OBITUARY - GEOFF REVELL

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: february 2016 :: RMTnews 28 Geoff Revell sadly passed away on the 13th January surrounded by family and friends. Geoff was well-known to thousands of RMT members as a result of a lifetime spent fighting and campaigning. He made his mark on events leaving a lasting impression on each and everyone with whom he came into contact during a long, varied and profound journey in seeking justice for working men and women at home and across the world. Geoff had been active since he was a young man back in the 1960s but many members will have recently been inspired by Geoff during their training course for union reps. Geoff spoke during the Wednesday afternoon Organising slot and captivated each and every class. His presentation covered the history of our union, placing it within the political and industrial landscape. He pulled no punches when it came to attacking the enemies of our union, especially the Bullingdon boys and their ilk. His unique style never failed to inspire. Members would leave our Bob Crow National Education Centre inspired and ready to fight. Geoff was elected to the National Executive Committee of the NUR in 1979. Also elected that year was the despicable Thatcher Government. She began an assault on Trade Unions that continues to this day, wholesale closures, ruthless privatisations and laid waste to communities throughout the land. Geoff helped inform us and understand what our Union and the wider movement faced at that time. He guided the project which produced the book – ‘Never on Our Knees' which is a history of the RMT during the period 1979 -2006. A history in which he played a significant part. Read it and you will see that despite the onslaught of the Thatcher government, the continuation of Tory policies by New Labour and their abandonment of the working class our Union fought back and throughout was true to out roots of industrial trade unionism. Geoff understood completely that what was required was rank and file control through the democratic structures of the Union. He comments in the book "---within the RMT it doesn't matter what job anybody does, it's our union. That makes people proud of our organisation. They then are more willing to take on the bosses. As long as the union uses its resources to back people up in struggle instead of acting as a policeman, we remain as one. The railway, shipping, offshore and bus companies may be split up but we are not. The union is not the centre, the union is everywhere ---" Geoff's commitment to our union was ensuring that our members' voices were heard and the leadership was accountable to the members. He was a Obituary FAREWELL TO A RMT FIGHTER John Milligan reflects on the life of Geoff Revell