PRESIDENT’S COLUMN

21 President’s column I have been out and about visiting branches covering many grades including rail, bus and shipping as well as Wessex Regional Council. All these were very well attended, with the exception of one (which shall remain nameless), but even that was well attended, albeit with retired members who are vital in our union. You can never get too much experience. All the meetings were vibrant and full of discussions and debate on every subject imaginable. Every debate, even where there was disagreement, was carried out in good spirit with no dissent against the democratic decisions that were taken. This is really refreshing to see, and gives the truth to our union’s motto ‘unity is strength’, something that we should remember when we elect a new general secretary. We will have to get behind whoever it is 100 per cent and continue to move the movement forward. Two subjects of discussion that stood out were the on-going events and demonstrations around the McNulty report, and the forthcoming ballot on the political fund ballot. It is vital that we keep up the pressure on McNulty, especially as we are now seeing part of it being enacted now. Ticket office closures on London Underground and the continued attempts by TOCs to introduce driver only trains everywhere. I know that we have the public on our side and we must carrying fighting this with every weapon that we have. We also need to remember that it was a Labour government who commissioned McNulty so we can expect no help from them if they win the next election. I was especially pleased to see the issue of the political fund ballot being debated. It is essential that we get a yes vote. It is not about donating money to political parties it is about having a fund that can be used for campaigning. Campaigns against McNulty, DOO, fight against zero hours, closure of booking offices, the continuing fight for renationalisation of our railways, regulation of buses, end of flags of convenience, and safer conditions in the offshore industry. So it’s over to you to make sure everyone votes and votes yes. All these visits have reminded me of the importance of branches. Nothing can beat face to face meetings and human interaction. Social media may have a place, but they can never replace branch meetings. In our upcoming reorganisation of the union, I am certain that branches will continue to be allowed to carry on the sterling work that they do. Finally I want to talk about a visit I paid to Northampton. It was in connection to an organisation called Community Court Yard which RMT donated money to earlier this year. Last year Bianca Todd, the granddaughter of the great trade union leader Ron Todd, came to see Bob Crow to ask for his help in a ‘Buy a Brick’ campaign to help develop Ron Todd House. This will be used to help trade union members who are suffering eviction, because of the government’s attacks on welfare, a place for them to go to seek help. The work that this organisation is putting in to help people is unbelievable, their commitment second to none. I would like to thank Bianca, her partner Steve, and her parents Peter and Jean for their warm welcome to me and for a very informative day. As Bianca said to me “socialism is about caring, and helping each other”. A very true statement and one we should remember. Peter Pinkney OUT AND ABOUT MNR volenteer Richard Baxter operating costs. With the withdrawal of the passenger service from King’s Lynn in 1968 followed by the service between Wymondham and Dereham in 1969, a century of railway history had been brought to an end. Or it would have been but for a great deal of time, effort and sweat that has been put into making the Mid-Norfolk Railway the success that it undoubtedly is. Volunteer Richard Barber, the proud owner of a Class 50 diesel locomotive, cheerfully expects the line to be extended to County School station six miles to the north. “The MNR has a good future, we are connected to the mainline which is a big advantage for a heritage railway and I expect to spend my retirement being part of that expansion,” he says proudly. Our guard for the hazardous World War Two journey to Wymondham Abbey is Leslie Dale who is not only a volunteer but an MNR director as well. A retired engineer, Leslie explains that that the Mid- Norfolk Railway is a registered charity dependent upon its customers and charitable donations for its income. “MNR is trying to develop its business in a way which will bring more tourism revenues into the local economies along its line to Wymondham,” he says. RMT has long-argued that the heritage rail sector deserves government support in order to develop local economies in exactly the way MNR is endeavouring to maintain. The union represents full- time and volunteer workers up and down the country in this unusual and dynamic sector. A few years ago annual general meeting delegates unanimously backed a political campaign to win government support to ensure that heritage railways can prosper and develop as part of a national integrated transport system. For Mid-Norfolk Railway train times ring 01362 690633 or 01362 851723 for talking timetable or visit the website www.mnr.org.uk