RMT WOMEN UNITE

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: march/april 2024 :: RMTnews 12 Donna Jones, Poole and District Bus welcomed delegates to the packed conference explaining the significance of the venue as this year marks the 200th anniversary of the RNLI, an important national institution based in the town. Jessica Robinson, Darlington No 1 called on RMT’s women members to fight to prevent the re-election of the Conservative Party in this year’s general election which she argued was part of the wider struggle to defend women’s rights. “The rise of the far right in Europe and across the globe is troubling, and all evidence suggests that the Tory Party is leaning further and further towards adopting a far-right ideology. “They no longer bother to hide their rampant racism, xenophobia and transphobia, and it is only a matter of time before open misogyny once again becomes the norm. “A covenant of the far-right ethos is ‘a woman’s place is in the home’ – how will our hard- fought equalities fare under a UK government heading further and further in this direction?” Jessica asked. Marie Harrington, Piccadilly & District West, added that what was needed was “clear, easily accessible guidelines for any member who wants them. “This will empower every single member to have those conversations with their colleagues in order to confidently and articulately educate them on how best to use their vote, and thereby protect all members from any further shifts to the far right within the UK,” she said. Marie also told delegates about The National Black Women’s Justice Institute findings that black women are disproportionately at risk of sexual violence, with nearly one in five black women being survivors of rape and 41 per cent experiencing sexual coercion and other forms of unwanted sexual contact. She told delegates about the TUC Race Relations Sub Committee’s ground-breaking research on the issue. Calling for RMT to initiate complementary research on this issue promptly Marie said that this should be carried out in collaboration with the Black & Ethnic Minority Members’ Committee and, most importantly, with the Black women for whom it is intended. Jessica Robinson, in her position as Women’s Committee chair, gave a report of the Committee’s work over the last year. She talked about the international work and her experience as a delegate to a recent International Transport Federation conference in Senegal. She outlined some of the appalling experiences of women transport workers in other countries and how they were organising and fighting back. Guest speaker Cllr Sue Aitkenhead, who represents Poole Town, gave delegates a background to the local political situation where she is one of two Labour councillors. Talking a little about the local geography she outlined how important public transport is to the local economy. “Thank you for being the lifeblood of our local community and running our public transport,” she said. Sue told delegates about the fight to become a Labour councillor in a Conservative stronghold and gave an emotional account of how it was RMT who paid for the leaflets that helped her win the election, and thanked delegates to great applause. Jas Breyal, national executive committee, reported on the progress of last year’s resolutions. There was a discussion on flexible working and the forthcoming changes to legislation that is being introduced. From April this year changes include the right to make a flexible working request from the first day of employment instead of having to wait for 26 weeks of service. Employees are also allowed to make two requests to change their working arrangements per year rather than the one that was the case previously. Delegates made it clear that RMT WOMEN UNITE Union’s women conference met recently in Poole at the Royal National Lifeboat Institute College