PRESI DENT’ S COLUMN

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: march 2016 :: RMTnews 21 President’s column I recently joined with national executive committee members and officers to stand with junior doctors on the picket lines at their local hospital in Euston to show solidarity at this crucial point in their fight for justice. RMT stands in full support of our junior doctors as once again they are forced to take industrial action in defence of the basic principle of decent working conditions for NHS staff who work round the clock saving lives. The NHS is the cornerstone of the post-war welfare state and it falls to the entire trade union movement to line up alongside those prepared to take action to defend it. This wonderful service is not only under attack from the Tories but by a secretive EU/US ‘trade deal’ called the Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). This deal would institutionalise irreversible mass privatisation of public services that working people rely on and create secret courts that would allow transnational corporations to sue nation states for huge sums of. This is one more reason to vote to leave the EU on June 23. Conference season is upon us and we have the new concept of organising conferences up and running. It will be interesting to see how these are received and developed going forward by you the members. My first conference as president was the young members’ conference held in Canterbury. Conference president George Waterhouse and vice-president Chris Hodds both did a sterling job of running affairs before they handed over their positions to Lorna Tooley and Dom Hill who I’m sure will continue the good work. Judging by how the delegates conducted themselves the future of the union is safe in their hands. I was warned that the night out with the young members is "legendary" but I have to admit that my staying power isn’t what it once was and I’m sure I was first to call it a night! The organising conference of supervisory clerical and other salaried grades took me to Great Yarmouth. It was a well organised event with Michael Campbell as president and Richard Walker as secretary at the helm. I also attended South Hants and Eastleigh Workshops branch along with the senior assistant general secretary. It was a pleasure to present long service awards to a number of members, including an old friend; Steve Riggott and two 50-year members. I’m also pleased to say that our new 50-year membership badge will be available shortly. “A man is but the product of his thoughts. What he thinks, he becomes." Gandhi In Solidarity, Sean Hoyle SOLIDARITY Dear editor, I have just returned from attending the RMT national women's advisory conference which was the 25th anniversary of the meeting held in 1992. I found this out thanks to sister Ann Henderson who found a copy of the Transport Review dated May 22, 1992. The women's advisory committee was set up in 1988 and at the conference our now general secretary Mick Cash, who was then an executive member, gave a report on the progress made since the inauguration of the NWAC. At that conference a man chaired but rest assured that was soon put right. At that time 18 District Councils were represented and female members were urged to put themselves forward and fill vacancies. The committee campaigned on sexual harassment and guidelines on how to handle cases was put on all reps courses. A resolution from Neasden 3 branch urged the executive to commission a study of pay scales to identify where equal value claims could be fought. RMT president at that time was John Cogger and the assistant general secretary was Wilf Proudfoot who chaired this first conference and foresaw a difficult period ahead for women after Labour's election defeat. The Tories had made it clear that they intended to encroach in all aspects of passenger service, some things don't change. I was fortunate to attend that conference and every one since and it would be interesting to know where are the women who attended that first meeting. Each conference seems to get bigger attendance and long may it continue but the fight goes on and some issues never seem to go away. Janet Cassidy North Clyde Branch 25 YEARS OF WOMEN’S CONFERENCE