RMT DRIVE Risk Free Car Purchasing for RMT Members www.rmtCAR.oco.uk

HEALTH CASH PLAN For a small monthly premium you can claim cash-back on dental, optical and therapy treatments. Visit www.bhsf.co.uk Join RMT by visiting www.rmt.org.uk

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contents

EDITORIAL

CLAPHAM 30 YEARS ON

Page 4 ROCK SOLID ACTION ON NORTHERN AND SOUTH WEST RAILWAYS Page 5 RAIL GOURMET STRIKE IN EDINBURGH Page 6 LONDON TRAVELWATCH HALTS DECISION ON TICKET OFFICE CLOSURES Page 7 CENTRAL LINE STRIKE ACTION Pages 8 RENATIONALISE THE BUS INDUSTRY Page 9 END 25 YEARS OF THE GREAT RAIL RIPOFF Page 10 THE ROLE OF THE GUARD SURVEY Page 13 RBF LAUNCHES NEW SUPPORT FUND IN SCOTLAND Pages 14 SAFE AND ACCESSIBLE RAILWAYS Page 15 MEDAL FOR GEORGE Page 16 CLAPHAM - 30 YEARS ON Page 18 MANAGING SUICIDES Page 19 REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT AUDITORS Page 21 ABORTION LAWS - 50 YEARS ON Page 21 LGBT+ TUC CONFERENCE Page 23 PRESIDENT’S COLUMN Page 28 STILL FIGHTING Page 30 CROSSWORD

RMT News is compiled and originated by National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers, Unity House, 39 Chalton Street, London NW1 1JD. Tel: 020 7387 4771. Fax: 020 7529 8808. e-mail bdenny@rmt.org.uk The information contained in this publication is believed to be correct but cannot be guaranteed. All rights reserved. RMT News is designed by Bighand Creative and printed by Leycol Printers. General editor: Mick Cash. Managing editor: Brian Denny. No part of this document may be reproduced without prior written approval of RMT. No liability is accepted for any errors or omissions. Copyright RMT 2016

RMTnews

remember exactly where I was on the morning of December 12 1988 when news started coming in of a dreadful rail disaster unfolding at Clapham Junction which left 35 people dead and hundreds injured. A crowded train from Poole to London Waterloo crashed into the back of a stationary Basingstoke service, which had stopped at a red signal. A third train, travelling empty in the opposite direction, hit the wreckage only minutes later. The ensuing inquiry made 93 recommendations for safety improvements however it seems that the lessons of Clapham still have not been learnt. Cuts to rail staffing, the drive towards casualisation and zero hours contracts amongst rail agencies supplying engineering staff, risks dragging the rail network backwards to a culture of fatigue and overwork. Our fears are that these pressures on workers will eventually lead to another tragic rail accident like Clapham unless the industry takes radical steps to reduce hours, reduce travelling times and make the railways the safest form of public transport. The latest crisis in the chaos that is rail franchising is the news of the catastrophic mismanagement of Northern Rail which has seen the taxpayer subsidy soar to £282 million and Arriva/Deutsche Bahn are now locked in crisis talks with the DfT and demanding an even bigger public bail-out. The shocking news combined with the Virgin collapse on the East Coast Main Line earlier this year and reports that Trans Pennine Express is in similar dire straits is the national disgrace which are our privatised railways. It comes exactly 25 years after

the Act was passed which ushered in the Great British Rail Rip-Off and the case for this madness to be called to a halt has never been stronger. MPs and transport campaigners are also demanding action to save Britain’s ailing bus networks following new research which revealed that bus journeys at a 12year low while fares have soared by a massive 55 per cent. The toxic combination of fare increases, service cuts and privatisation has decimated Britain's bus network, condemning tens of thousands to lives of isolation and transport poverty. This crisis can only be resolved by rolling back the privatisation of the industry and investing in integrated and planned public transport services. The union is also ramping up its SOS 2020 maritime campaign calling for an end to Condor Ferries paying poverty wages on its ships. Condor is contracted by the Jersey and Guernsey governments to operate lifeline ferry services between Portsmouth and Poole and the Channel Islands and their contract is up for renewal in 2019. As a result the union will be holding protest meetings in Portsmouth on Saturday December 22 and Saturday January 12 2019 demanding that UK and Channel Island seafarers should not have to compete with poverty pay rates on these ships of shame. Finally this is the last RMT News of the year so I would like to wish you and your families a merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year. I hope you and your families enjoy a well-deserved rest.

When you have finished with this magazine give it to a workmate who is not in your union. 3

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RMTnews Carlisle

ROCK SOLID ACTION ON NORTHERN AND SOUTH WEST RAILWAYS R

MT members took further strike action in the fight for safety, security and access on Northern Rail and South West Railways after both companies continued to refuse meaningful talks. During the five days of action in the latest phase of strikes on South Western Railway over the threat to axe guards and roll out driver only operation members a solidly supported the dispute across the franchise. The union also organised a series of public meetings in support of Northern guards in order to explain why Arriva Rail North refused to come to an agreement that secures a guard on their trains even though the union has secured agreements on other franchises in England, Scotland and Wales that enshrine the guard guarantee. RMT general secretary Mick Cash said that the union was angry and frustrated that both employers continue to refuse

genuine talks that could work out a deal which underpins the guard guarantee. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The union is stepping up the campaign for political support across the country to pressurise the company into serious negotiations around the crucial issue of the guard guarantee. "This is the 31st day of strike action in the Northern Rail

Waterloo

Leeds public meeting

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Newcastle

RAIL GOURMET STRIKE IN EDINBURGH Liverpool, Lime Street

dispute and our members remain absolutely resolute in the campaign for a safe, secure and accessible railway for all while the German owners of the company are quite happy to take a reckless gamble with pass enger safety. “No guard on the trains, combined with the de-staffing of stations, is a toxic cocktail that gives the criminals a free hand on Britain’s violent railways. That's a culture they seem quite happy to tolerate but it is one that the union will never accept. "It is scandalous that while other train operators have been prepared to engage seriously with RMT on the crucial issue of a guaranteed second safetycritical member of staff on their services these companies have treated us with contempt and made a mockery of the talks process. “There's a simple solution to these disputes and it means that the companies must stop playing with words and negotiate the guard guarantee

that reflects the safety values of the agreements RMT has pinned down in other parts of the rail industry. “They should get out of the bunker and start talking with us seriously rather than sitting back and just hoping that the issues of safety, security and access will simply go away,” he said.

Rail Gourmet members on the inter-city LNER contract based at the Edinburgh depot took strike action last month in a fight for workplace justice following a comprehensive breakdown in industrial relations. A ballot returned an overwhelming vote in favour of taking for industrial action but the management side has continued to ignore members concerns including the bullying and harassment of staff, abuse of disciplinary procedures and the nonpayment of additional duties. RMT general secretary Mick Cash said that this was a fight

for workplace justice involving a crucial group of staff servicing the catering functions on LNER trains and they deserve to be treated with dignity and respect just like any other group of transport workers. “RMT will not stand back while bullying, abuse of procedures and non-payment for additional duties is rife. “Our members voted for action and it is now down to Rail Gourmet to take this dispute seriously and start talking about a settlement that puts fair treatment in the workplace at the top of the agenda,” he said.

SOLIDARITY: Garry Northedge of RMT Doncaster branch receives a cheque for £500 from Unite Doncaster branch secretary, Richard Bennett. The donation was made to the Arriva Rail North Guard's fund.

