TUC WOMEN MEET

24 Last year the TUC women’s conference was an on-line event, so it was great to be back in London for this conference which took place over three days, starting on International Women’s Day, March 8. RMT had submitted two motions for the conference. First to be considered was the motion ‘women in railways’ moved by Ann Joss. This motion raised concerns about the government backed companies closing ticket offices and extending Driver Only Operation (DOO) across the rail network. Adding concerns that de-staffing our stations and trains would make public transport less safe, secure and accessible for women and girls. Ann reminded the conference the cuts were about protecting profits at the expense of workers and passengers. Ann stressed that the attacks on public transport jobs and services were happening amidst a cost-of- living crisis and noted that research had shown women are disproportionately affected by this crisis. The motion called on the trade union movement to continue coordinated campaigning and activity to defend jobs, pay and conditions. RMT’s motion was seconded by ASLEF who added that they wanted properly staffed trains as in an emergency the driver will in most cases need support from the on-train crew. ASLEF fully supported the motion and stated that the railways can be lonely places for vulnerable passengers and staff needed to be visible to stop anti-social behaviour and to protect women and girls. RMT’s second motion was on ‘male Bias in the maritime industry’, moved by Jennifer Aggrey-Fynn. This motion raised the issue of the prevalence of male orientated language in maritime legislation. As international conventions and domestic legislation still refer to ‘Seaman’, your official document is a ‘Seaman’s book’, with job titles such as ‘Motorman’ maintaining a division of gendered roles, no wonder women were fundamentally discouraged TUC WOMEN MEET Full RMT women delegation takes part in WTUC conference DELEGATION: TUC women’s delegation left to right Charlotte Foster- Lewis, Dyanira Christiaan, Suzanne Quainton, Aisha Ansell, Jennifer Aggrey-Fynn, Mandy Evans, Linda Moseley, Maria Taylor, Ebony Kingston, Ann Joss, Lorna Smyth and Sophie Flood. Jennifer Aggrey-Fynn