PRESIDENT’S COLUMN

Well what a quick month with day to day business of our union, I feel as though I had just wrote a column last week. However when we look back I know a lot as happened I attended Banners held high which was a great day with so many union banners and attendees old and new like myself, but what a fantastic atmosphere, stalls, food and great music one of which is a favourite of mine Joe Solo. Great speaker’s too but my hat goes off to our very own Senior Assistant General Secretary Steve Hedley, who got a rousing round of applause from the crowd. We RMT Members present also got a quick stage presence and mention for our RFA members whilst all wearing T-shirts to generate debate and now with a mandate delivered from the rank and file we can deliver the pay rise they deserve with all the work they do going unnoticed and under the radar so well done to everyone involved in delivering the result. I also attended the Bob Crow Celebration, which was an amazing night with good comrades and friends photographs from his life and beautiful tributes from many guest speakers which had us laughing and crying remembering the unique man Bob was and how lucky we were to have him as our General Secretary to shape and motivate every member and activist I am very proud to have been part of that! I also wore a T- shirt with a famous quote from Bob which has gone back to our great friends in the CGT in France. It must also be mentioned, Our General Secretary Mick Cash and I did a duet to raise money for The British Heart Foundation, however we take no responsibility for anyone’s hearing. I am now getting closer to presiding over my first Agm with a mixture of excitement and nerves in equal measure and hope everyone attending whether an old hand or first time delegate enjoy whilst delivering the business for our 80,000 plus members. On a more serious note Tory leader May has gone, but with a greater threat of those who are running being a bigger danger to our society, when such a party can invite and be proud of a Gobshite like Trump it’s time all working class people got together to defend our National Health Service, and organise together for a stronger future what our fore fathers built for us, we must protect with all our might and Labour may not have all the answer but they are the only answer to ridding the Tories from government so please use your vote to make this happen in the next General Election which must only be weeks away with no majority in the House of Commons! Solidarity Michelle President’s column A BUSY MONTH RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: june 2019 :: RMTnews 23 Bosworth. In the 1980s, the Battlefield Line launched a campaign to extend their line to Shenton. This involved buying 1 1⁄2 miles of track and in 1992 after a successful campaign, the inaugural service arrived, hauled by the appropriately named 0-6-0 tank engine "Richard III". Today Shackerstone Station is at the northern end of the line, and is the headquarters of the railway with museum, a Victorian tea room, souvenir shop and the loco shed where work is constantly being carried out on an astonishing variety of rolling stock. The signal box on the left just outside the station is the oldest Midland Railway Co. type one box still in operational use. The train then passes under the first bridge which carries the road to the wonderfully-named hamlet Barton-in-the-Beans, and into open farmland. Diesel Multiple Units (DMUs) run on the line in the week and steam trains run at the weekend and the SRS runs all the usual events from a murder mystery train, beer festivals and its legendary Santa express around Christmas. This remarkable railway captures the very essence of a country line, with steam, diesel and railcar train services along with small stations meandering along a single track line. It really does convey something of the feeling and atmosphere of days past. For anyone with a sense of nostalgia, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at this place - one of Leicestershire’s best kept secrets, not just a train ride but a journey into history as well. Whether you visit on one of the regular special event days or on a quieter day there is plenty to see and do as there are plenty of other attractions nearby to suit all generations. For more info go to www.battlefieldline.co.uk