MAKING A DIFFERENCE

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: january 2013 2012 :: RMTnews 29 W hen I was voted in as East Sussex Coastway branch secretary back in 2009 I didn’t realise the role importance the RMT branch plays in the day to day running of the union and the monumental task I had in front of me, writes Neil Plummer. Branch attendance was poor, it had no structure and most members didn’t even realise the branch actually existed. With assistance from regional organiser Paul Cox, branch chairman Michael Hobden, vice chair Phil Tudgay, Matt Saunders, Keith Mitchell and Geoff Luck, we formed a fully functioning branch that could serve the members. We made sure that branch officials were spread across the grades we organise. This was time consuming but it paid off. Getting more people involved was always going to be tough but by simply talking to members and keeping them informed we got results. Posters with branch officials contact details were placed in workplaces, depots and mess rooms, making the union more accessible to members. They had somewhere to go in order to talk about any grievance, issue or support they may need from their union. Getting out to the members workplaces played an important part in making them aware that we were listening We elected health and safety reps, fully trained reps and officials at the union’s education centre in Doncaster and on TUC courses. We recruited reps for station staff and recruited Rail Gourmet members at Lewes and installed reps. We also created a highly successful East Sussex Coastway Facebook site, invited guest speakers, presented 10, 25 and 40 year badges to long serving members and sent activists on demonstrations in Brussels, Lille and London. In 2013 we plan to order a branch banner, send delegates to AGM, affiliate to the local Trades Council, attend more regional council meetings and become more involved nationally. Most importantly we will continue to fight for the interests of working class people. Last year brother Keith Mitchell was elected as branch secretary and I would like to wish him and the branch well. I remain heavily involved and will again stand for election. I would not have achieved this for the branch had it not been for the guidance, knowledge and support of very few good brothers and sisters and would like to thank Paul Cox, Stewart Cameron, Keith Mitchell, Geoff Luck, Michael Hobden, Matt Saunders,Phil Tudgay, Rafal Dabrowski, Jon Hewitt, Sebastian Lis, Zita Gutmane, Ray Cocoron, Andy Brown, Tony Goddard, Darren Proctor, Rita and Tony Rickman, Barbara Collison and all the staff at the education centre who treated me like family, Mown family, Jennie, Jamie and Jessica for putting up with me, Brian Denny and all the other people I have had the pleasure of meeting. I am here to stay and I would encourage all members to get involved with their branch, together we can all make a difference and become stronger as a union to defend our rights. GET INVOLVED AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE Neil, Rafal, Goergie, Geof and Neil’s son Jamie getting ready to march. New branch secretary Keith Mitchell