OVER 50 YEARS IN THE UNION

RMT helpline 0800 3763706 :: january 2010 :: RMTnews 25 When Ken Robinson, an RMT rep at Worcester, travelled from Wembley to Hams Hall earlier this year, it was the first time that he had travelled “up front” in a locomotive since his career on the railways began back in 1958. The journey aboard the 4M23 GBRf Felixstowe to Ham Hall service was organised by Richard Atkinson, Mobile Operations Manager for Network Rail, Ashchurch, who presented Ken with a commemorative headboard marking his 51 years in the industry. Ken was 16 years old when he began work as a junior porter at Worcester, becoming a junior shunter after 18 months and then a head shunter. “I worked putting passenger trains together; there were over 60 of us covering the patch to begin with.” he says. Ken joined the NUR without hesitation. “Everybody on the rail seemed to be in the union back then, it was part and parcel of the job. It wasn’t a closed shop though, I chose to join. Dues were collected monthly by a rep”, he explains. The railway was also very family- orientated. In Ken’s workplace there were three brothers and a father working when he began. “I also came from a railway family,” Ken says proudly, reeling off a long list of family members who have worked in the industry including his grandfather, father, mother, wife and son. In 1989 Ken moved to Bromsgrove Terminal where he worked as head shunter until 1996. Then from 1996 he worked at Oddingley as a Crossing Keeper until his retirement in 2009. During his career Ken became a union activist, a staff rep for many years and auditor of the branch. He is clear as to why he remained a lifelong union man. “The company wouldn’t give us anything unless we are properly represented. “When I was a staff rep and new management started at my workplace they always wanted to know how strong the union was, how many was in the branch, and how many attended meetings. “When they realise that you have some strength then they know that you won’t lie down,” Ken says. OVER 50 YEARS IN THE UNION Crossing Keeper Ken Robinson retires with his first up-front train ride after over 50 years in the industry