AWARDS/WEB HIT

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: january 2014 :: RMTnews 28 Doncaster branch presents Mark Hirst with his 25 year award at its annual general meeting RMT general secretary Bob Crow dropped in on Birmingham taxi branch members following a recent breakthrough which gives the branch negotiating rights with Birmingham City council. It is also the fastest growing branch in the union with 800 members. S ince RMT launched the totally redesigned and retooled website a few months ago the number of hits has rocketed from around 100,000 per month on the old site to an amazing 1.5 million per month. Visitors also now stay on the site for an average of 60 per cent longer than before. Furthermore, improved search engine optimisation means that Google referrals to the new website have quadrupled that of the old site. Fully optimised for both desktop and mobile use, and supporting a wealth of new functionality, the new site prioritises the campaigning focus of the union and delivers instant news and information to members whilst allowing users to customise their preferences with subscription-based email updates and campaign newsletters. Additional developments such as E-petitions, online polls and a range of targeted template letters that can be sent via email or post allows RMT to harness the full range of digital campaigning tools that were previously the preserve of specialist websites such as Labour Start. This new function enables the user to simply enter their postcode into the site, whereupon the relevant details of their local MP are automatically found and then populated into the template letter or email, ready for sending. Specific campaigns can now be customised so that template e-mails can be sent directly to targeted individuals so that we can instantly get the ear of the people who have the power to influence, or alter, strategy. Chief Executives, company directors, councillors and politicians can all be held personally to account. A perfect example of this tool can be found in the current campaign against job cuts on London Underground where we encourage members and visitors alike to email London mayor Boris Johnson and let him know why job cuts are unacceptable. To add your voice to the thousands that have already done so simply visit www.rmt.org.uk/ everyjobmatters/ With news items updated daily, a fully integrated members’ area and with easy access to all the unions’ event details and reps resources the new website puts the user firmly in control of this comprehensive range of online tools. With the undoubted success of the new website in mind the Communications Department is now fully focussed on designing and developing an app for members’ smartphone and tablet devices to further enhance RMTs considerable online presence. We’re All In It Together is a stunning, overtly political 33 track double CD featuring some of Britain’s most renowned and respected artists, including Eddi Reader, Thea Gilmore, Paul Heaton (Beautiful South) and Show of Hands, who have come together to ‘protest and survive’. This benefit album for the Morning Star newspaper – named after the spurious term uttered at the 2010 Tory Party conference by David Cameron – explodes the myth that culture is no longer political. With an introduction by veteran campaigner Tony Benn, these songs support peace and democracy, oppose corporate power, support freedom of speech, expose the harm caused by greedy banks and highlight their effects on ordinary people. All artists donated their tracks. We’re All In It Together is available to RMT members for just £12. Send cheques made payable to Red Planet Records to c/o Unity House, 39 Chalton Street London NW1 1JD. CD OFFER TO RMT MEMBERS DONCASTER AWARD BIRMINGHAM TAXI BRANCH WIN RECOGNITION RIGHTS WEB HIT