YOUNG MEMBERS MEET

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: march 2022 :: RMTnews 14 Young members conference delegates travelled up to beautiful Inverness where we were warmly welcomed by representatives of Inverness branch members Conor Cheyne, Glen Cameron and Kim Gibson. Conference was opened by RMT general secretary Mick Lynch who spoke about inflation eroding the value of our wages and the cuts that the Department for Transport are planning for the rail network. This was particularly poignant given our relative proximity to the recent Stonehaven disaster. He also spoke about the upcoming possibility of balloting for strike action across 15 different TOCs to resist these cuts to wages, terms and conditions, and infrastructure. RMT president talked about the importance of understanding the Marxist concept of alienation and how this makes us discontent by disconnecting us from our work. He also explained how industrial democracy can remedy this. Delegate Kim Dennis made the point from the floor that many members and potential activists feel alienated from their union in various ways. This prompted a discussion about the use of titles like ‘brother’ and ‘sister’. Three MPs addressed the conference including two over Zoom. SNP MP Drew Hendry spoke, in person, about how an independent Scotland might diverge from Tory rule, reversing things like anti-trade union laws and privatisation which weakens trade union bargaining power for their members. Labour MP Olivia Blake spoke about how the Policing, Crime and Sentencing Bill will impact trade unions' ability to protest, a keystone of a democratic society. She also pointed to the hypocrisy of the Conservative Party to be praising the anti-war protestors in Russia since Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. The Tories are seeking to criminalise these protests in the UK, with higher maximum sentences for the offense here, than in Russia. she also addressed the need for strong unions on the railway following an increase in physical and verbal abuse directed at rail staff. She also spoke of the opportunity of the climate crisis to strengthen the labour movement as the process of decarbonising will, realistically, require a large expansion in mass public transit. Andy McDonald MP was warmly received as he resigned from Keir Starmer’s shadow cabinet because he was instructed by the leadership to argue against a £15 minimum wage. Mr McDonald spoke extensively about a white paper he had published a few years ago, called GB Rail, which he worked with a number of senior rail executives and unions to produce. The document called for the nationalisation of the rail industry under one publicly run company. RMT regional organiser for Scotland Gordon Martin criticised the SNP in his speech as not a “worker- friendly” party in government YOUNG MEMBERS MEET Incoming young members conference chair Rupert Pickering reports on a successful meeting in Inverness