POLITICAL SCHOOL

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: november/december 2011 :: RMTnews 26 T his dynamic and highly successful school is held twice a year at the RMT Education centre in Doncaster and this year I had the pleasure of attending the course, writes course member Emma Baldwin. The course is open to any member of our union and this year there were participants from the road freight, shipping, bus workers and rail. The course is jam packed with topics ranging from the history of trade unionism, using the media, trade unions and the far right, international campaigns and the European Union. RMT president Alex Gordon gave us a brief introduction to the history of the union and politics and we discussed why we are no longer affiliated to the Labour Party. Many of the group believed that the union was correct in our current position, although some believed that we should re- affiliate to Labour and debating and open discussions were encouraged. We then spent the rest of the day with Professor Roger Seifert, a highlight of the course, who carried on the debate of the RMT and the Labour Party. Being able to encourage debate and emotion amongst the group was clearly his speciality. This year we were lucky to attend the rally at Methodist Central on the devastating effects the McNulty report if carried through and how it will affect our railway and it was amazing to experience such an event and see politics in action. We spent the afternoon in the House of Commons and met various members of our parliamentary group where we were able to have a frank question and answer session with many MPs which included John McDonnell MP and Ian Davidson MP. We covered many other interesting topics including an address by Victor Figueroa of Justice for Colombia. Many students were inspired to go back to their branch and region and affiliate to this cause. We also had discussions with Ian Davidson MP about the European Union and, once again, it was brilliant to be able to ask questions. This is a course that we would highly recommend to anyone that wants to explore their own political beliefs but also gain a greater understanding of how unions and politics work together. The next course is in March 2012, get to your branch and get your name down. The next Political School is March 12-16 2012, to apply contact your branch secretary. For more information contact James Croy j.croy@rmt.org.uk 020 7387 4771 RMT POLITICAL SCHOOL WHAT’S NEW ON RMTv chAnnEL 1 – RMT In AcTIOn Save Our Railways – Say No To McNulty Rally RMT London Taxi Branch Demonstration Carlisle cleaners picket Euston Station Slavery – Shame of the past and modern curse – Film of the commemorative event organised by RMT's National Black and Ethnic Minority Committee chAnnEL 2 – nEWs buLLETIns Mick Cash – Network Rail update Mick Cash – Bus update Bob Crow’s speech at the Save Our Railways – Say No To McNulty Rally chAnnEL 3 – hIsTORy chAnnEL The UCS struggle – This is a 1971 campaign film supporting the fight to retain their jobs by the workers at Upper Clyde Shipyards The Great Unrest: 100 years since the first national railway strike Commemeration at the Working Class history Museum in Manchester chAnnEL 4 – RMT ExTRA International Solidarity - Teamsters Dispute - What's gone wrong at Sotheby's? RMTv catches up with our comrades from Teamsters Local 814 as they demonstrate outside Sotheby's in London René González Leaving Prison - René González, one of the Miami Five, was released from prison on 7 October 2011 following 13 years of unjust incarceration. This film, filmed by relatives of René, documents the moment the Cuban anti-terrorist left Marianna prison in Florida at 4.30am Samuelson speech for - Occupy Wall Street - At the conclusion of the October 5 rally in Foley Square, TWU Local 100 President John Samuelson tells 10,000 people that it's the right time to force millionaires to pay their fair share. At the conclusion of his speech, the march began to Liberty Square in the financial district Catch the latest video updates on RMT’s own on-line station at www.rmtv.org.uk GET ThE LATEsT fROM RMT AT WWW.fAcEbOOk.cOM/RMTunIOn WWW.TWITTER.cOM/RMTunIOn