OBITUARY/BANNERS/LETTERS

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: september 2015 :: RMTnews 29 T he 2015 AGM agreed to replace the current five subscription rates of full time, part time, low rate, concessionary rate and apprentice rate with a full rate of £4.64 and new low rate of £2.00 which will be based on a pay threshold currently at £20,500 In addition to this, the AGM agreed that the low rate would be increased to approximately £2.00 by 1st January 2017 and transitional arrangements to phase in the increase from the current £1.28 to the new low rate by the 1st January 2017. We are now putting arrangements in place to comply with this decision From the 1st October 2015, any new member recruited in to the RMT whose basic salary or equivalent earnings is above £20,500 per annum shall pay £4.64 per week. Any new member recruited in to the RMT whose basic salary or equivalent earnings is below £20,500 per annum shall pay £2.00 per week. For those members who are currently paying £1.28 per week, the contribution rate will be changing to £1.50. For those members who are currently paying £2.32 per week, the contribution rate will be changing to £2.00. Direct debit payments will be amended accordingly as will contributions collected by employers under paybill deduction arrangements. Those sending cheques or postal orders direct will need to adjust the amounts sent in accordingly. Crewe no 1 branch banner unveiled by branch secretary Paul Howes, chair Pete Thomas and RMT regional organisors Sean McGowan and Daren Ireland I t is with deepest regret that North Clyde branch announces the sudden and untimely death of branch chair Andrew Elliot. Andrew became active in the union as soon as he joined the railway in 2004, regularly attending meetings, and became branch chair in 2012. He worked as a ticket examiner at Dalmuir and became company council rep for the grade in 2013 and represented the union as a Scottish and British TUC delegate as well as a regular RMT annual general meeting delegate. Andrew was also a Union Learning rep and qualified as a tutor teaching members in various grades and companies all over Britain. Nothing was too much trouble for him when representing members whether it was industrial or educational. He was the only RMT to stand as a candidate for No2EU in the 2014 European elections and as a candidate for TUSC at the 2015 general election. Andrew was a passionate member of the Tartan Army, travelling all over Europe supporting Scotland’s football team. He will be missed by the branch and the wider trade union movement. Dear editor, In the last issue of RMT News Andrew Beere appeals as a Labour councillor, for reality to break out, does he mean his kind of reality? The reality of the Labour Party deserting the people it is supposed to represent, the party that threw out the RMT, one of the founding members of the Labour party, that kind of reality Mr Beere? Or the reality of the various broken Labour promises, of the war monger Blair, all the privatisations, Iraq, Afghanistan, Banker bonuses, Labour leaders and Ministers crossing picket lines, supporting continuing austerity, supporting academy schools, and of course refusing to renationalise the railways after promising again and again that they would. Or the reality of the timidity in proposing only a 50 per cent tax rate on the rich, is it those kind of realities Mr Beere? Mr Beere, perhaps like me, many people did not leave the Labour party, it left them and perhaps, like me, we are sick to death of the ‘jam tomorrow’, ‘don’t rock the boat’ attitudes. That is nothing to do with Marx or our president voting for Greens, Mr Beere. More to do with the warts and all you mention. Basically you want us believe that no matter what the Labour Party do, it’s better to vote for them. Like turkeys vote for Christmas. I have no doubt that Mr Beere means well and may be a very committed member of the party, but personally I am sick to death of Labour Party members telling the trade unions how to think and act. I am sure if I were to lecture him on what I thought the Labour party policies should be, he would baulk at the idea. Mr Beere, it’s very kind of you to share your experience as a councillor and explain to us, in simple terms, your analysis of the Parliamentary system and collectivism, something we surely would never have thought of, Oh wait a minute! Mr Beere, believe me, we woke up to reality a long time ago just not your version of it. Greg Hewitt Brighton & Hove RMT LABOUR REALITY? Obituary ANDREW ELLIOT 23/7/1980 – 31/7/2015 NOTIFICATION OF CHANGES TO CONTRIBUTION RATES