Dispatches

Incorporating The MacPhail Lawrence Partnership. 65 Bath Street, Glasgow G2 2DD. 22 Pavement, York Y01 9UP e-mail: mail@drummond-miller.co.uk website: www.drummond-miller.co.uk > Injuries at work > Post traumatic stress disorder > Repetitive strain injury > Road traffic accidents > Vibration white finger > Criminal injuries claims Experts in Employment Law, Accident and Injury Claims > Asbestos related diseases > Unfair dismissal > Discrimination > Conveyancing - Estate Agency > Wills & Executries > Family Law Telephone 0141 332 0086 - Glasgow 01904 - 674061 - York Drummond Miller Drummond Miller ARE PLEASED TO OFFER OUR CONTINUED SUPPORT TO THE RAILWAY, MARITIME & TRANSPORT WORKERS’ TRADE UNION. Legal services helpline for Scottish & North East England members - freephone 0800 328 1014 32 Dispatches IIII Dispatches IIII Dispatches IIII LONG SERVICE: Bob Crow presents Central Line train driver rep Gary Weston and Stratford branch secretary Martin Sharpe with their 25-year badges. RMT members ride to raise £500 for war memorial charity RMT MEMBERS raised over £500 by taking part in a charity bike ride last month in aid of the Merchant Seamen’s War Memorial Society. Riders set off on a beautiful autumn morning from Cranleigh village in Surrey on the Down Link route, via the South Downs, to the south coast. Special mention must go to Jimmy Harrison, a seafarer living at a home provided by the MSWMS having lost a leg in an accident at work. He completed a massive 25 miles, before he was convinced to rest up. The ride was also supported by RMT Royal Fleet Auxiliary convenor Dave Leonard, who is also a trustee of the society. Dave decided to take part in the event “in a moment of madness” even though he had not been in training. He said that the spirit of all the participants and support volunteers was a great encouragement. “Everyone got on remarkably well and genuinely enjoyed the occasion,” he said. Organiser and RMT member Terry Grimwood said that he was delighted by everyone’s efforts and look forward to an even bigger event next year. On the Oslo express RMT president Tony Donaghey, general secretary Bob Crow and Eva Knapp joined the Norwegian royal train recently during an International Federation of Transport Workers (ITF) meeting in Oslo. RMT bus driver member Alan Rolls was chosen as driver of the month at Yeovil Bus recently and was presented with shop vouchers worth £200 by First, Avon and Somerset. Alan has worked for at Yeovil Bus for nine years and is a family man with one son and two daughters. Before he joined the company he was a long distance lorry driver. He recently passed his MVQ. RMT branch secretary Mike Wade said that Alan is very popular with his passengers as he drives regular routes 212 and 216; Yeovil to Dorchester. “He was very pleased to receive this award but just a little embarrassed,” Mike said. Alan is driver of the month IT WAS a clean sweep for RMT at the traditional pre- TUC Congress cricket match last month, as general secretary Bob Crow and media officer Derek Kotz walked off with both man-of- the-match awards. For his fiery bowling and a stunning run-out Bob was adjudged best player of the TUC general council eleven – who were bowled out for 110, ten runs short of the target set by the industrial correspondents. And for his match-winning four wickets for 15 runs off just three overs, Derek was nominated the journalists’ player of the match. Bowled over in Brighton PRIZE DRAW WINNER: An amazing 13,000 members responded to the update mailing via post/helpline/website which offered a £500 prize to the lucky winner. Prize draw winner was a Virgin West Coast employee working in the Euston area. This exercise has obviously assisted the union in improving the accuracy of our records in order to service the needs of the membership. Thanks to everyone that took part. Track worker George retires RMT OFFICERS and work colleagues wished track worker George Pinner all the best for his retirement at Unity House last month. George was chair of the Amec company council and worked in the industry for over 30 years, attending many engineering grades conferences. RMT general secretary Bob Crow said that George represented the backbone of the union. “George knew the industry inside out and worked ceaselessly to defend the interests of his work colleagues. “We look forward to his advice and counsel for many years to come,”he said. RMT celebrated the opening of a new north west regional office in Liverpool last month with a function to raise funds for the union’s Cuba appeal. General Secretary Bob Crow, president Tony Donaghy, EC member Arthur Grundy joined regional organisers Andy Warnock-Smith and Bill Anderson plus around 120 guests to celebrate, and £700 was raised for the RMT Container for Cuba Appeal. Framed portraits of Che Guevara were presented to RMT and the Liverpool dockers by the Havana Port Workers’ Union in recognition of their solidarity work for Cuba. The container was organised by retired RMT national secretary Tony Santamera and is expected to arrive next month, bringing much-needed building material to the blockaded island in order to help build houses for local people. New Liverpool offices opens Dispatches IIII Dispatches IIII Dispatches IIII 33 Organising in Stockport RMT’s organising unit, along with the local Regional Council, spent a week organising the estimated 2,000 infrastructure workers working in Stockport on the Route 7 Alliance project. Teams started campaigning at 5am, speaking to workers in packed double- decker buses as they waited to get ferried from large car parks to the work site. Workers came from countless contractors, sub-contactors and agencies and were positive about getting organised by RMT. Regional Council Secretary John MacDonald, said that there had been a great response from the majority of workers. “The workforce have now moved on and it is essential that our local branches follow up this activity to make sure we continue to build our strength,” he said.