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LONDON TRAVELWATCH HALTS DECISION ON TICKET OFFICE CLOSURES R

MT’s campaign to save 51 London Overground ticket offices has seen an initial victory after London Travelwatch was forced to postpone a post-consultation decision citing receipt over 7,500 responses as “unprecedented and overwhelming”. While welcoming the news the union made it clear that it is not the end of the matter and that the campaign will carry on until the closures are halted once and for all. Due to the volume of responses London TravelWatch has deferred “a decision on this item until further analysis of the questionnaire and other correspondence used in the consultation has been completed”. Earlier last month the union handed in postcards and a written submission to London TravelWatch alongside campaigners who handed in a petition, all protesting over the proposed closure of the ticket offices. The formal consultation was

launched by Arriva Rail London (ARL) and Transport for London (TfL). If these changes go ahead RMT believes that passengers: • May not be able to access all the tickets and services needed from a ticket machine • Find it harder to obtain advice on tickets and fares • Would be frustrated that there were insufficient numbers of ticket machines • Would experience more delays and concourse congestion • Who are disabled, elderly and vulnerable may be less confident using a ticket machine and may end up overspending or being deterred from travelling; and • Will experience a reduction in the number of staff. RMT general secretary Mick Cash said that RMT welcomed the fact that London TravelWatch had been forced to recognise the strength of feeling on this matter due, in their own to words, to an ‘unprecedented

and overwhelming’ response to the proposed closures of London Overground ticket offices. “This is by no means the end of the matter but shows that the campaign is winning and we will now be stepping up the pressure to secure a total reversal of the closure plans. “In the light of events I call on the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan to recognise the strength of feeling over the issue and oppose this retrograde plan for

wholesale closures in the strongest possible terms. Ticket offices play a crucial role at train stations. “This is just the latest attack on a properly staffed, safe, secure and accessible railway for all and RMT is determined to halt these plans in their tracks. We thank the travelling public for their huge support for this important campaign which has clearly had a big impact,” he said.

Proposed ticket offices to be closed are: Acton Central, Anerley, Brondesbury, Brondesbury Park, Bruce Grove, Bush Hill Park, Caledonian Road & Barnsbury, Camden Road, Canonbury, Carpenders Park, Clapton, Dalston Kingsland, Dalston Junction, Finchley Road & Frognal, Gospel Oak, Hackney Central, Hackney Downs, Hackney Wick, Haggerston, Hampstead Heath, Hatch End, Headstone Lane, Homerton, Honor Oak Park, Hoxton, Imperial Wharf, Kensal Rise, Kensington (Olympia), Kentish Town West, Kilburn High Road, Penge West, Rectory Road, Rotherhithe, Shadwell, Shepherds Bush, Shoreditch High Street, Silver Street, South Acton, South Hampstead, Southbury, St James Street, Stamford Hill, Stoke Newington, Surrey Quays, Theobalds Grove, Turkey Street, Wapping, Watford High Street, West Hampstead, White Hart Lane and Wood Street.

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CENTRAL LINE STRIKE ACTION RMT members took 24 hours of strike action on London Underground’s Central Line over a comprehensive breakdown in industrial relations, a failure to employ enough drivers, a wholesale abuse of agreed procedures and the victimisation of a trade union member. Industrial relations along the Central Line have been at breaking point for some time and the management’s failure to address the issues involved and a conscious decision to up the ante by attempting to single out and pick off individual members of staff has tipped the situation over the edge. RMT general secretary Mick Cash said that there was a

growing culture on London Underground that revolves around refusing to employ enough drivers, bullying staff and expecting members to pick up the pieces when the service breaks down. “RMT members on the Central Line have made it clear that they have had enough and are prepared to stand up and fight for workplace respect and justice. “Tube bosses are well aware of the level of anger on the job and it’s down to them to take the situation seriously and engage in genuine talks around reaching a solution to the current disputes,” he said.

SUPPORT OUR GUARDS

RMT is calling on members and branches to donate to RMT dispute funds for either Northern Rail, South Western Railway, GTR Southern, Merseyrail or to the national dispute fund

Train guards are safety-critical staff, vital to ensuring passengers have a safe, secure and accessible railway. • We help passengers in the event of an emergency such as a derailment, evacuation or fire. • We help provide security and assurance, especially for vulnerable passengers. • We help many older and disabled passengers on and off trains and during their journey.

They need your practical and political help if they are going to win. The disputes are currently on Northern Rail, South Western Railways, GTR Southern and Merseyrail but if the government win these disputes they will want to introduce DOO throughout the rail network. So RMT needs your help even if you are not in an area directly

affected by the disputes. • Please donate to one of the RMT dispute funds for either Northern Rail, South Western Railway, GTR Southern or Merseyrail or contribute to the national dispute fund. Please contact RMT at info@rmt.org.uk or call freephone 0800 376 3706 for details of how to make a donation. You can also click

•

• • •

on the link on the front page of RMT’s website. Please contact RMT to invite a speaker to your branch or region or community group. Write to your MP using the model letter on the website. Share our film unguarded at http://bit.ly/unguardedrmt Circulate this appeal in your workplace and communities

• We help provide expert travel advice to improve your journey. The Secretary of State for Transport Chris Grayling wants to end the help they provide. He has told train companies to remove guards and introduce driver-only operation (DOO). RMT members are fighting these plans and have taken many days strike action and are suffering financial hardship.

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RENATIONALISE THE BUS INDUSTRY Calls grow for buses to be brought back into public ownership as journey numbers plummet MPs and transport campaigners are demanding action to save Britain’s ailing bus networks following new research which revealed that bus journeys were at a 12-year low. Department for Transport figures published last month show 1.2 billion local bus journeys were made between April and June in Britain — a 10 per cent decrease since the peak of 1.33 billion between July and September 2008. Demand for bus travel has not been this low since the beginning of 2006. Since the peak 10 years ago, fares have soared by a massive 55 per cent. RMT general secretary Mick Cash said that a “toxic combination” of fare increases, service cuts and privatisation had “decimated Britain's bus network, condemning tens of thousands to lives of isolation and transport poverty. “Entire communities have been cut adrift as lifeline bus services have been savaged. “There is a crisis on Britain’s buses and it can only be resolved by rolling back the wholesale privatisation of the industry and investing in integrated and planned public transport services that leave no one behind,” he said. A recent study by the

Campaign for Better Transport (CBT) also found that funding for supported buses has almost halved in the last eight years, leaving passengers stranded across Britain. CBT chief executive Darren Shirley urged the government to use its October 29 Budget to halt the “trend of cutting support” for buses. "The falling number of passengers taking the bus is a consequence of continued cuts in funding to support services. “Nationally and locally this is resulting in fewer services and higher fares. “They are vital for the economy and the environment but year-on-year, people — especially in rural areas — are losing their bus service, making it difficult to access jobs, education and other essential public services,” he said. Labour MP Lloyd RussellMoyle led calls for a shake-up, saying the cuts had “huge social ramifications”. “Routes which now have just one bus a day were leaving victims and perpetrators travelling to court on the same buses. “Since bus deregulation in England outside of London, we have seen year-on-year declining use propped up by

subsidies from councils. “Thanks to austerity, councils have withdrawn those subsidised bus routes, and communities are becoming cut off. “Everyone ends up losing apart from [Stagecoach chairman] Brian Souter and a few friends,” he told the Morning Star newspaper. The MP, whose Brighton Kemptown constituency is one of few areas with a single private bus operator rather than competing privateers, called for

“at the very least, London-style regulation from our local authorities.” But he argued that councils should “have the ability to run services for themselves”. Local Government Association transport spokesman Martin Tett said that it was hugely concerning to see such a steady decrease in bus journeys. Council bus budgets in England and Wales were slashed by £20.5 million last year, the eighth consecutive annual cut.

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END 25 YEARS OF THE GREAT RAIL RIP-OFF R

MT has demanded that the government strips Arriva/Deutsche Bahn of the Northern Rail franchise and the routes returned to public ownership following the news that mismanagement has seen the taxpayer subsidy soar to £282 million. The company is also now locked in crisis talks with the DfT and demanding an even bigger public bail-out. The shocking news, which mirrors the Virgin collapse on the East Coast Main Line earlier this year, comes on the 25th anniversary of the passing of the Act bringing in rail privatisation in Britain. RMT general secretary Mick Cash said that Arriva Rail North, a subsidiary of Deutsche Bahn, was a basket case rail franchise sucking up well over a quarter of a billion pounds a year in public bail-outs while wrecking service standards, ripping up the safety rule book

and threatening to throw the guards off over half their trains. “This scandal needs to end immediately and that means the government taking immediate action to bring the Northern routes into direct public ownership and control with the services run on the basis of safety, security and access and not private profit. “With reports that Trans Pennine Express is in similar dire straits this national disgrace on our privatised railways, coming exactly 25 years after the Act was passed ushering in the Great British Rail Rip-Off, has to be called to a halt before irreversible damage is done. “If Virgin can be kicked off the East Coast and the lines returned to public ownership there is no excuse whatsoever for dragging out the death throes of Arriva on Northern Rail,” he said.

