SAFETY REP AWARD

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: september 2021 :: RMTnews 10 R MT safety rep Willie Strang has received a special TUC Congress Health and Safety Special Commendation Award. Every year the TUC holds the 2021 Congress Award for Health and Safety Rep to demonstrate and acknowledge the range of work currently undertaken by lay union representatives on behalf of their members and the community and the hard work safety reps put into their role and the importance of this in ensuring the health, safety and welfare of union members. Such was the high standard of nominations for this year’s Congress Award for Health and Safety, the TUC President decided that in addition to awarding the annual Congress Health and Safety Award, all nominees on the final shortlist should receive a special commendation. RMT nominated Willie for this award in recognition of his role as chair of the union’s National Health and Safety Advisory Committee and Chair of the annual health and safety conference. RMT general secretary Mick Lynch wrote to Willie congratulating him on the award after over 20 years in the role. “As is the case with all RMT safety reps, the work you do on a daily basis is vital to support our members – but has been particularly important during the Coronavirus pandemic in keeping our members safe,” he said. Willie said that he became a rep as it became clear working in the railway industry of the need for a robust and meaningful approach to health and safety was of paramount importance. “As a result, I've been able to help a wide range of individuals and groups of workplace reps not only from my own company but also other companies where RMT has recognition agreements to ensure that as a union we are doing everything we can on a daily basis to make sure that as much as possible we play a part in delivering a safe Railway network for all those who use it,” he said. Willie has also represented RMT internationally; in 2019 he was part of an RMT delegation to Lisbon for The Bob Crow health and safety conference. Using all his training received over 20 years as a safety rep Willie has led the way during the pandemic to ensure the safety and welfare of all RMT members on LNER. He has worked collaboratively with LNER in all aspects of the business. Reviewing all risk assessments and safety systems of work and where necessary challenging them and offering improvements which achieve the aims of both the staff and the company. LNER and its reps have led the way and their methods have been described as industry leading and others have followed suit. If you want to make a difference and improve health and safety in your workplace then contact your branch to find out if there are any vacancies for health and safety reps. If you are already a safety rep then why not think about joining the RMT health and safety advisory committee? Elections take place in autumn this year when circulars will be sent out to branches explaining the election procedure - so look out for these if you are interested. recognition of his of the union’s th and Safety individuals and groups of workplace reps not only from my own company but also and safety systems of work and where necessary challenging them and offering SAFETY REP AWARD