EDUCATION AND ULR CONFERENCES

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: april 2019 :: RMTnews 14 The national education advisory conference took place in Doncaster last month with a record turnout of ULRs, tutors, regional education officers and other members interested in the learning and education within the union. NEC member Paul Shaw reported back on the RMT education and learning bursary scheme and accreditation for RMT education courses. There were lively debate on issues from reps accreditation ID, anti-fascist activity and how the education agenda can help the resistance to a concerted push from the far-right. Education can also be used to help members to understand how outsourcing and agency working can make them vulnerable workers, how it works and how endemic it has become within many work places. RMT senior assistant general secretary Steve Hedley spoke of the issues facing the union at present, with disputes in many places. He n applauded the work of national education officer Andy Gilchrist and the workload he and his team manage. “We are producing well trained and confident reps to go out there and do their stuff. “It is important that whilst we equip reps with the tools to support our members when being disciplined it was equally important that they understood the wider picture, how the system we work under came to be and what we should be doing to change that system of fear and intimidation,” he said. Conference Chair Mary Jane Herbison said:"It was a great conference which showed the passion members had for learning and education in their union. What we achieve as a union is far more than most and our members are central to that". ULR BRIEFINGS Over 60 ULRs also attended a two day event in Doncaster including discussion and planning activities for ULRs such as Round 20 of the RMT Learning project which has been expanded to meet the increased scope of the project. In 2017 the team was scaled down due to a cut in funding and had to entrench itself in order to survive and deliver as much support as was practicable to a limited number of ULRs within Network Rail. However this year saw a significant expansion back into the other sectors of RMT spheres of influence with lead learning organisers across the country, in Network Rail and the maritime sector. A video message from general secretary Mick Cash set the stall out for conference as EDUCATION AND ULR CONFERENCES RMT educators gathered in Doncaster last month for an national education advisory conference and briefings for ULR’s