SUCCESS IN SCOTLAND

www.rmt.org.uk :: june 2006 :: RMTnews 21 Planning meetings identified areas where there are non- members in order to strengthen union membership. Using a list of Scotrail staff that had gone through induction classes and had not yet joined the union, as well as branch lists, the group was able to locate non-members across the Regional Council area. Select Service Partners workers who staff the station food outlets and bars were also targeted at Glasgow Central and Queen Street. The company has been sold by the Compass group so it was more important than ever that this group of workers are organised to be effective in negotiations to protect themselves and get full advantage from the recognition agreement that RMT has with the company. Virgin Staff were approached in Glasgow and Edinburgh with new members joining and, importantly, new reps coming forward. The Forth Bridge was also identified as a workplace with around 150 workers employed by contractors with few if any RMT members. Edinburgh Branch Secretary Graham Buchanan and Jim Philp, Fife and District Branch Secretary, were out at 6am to meet the workers as they went onto the Bridge. Jim Philp pointed out: "if you work on the railway they should all be in RMT” and workers asked to join and follow up visits are planned. Initial City Link depots were identified as targets with the three Abbott Enterprise Franchise depots visited and there is a potential of 160-200 members in these locations alone. Many other grades throughout the region to recruit new members and help members with issues or correct any details like change of grade and address which helps maintain accurate membership records. Organiser Donald Graham said: “it was great to see activists, reps and retired members working together as a team in this planned way building an even stronger RMT. Regional Organiser Phil McGarry said that the exercise recruited at least 70 people during the week with more forms to be sent in. “We have another three Organising weeks in Scotland this year and we will be working hard to make the others as effective and successful,” he said. ORGANISE: Jim Philp and Graham Buchanan at the Forth bridge ORGANISING UNIT The first of four Scottish regional council organising weeks recruits many new members Success in Scotland