PRIVATISATION TIMELINE 1991 European Commission introduces rail directive 91/440/EEC on July 29 demanding the separation of infrastructure and operations, open access for international undertakings and the introduction of track access charges. 1992 The Railways Regulations 1992 introduced under Section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972 in order to comply with the directive. 1993 Tory government privatises British Rail under The Railways Act 1993. 2001 EU’s First Railway Package demands ‘liberalisation’ of rail freight, implemented in Britain in November 2005. 2004 Second Railway Package demands open access for all types of rail freight services by 2006 and establishes a European Railway Agency to oversee implementation of EU directives. 2007 Third Railway Package demands ‘liberalisation’ of passenger rail services requiring open access in all EU member states by 2010. 2009 Lisbon Treaty removes the national veto on transport, transferring decisions to Qualified Majority Voting (QMV) allowing member states to be outvoted. 2012 First Railway Package ‘recast’ to establish a single European railway area and outlaws member states from using the "holding model" to manage infrastructure and operations within the same parent company 2013 European Commission publishes a Fourth Railway Package which requires the compulsory competitive tendering of all rail services by December 2019.

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THE ROLE OF THE GUARD what our members say

RMT has conducted a survey of guards. In just one day over 800 guards responded, outlining how they have used their training throughout their careers to prevent emergencies arising, preventing and deterring sexual assaults, dealing with actual emergencies, dealing with anti-social behaviour, assisting the disabled and providing security during a period of heightened terrorist threat. Here are just a small selection. A full version is available https://issuu.com/rmtunion/docs/guardsay?e=0

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CALLING ALL TRAINCREW 2019 RMT traincrew and shunting grades conference Chatham, Kent next April Next yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s RMT traincrew and shunting grades conference will take place on Chatham, Kent, April 11 and 12 at the St Georges Hotel. The deadline for conference motions will be February 1 2019 and the theme of conference will be accessibility for all.

The format of the conference will be speakers followed by a panel discussion around the issues that currently face the grades as well as usual conference business including motions. The following speakers in attendance include Labour MP

for Derby North, Chris Williamson, Ann Bates, former chair Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee, Emily Yates of the Association of British Commuters and senior assistant general secretary Steve Hedley. Janine Booth of the RMT

disabled members advisory committee will also be talking about the issues that face disabled rail users and disabled rail workers. Contact you branch secretary for more details and get your voice heard.

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RBF LAUNCHES NEW SUPPORT FUND IN SCOTLAND T

he Railway Benefit Fund in Scotland has launched a new grants programme that will support current rail staff in receipt of child tax credits and other working benefits. The Family Support Fund has brought together the Scottish Rail Family to support Scottish rail families. It will fund family activities, children’s expenses or school costs. It is open to staff working in the Scottish Rail Industry - from maintenance to cleaning crew, from administrative support to station staff. The launch of the fund in Scotland saw representatives from Abellio, Scotrail, Caledonian Sleeper and RMT come together to support the initiative. RMT Scotrail Co-ordinator Jim Gray added that the union in Scotland was pleased to promote this RBF initiative to our members. “It will provide much needed assistance to part-time and lower paid railway staff

and their families,” he said. RBF is the charity that supports current and retired rail staff in hardship. The Family Support Fund has been launched by the RBF in Scotland with the view of being rolled

across the UK. To find out more about the RBF Family Support Fund visit: www.railwaybenefitfund.org.uk/scottishcommittee or call 0345 241 2885

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SAFE AND ACCESSIBLE RAILWAYS International Transport Federation Congress backs RMT call for public ownership of the railways The 44th International Transport Federation Congress meeting in Singapore backed RMT’s campaign for safe and accessible railways, opposition to the expansion of driver-only operation (DOO) and to defend the safety-critical operational role of conductors on the railway. It resolved to maximise support for conductors and other rail workers taking action and instructs the Executive Board to campaign for a guarantee of a conductor on every train. Giorgio Tuti, chair of the railway section at the European Transport Workers’ Federation, said that “privatisation, competition and deregulation are all going in the same direction and we know what that means.

“It brings companies to the market and maximises their profits, but I don’t know any private company that takes care of workers’ wages and benefits and that’s why we need to fight against that and re-nationalise the railways,” he said. Congress also welcomed the support for an accessible railway from disabled and pensioner and passenger campaigners and organisations and resolved to campaign with them in the future in order to build greater public support for safe railways which are run in the public interest under public ownership. RMT also won support for its call for binding international laws on employers which promote, protect and improve seafarers’ rights in an era when automation and disruptive technology will increasingly

affect commercial decisions and operations in the global shipping industry. The union argued that the majority of the world’s 1.64 million seafarers remain on basic rates of pay and tours of duty, which are exploitative, discriminatory and damaging to seafarer health and safety. Congress backed calls for reform to international regulations which strengthen enforceable seafarer employment rights in the shipping industry and protect employment levels and training for the global seafaring workforce. ITF general secretary Steve Cotton also stressed that among the 2,500 delegates there was 440 women in attendance, the highest ever number and he hoped for more in the coming years.

The women’s ITF conference slogan was This Is Our World Too and discussions were based on ending gender segregation in the transport industry. Delegates called for the promotion of gender equality, women in leadership roles and promoting a global action day such as March 8 women’s international day and November 25, UN day for eliminating violence against women and girls. There were also calls for empowering women transport workers to work with more digital training, equal pay and working conditions and the recognition of the impact of menopause and putting pressure on employers to introduce policy and domestic violence paid leave.

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MEDAL FOR GEORGE

RMT union learning organiser Dan Henderson pays tribute to George Lonie who has been recognised for a life of service to seafarers

Retired RMT Glasgow Shipping branch member George Lonie recently received his Merchant Navy Medal for Meritorious Service for services to the careers of young seafarers and seafarer welfare. Glasgow-born George Lonie joined the Merchant Navy as a 16-year old catering rating in 1969 and is first trip, which lasted seven months, was on the tramp steamer SS Landwade. For the next six years, whilst registered on the Glasgow Shipping Pool, he served on ships of the Anchor Line, Shaw Saville, Union Castle and Cunard. In 1975, he joined Caledonian MacBrayne Ferries, where he remained for the rest of his career until his retirement in April 2018, a period of 43 years, where he progressed from Steward to the highest catering position available On-board Service Manager. Although this length of service and promotion in itself is proof of a successful career, it was his services to fellow seafarers and Western Isles residents that proved his worth as a special talent in the Merchant Navy. Since joining CalMac, George has been involved in representing and helping his fellow merchant seafarersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; interests and welfare. He joined the CalMac Western Isles Port Committee in 1975, and soon became Chairman and Lead Negotiator, positions he held until his recent retirement. George was an active member of the National Union of Seaman (NUS) and, after the merger with the National Union of Railwaymen (NUR) in 1990, RMT throughout his career. He

MEDAL: George, his wife Catherine and son Christopher at the ceremony

was always on hand to represent or advise his coworkers at any time as an active on-board representative, working to maintain a good industrial relations culture in the company, to the benefit of merchant seafarers. George was also re-elected for a five year term as a Trustee of the Cal Mac Pension Fund, a role in which he will continue to represent members in his retirement. After moving to the Isle of Lewis in the Western Isles, where he met his wife Catherine, George became Chairman of the Tenants Association. Then in 1979 he was elected as a Labour councillor on what was then the Western Isles Council, where he served for 18 years, including being a member of the Licensing Board, and latterly chairing the Housing

Committee. When retiring from the council in 1997, he was then elected Chair of the Hebridean Housing Partnership, which builds and manages affordable housing throughout the Western Isles. During all of this period, George remained a full-time seafarer with Cal Mac with his duties and responsibilities, including as Chairman of the Port Committee and shipboard representative, and actively promoted the activity of seafaring through his municipal roles. George was also a founding member of the Hebridean Maritime Society which, in partnership with Lews Castle College, Stornoway and other notable interested parties, promotes and encourages the employment of young people wishing to follow a career at sea

in the maritime industry. Through this work with young people, colleges and training providers, George has contributed to maintaining the merchant navy skills base in a difficult period for domestic seafarers. This successful endeavour has consistently secured long term employment in shipping for many as both ratings and officer cadets. During all this time, George has never sought any personal recognition, happy to work away for seafarers and constituents in the background. George is now enjoying his well-earned retirement in the Isle of Lewis, with his wife Catherine and his sons Stephen and Christopher, who have now followed in their fatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s footsteps and are both now seafarers with Caledonian MacBrayne.

