April 2022
REGIONAL NEWSLETTER
Issue 1
CONTACT US: Your North East Regional Council can be contacted at N69a2e@rmt.org.uk
North East Region STAFF OUR STATIONS Ticket offices play a crucial role in the community but too often short-sighted TOCs attack these services under the auspice of efficiency savings. LNER were the latest operator to dress up attacks to frontline services as ‘moving with the times’, and your North East Regional Council set about highlighting these massive attacks to the general public within our region. We arranged days of actions across the LNER route and we were joined by activists, MPs, Jamie Driscoll (Mayor of the North of the Tyne), Trades Councils, and pressure groups of both pensioners and disabled passengers. LNER originally proposed to reduce ticket office opening hours by up to 48 hours per week at some stations – using simple maths, that amounts to one full-time and one part-time staff member. We believe this is the first step into completely de-staffing stations. Indeed, since this action Scotrail have proposed similar draconian cuts. As always TOCs do not appreciate the bigger picture. Under-staffed or completely unstaffed locations will quickly become a hotbed of antisocial behaviour and crime, something that would discourage rail travel and harm our industry further. There are numerous issues that would arise pertaining to accessibility and disability discrimination. These attacks would hit the poorest in society – those without reliable internet access or the knowledge to trawl through ticketing and journey options. Women travelling alone could be made to feel isolated and fearful in a society that is becoming increasingly more misogynistic. The reaction to this campaign was heartening and we will continue as a region to fight for jobs, and to highlight the issues created in a wider society relating to these cuts. The railway is ours and must remain accessible to all.
NATIONAL WOMEN'S CONFERENCE 2022 The first in-person RMT Women’s Conference since early 2020 was always going to be a somewhat vibrant affair. Three delegates from the North East region, Carol Wass, Kathleen Gaughan and Jessica Robinson, represented our region at the conference in Swansea to make sure our female members have a voice on the national stage of RMT. Indeed, one of the conference’s most successful resolutions of the last few years, regarding facilities for breastfeeding mothers in the workplace, was proposed by our own Carol Wass and is making a huge difference to women across multiple TOCs.
Throughout the 2022 conference, the women of RMT made their voices heard on matters covering everything from equal pay to menopause. Particular focus was given to the discrepancy in the number of women holding officer positions within the Union compared to men. RMT has an unfortunate long-standing perception as a union run by white men for white men, and the Conference workshopped how this impression can be changed and how more women can be encouraged into these officer positions – with the North East already in the vanguard for a lot of the actions suggested. Women of the North East can expect to see the banners of the RMT women out a lot more often in 2022; we hope for as many of us as possible to march at this year’s Durham Miners’ Gala, as well as Reclaim the Night events across the region. And, most importantly, thanks to a stellar effort from our 2022 delegates, in 2023 the RMT Women’s Conference will be held in Newcastle. We hope to see as many local delegates as possible and can promise another excellent gathering of our union’s inspirational women.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT: www.rmt.org.uk/about/women-members Or contact your North East Regional Council Women's Officer, Jessica Robinson at jpleather89@gmail.com
RMT ORGANISING TO WIN IN OUR AREA Across all grades and companies in the North East Region we are working to improve our organisation from the ground level up. We need to be as strong as we can to be able to win the struggles ahead on jobs, pay, pensions and health and safety; struggles we know are coming thanks to the massive projected cuts in expenditure on the horizon. Where we have agreements with companies, we still need to recruit to maximise our membership – additionally we need to make sure reps’ vacancies are filled and reps are supported to do their work in organising and representing RMT members. Where we have not yet come to agreements with companies, such as the new train operator, Lumo, we need to build membership to levels that give us that power to gain those all-important agreements. We must give these new and potential members protection and support in their workplace to win in the struggles they will be facing just as much as the rest of us. Your region is leading the way with recruiting new starters, with a resolution put forward by our own local members recently being adopted to get RMT at all company inductions country-wide. Across the board in maritime, offshore energy, renewables, rail TOCs, infrastructure, contractors with freight and logistics, and road transport, we will need you as our members to help to organise effectively. Recruit the non-member who works next to you, become a rep, attend your branch meetings, let us know what the issues are in your workplace. YOU can make a difference, use the contacts in this newsletter if you want to know more about your union. RMT ORGANISING TO WIN IN YOUR WORKPLACE.
COMING SOON Your North East Regional Council has a presence at events through the region, highlighting the profile of the union and getting our message out there. One of the most hotly anticipated events will undoubtedly be on July 9th when we will finally see the return of the Durham Miners’ Gala after a two-year hiatus. When the Gala returns in 2022, key workers will be centre stage. Carers and bus drivers, delivery workers and nurses, shop staff and teachers, and of course rail workers and taxi drivers; everyone who has risked their lives to keep society functioning throughout the pandemic will be celebrated. As transport workers we hope to have a massive turnout marching with various RMT banners behind the official RMT band. The day is a family fun event and the march culminates at the old racecourse where guest speakers deliver speeches and there are various stalls, beer tents, food and fairground rides. It's a truly uplifting experience and worth a visit – you will be warmly welcomed by your RMT comrades and colleagues. Look out for more information nearer the time or visit the official Facebook page at www.facebook.com/DurhamMinersGala.
REGIONAL CONTACTS NERC CONTACTS Martin McCleary - Lead Recruiter Tel: 07711 570848 berwickrail@rmt.org.uk Donald Graham - Org Unit Tel: 07753 748074 d.graham@rmt.org.uk Jessica Robinson - Women's Officer Tel: 07784 224412 jpleather89@gmail.com BRANCH EMAILS Bedlington: bedlington@rmt.org.uk Berwick Rail: berwickrail@rmt.org.uk Newcastle & Gateshead: newcastlegateshead@rmt.org.uk Newcastle Rail & Catering: newcastlerailcaterin@rmt.org.uk North East Shipping: northeastshipping@rmt.org.uk Darlington: darlington1@rmt.org.uk Teesside: teesside@rmt.org.uk York: yorkdistrict@rmt.org.uk North York Moors: north.moorsRail@rmt.org.uk Hexham: hexhamrail@rmt.org.uk
REGIONAL OFFICES Thomas Steels House 49a Thorne Road Doncaster DN1 2EX Tel: 01302 760694 North East Shipping Office Unit 17 Cookson House River Drive South Shields NE33 1TL Tel: 01914 561308
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RMT MEMBERS' HELPLINE: 0800 376 3706