STAFF OUR STATIONS CAMPAIGN BOOST

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: april bulletin 1 2020 :: RMTnews 14 This years national organising supervisory, clerical and other salaried grades conference took place in Eastleigh just before the COVID-19 virus shut the country down and decimated the union’s timetable of grade conferences. RMT assistant general secretary Steve Hedley addressed conference and emphasised the importance of the organising conferences as being a key forum for making strategies for organising and recruiting members and reps within all grades. He explained that this was a key part of the union's high profile, Staff our Stations campaign which aims to fight cuts to station staffing and hours; end casualisation; stop violence and assaults against rail workers; ensure safe staffing levels and end lone working and ensure equal pay for work of equal value. Many delegates at the conference were based in ticket offices and at stations and could speak first hand about the attacks on station staffing from the Train Operating Companies and Government and how this risked passenger safety, security and accessibility. Steve Hedley advised conference, that as part of RMT’s Staff Our Stations campaign, the union had recently agreed to plan campaign meetings when possible in each region, open to all station staff members and reps in the region. One outcome of the meetings would be the creation of regional station staff sub-committees, which would work on regional strategies for organising and campaigning within station grades. The threat to transport workers of the government's proposals for Minimum Service Level legislation was also discussed, with the Steve Hedley informing the group that the union was continuing to work politically, industrially and publicly to fight the government's draconian proposals and that all members would be kept updated on how they could join in this activity. The Staff Our Stations campaign was also the theme for a resolution from Dover District General Grades branch STAFF OUR STATIONS CAMPAIGN BOOST RMT News reports on the last grades conference held before the current pandemic forced a total shutdown of meetings