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CLAPHAM

30 YEARS ON Have the lessons of the 1988 Clapham Junction rail crash which killed 35 people been forgotten?

At 8:10 am on the morning of December 12 1988, a crowded commuter train, the ‘Poole’ service, ran head-on into the rear of another train which was stationary in a cutting just south of Clapham Junction station. After that impact the first train veered to its right and struck a third oncoming train, fortunately there were no passengers on this stock movement. As a result of the accident 35 people died and nearly 500 were injured, 69 of them seriously. The stationary train had come to a stand after signal

WF138 unexpectedly changed from green to red in front of the driver. The driver of this service brought his train to an immediate stand and used a line-side telephone to contact the signaller and was about to return to his train when the Poole train, driving on green, did not have a chance to stop before colliding with the stationary train. At the same time an ECS train heading south was also involved in the accident after striking wreckage of the derailed ‘Poole’ train. The driver of the stationary train immediately

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RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: november/december 2018 :: contacted the signaller again to inform him of the accident. A BTP officer travelling on the stationary train joined the driver and together they summoned the emergency services. Police, ambulance and fire brigade arrived on the site within minutes but it was only at 13:04 that the last casualty was evacuated to hospital and it was 15:45 before the last body was taken from the accident site. RMT would question what has changed in the rail industry in the intervening 30 years and what lessons has the rail industry really learned? When looked at the overall number of passengers killed on the railway both Clapham Junction and Ladbroke Grove, some 11 years later, stand out bleakly against an ever-improving number of passenger fatalities. If Clapham is taken out of the above figures the decade long average fatalities fall to three (1979-88), figures not achieved until a decade later. Similarly, Ladbroke Grove gives a spike in the number of passenger deaths in the 11 year period after Clapham. The Inquiry ordered by the Department for Transport into the Clapham disaster was chaired by Anthony Hidden who completed his report in 56 days and made 93 recommendations for safety improvements. An initial internal investigation showed that a wiring fault meant that the signal WF138 would not show a red danger aspect when the track circuit immediately in front of the signal was occupied. Work associated with the Waterloo Area Resignalling Scheme meant new wiring had been installed, but the old wiring had been left connected at one end, and loose and uninsulated at the other. The Waterloo re-signalling project had been planned with an unrealistic expectation of the number of trained and competent staff. Installation and testing was carried out at weekends during voluntary overtime, the technician

involved having worked a seven-day week for the previous 13 weeks. The recommendations included important points on training, competence and areas designed to address the underlying causes of management failures that were ultimately responsible for the accident. Hidden noted the Automatic Train Protection (ATP) was being developed for industry by British Rail but thought implementation timetables were to slow and called for it to be fully implemented within five years. If industry had complied it is arguable that ATP could have prevented both the 1996 Watford train crash (one dead) and Southall in 1997 (three dead). But many of the lessons that should have been learnt from Clapham still occur. In 2017, a Rail Accident Investigation Branch report into a serious irregularity at Cardiff Central on 29 December 2016 revealed that some of the lessons from the Clapham Junction accident appeared to have been forgotten. In that incident, a pair of redundant points had been left in an unsafe condition and undetectable by the signalling system. The alertness of a driver prevented a serious accident from occurring. Excessive working hours, the cancellation of route-proving trains and a lack of detailed planning were cited as contributory factors to the incident. The RAIB concluded that the incident revealed that lessons learnt following Clapham appeared to have been forgotten. Excessive working hours and a lack of detailed planning were cited as contributory factors. Many think that Hidden also made recommendations on hours railway workers were allowed to work and that those hours were clearly set out. In fact Hidden did no such thing. Instead he made recommendation 18 which states “BR shall ensure that overtime is monitored so that

Time frame 1949-58 1959-68 1969-78 1979-88 1989-98

Average passenger fatalities/year 35 14 7 6 3

no individual is working excessive levels of overtime”. That is all he said. Nothing about shift length, nothing about rest between shifts, nothing about maximum hours in a week and absolutely nothing about any number of consecutive days worked. It was the industry itself who dreamt that all up and called them the Hidden Rules as if they had been reached by some sort of scientific analysis of the risks and hazards of working long hours and developed a clearly defined set of parameters that would ensure worker safety. Far from it, what they came up with was a set of limits which was the maximum they could get away with. The Hidden limits eventually arrived at was: no more than 12 hours in a shift; at least 12 hours rest between shifts; no more than 72 hours in any seven-day period and no more than 13 consecutive days without a day off. And even then, these weren’t set maximum hours as if the “exigencies of the service” required it that they could be broken. Clapham showed why fatigue and limiting workers hours are essential to control safety but there are many reasons for long working hours not least of which is workers’ rates of pay. Poorly paid workers, workers blighted by austerity, need to work longer hours to make ends meet. There is a lot of evidence that, especially with some contractor communities, the 12hour shift can often be preceded by and, or followed by onehour, two-hour or even at the extreme three-hour journey times. In 2013 two track workers from Doncaster were killed in a road accident on the A1. They

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Average passenger injuries/year 138 64 81 60 171

had driven up to 2½ hours, worked their shift and were on their journey home when they were involved in a collision. The following year three Carillion workers were killed after their shift was completed and on the drive home to South Wales, driving time at least 1½ hours minimum. Only this year we have reports of a worker doing ‘essential work which no other worker could do’ involved in a collision after driving from Wolverhampton to Peterborough – two hours minimum working a hard, physical shift and then involved in a near fatal road accident on his way home. What was the ‘essential work’? shovelling ballast. RMT has been campaigning for years to reduce the hours workers are required to work with no loss of pay. The safety benefits are set out in the RMT publication Fatigue Kills but the union demands a decrease in working hours which does not result in low wages for workers. It is also clear to RMT that the fragmentation of the rail industry that started after Clapham means that there is an ever greater disconnect between management of the risks from railway operation by the TOCs that are striving for ever greater profit for their shareholders while Network Rail, responsible for operating, maintaining and renewing the track are having workers efficiency stretched to breaking point. RMT’s fear is that these pressures on workers will eventually lead to another tragic rail accident like Clapham unless the industry takes radical steps to reduce hours, reduce travelling times and make the railways the safest form of public transport.

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MANAGING SUICIDES RMT is running a course on Managing Suicidal Contacts and Trauma Support at the Bob Crow National Education Centre in December Last month’s RMT News updated readers on the union’s collaborative work with the Rail Industry Suicide Group. The article centred round the story of Mick Paul, a guard members and how he helped talk down a member of the public having suicidal thoughts. This article prompted RMT member David Norman Snr who works for the Loscoe P-way department based at Mercia House Derby to get in touch with the union as he wanted to share his family’s story with readers. David has been a Track Chargeman/Team Leader for 36 years and has worked on the railways for 45 years. Railways are in David and his family’s blood – only one of his four children doesn’t work in the railway. His eldest son works on the railway based at Essex and his youngest (David) was a train driver based at Derby. His eldest daughter and sonin-law are employed by DB Schenker at Doncaster, with

only his youngest daughter not following in the railway tradition and instead decided to become an English teacher. Last, but not least, his daughter-inlaw who works for the Derbyshire Constabulary and has three children two girls 11 years old and sx years old and one boy aged three years. David Snr takes up the story: “All our lives were to change and stop at 3:47pm on Monday June 12 2017 when my youngest son, David, the train driver took his own life after being struck by a passenger train just one and a quarter mile from my home. Like his wife I received a farewell text just four minutes before he died. In hindsight, if I had known his intentions and known his location I could have contacted the appropriate signal panel and got all line blocked. “I was to discover internally via the Derby fault control within an hour that there had been a suicide on the Erewash Valley line, and it was

confirmed upon my arrival at the site soon after by the BT Police that it was my son. “We were all unlucky that day including David, because although he was sat at the side of an access gate one yard adjacent to a public footpath, but in that space of 40 minutes (this is the length of time he was sat there) no Mick Paul came by or saviours of any kind. “So three children, 10 years old, five years old, and two years old, lost their Dad. A wife was made a widow. A father and mother had lost their son. Two sisters and a brother lost their brother. Two brother-inlaws had lost a brother-in-law. And it’s not just the family that are affected; David’s suicide also affected his friends and workmates. “When Mick Paul did his bit that day he didn’t just save a life, he saved many. So, to the countless Mick’s out there or Angels/Saviours in any kind of uniform or Orange overall,

every single life matters. As I have seen first-hand what it does to a family, and if you save a life, on behalf of that anonymous family I thank you from the bottom of my heart. “The despair never goes away and many days there is heartache. But let me finish with one thing, only last week one of those three children now six years old asked her mum ‘why didn’t Daddy see the train was coming Mummy’ now that’s is a hard one to answer,” he said. It is stories like this that makes RMT see how it has a responsibility to ensure as many members are trained to spot and assist people considering taking their life on the railway. RMT is running the two Samaritans’ courses on Managing Suicidal Contacts and Trauma Support at the Bob Crow National Education Centre during the week commencing December 17 2018. Contact Paul Clyndes or Garry Hassell at Head Office for further information.

