YOUNG MEMBERS DISCUSS POLITICS

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: march 2014 :: RMTnews 26 Young members’ conference opened in Edinburgh on the case for independence for Scotland from a socialist perspective by John Milligan who gave history of Scotland and outlined his reasons as to why Scotland should vote yes to independence. The upcoming referendum is of further significance to young members as it is offering an electoral voice to 16 and 17 year olds, a fact not lost on delegates and confirmed by a resolution calling on RMT to campaign for a reduction on the voting age to 16 for all forthcoming elections. RMT general secretary Bob Crow explained why RMT was supporting the No2EU electoral coalition in European elections on May 22 under the slogan Yes to workers’ rights. He cited the example of the EU’s proposed Fourth Railway Package, which will mean that all rail services across Europe must be put out for private tender, as proof that the EU exists solely to promote privatisation and to destroy the welfare state. He said that EU structures were all about increasing corporate profits, creating a race to the bottom in terms of pay and social welfare. The solution, therefore, was to forge a new future free from the restrictive practices and constraints issued from the European Union. A motion also urged RMT to mount a campaign to encourage young members to register to vote, creating a lively debate where it was clear that young members feel that an increasing number of their peers are disenfranchised and that greater efforts must be made to engage politically with all members of society irrespective of age. A further motion called on the union to do more to engage with apprentices and to address the issue of violence towards young workers by developing a charter of protection demanding that employers create and adhere to workplace violence policies. People’s Assembly national secretary Sam Fairbairn explained how his organisation aimed to link disparate campaigns to bring about a unified front against austerity so that people can be mobilised and a nationally coordinated response can be planned. Sam praised RMT over the success of the recent London Underground strike and how it demonstrated a change of mood and growing opposition to Con Dem austerity. Young members also invited Mel Hepworth to speak about the thirtieth anniversary of the miners’ strike after he set up a facebook page on the issue. He gave an illuminating and passionate potted history of the dispute that saw the miners out on strike for over a year. Bob Crow also recalled that when he was a young member he had seen NUM representatives speak at the RMT AGM. Bob said that the media had ran a smear campaign against the miners and that it was important that we share the realities of these struggles and this was why RMT invested so heavily in education for its members. Bob said that it was vital that every member who comes away from the union’s education centre in Doncaster must take what they have learned back with them to their workplace, their branch and their company and regional councils. “The more trained representatives we have on the factory floor the better it is to fight against the continued regime of austerity and the on- going attacks on workers terms and conditions,” he said. YOUNG MEMBERS DISCUSS POLITICS Young members discuss Scottish independence, No2EU, ending workplace violence and much more