YOUNG MEMBERS ON COURSE

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: september 2022 :: RMTnews 20 This year marked the return of the RMT young members course at the union’s annual general meeting which took place in Birmingham. The pandemic has meant the popular course was sadly cancelled in 2020 and 2021, so it was terrific to reconvene the course this year in Birmingham. Ten delegates hailing from between Aberdeen and Portsmouth were welcomed by myself and former chair Rhys Harmer who would be convening the course. After initial introductions, delegates studied various sets of standing orders sourced from their own branches and branches across the union. They compared rules they liked and didn’t like before drawing up their own, that would cover the duration of the course. RMT president Alex Gordon also gave a brief introduction to the workings of the AGM and delegates were issued with the RMT rulebook. We also looked at the structure of the union and investigated the claim that RMT was one of the most democratic trade unions. We saw how the rank-and-file membership can influence and direct policy. RMT assistant general secretary Eddie Dempsey delivered a talk on the historical advance of neoliberalism and the attacks on trade unions over the last half century and put our current industrial disputes into their wider social context of working-class political struggle. Delegates then used RMT booklets including 150 Years of Trade Unionism, Pulling Together, and Unity in Diversity (as well as their phones) to each research an important moment in RMT history. One of these booklets had a foreword by John Leach, so it was great for the delegates to then hear from him about his time as president and the roles of a regional organiser and his current role. Being at the AGM, young delegates were able to observe how it functioned and would be well prepared for when they became delegates in future. Delegates also learned about the role of the AGM standing orders committee, NEC members, regional councils and Millie Apedo-Amah spoke about the union’s equalities structures. Delegates also discussed the need for the nationalisation of the transport industries and shared stories of the damage that privatisation and outsourcing had done. We also discussed how government intervention can create an economy that works for all and manage the transition into greener technologies without the harm caused by industries. Micaela Tracey Ramos of the Cuba Solidarity Campaign talked about the role of trade unions in Cuba in creating legislation and the terrible effects of the US blockade on the Cuban economy. To help the situation, I encourage all branches to affiliate to the Cuba Solidarity Campaign for only £40 a year. Another great way for us to show solidarity is to holiday in Cuba. In contrast, International Centre for Trade Union Rights director Daniel Blackburn talked to us about different countries where trade unionists are continuously threatened with violence and even killed. He highlighted how in recent years two Italian trade unionists had been murdered as a result of their industrial action. He was also able to show how his organisation worked with trade unions in developing countries to help them resist victimisation. If you are an RMT member who is 30 or younger who would like to be supported to get more involved with the union, or you know someone who fits the bill, then feel free to email me on YMchair@rmt.org.uk YOUNG MEMBERS ON COURSE RMT young members committee chair Rupert Pickering reports on the return of the annual general meeting introductory course