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REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT AUDITORS Set out below is the report of the independent auditors to the members as contained in the accounts of the Union for the year ended 31 December 2017: OPINION We have audited the financial statements of the National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers [“The Union”] for the year ended 31 December 2017 which comprise the Income and Expenditure account, the Statement of Comprehensive Income, the Balance Sheet, the Statement of Changes in Equity, the Statement of Cash Flows and notes to the financial statements, including a summary of the significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). In our opinion the financial statements: - Give a true and fair view of the state of the Union's affairs as at 31 December 2017 and of its income and expenditure for the year then ended; and - Have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice. BASIS FOR OPINION We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the Union in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to the audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. Conclusions relating to going concern We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the ISA’s (UK) require us to report to you where: - The National Executive Committee’s use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is not appropriate; or - The National Executive Committee has not disclosed in the financial statements any identified material uncertainties that may cast significant doubt about the Union’s ability to continue to adopt a going concern basis of accounting for a period of at least twelve months from the date when the financial statements are authorised for issue. OTHER INFORMATION The National Executive Committee is responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the Report of the General Secretary and schedules attached to the financial statements other than the financial statements and our auditors report thereon. Our opinion of the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether there is a material misstatement in the financial statements or material misstatement of the other information. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a

material misstatement of this other information we are required to report that fact. We have nothing to report in this regard. MATTERS ON WHICH WE ARE REQUIRED TO REPORT BY EXCEPTION The Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 (Amended) requires us to report to you if, in our opinion: - A satisfactory system of control over transactions has not been maintained; or - The Union has not kept proper accounting records; or - The financial statements are not in agreement with the books of account; or - We have not received all the information and explanations we need for our audit. We have nothing to report in this regard. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE As explained more fully in the Statement of Responsibilities of the National Executive Committee, the National Executive Committee is responsible for the preparation of financial statements and being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the National Executive Committee determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. In preparing the financial statements, the National Executive Committee is responsible for assessing the Union's ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the National Executive Committee either intends to liquidate the Union or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so. AUDITOR’S RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE AUDIT OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and issue an auditor's report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in according with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements. A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council's website at http://www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor's report. This report is made solely to the Union's members, as a body. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the Union's members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor's report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the Union and the Union's members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE FULL ACCOUNTS

Summary income and expenditure accounts for the year ended 31 December 2017: General Fund and Orphan Fund

Subscription income Operating expenditure Operating result Other income Result for the year Other comprehensive income Comprehensive result for the year

2017 £'000

2016 £'000

15,859 (18,406) (2,547) 5,153 2,606 2,914 5,520

15,653 (17,130) (1,477) 5,710 4,233 (9,940) (5,707)

2017 £'000

2016 £'000

251 (294) (43) 28 (15)

264 (270) (6) 12 6

Political Fund

Subscription income Operating expenditure Operating result Other income Result and comprehensive result for the year

SUMMARY OF SALARIES AND BENEFITS PROVIDED Name

Position

Details

Amount

M Cash

General Secretary

S Hedley

Assistant General Secretary

M Lynch

Assistant General Secretary

Salary Pension contributions Other benefits Salary Pension contributions Other benefits Salary

£99,958 £33,935 £6,872 £56,299 £19,112 £5,355 £77,810

Pension contributions Other benefits Attendance, lodging allowance and reimbursed expenses

£19,410 £1,548

S Hoyle

President

£58,104

The members of the National Executive Committee do not receive any benefits but do receive attendance and lodging allowances, which are set out below. The General Secretary, the Assistant General Secretaries, the President and the members of the National Executive Committee are reimbursed for any expenditure incurred by them in the performance of their duties on behalf of the Union. Summary of attendance and lodging allowances and reimbursed expenses paid to the Council of Executives Name

Amount

Name

Amount

A Budds M Craig* L Davison E Dempsey S Hoyle* G Kite A. Littlechild K Lingwood* K Mazur

£ 55,980 £ 28,168 £ 52,465 £ 50,752 £ 58,104 £ 52,238 £ 51,385 £ 39,194 £ 49,053

B Pascoe* B Potts* P. Reilly M Rodgers* D Shannon* P Shaw* S Shaw* J Slee

£ 54,953 £ 65,752 £ 54,928 £ 55,557 £ 51,611 £ 10,491 £ 52,240 £ 47,447

*In addition, the Union provides accommodation while on Union business

H W FISHER & COMPANY Chartered Accountants Statutory Auditor Date: 10 August 2018 Acre House, 11 - 15 William Road, London NW1 3ER, United Kingdom

We are required by the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 (amended) to include the following declaration in this statement to all members. The wording is as prescribed by the Act. "A member who is concerned that some irregularity may be occurring, or have occurred, in the conduct of the financial affairs of the union may take steps with a view to investigating further, obtaining clarification and, if necessary, securing regularisation of that conduct. The member may raise any such concerns with such one or more of the following as it seems appropriate to raise it with: the officials of the union, the trustees of the property of the union, the auditor or auditors of the union, the Certification Officer (who is an independent officer appointed by the Secretary of State) and the police. Where a member believes that the financial affairs of the union have been or are being conducted in breach of the law or in breach of rules of the union and contemplates bringing civil proceedings against the union or responsible officials or trustees, he should consider obtaining independent legal advice.”

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rmt protect

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RIGHT: Pro-choice demonstrators pose next to statue of Suffragist Millicent Fawcett in London earlier this year

ABORTION LAW– 50 YEARS ON

ast year saw the 50th anniversary of the passing of the 1967 Abortion Act and this year it was the anniversary of when it came into force. It is important to note that since it was passed there have been at least 50 attempts to restrict it using parliamentary means such as 10 Minute Rule Bills, Westminster Hall debates and Early Day Motions. This constant fight to keep a woman’s right to choose, as restricted as it still is with the requirement for two doctors to sign off on the damage having a child would to a woman’s health, shows the importance of keeping vigilant. In response to these attacks back in 1990, the RMT’s national women’s advisory committee submitted the following resolution to the Union’s AGM which was carried: “In line with TUC

commitments to defend the 1967 Act, the NUR agrees to campaign actively within the labour movement to:1. Resist any change in the 1967 Abortion Act which would produce conditions detrimental to the health and welfare of women;

2. Oppose all attempts to introduce restrictive legislation; 3. Support the rights of all women to adequate services for contraception and abortion on request free of charge on the NHS; 4. Support legislation and campaigns that will give women the right to choose; 5. Encourage all existing and prospective Members of Parliament sponsored by our Union to support this policy.” RMT’s national women’s

conference last year passed a resolution noting the 50th anniversary of the 1967 Abortion Act and called for the union to reaffirm its commitment to supporting every woman’s right to choose whether or not to continue a pregnancy. In support of this it called to campaign for public provision for free, safe, legal abortion on the NHS; for the extension of the 1967 Act to Northern Ireland; and for sex education, free contraception, and other measures to reduce unwanted pregnancy. Whilst the position in Northern Ireland has now changed, the debate around abortion in the UK continues. At this year’s Women’s TUC, the motion selected to go to Congress was on the We Trust Women Campaign which seeks to decriminalise abortion across

the UK. What is not often not realised is that under the 1861 Offences Against the Person Act, abortion is still a criminal offence and carries a sentence of life imprisonment. It is still in force today as the 1967 Abortion Act did not repeal the 1861 Act. The 1967 Abortion Act instead details a specific set of circumstances under which a woman or her doctors will not be prosecuted. Following the resurgence of the far-right both at home and abroad we are reminded that rights long fought for can be quickly lost. The next step in protecting the right of women to chose, as endorsed by the TUC this year, is to bring abortion under the same regulatory framework that governs all other medical procedures in the UK and remove it from criminal law.

