June/July 2022
REGIONAL NEWSLETTER
Issue 3
CONTACT US: Your North East Regional Council can be contacted at N69a2e@rmt.org.uk
North East Region
STRIKE
Wow! What an utterly incredible show of solidarity and support from our region. We can't thank members enough for showing up and getting your message out there to the public. We have had magnificent support from MPs, trades councils, disabled passenger groups and various sister unions. And it's working – polls are consistently showing that working people are sick and tired of being the scapegoat. People are seeing our battle and are deciding they want a fair deal too. The Trades Union Congress (TUC) said online enquiries into trade union membership have surged by some 700% since RMT launched strikes. Google searches for "join union" have also increased by 184% in the last week, the TUC said. Workers across the country are seeing how collective action can win higher pay and save at-risk jobs. But we can't stop here, we must be prepared to stick together to achieve a victory for workers – and we will win! The media will seek to divide us but together we are stronger.
THE NORTH EAST ON STRIKE You will have all seen and heard the attacks that we predicted in the last edition; the constant references to our "high" wages based on a grade that isn't even involved in this dispute. You will have heard of the billions poured into the rail industry – but not about the 500 million in profits paid to shareholders. You will have read nonsense about how we are afraid of modernisation, despite us being instrumental in talks to bring in new technology. Fortunately our General Secretary and full-time officials have been incredible in their communications in the media, and this has been instrumental in winning public backing.
And what exactly is it we are asking for? It's hardly controversial: a guarantee of no compulsory redundancies first and foremost. Job security: no attacks on our terms and conditions, and a decent pay rise to reflect the surging cost of living. The government are terrified that workers are fighting back. There is plenty of money out there… just, apparently, not for the workers. Network Rail are a prime example of the inequality out there – 17 of their highest earners are on a total of £15m a year, Andrew Haines himself earning almost £600k. The shareholders and the bosses are happy to watch you suffer and attack your jobs to keep their nest feathered. It has to stop. The lay membership have shown that we can get the message out there by sharing stories and talking to people. A tweet from a North East member about why she was striking was viewed over 3 million times and has been referenced on Newsnight. It is things like this that show people exactly what we do on a daily basis. Winning hearts and minds. We are an incredible collective of members. Remember what we are being threatened with: closure of all ticket offices, threat of DCO, slashing of 50% of maintenance jobs, longer hours for no extra money, a real terms wage cut, attacks to our pensions, the decimation of stationbased and catering grades. These are our livelihoods at risk. This week has given us hope - either we stand and fight or we live on our knees. In the words of American campaigner Harvey Milk: “I know you can't live on hope alone; but without hope, life is not worth living. So you, and you and you: you got to give them hope; you got to give them hope."
Picket lines across the region were well-attended and buzzing on all three strike days.
RMT AT THE TUC RALLY Perhaps somewhat overshadowed by the strike action, the TUC rally went ahead in London on June 18th and the RMT members of the North East were well-represented. The rally and march through London was attended by thousands of people, with the pertinent theme of 'We Demand Better'. Representatives from all trade unions marched side by side, accompanied by the music of the RMT brass band. The RMT block - one of the largest on the march - was met with tumultuous applause and cheers, especially on the approach to Parliament Square where our General Secretary, Mick Lynch, gave a rousing speech. We look forward to our next event - Durham Miners' Gala on July 9th - and we hope to see lots of our members there.
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
REGIONAL OFFICES
We welcome contributions to this newsletter - if you would like to write an article, please contact any one of the officers above.
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
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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