PRESIDENT’S COLUMN

RMT helpline 0800 3763706 :: july/august 2008 :: RMTnews 33 By the time you get to this page of RMT News you may have read a detailed account of the debates at this year’s annual general meeting in Nottingham. Nottingham is a very hospitable city and I’d like to convey the thanks of the delegates to the hard work of the reception committee made up of local RMT members Paul Walker, Pat Collins, Jim Creamers, Dennis James, Dennis McPake, Mat Partridge, Bill Upton and John Marshall. Delegates dealt with 93 motions covering a wide range of issues in a professional and democratic manner which made my role as chair that much easier. The quality of debate was very high and, although there may have been some strong differences of opinion, delegates put their views and listened to each other before voting of what then becomes union policy for the next 12 months. The AGM is our supreme governing body made up of lay delegates which has the strength to mandate the union to carry out its wishes. From Cornwall to Scotland delegates are elected to represent members in their regions. What particularly struck me this year was the large number of new delegates that were attending their first AGM. Although experience is important, it is very encouraging to see new faces that can bring new ideas and fresh approaches to the problems we face. We all have a responsibility to encourage new members to take part at all levels within the union. Our AGM strives to be inclusive and this year also we had more female delegates than for many years, but, of course, we can always do better. A full crèche was available to delegates with childcare responsibilities and this should go some way to encourage more women to step forward in years to come. It is always a pleasure to play host to our international guests and this year was no different. We invited delegations from the United States, Egypt, Indonesia, Romania and Ireland and all of them received a warm welcome from conference. Following the AGM I had the pleasure to meet delegates from RMT’s political school taking place in Doncaster. I caught up with them at Unity House before they went on to the House of Commons for a tour with John McDonnell MP, a firm friend of the union and chair of our parliamentary group of MPs. This new course is proving very popular and is now firmly established in the union’s educational calendar of activities in order to get members politically involved in their regions. Whatever level of political understanding you feel you may have, this course is open to all members of all ages and all levels. It was encouraging to see that there was a good mix of young members, women and other more experienced campaigners all sharing ideas with each other. John Leach President’s column