ORGANISING BUS WORKERS

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: april/may 2014 :: RMTnews 10 Organising and recruiting is the key to building the union agreed a packed bus workers conference meeting in Falmouth, Cornwall. Conference called on the union to produce a recruitment pack designed specifically for bus workers. Dave Gilbey, South Devon Bus said that over 7,000 RMT members were bus workers, making up nearly 10 per cent of the membership. “In order to increase that membership we need to organise new members as quickly as possible. “To do that we should be able to hand them an information pack to new comers tell them what we can do from them,” he said. He said that organising workers was the most important part of the work of the branch. Conference also called on the union to encourage regional organisers to visit and work with bus branches more closely to encourage branch members to attend their grades conference and provide financial backing through the regional councils if required. After a minute’s clapping in memory of the late general secretary Bob Crow, RMT president Peter Pinkney paid tribute to his leadership of the union. He said that Bob took the union forward in many ways including building the membership, developing the education centre in Doncaster and making links internationally. “Bob made his vision into reality by creating a strong fighting union and we must carry that vision forward. Alan Pottage, organising unit said that every member should be an organiser and a recruiter in order to strengthen the union in the workplace. “Bob had a vision to build this union to 100,000 members before he retired we should continue with that vision as a tribute to him,” he said. Acting general secretary Mick Cash introduced the written report to conference distributed to delegates outlining the work of the union which is also available from head office. He asked delegates to join him on May Day in London to mark the memory of Bob Crow. “We will be leading the march to show the world the esteem we held Bob in and our determination to remain united as a union,” he said. PUBLIC TRANSPORT GRANTS Conference called on the union to mount a campaign to ensure that all funds and grants from central and local government intended to be used to provide public transport are ring-fenced. Paul Rossiter, South Devon Bus warned that due to the ever growing reduction of bus services in rural and urban areas, funds and grants were being siphoned off to pay for other things. “This government removed the ring fencing of funds for public transport and we need to see that reversed in order to save our industry,” he said. Dave Gilbey said that Torquay had Tory-run council which did not care about bus services particularly in outlying areas. “Elderly passengers may have ORGANISING B Bus workers conference discusses how to save the bus industry and build the union to represent the grade