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LGBT+ TUC CONFERENCE

A delegation of 14 RMT members attended a busy and successful conference of LGBT+ delegates at TUC Congress house. TUC deputy general secretary Paul Nowak applauded the recent removal of discrimination in survivor pensions for LGBT+ people but reminded delegates that in the current era of right wing populism, “everything is up for grabs” when it comes to workers’ rights. Paul also outlined three key

TUC priorities - a Brexit which is worker and LGBT+ friendly, building a more LGBT+ friendly union movement especially in relation to gender recognition by remembering the guiding trade union principle of solidarity. “We must reach out to the next generation of LGBT+

workers who are enduring low pay, zero hours contracts and a lack of opportunities,” he said. TUC President Sally hunt focussed on the rise of a right wing ideology in Britain, where hateful groups are masquerading under free speech to deliver an agenda which goes against everything the trade

FIRST-TIME DELEGATES The seventh annual STUC LGBT+ Workers Conference kicked off in Clydebank with a new larger RMT delegation earlier this year and it was a pleasure to welcome firsttime delegates John Feehan who works for Caledonian Sleeper Company and Martin Duncan who works for ScotRail. Many motions were passed on gender recognition and the challenges faced by LGBT+ people by the draconian Gender Recognition Act, LGBT+ education in schools and a new area of research into dementia. Martin was a first time speaker and did RMT proud as he delivered a motion on mental health discussing how

many LGBT+ workers will sadly at some point suffer mental health issues which can lead to serious life changing activity. He called on the STUC LGBT+ workers committee to develop training with organisations such as the Samaritans and employers for union representatives to deal with members issues in a professional manner. The

motion was carried unanimously as were many similar motions which of great concern as we see cut backs in society affecting the silent health problems such as mental health. Conference also gave delegates the chance to meet Provost William Hendrie from West Dumbartonshire on behalf at the civic reception.

union movement aspires for. Sally reminded delegates of a message which it is important for all trade union members to deliver - “no to racists, no to bigots and no to fascists on our streets”. She also addressed the lack of rights of LGBT+ people across the commonwealth, where people endure horrific punishment for freedoms taken for granted in Britain and talked about how unions had a responsibility to work with affiliates across the globe to help them enjoy the same rights and freedoms LGBT+ people in Britain enjoy. A motion was proposed calling for the TUC to use the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth games as an opportunity to challenge antiLGBT+ attitudes and to campaign to improve LGBT+ rights and RMT tabled an amendment to invite Baroness Scotland, the Commonwealth Secretary-General to discuss the 2018 Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in 2018, which was the missed opportunity of a lifetime to progress LGBT+ rights, and to seek guidance on progressing the campaign. Barry Weldon proposed the union’s motion about mental

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RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: november/december 2018 :: health, calling for the TUC to develop a course to allow union health and safety representatives to professionally deal with mental health problems, which for people in the LGBT+ community are unfortunately often caused by experiences of homophobic and transphobic bullying or discrimination. Speakers from many other trade unions ranging from prison officers to actors and bank workers supported the motion with examples of experiences from their industries demonstrating the need for best practice representative training to help workers achieve good mental health. RMT members spoke in support of many other motions at the conference covering a broad range of subjects, ranging from government hypocrisy on LGBT+ rights in Northern Ireland, to workplace bullying and harassment and care for older LGBT+ people, who are often forced back into the closet or separated from their partners when entering the care system. A highlight of the conference was being addressed by Sakris Kupila, a transgender activist from Finland who is fighting a mental health diagnosis and compulsory sterilisation before being allowed to adopt their chosen identity. Gender Identity and Gender Recognition was covered at length at conference. An emergency motion was selected to be progressed to the TUC conference, in light of the government announcing a review of the Gender Recognition Act. The motion calls for the TUC to campaign for a gender recognition process based on self-declaration, rather than medical diagnosis and to support rights for gender non-binary people at work and in wider society.

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President’s column

SANTA GOES ON STRIKE It’s always nice to get presents and I received a package [Book] the other day from a Mr Jem Vanston the author of a new book titled “Santa Goes On Strike” the book tells the story of a very depressed Santa who is tired of the selfishness and greed of people and so he decides to go on strike. Now I don’t want to tell you the ending but the Santa looks remarkably like a certain Jeremy Corbyn. It did remind me that Christmas is coming and with many of our members involved in industrial action there will be a number of RMT families unable to afford the things that they would normally expect to be buying at this time. As a union we do all we can to support our members in hardship and indeed when we are able to financially help we should always do so. Often I remind people that every penny the union has belongs to the members so in reality we are only giving our members back some of their own money. Recently we had the sickening sight of a group of idiots mocking the Grenfell fire disaster in a hideous video. There was a public outcry and rightly so, but let’s not forget who’s to blame for the murder of the 72 people. Government policy of cuts led to the cancelling of fire resistant cladding in favour of cladding that acted as a chimney giving the victims little chance of survival. And why was the building having cladding fitted in the first place? So that the well to do residents of North Kensington wouldn’t have to look at 24 storey building that was considered ugly. 16 months after the fire there have been no arrests and 151 families are still

without permanent residences. Shameful! Monday November 5th marked 25 years since the passing of the Railways Act which led to the privatisation of our railways. A recent report stated that the privatisation of Britain’s railways had cost the taxpayer £5 billion per year and driven up fares by 20%. Labour research concluded that commuters have endured a “catastrophic” privatisation of the network since 1995 with taxpayers putting billions of pounds into the system at the same time as ticket prices have gone up by as much as 245% on some lines. We need a nationalised railway ran by the people for the people and I’m pleased that the Labour Party have made that one of their key policy commitments, coupled with a guarantee that there will be no extension of Driver Only Operation anywhere in the country. So let’s do all we can to get May out and Corbyn in! Finally it was sad to hear of the passing of Max Levitas at the age of 103. Max was a Jewish tailor and a lifelong member of the Communist Party a veteran defender from the Battle of Cable Street, fighting against Oswald Mosley’s [leader of the British Union of Fascist] notorious Black Shirts. “When the missionaries arrived, the Africans had the land and the missionaries had the Bible. They taught us how to pray with our eyes closed. When we opened them, they had the land and we had the Bible”. Jomo Kenyatta. Kenyan anticolonial activist 1897-1978 In Solidarity , Sean Hoyle

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RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: november/december 2018 :: BIRMINGHAM RAIL NOMINATES

AYR BRANCH NOMINATES

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ASHFORD NO 1 BRANCH NOMINATES

