BLACKPOOL TOWERS!

RMT helpline 0800 3763706 :: february 2010 :: RMTnews 24 R MT Blackpool and Fylde Coast branch unveiled its new branch banner at a special meeting recently. The banner features Blackpool’s most famous landmark together with the branch name and the words “Workers United For All Grades”. The banner also features the famous Blackpool beach donkeys walking along the shore line, the branch assured RMT News that this has no relation to local managers. It was designed and produced by well known Labour movement banner maker Ed Hall and was donated to the branch by secretary Colin Waite. Council of Executive member Craig Johnston was joined at the ceremony by Nick Quirk, a Council of Executives member until December last year. Both executive members praised the branch for its increasing level of activity, including regular well-attended branch meetings, that has led to a significant jump in membership in the last 12 months. Blackpool branch activists played a high profile part in the North West No2EU-Yes to Democracy election campaign during the Euro elections and leafleted local stations for the anti-fascist “Hope Not Hate” campaign warning people of the dangers of voting for the anti- trade union BNP. The branch also helped launch a newsletter for Northern Conductors at Blackpool, Barrow and Workington with the assistance of Northern Rail Conductors Company Councillor Kevin Morrison. A special presentation was also made at the branch meeting to Matt Drummond – Chair of neighbouring Preston Branch who had represented Conductors at Blackpool on the Northern (and before that First North Western) company council for a number of years. The banner has already had its first public display when members leafleted Blackpool North Station recently as part of the campaign against Network Rail job cuts. The branch has also produced a branch tie featuring the tower, the branch name and the red rose of Lancashire. The banner will be attending this years’ Durham Miners Gala in July as part of the increasing RMT presence at that event. Northern Rail drivers and RMT members Shaun Richie and John Largue have both been elected as local driver reps, taking a cleaning sweep of the seats for the union. The two Workington branch members will be Local Lead Committee (LLC) reps for a period of three years. RMT executive committee member Craig Johnston said that he was delighted with the result. “I believe Shaun and John will make excellent reps and have already done sterling work by helping to increase the activity of RMT ‘s Workington branch. “This once more shows that RMT is the only all- grades specialist transport union,” he said. BLACKPOOL TOWERS! RMT DOUBLE WIN AT NORTHERN RAIL WIN: from left to right, Craig Johnston, Shaun Richie, Workington branch secretary Sean Dixon and John Largue