ORGANISE!

18 The union has developed a far- reaching organsing strategy for this year to increase membership levels in every sector and grade that the union organises in. RMT membership now stands at over 87,000 which is a 28 per cent growth since 2002 which is a success story in itself. This is also a good basis from which to build even stronger membership levels in order to represent transport, maritime and offshore workers. This recruitment strategy will include a branch organising day around June 13 on the anniversary of Bob Crow's birthday. RMT South Essex branch secretary Derrick Marr proposed the idea at an RMT national organising strategy meeting held in Doncaster last year attended by regional organisers and regional council chairs and secretaries. The union agreed for all branches and regions to include the day as part of their organising plans that are now required under rule following the 2015 annual general meeting. “This event should be promoted every year along with other annual events in order to create a worthwhile memorial to Bob Crow and hopefully achieve the total membership figure Bob aspired to achieve of 100,000 members an actual reality,” he said. BRANCH PLANS The same meeting heard presentations from RMT general secretary Mick Cash and Alan Pottage of the organising unit which recognised that while the union’s success was based on the hard work in every region but there is a lot more work to be done. This included the need to develop branch plans and holding planning and development days to assist branches using a national template. Alan Pottage said that the union’s success was down to the fact that RMT was a strong union “because we fight, campaign and deliver on behalf of our members and we can only do this if we are well organised. “This means that it is essential that we fulfil our responsibilities to organise all workers who work in the industrial sections that we organise in,” he said. Mick Cash said that organising was now a core part of the union Rule Book. “The Rule book was agreed by our annual general meeting and these decisions are binding. “Our AGM in 2015 unanimously decided that all of our 221 local branches must have a plan to organise all workplaces within their area of responsibility,” he said. In order to help branches comply with their responsibilities a series of meetings have been held in all regions to help draw up plans of action. These branch plans are then submitted to the regional secretary who can then include all plans into their annual reports due each February. The implementation of the branch plan is crucial and progress will be reviewed at regional and national level. This includes ensuring that all workplace induction courses are covered by a union speaker. Elected reps are normally entitled to paid release to carry out this important function. They are also the most appropriate person to recruit and organise as they deal with the day-to-day issues relative to potential and existing members. It has been agreed that regional organisers and the ORGANISE! Organise in 2017 to increase RMT membership and bargaining power at the workplace