RMT AT STUC

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: may 2017 :: RMTnews 14 RMT sent a full delegation to the 120th Scottish TUC held in Aviemore last month and moved motions on the crisis in the offshore industry and the maritime industries, driver-only operation and on calling for public ownership of the Scotrail franchise currently run by the Dutch state-owned company Abellio. Surprise speakers included Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn who received a standing. He said that the election was between a party of the privilege and a Labour Party prepared to challenge those powerful interests to transform the lives of working people. The Labour Leader pledged to scrap the Trade Union Act and introduce sectoral collective bargaining and to aggressively take on the tax evaders by making large corporations publish their tax returns. He also pledged a £10 per hour minimum wage and a ban on zero-hours contracts. Congress also welcomed film director Ken Loach who spoke about the sanction regime of the DWP and the effect it was having on claimants who had to visit food banks. He said that the new regime of people coming off Work Capability Assessments (WCA) onto the new Independence Payment Assessments (IPA) often meant that disabled people were being sanctioned and had benefits stopped. Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon also accused Theresa May of calling an election in order to crush dissent and escape prosecution for election fraud against those 30 Tory MPs under investigation. She warned that a Tory victory will make Scotland a poorer country and lead to a more unfair society, and that the Scottish Government would not comply with the draconian provisions of the Trade Union Act. RMT regional organise Jake Molloy was re-elected on to the STUC General Council with an increased vote and Janet Cassidy retained her seat in the women's section. R MT has worked in conjunction with Seafarers UK to establish a bursary for financial assistance towards education, training and learning opportunities for current and former RMT seafarer members. I AM A CURRENT OR FORMER RMT SEAFARER MEMBER, WHY SHOULD I APPLY? The opportunities for development, promotion or mobility in any industry is often linked to training and educational qualifications, the seafaring industry is no different. Often the only barrier that an individual cannot overcome is often a modest amount of financial assistance – this bursary is set up to help overcome this barrier. WHO IS SEAFARERS UK? Seafarers UK has been helping people in the maritime community for 100 years, by providing vital support to seafarers in need and their families, and to those in education or training who are preparing to work or serve at sea. The charity does this by giving grants to organisations and projects that make a real difference to people’s lives.' RMT is re-launching its Seafarers Bursary in conjunction with Seafarers UK. This relatively modest Bursary offers excellent opportunities to take up training or educational courses to enhance current or potential employment opportunities. The average bursary to be granted is envisaged as being not more than £400 per applicant. Applications for funding should be aimed at meeting the following criteria: That the learning/training funding being applied for can be demonstrated to enhance the seafarers’ employment opportunities both directly in the seafaring industries or the individuals’ overall employment more generally. Applicants should complete the attached application form fully and forward to, National Education Officer, Bob Crow National Education Centre, 47 Thorne Road, Doncaster, DN1 2EX. All applications will be checked against the criteria for such grants and the application forwarded to the General Secretary setting out if the application meets the criteria. The General Secretary will make a final decision to award the grant or not and inform the applicant accordingly in writing. Should the applicant not accept the decision of the general secretary they will have the right of appeal to the National Executive Committee. The union hopes that all seafarer members, past and present, will consider taking up the opportunity this bursary offers. RMT AT STUC RMT SEAFARERS BURSARY