BOURNEMOUTH STATION HOSTS PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: february 2012 :: RMTnews 25 A Union Learning Rep (ULR) for Northern Rail in Leeds for the past five and a half years and an RMT member for 33 years, Mo Ilyas has won the regional ULR award at the unionlearn Yorkshire and Humber Regional Conference in recognition for his achievements during the past year. During 2011 Mo helped more than 30 railworkers to improve their computer skills and gain qualifications in literacy and numeracy and ICT. Railworkers often find it difficult to attend courses outside of work because of their complex shift patterns but he overcame these barriers by setting up flexible learning programmes in the workplace. The RMT Learning Team provided support, by supplying laptops and organising internet access for the learners. Courses are still running at Leeds station during 2012, please contact Mo for more information. If you would like more information about courses running in your area or about the role of Union Learning Representatives, please contact the RMT Learning Team at Head Office 0207 529 8820/l.rutland@rmt.org.uk R MT Union Learning Rep Mark Carter organised a successful photography course recently and twelve portraits taken by Mark and five of his colleagues at South West Trains were shown as part of the World at Work Exhibition at Swindon Steam Museum. The portraits were then shown in an exhibition in the Upper Waiting Hall of the Houses of Parliament, organised by Unions 21 and promoting the positive aspects of being a union member. They have now been moved to Bournemouth rail station after South West Trains paid for them to be reprinted in a larger format to better fit in to the station architecture. After several of his colleagues showed an interest in photography, Mark approached Daniel Parker from Bournemouth and Poole College to help him organise a course and the tutor, local photographer Richard Jeffery, planned the course itself. The students learned about light, apertures and composition, practicing on each other before being let loose on the travelling public at Bournemouth station. Armed with release forms giving permission for the images to be used, they took around 800 black and white portraits of passengers, which were then whittled down to the final twelve used in the exhibition. Due to funding issues there have been changes at the college, but Mark is keen to use the success of the Changing Faces exhibition as a springboard to launch another photography course funded by the Workers' Educational Association. This new course will be available to more learners and will take place away from the station to give them the opportunity to take different types of photos, as well as learning to use picture editing software. RMT education officer Andy Gilchrist attended the launch of the exhibition along with some of Mark’s fellow photographers, colleagues and managers from South West Trains, and gave a short speech on the value of all types of adult learning. "Without the 'working together' approach of South West Trains and RMT around the Learning Agenda, this exhibition would never have happened and importantly these five people may never have found this hidden talent they possess. “We can only wonder what skills, talents, and abilities lay hidden amongst the workforce in South West trains. “RMT hopes that this example of everything that is good about the Union Learning work encourages all in South West trains to work together to make most of every employee's talents,” he said. BOURNEMOUTH STATION HOSTS PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION Mo receives his award from Hilary Benn MP MO RECEIVES HIS AWARD FROM HILARY BENN MP RMT ULR Mark Carter (centre) at opening of exhibition