POLITICAL SCHOOL REPORT

RMT helpline 0800 3763706 :: april 2010 :: RMTnews 32 We were warmly greeted by Barbara Collinson the manager of the union’s education centre in Doncaster. Barbara showed us to our comfortable rooms and we had a really tasty buffet supper in the lounge which gave us the chance to get to know each other. Political officer and course co-ordinator James Croy gave us an overview and introduction to the course. RMT president Alex Gordon opened the course on the history of the union and its relationship with the politics of the labour movement. His words brought back memories of the heroes who helped shape our past and being a RMT member I am acknowledging those heroes that fought for our hard-won rights. As with every session photocopied notes were given to each delegate so it was not necessary to scribble down copious notes. Professor in Industrial Relations Roger Seifert introduced us to the three factors of production i.e. land, labour and capital and dealt with the Labour Party and its relationship with the trade unions. Professor Seifert turned this potentially mundane topic into a roller coaster debate which made us all contribute at some stage. We joined the civil service union PCS picket line outside Doncaster Job Centre and later listened to Marion Lloyd of PCS. At this point I started to understand the notion of the 'race to the bottom' for wages and conditions. Unions must look to each other for support also as we will all suffer equally. A visit to the local Trades Club to witness a Doncaster rail branch meeting was an opportunity to share my Cornish bus driving experiences, including our £8.20 an hour salary. A session on international solidarity included Philippines Solidarity speaker Daniljo Borjal, who showed us a very disturbing film about the dangers for his people trying to set up trade unions. A showing of a Justice for Colombia film also underlined the need for support for unions in that country. Derek Kotz of RMT’s communications department showed us examples of the bias in the newspapers. I confess I struggled with his role-play exercise because I could not be unbiased. Ian Davidson MP gave us a potted history of the European Union and how it promoted privatisation and liberalisation. Brian Denny, nominating officer of the No2EU:Yes to Democracy electoral coalition which stood in last year’s euro elections, spoke about how the EU is creating it’s own race to the bottom. This all triggered memories of the "No to the Lisbon Treaty" DVD produced by RMT so my mind was made up, off to Lille on April 13 to protest against EU rail directives. So here I am, three days in Doncaster and an international activist. James Croy and Craig Johnston of the RMT executive outlined the Hope Not Hate campaign against the BNP. We were glad this issue had been tackled head on as working class disillusion with politics and New Labour had been raised so many times in the week. On to Parliament to be met by Simeon Andrews, RMT’s Parliamentary group co- ordinator and John McDonnell MP to learn about how Parliament works. This was very constructive, particularly learning of how our Parliamentary group works and the need to get these particular MPs re-elected. Before setting off for home, we joined our brothers and sisters of RMT and TSSA outside Network Rail head office for the Rail Cuts Cost Lives picket. A great conclusion to the week that underlined the message that if we can stand together like our ancestors stood together then we can perhaps change things for the better. Bus worker Julia Hitchon of Camborne branch reports on the union’s political school Julia and fellow students join an RMT demonstration outside Network Rail head office POLITICAL SCHOOL REPORT