Searchable article text
RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: october 2021 :: RMTnews 30 Crossword sponsored by UIA Send entries to Prize Crossword, RMT, Unity House, 39 Chalton Street, London NWI IJD by November 1 with your name and address. Winner of last month’s crossword was T Randall, Canterbury. Last month’s solution... ACROSS 1 Locally (10) 8 Qualify (7) 9 Surpass (5) 10 Group (5) 11 Ask (5) 12 Tree (6) 14 Narrow furrow (6) 16 Expel (7) 17 Tripod (5) 19 Massive mammal (5) 20 Oriental (7) 21 Sternness (10) DOWN 1 Looking back (13) 2 Rise (3,2) 3 Egg dish (6) 4 Helper (7) 5 Debauchery (12) 6 Following (4) 7 Carefree (6) 12 Membrane (6) 13 Inspiring wonder (6) 15 Calm (6) 17 Result (5) 18 Optical device (4) £50 PRIZE CROSSWORD I t was an emotional day in Bromley as Mic Hegarty announced his retirement as Orpington branch Secretary after 10 years in the post and 41 years as an RMT member. Mic exemplifies in some ways the best of the traditions of the union. A skilled mechanical fitter, Mic is amongst those members to have benefited the most from RMT collective bargaining in terms of wages, terms and conditions. But besides representing the members in his grade, Mic has dedicated many years to fighting energetically for railway cleaners and their livelihoods, against the poverty factory that is the cruel system of outsourcing of cleaning contracts. Due in no small part to all the organising of cleaners on Southeastern by Mic over many years – all those hundreds of visits to the Grove Park nightshift – it was appropriate in a way that we were able on the day of Mic’s retirement to report to the branch that - subsequent to recent mapping by activists - RMT members are now finally a clear majority of the staff on that contract. Mic also leaves his branch with a 23-year-old cleaners’ company council rep Ben Woodward keeping the organising work of the branch going. With all due respect to all the other secretaries I’ve had the privilege of knowing, Mic is from an Org Unit point of view the finest RMT branch secretary I’ve ever worked with and the impact that his departure will have on RMT activity in the SE Region can’t be overstated. I’m sure I speak for all the activists in the south east region when I say thanks again for everything Mic and good luck organising the Philippines. Bill Paterson, Organising Unit. ORPINGTON RETIREMENT