STEVE SHAW

FOR RMT PRESIDENT

FOR NATIONAL PRESIDENT

FOR RMT PRESIDENT

EAST KENT BRANCH SUPPORT

NUNEATON BRANCH NOMINATES

CROYDON NO1 BRANCH SUPPORTS

STEVE SHAW

MICHELLE RODGERS

EOR RMT NATIONAL PRESIDENT

FOR RMT PRESIDENT

WORKINGTON BRANCH NOMINATED

ORPINGTON BRANCH NOMINATES

PICCADILLY & DISTRICT WEST BRANCH SUPPORTS

STEVE SHAW

MICHELLE RODGERS

FOR PRESIDENT

FOR NATIONAL PRESIDENT

FOR RMT PRESIDENT

CARDIFF RAIL BRANCH NOMINATES

ABERDEEN NO1 BRANCH NOMINATES

LIVERPOOL 5 BRANCH SUPPORTS

STEVE SHAW

MICHELLE RODGERS

FOR RMT PRESIDENT

FOR NATIONAL PRESIDENT

FOR RMT PRESIDENT

CARDIFF RAIL BRANCH NOMINATES

NORTH STAFFS BRANCH NOMINATES

DOVER SHIPPING BRANCH SUPPORTS

MARK ARMSTRONG

STEVE SHAW

MICHELLE RODGERS

FOR NEC SOUTH WALES & WEST OF ENGLAND REGION

FOR NATIONAL PRESIDENT

FOR RMT PRESIDENT

LINCOLNSHIRE ROADCAR BRANCH NOMINATES

CHILTERN LINE BRANCH NOMINATES

NEASDEN BRANCH SUPPORTS

MICHELLE RODGERS

STEVE SHAW

MICHELLE RODGERS

FOR RMT PRESIDENT

FOR NATIONAL PRESIDENT

FOR RMT PRESIDENT

NEWCASTLE AND GATESHEAD BRANCH NOMINATES

EIRE SHIPPING BRANCH NOMINATES

OFFSHORE ENERGY BRANCH NOMINATES

STEVE SHAW

MICHELLE RODGERS

FOR RMT NATIONAL PRESIDENT

FOR NATIONAL PRESIDENT

FOR RMT NATIONAL PRESIDENT

WARRINGTON AND DISTRICT BRANCH NOMINATES

ABERDEEN SHIPPING NOMINATES

DORSET RAIL SUPPORT

STEVE SHAW

MICHELLE RODGERS

FOR RMT NATIONAL PRESIDENT

FOR RMT PRESIDENT

NORTH STAFFS BRANCH NOMINATES

ABERDEEN SHIPPING NOMINATES

GORDON MARTIN

CREWE NO1 BRANCH NOMINATES

FOR NATIONAL PRESIDENT

FOR REGIONAL ORGANISER - SCOTLAND REGION 1

FOR RMT PRESIDENT

LEAMINGTON SPA BRANCH NOMINATES

CARMARTHEN BRANCH NOMINATES

SWINDON RAIL BRANCH NOMINATE

STEVE SHAW

FOR RMT PRESIDENT

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RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: november/december 2018 :: SWINDON RAIL BRANCH NOMINATES

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HOLYHEAD NO1 BRANCH NOMINATES

MARK ARMSTRONG

STEVE SHAW

FOR RMT NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

FOR RMT PRESIDENT

WIGAN BRANCH NOMINATE

HOLYHEAD NO1 BRANCH NOMINATES

KINGS CROSS BRANCH NOMINATES

STEVE SHAW

STAN HERSCHEL

STEVE SHAW

FOR RMT PRESIDENT

FOR RELIEF REGIONAL ORGANISER

FOR RMT PRESIDENT

WAKEFIELD AND HEALEY MILLS NOMINATES

WALTHAM CROSS AND DISTRICT BRANCH NOMINATES

STEVE SHAW

FOR RMT PRESIDENT

DERBY RAIL & ENGINEERING BRANCH NOMINATES

LU ENGINEERING BRANCH NOMINATES

LONDON AND ORIENT ENGINEERING BRANCH NOMINATES

GREAT NORTHERN RAIL BRANCH NOMINATES

STEVE SHAW

MICHELLE RODGERS

STEVE SHAW

FOR RMT PRESIDENT

FOR RMT NATIONAL PRESIDENT

FOR RMT PRESIDENT

WOLVERHAMPTON BRANCH NOMINATES

COLCHESTER AND DISTRICT BRANCH NOMINATES

STEVE SHAW

LEWISHAM, SOUTHWARK AND DISTRICT BRANCH NOMINATES

FOR RMT PRESIDENT

MICHELLE RODGERS

FOR RMT PRESIDENT

BLACKPOOL AND FYLDE COAST BRANCH SUPPORTS

STEVE SHAW FOR RMT PRESIDENT

BLACKPOOL AND FYLDE COAST BRANCH SUPPORTS

STAN HERSCHEL

STEVE SHAW

EDINBURGH NO1 AND PORTOBELLO DISTRICT BRANCH NOMINATES

GLASGOW SHIPPING BRANCH NOMINATES

MICHELLE RODGERS

FOR RMT PRESIDENT

MICHELLE RODGERS

FOR RMT PRESIDENT

NEWCASTLE RAIL & CATERING BRANCH NOMINATE

MICHELLE RODGERS

CARLISLE CITY BRANCH NOMINATES

STEVE SHAW

FOR RMT PRESIDENT

NEWCASTLE AND GATESHEAD BRANCH NOMINATES

STOCKPORT & DISTRICT BRANCH SUPPORTS

ST PANCRAS BRANCH NOMINATES

FOR RELIEF REGIONAL ORGANISER NORTH

EUROPEAN PASSENGER SERVICES BRANCH NOMINATES

STAN HERSCHEL

MICHELLE RODGERS

STEVE SHAW

FOR RELIEF REGIONAL ORGANISER NORTH

FOR RMT PRESIDENT

NOTTS & DERBY BUS BRANCH NOMINATES

SALISBURY NO3 BRANCH SUPPORTS

EUSTON NO1 BRANCH NOMINATES

MICHELLE RODGERS

STEVE SHAW

FOR RMT NATIONAL PRESIDENT

FOR RMT PRESIDENT

NOTTS & DERBY BUS BRANCH NOMINATE

BASINGSTOKE BRANCH NOMINATE

ANDY BUDDS

MICHELLE RODGERS

FOR RELIEF REGIONAL ORGANISER (NORTH )

FOR RMT PRESIDENT

SOUTH WEST MIDLANDS BRANCH NOMINATES

LONDON TAXI BRANCH NOMINATED

STEVE SHAW

MICHELLE RODGERS

FOR RMT PRESIDENT

FOR PRESIDENT

WATERLOO BRANCH NOMINATES

STEVE SHAW FOR RMT PRESIDENT MARCH & DISTRICT BRANCH NOMINATES

STEVE SHAW FOR RMT PRESIDENT

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RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: november/december 2018 :: CAMBRIDGE BRANCH NOMINATES

WISHAW & MOTHERWELL BRANCH SUPPORTS

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PADDINGTON NO 1 BRANCH NOMINATES

STEVE SHAW

STAN HERSCHEL

STEVE SHAW

FOR RMT PRESIDENT

FOR RELIEF REGIONAL ORGANISER - NORTH'

FOR RMT PRESIDENT

INVERNESS BRANCH SUPPORTS

BLETCHLEY AND NORTHAMPTON BRANCH NOMINATES

GLASGOW 5 BRANCH NOMINATES

STEVE SHAW FOR RMT PRESIDENT

MICHELLE ROGERS

STEVE SHAW

FOR RMT PRESIDENT

POOLE & DISTRICT BUS BRANCH NOMINATES

WOLVERTON BRANCH NOMINATED

STEVE SHAW

BRIDGEND LLANTRISANT AND DISTRICT BRANCH NOMINATES

FOR RMT PRESIDENT

STEVE SHAW FOR RMT PRESIDENT

FOR RMT PRESIDENT

MICHELLE RODGERS

PRESTON NO 1 BRANCH SUPPORTS

MORDEN & OVAL BRANCH SUPPORTS

FOR RMT PRESIDENT

STEVE SHAW

MICHELLE ROGERS

FOR RMT PRESIDENT

WIMBLEDON BRANCH NOMINATE

EAST SUSSEX COASTWAY BRANCH NOMINATES

STERLING BRANCH NOMINATES

MICHELLE RODGERS

STEVE SHAW

MICHELLE RODGERS

FOR RMT PRESIDENT

BRIGHTON AND HOVE CITY BRANCH NOMINATE

DOVER DISTRICT GENERAL GRADES BRANCH NOMINATES

MICHELLE RODGERS FOR RMT PRESIDENT MANCHESTER SOUTH BRANCH NOMINATE

EAST LONDON RAIL BRANCH NOMINATES

MICHELLE RODGERS

STEVE SHAW

OFFSHORE ENERGY BRANCH NOMINATE

STAN HERSCHEL FOR RELIEF REGIONAL ORGANISER NORTH

FOR RMT PRESIDENT

MICHELLE RODGERS

THREE BRIDGES BRANCH SUPPORTS

FOR RMT PRESIDENT

STEVE SHAW

GORDON MARTIN

FOR RMT PRESIDENT

FOR REGIONAL ORGANISER FOR SCOTLAND

NEWCASTLE RAIL & CATERING BRANCH NOMINATE

SOUTH LONDON RAIL NOMINATING

NEWCASTLE RAIL & CATERING BRANCH NOMINATE

RMT GLASGOW SHIPPING BRANCH SUPPORTS

MICHELLE RODGERS

STEVE SHAW

STAN HERSCHEL

FOR RMT PRESIDENT

FOR RELIEF REGIONAL ORGANISER NORTH

WISHAW & MOTHERWELL BRANCH SUPPORTS

BIRMINGHAM ENGINEERING SUPPORTS

MICHELLE RODGERS

STEVE SHAW

FOR RMT PRESIDENT

PORTSMOUTH BRANCH NOMINATES

CARDIFF NO 7 BRANCH NOMINATING

MICHELLE RODGERS

STEVE SHAW

FOR RMT PRESIDENT

WISHAW & MOTHERWELL BRANCH NOMINATES

GORDON MARTIN FOR REGIONAL ORGANISER, SCOTLAND (REGION 1)

