RETIRED MEMBERS YOUR UNION NEEDS YOU

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: october 2011 :: RMTnews 31 B irmingham Engineering branch marked over 200 years of service to the union earlier this year as assistant general secretary Mick Cash presented long service awards to long standing members. Five 40-year badges were presented to Alan Rogers, Tony Radcliffe, Colin Waters, Keith Mason, and Stan Curtis. A 25-year badge was handed out to Keith Waters and 10- year badges were given to Kamaljit Naglu and Frank Smith Dear editor, I recently received and read the union publication ‘Pulling Together’ – a popular history of RMT. It should be mandatory reading in my opinion so that people appreciate the past sacrifices made in the working class struggle particularly in transport which concerns us and others. Unions don’t always get it right but they are the only thing working men and women have got. Solidarity is our only defence when things get unfair as they often do. Cooperation is always best and I don’t have any axe to grind with Network Rail personally but sometimes action is necessary especially when hard-won rights are under threat. For me, the struggle goes beyond any concerns I may have with my own job and this industry. It is about morality, the bigger picture and what is fair in society. We have only to look around us to realise that as a movement overall the struggle continues. Thanks again. Yours Richard J Taylor Pulling Together is available from Unity House or e-mail bdenny@rmt.org.uk F or many RMT members retirement often means the end of their trade union involvement. However, retirement from work doesn’t mean not being actively involved in the union. Moreover we are constantly reminded that it is essential to keep physically and mentally active in retirement. What better way to keep the old grey matter ticking over then joining your local RMT retired members’ branch? The retired members section is presently made up of eleven branches stretching from Bristol to the North East of England. The main objectives of these branches is to campaign towards maintaining and improving the level of occupational and state pensions to ensure that all pensioners have dignity and financial independence in old age. The retired members’ parliament, the annual national retired members’ advisory conference, aims to organise retired men and women members, regardless of their former grades, to meet these objectives. Each branch can elect up to four delegates to attend the conference. Where there is no retired members’ branch a regional council may wish to nominate up to four delegates to attend the conference. The conference acts in an advisory capacity to the union and liaises with other organisations representing the interests of pensioners in the wider community. These organisations include the National Pensioners Convention, Trades Union Congress, Help the Aged and Age Concern. RMT has representatives elected by conference on committees of these organisations. Retired Members Branches also contribute to union policy in regards to resolutions carried at conference. Resolutions from branches are debated and up to two are submitted to the RMT’s annual general meeting (AGM) for debate. Issues such as the recent change in indexation method used by the Railways Pension Scheme, which was changed from RPI to CPI, were debated at the AGM in response to a resolution carried at the retired members’ advisory conference. So that the retired member section continues to grow and participate fully in the union it has been agreed to supply branches with information packs, giving details of union benefits in retirement, and supply contact details of retired member branches so that interested members can play an active role in the union. However, we need members to come forward and participate in the activities of retired member branches so that this section of the union can continue to defend and campaign on the behalf of working class people. If you are interested in contacting your local retired members’ branch secretary please call 020 7529 8806 or email p.norris@rmt.org.uk RETIRED MEMBERS YOUR UNION NEEDS YOU BIRMINGHAM CELEBRATES 200 YEARS’ SERVICE