Organising success

THE first of this year’s regional council organising weeks was undertaken recently by the union’s North West and North Wales regional council. At planning meetings recruitment targets were identified using information gained from branch plans and the regional council. Efforts were concentrated in three main areas Liverpool, Crewe, and Chester. Each was allocated a team consisting of activists and the RMT’s organising unit, who would worked alongside local reps to approach workers in the targeted companies. At Liverpool Lime Street Station Select Service Partners workers,who in many cases were unaware of what RMT could do for them, were keen to join with some even wanting to become reps. New members also joined at Initial City Link depots throughout the region as well as workers at the Adelphi Hotel and Seat Catering, along with infrastructure workers based in Crewe, Alsthom, Chester. Cleaners at Edge Hill and Chester also came on board. As one new member put it: “We’re glad you came along, we were just talking about joining a union because management are just doing what they want and we don’t know what our rights were”. The first step RMT’s message was joining the union was the first step. Members could then get help and advice from local officials and the freephone RMT helpline. Activists pointed out that it is important to get properly organised with a local rep who RMT will train and support in order to have RMT represen- tation in their workplace. During the week, names were put forward for the one- day RMT introduction course, aimed at new reps with no RMT training in order to gain support as soon as possible The course was successful and everyone who attended will be invited to attend a more in-depth RMT course about six weeks after the introductory course. New regional organiser John Tilley said that it was good to see new reps getting on RMT courses so quickly after the organising weeks. “It is also important that we continue the recruitment work throughout the year with activity instigated by our branch and regional recruitment plans,” he said. Branch plans Regional Council Secretary Alan Aitkenhead said that it was the third organising week the regional council had been involved in and it was getting easier to actually carry out such exercises. “The message has got to go out to branches that RMT needs your branch plans to be submitted to the regional council. “This information and the involvement of the branches is absolutely crucial to being able to conduct the regional organising week and putting forward a coherent quarterly recruitment plan,” he said. Regional Organiser Andy Warnock-Smith said that, due to the commitment of all the activists involved, the region had been able to cover large areas and make inroads into the ones identified during the planning process. “I’m now looking forward to the review so that we can evaluate what was done and look at what we need to do in the future,” he said. He said that the success of the organising weeks was not only measured in how many new members and reps are recruited and trained but also on the effect they have on union morale and how they effect the day to day activities of the union. RMT news – Essential reading for today ’s transport worker 4 Organising success in the North West and North Wales