LGBT CONFERENCE DISCUSSES CAMPAIGNING FOLLOWING THE ELECTION OF A TORY GOVERNMENT

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: june 2015 :: RMTnews 20 T he Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender advisory conference called for renewed campaigning against UKIP, promoting rights for LGBT people and showing solidarity with Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners pride initiative later this year. Opening conference, RMT general secretary Mick Cash was candid about the reasons why UKIP polled nearly 4m votes in the general election. He said: “Members of ours will have voted UKIP. “We have our work cut out politically and industrially and should start to deal with the issues being raised not just demonise political parties. “We need to have a debate with what policies can promote and support working people. “Sooner or later we have to get our act together - we need to get proper bums on seats in the palace of Westminister. “We should promote socialist policies and working class unity and we will only continue to support politicians who support our policies. “There will be more time and effort spent on campaigning, such as supporting the pride events this year and I commit myself to march with you on the day. “It is important we celebrate land marks – we have achieved a lot but got a lot more to do on equalities,” he said. Conference heard several key note speakers including Mike Jackson – a leading activist from the Lesbian and Gays Support the Miners. Mr Jackson, who was active in the solidarity group which recently received international recognition for its outstanding fundraising around the miner’s strike of 1984 through the film “Pride”, spoke passionately about his involvement in the movement. He recalled how he first got into the organisation when he was approached by Young Communist League general secretary Mark Ashton. “After Thatcher attacked the miners and took away their funds, my mate Mark said to me - do you fancy collecting for the miners? “At that time there was no legislation to protect gay people – employer was free to sack you at will. “Mark was politically savvy so we decided to collect money for the miners outside gay pubs book shops and Camden town tube station. “We met weekly and the group steadily grew. “Our motivation was that this was about unconditionally supporting the miners as the attack from Tory government was an attack on trade unions in general,” he said. He heaped praise on the National Union of Mineworkers who created policy to recognise gay rights after the strike was over. “All the equalities legislation RMT members join first Birmingham Pride march LGBT CONFERENCE DISCUSSES CAMPAIGNING FOLLOWING THE ELECTION OF A TORY GOVERNMENT