WOMEN’S COURSE

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: march 2012 :: RMTnews 19 Recently I attended a two-day RMT course for women in the London Transport region run by the Workers' Educational Association. Council of Executives representative Janine Booth told me about it and I jumped at the chance to go. The course highlighted issues of sexism and issues women face in the workplace. There were activities, discussions and debates. I learnt a lot about the structures of the union and how to become more involved. This course was extremely interesting and very informative as well as fun. One highlight was our guest speaker, historian and writer Dr Louise Raw who talked about the match women's strike of 1888. Annie Besant was drawn into this battle around 'New Unionism' by a young socialist, Herbert Burrows. He had made contact with workers at Bryant and May's match factory in Bow, east London, who were mainly young women and were very poorly paid. They were also prey to industrial illnesses, like the bone-rotting 'phossy jaw', which was caused by the chemicals used in match manufacture. Some of the match workers asked for help from Burrows and Besant in setting up a union. Besant met the women and they set up a committee, which led the women into a strike for better pay and conditions, an action that won public support. Besant led demonstrations by 'match-girls', who were cheered in the streets, and prominent churchmen gave their support. In just over a week they forced the firm to improve pay and conditions. Besant then helped them to set up a proper union and a social centre. I would highly recommend this particular course. COURSE: Suzanne Lewis, LU Engineering branch, Maria Atkins, Harrow-on-the-Hill stations rep and Nora Sullivan, Euston stations group industry, with communities hit at every level, said Mary Jane Herbison, Glasgow. The cuts affected every area of life – from air ambulances to buses, coastguards and leisure facilities, said Penny Calcutt, Sheffield. Even before McNulty, staff cuts had already created problems of under-staffing and difficulty in taking breaks and people being denied the chance to work flexibly, said Beverley Harris, St Pancras. “The ConDems are tearing apart everything we have fought for over the years, and the time has come to make a stand,” Beverley said. 19TH CENTURY SEXISM Too many employers are still perpetuating 19th-century sexism in the workplace, delegates agreed. Analysing the results of the union’s survey of women members, Janine Booth noted that nearly three-quarters of respondents believed there was a sexist culture in their workplace. The survey had shown that basic sexist language and attitudes – including chestnuts like women should stay at home with the children – remained far too prevalent, and two-thirds believed their employer was not doing enough to challenge it, said Janine. Where employers had domestic violence policies, they might look good on paper, but all too often they were not being implemented, noted Sheryl Dennis, Waltham Cross. SOLIDARITY WINS, SAYS CAROLE Guest speaker Carole Vallelly brought greetings from the South West TUC’s women’s committee and commended RMT’s support for 150 hospital domestic workers striking against a culture of bullying by Carillion at Swindon’s Great Western Hospital. After a near-unanimous ballot, the largely Goan workforce had already taken seven days of strike action, seeking an end to bullying and discrimination, a fair holiday scheme and recognition for their union, GMB. RMT general secretary Bob Crow had responded swiftly to a call from Paul Kenny, his counterpart at GMB, by pressing for the London Transport pension fund to disinvest in Semperian, the hospital’s PFI owner, if the dispute remained unsettled. Carole also recounted the inspiring story of the Ascott Martyrs, 16 women from Ascott- under-Wychwood in Oxfordshire who were imprisoned in 1873 after trying to persuade men from the next village taking the jobs of men who had been dismissed for joining the newly formed Agricultural Workers’ Union. Their prison sentences had been greeted by a demonstration of 3,000 people, and the episode remained an example of solidarity, said Carole. • The 125th anniversary of the Bow match-women’s strike should be celebrated by the union with a rally, publicity and a commemorative plaque, delegates agreed. The dangerous and oppressive conditions they had faced were detailed by Brenda Sutton, Piccadilly and District Line West, who said that the 1,400-strong strike remained an inspiring example of solidarity. • RMT should produce a regular women’s newsletter, delegates agreed. • The union should support the work of Sindyanna, a women workers’ co-operative associated with the Workers’ Advice Centre in Galilee, conference agreed, asking that the union explore the possibility of promoting its fair-trade merchandise. • Conference chair Janet Cassidy paid tribute to the “fantasic work” for the women’s committee done by Pat Wilkinson, who has retired, and welcomed her successor as RMT equalities officer, Jess Webb. • The 2013 women’s conference will be in Nottingham WOMEN’S COURSE Victoria Line driver Charlie Rayment reports on an RMT women's course