RMT BEMAC CONFERENCE

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: april 2016 :: RMTnews 26 L ast month 12 woman delegates from around the country attended the British TUC women's conference at Congress House in London. The main theme of the conference was to inspire the lives of women in our communities to join a trade union and be active members. The RMT delegation spoke on various motions one introduced by Mary Jane Herbison on the role women have in our society as a carer. Nearly 60 per cent of full- time female workers with family caring responsibilities have considered resigning from their jobs due to the difficulty balancing their carers duties with work commitments. Our motion called on the TUC to press for stronger rights in DELEGATES: from left to right Janine Booth, Ann Mooney, Millie Apedo-Amah, Jennifer Gray, Christine Willett, Cat Cray, Katherine Burke, Shirley Fulton, Mary Jane Herbison, Ann Joss, Kathleen Gaughan, Eileen Orrell. A full report will appear in the next issue of RMT News. R MT Black and Ethnic Minority members packed out the Mercure Manchester last month, condemning the recent spate of murders of black people in the United States and declaring solidarity with the Black Lives Matters movement. Moving the unanimously backed motion, RMT veteran Frank Murray said: “The death rate of Americans of African heritage is 5 times that of whites. The atrocities go on a regular basis. Worried about police cracking down on young black people in the UK, Mr Murray added: “Here we have stop and search. What we are saying what is happening is something that the whole country should be aware of. The RMT should get behind this and spearhead a movement. We are championing United Friends and Family who are campaigning about black deaths in custody.” Seconding the motion, Bakerloo branch delegate Leon Brumant said: “This can be a massive organising tool for black and ethnic minority workers, as it will show the RMT is about raising awareness for the problems in our community.” Keeping with the theme of solidarity with black liberation struggles in the United States, BEMAC members also passed a motion of legendary black communist Paul Robeson. Moving the unanimously backed motion, Finsbury Park delegate, Glenroy Watson praised Robeson for his support RMT BEMAC CONFERENCE RMT AT WOMEN’S TUC