RMT MEMBERS SEEK CHARITY SPONSORSHIP

RMT helpline 0800 3763706 :: may 2009 :: RMTnews 20 R MT Union Learning Reps from around the country once again put on some excellent events during Adult Learners’ Week between May 9–15. The Week is the largest festival of learning in the UK. Held every year it is coordinated by NIACE (the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education) and involves thousands of individuals and hundreds of communities and workplaces. Many reps have been successful in being awarded funding for their activities, with the support of their branches and RMT Learning Development Workers. Members have had the opportunity to try out new things, and find out what learning opportunities there are for them. Some ULRs used the week as a chance to launch book swaps in their workplaces. A full report will appear in the June edition of RMT News. Six RMT LU workers will be under pressure as they bicycle ride 1,000 miles from Land’s End to John O Groats in 14 days to raise money for Great Ormond Street Hospital. The Training Wheels team of six consists of Mark Collier, Colin Norwood, Glenn Harvey, Warren Evans, Tristan Pitt, Kenny Blackmore, and Lee Radley. They set off on their adventure on May 8 from Penzance. For further information and to make donations go to: www.justgiving.com/trainingwh eels LGBT WALK FOR LIFE RMT member Joanne Parry will be taking part in the Walk for Life 2009 along with other Transport for London LGBT Staff Network Group Members and staff. She will be walking 10km around London on June 7 as part of the NAT (National AIDS Trust) team. Funds raised will be split between the National AIDS Trust and Crusaid. NAT is the UK’s leading charity dedicated to transforming society’s response to HIV. For further information and to make donations go to www.walkforlife.co.uk/public_in dividual_sponsorship.php?ID=83 4 RMT SISTERS WALK FOR BREAST CANCER CHARITY There is still time to donate in support of the three RMT staff members from Unity House who will be doing the Edinburgh Moon Walk 2009 (see last month’s RMT News). Nicky Hoarau, Vicky Bryce and Yvonne Sawford aim to walk 26.2 miles overnight on Saturday June 20 in aid of the Breast Cancer charity Walk the Walk. For further information and to make donations go to www.justgiving.com/rmt-sisters R MT is determined to end the situation where some seafarers could be disqualified from Seafarers’ Earnings Reductions (SED) as a result of recent changes to the law. The Inland Revenue has accepted – after advice from RMT – that construction, construction support, well service and dive support vessels will not automatically be disqualified from SED. Also, the union, together with Nautilus UK and the Chamber of Shipping, have made representations to the Inland Revenue on a number of other issues in order to try and reduce the negative impact on RMT members. As a result it has been conceded that vessels that might previously be treated as offshore are in fact multi-purpose vessels which can be used for navigation. Also accepted is the fact that other vessels may have been constructed with a particular purpose in mind but subsequently be changed for different users. RMT has also persuaded the Inland Revenue that claims for SED should not be ruled out on the basis that a vessel remains stationary for more than three days. The Revenue has amended their original proposals so that the period for which the vessel cannot be stationed for SED eligibility is more than five days, although the union argued for longer. Nautilus UK has announced that they intend to challenge the way the rules are to be enforced, in light of recent changes restricting eligibility for seafarers. RMT are also considering the possibility of a legal challenge. The union has also asked that an updating of the existing regulations should take place so that seafarers’ entitlement is protected and not vulnerable to further challenges from Inland Revenue officials. RMT MEMBERS SEEK CHARITY SPONSORSHIP LU Employees Bike It from Land’s End to John O’Groats Training Wheels Team prepare to ride the length of Britain RMT CAMPAIGNS ON SEAFARERS’ EARNINGS REDUCTIONS ADULT LEARNERS’ WEEK