TEACHING SUCCESS IN DONNY

www.rmt.org.uk :: may 2007 :: RMTnews 29 NETWORK RAIL Over ten successful courses have been delivered for Second Stage Representatives at Network Rail which deal with their role as union reps, procedures, discipline, grievances and union organisation. During this course, speakers from the organising unit, full time officers and Council of Executive members address course members. Senior members of the Network Rail Human Resources team give presentations which are followed by an open discussion with the students on how the future of Network Rail is perceived and how they view the “business”. These courses will continue to be delivered until all Second Stage Representatives have had an opportunity to attend. BUS WORKERS A five-day course has been run for our bus workers from the Lincolnshire area and this will be followed by a five day course for the Southwest area. Bus workers have always played an important role in union activities and they should take pride in their consistent high turn out on courses. Surprisingly, their numbers aren’t depleted by being our heaviest smokers and, dare it be said, a little more exercise and a few less calories wouldn’t do any of us any harm, would it? VIDEO CONFERENCING In January, the National Education Centre purchased Video Conferencing which enables students to talk directly with head office. The President and Bob Crow have been willing participants of the video conferencing and have, on numerous occasions, spoken “face to face” with students. In the future, when students wish to ask questions of the health and safety department, legal officer or industrial relations department, we are now able to arrange this via the Video Conferencing. The Union strives to continuously improve the communications between the Head Office and the National Education Centre for the benefit of all. BRANCH SECRETARIES COURSE The cornerstone of NUR/RMT training for many years has been the Branch Secretaries Course. When first appointed, the Branch Secretaries Course is designed to deal with all the administration issues. With technological advances, many branches now have computers and the accounts and legal cases are now much easier to administrate. Due to this, the courses have been reduced from five to two days. However, having surveyed members who have attended this course, it is currently under review to extend this course to three days and cover “Organising a Branch” as well as “Administration of a Branch”. OTHER COURSES FOR 2007 Courses have been organised for various train operating companies. One of the first five-day courses delivered at the National Education Centre was for GNER. There will be further courses run for South East Trains and Tyne and Wear Metro. Also, there are two proposed shipping grades courses – one for the RFA and one for P&O members. There will also be a new course for the new computer-based membership system currently being developed. TEACHING SUCCESS IN DONNY Ray Spry-Shute highlights some of the courses being run at the union’s new education centre in Doncaster FRIDAY AUGUST 17, ST LEGER TRIAL DAY Why not come along for an afternoon of top class racing at the newly redeveloped Doncaster Racecourse? This will be an opportunity to view the new facilities at the much aniticipated £32 million redevelopment of Doncaster Race course - Special Offer to RMT members Bed & Breakfast at our National Education Centre (10 mins walk from the centre) and a ticket to the new Grandstand at Doncaster for the first meeting All this for only £75. For further details please contact the centre manager Barbara Collinson on 01302 556870 or e-mail b.collinson@rmt.org.uk RMT Go Racing