PRESIDENT’S COLUMN

I attended the 150th Trade Union Congress in Manchester this month. People who know me would probably say that I’m not the TUC’s biggest fan. Years of watching motions being passed and then very little being done about them has, I have to admit left me fairly sceptical. A resolution was carried in 2013 seconded by Bob Crow calling for a general strike and all we got was a bus tour around the country to gauge opinion! In 2016 I moved a successful motion that called for an urgent conference to formulate our fight-back against the “Anti” Trade Union Act. Two years on and we are still waiting. This year Frances O’Grady headlined her speech calling for a four-day week. But when you look at what she actually said, it’s hardly inspiring; “I believe that in this century we can win a four-day working week, with decent pay for everyone”. Now, as we are only eighteen years into the century, it would appear that the TUC have set themselves an 82 Year target! None of us working today will ever know if they succeed, but good luck. Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell addressed conference and, as ever, delivered a speech for the many, not the few. The promise to repeal the 2016 “Anti” Trade Union Act within the first one hundred days of a Labour government is great but still doesn’t go far enough. Our union has learned through years of experience that the most effective way to win for our members is to take effective industrial action. Pledging to repeal the Act will undo only the most recent shackle on our unions. It will only take us back to 2015, when we were still tightly bound by onerous balloting requirements, restrictions on what we were allowed to strike about and controls on our political spending and more. We need all anti-union laws repealed! We also want positive rights enshrined in law; most importantly, the right to strike, including over political demands and in solidarity with others. As Bob Crow always argued, we want to repeal and replace these laws: we want to reclaim our rights. I’m pleased with the socialist direction that Jeremy Corbyn, John McDonnell and some notable others have taken over the last three years, and note that LP recent conferences have voted unanimously for the repeal of all the laws that restrict effective trade unionism. With Jeremy’s leadership being attacked by the media, the Tories and the employers, he needs our continued support to ensure that the socialist direction not only continues but picks up speed and, if anything, becomes even more radical. Turkish journalist Sarya Tunc visited our union recently and it was a privilege to welcome her into our boardroom. She explained how journalists risk losing their liberty and often their lives by simply doing their job. A third of the journalists jailed throughout the world are currently in Turkish prisons. Sarya would like the opportunity to speak at meetings anywhere in the country to raise awareness and I am confident she will be welcomed with love and solidarity. In memory of our former RMT regional organiser Stan Herschel: Bury me quick, Bury me deep, Off to the pub, please don’t weep. Have a laugh, Have a joke, If you’re on Facebook, Give me a poke. Talk of the old times, The things I’ve done. Some were serious, Most were fun. Remember the good, The crazy, the sad. Not always your favourite, But I was your dad. To my colleagues, I hope I inspired, may you continue the fight, never tire. My friends, my friends, I knew who you were, Always there to listen And to confer. (Stan Herschel 18.10.1953 – 30.08.2018) In Solidarity Sean Hoyle President’s column THE 82 YEAR PLAN RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: september 2018 :: RMTnews 23 activists and other union members in solidarity all came to picket the store to support her. Picketing of the other stores also began around the country and all the time, the publicity was raising awareness of sexual harassment, a taboo subject at the time. The key message was if you have a union and solidarity behind you then you can change conditions in the workplace. Other speakers included the author of the book ‘Blacklisted’ Dave Smith, a MacDonald’s worker from Manchester who had been involved in organising strike action and Bakers Union president Ian Hodson. The key messages from this highly productive and informative conference were: • The law does not improve safety – many examples have shown that workers have improved working conditions by their actions • Safety reps are invaluable in the workplace and should be treated as such by management. • HSE reduction in inspections – It is more important that reps are allowed to carry out their quarterly inspections and given adequate facility time • Reps need to ensure that their employers allow them to attend training • The TUC is campaigning for a Mental Health at Work Act with clear process and regulation • Reps need to cover Mental Health and Wellbeing in safety meetings as an agenda item Hazards also produce bi- monthly regional and national magazines son issues affecting safety reps and global workplace safety issues such as asbestos. For more info: http://www.hazardscampaign.org.uk