CAMBRIAN BRANCH NOMINATES

STEVE SHAW FOR RMT PRESIDENT

BARROW IN FURNESS NO1 BRANCH SUPPORTS

MICHELLE RODGERS FOR RMT PRESIDENT LONDON, ANGLIA AND MIDLANDS TRANSPORT BRANCH SUPPORTS

STEVE SHAW FOR RMT PRESIDENT

WAKEFIELD AND HEALEY MILLS SUPPORTS

STAN HERSCHEL FOR RELIEF REGIONAL ORGANISER NORTH

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STILL FIGHTING

Tony Jakeman, Bob Parkes and Glen Burrows of Bristol retired members branch urge people to get involved When you cease to be a wage slave you don’t cease to be an activist. But retirement can change and broaden your view both of trades unions and the wider community. When we set up the RMT Bristol retired members branch, nine years ago, we were determined not to be side-lined or patronised, as older people often are in our culture, but to continue to organise and campaign for those values we had believed in while we were working members of a progressive and militant trade union. Not being part of a workplace organisation, but continuing to be part of the

trade union movement has made us think more about the outward-facing aspects of trade unionism and why unions were set up in the first place: to fight for economic and social justice. When you’ve retired from a well-organised unionised workplace, you quickly become aware of how unusual such a workplace is today and how battered and weak and uninvolved workers have become generally. This is borne out by the plummeting figures for trade union membership, as well as the shockingly high average age of members. This is why we believe so strongly in the importance of

trades councils: local bodies bringing together different unions for campaigning, support and organising. Our branch affiliates and sends delegates to three trades union councils: Bristol, Bridgwater and Westonsuper-Mare and we’ve asked the South Wales and West Regional RMT to encourage all branches in the region to affiliate to their local trade union council. Unions can no longer afford to be isolated or complacent. We also believe that pensioners should work together to campaign and lobby for improved pensions, protection of universal benefits and a national social care service, among other issues. This isn’t

just to safeguard our own interests. We’re thinking of those still at work, facing a grim and impoverished retirement if we continue to accept a state pension which is the lowest in the developed world. For this reason, we are affiliated to and active in the National Pensioners’ Convention, set up by Jack Jones in and continuing to provide the political voice of Britain’s pensioners. So how can the RMT help us to further these aims? Firstly, we'd like a chance to recruit all members upon retirement. We think branch secretaries should write to all members upon retirement, thanking them for their service

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RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: november/december 2018 :: to the union, giving details of the appropriate RMT Retired Members Branch and enclosing an F3 form for retirement benefit application. We'd like RMT regional retirement seminars to be held annually, open to all recently and about-to-be retired members. These would provide practical information about pensions and benefits, but also be a campaigning and organising base. To enhance input from the union and its retired members, retired membership could include automatic membership of the National Pensioners Convention. At the moment, RMT retired members pay a one-off fee of ÂŁ5. Bristol RMT retired members believe that we should pay an annual subscription and this could include receipt of diary and RMT News, membership of

local/regional RMT Retired Members Branch and NPC membership. On a historical note, we'd like the union to set up an oral history project and archive, so that experience of strikes, demonstrations and all forms of union activity could be preserved for posterity. Retired members could, of course, provide some of the historical and anecdotal material for this. But they could also receive training in interviewing, recording and editing techniques so retired members could take an active part in establishing the archive. Did we forget to mention enjoying our retirement? RMT Bristol retired members meet monthly, but we alternate business with pleasure! Attached is a picture of some of us at the end of a walk along the Devon coast to Dawlish.

Retired members Bristol

RETIREMENT BENEFIT Retirement Benefit is paid to any member who retires after the normal retiring age or in accordance with redundancy and re-settlement arrangements after the age of 55 years or who is rendered permanently incapable by reason of infirmity. (The Rulebook gives further detail, Payment is made dependant on the Rules of the Union and certain criteria being met. On retirement, members can receive our Honorary Membership status from the RMT on successfully completing the Retirement Benefit F3 application form, members will be entitled to a one off retirement benefit, which payable depending of years of membership in the union, and retirement pack which includes an Honorary Membership Card, Badge and retirement information. Members will also receive details of their local retired memberâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s branch. To receive a F3 application form members should either contact their current RMT Branch or contact Collin Sharpe in the Finance Department on 020 7529 8291 or at c.sharpe@rmt.org.uk.

RMTnews

SOUTH EAST: The South East retired members branch met in September at Ruskin House in Croydon. Guest speaker was RMT News managing editor Brian Denny who explained the role of the magazine as a source of information for various campaigns and services as well as a recruitment tool to encourage transport workers to join the union. The branch next meets at Ashford Railway Club on November 28. Branch chair Ron Ward encourages any retired members in the region to attend.

NOTIFICATION OF CONTRIBUTION RATES FOR 2018 Like most things, the cost of providing you with the benefits of RMT membership increases every year and contribution rates increase to help us to maintain and improve those benefits and our services to members. From the 1st January 2018 new members joining whose basic salary or equivalent earnings are above ÂŁ22,400 per annum will pay ÂŁ4.96 per week. New members whose basic salary or equivalent earnings are below ÂŁ21,700 per annum will pay ÂŁ2.13 per week. Direct debit payments will be amended accordingly as will contributions collected by employers under paybill deduction arrangements. Members who pay contributions to cash collectors will receive a new contribution card from the collector. Those sending cheques or postal orders direct will need to adjust the amounts sent in accordingly. Weekly ÂŁ5.12 ÂŁ2.20 4 Weekly ÂŁ20.48 ÂŁ8.80 Monthly ÂŁ22.19 ÂŁ9.53 We maintain a tight control of our costs and continually re-examine them to ensure that we make best use of our resources to deliver improved services to you. I am sure you will agree that RMT membership continues to provide excellent value for money.

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RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: november/december 2018 ::

WIRRAL BRANCH NOMINATES

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DONCASTER BRANCH SUPPORTS

STERLING BRANCH NOMINATES

STEVE SHAW

STAN HERSCHEL

FOR RMT PRESIDENT

FOR RELIEF REGIONAL ORGANISER NORTH

SOUTH EAST ESSEX BRANCH NOMINATES

BIRMINGHAM RAIL BRANCH SUPPORTS

WARRINGTON AND DISTRICT BRANCH NOMINATES

MICHELLE RODGERS

STAN HERSCHEL

FOR RMT PRESIDENT

FOR RELIEF REGIONAL ORGANISER NORTH

WILLESDEN RAIL BRANCH NOMINATES

NEWPORT IOW NO2 BRANCH NOMINATES

MICHELLE RODGERS

FOR RMT PRESIDENT

CENTRAL & NORTH MERSEY BRANCH SUPPORTS

FELTHAM BRANCH NOMINATES

STAN HERSCHEL

STEVE SHAW

FOR RELIEF REGIONAL ORGANISER NORTH

FOR RMT PRESIDENT

£50 PRIZE CROSSWORD

WATFORD BRANCH NOMINATES

STEVE SHAW FOR RMT PRESIDENT

WIGAN BRANCH NOMINATE

STAN HERSCHEL FOR RELIEF REGIONAL OFFICER NORTH

Last month’s solution... The winner of last month’s prize crossword is Steve Hood, West Midlands. Send entries to Prize Crossword, RMT, Unity House, 39 Chalton Street, London NWI IJD by Date December 20 with your name and address. Winner and solution in next issue.

Crossword sponsored by UIA ACROSS 1 Easy to understand (10) 8 Offensive (7) 9 Experience (5) 10 Scary (5) 11 Ask (7) 12 Blue colour (6) 14 Transversely (5) 16 Go back over again (7) 17 Petulant (5) 19 Monastery head (5) 20 Oriental (7) 21 Sternness (10)

DOWN 1 Disreputable (13) 2 Aquatic bird (5) 3 Long pin (6) 4 Foolish (7) 5 Debauchery (13) 6 Seep (4) 7 Free (6) 12 Encroachment (6) 13 Recipient (7) 15 Harsh (6) 17 Penchant (5) 18 Pull (4)

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RMT News November/December 2018

Articles inside

Support Our Guards

End 25 Years of the Great Rail Rip Off

Clapham: 30 Years On

Victory for RMT