YOUNG MEMBERS AT AGM

A t this year's AGM in Hull, the RMT young members advisory committee ran its annual week-long course on the history of the labour movement, the democratic structures of the union and organising the workplace. This was run alongside debates on the union’s history in the AGM taking place next door giving delegates on the course an insight into the importance of who decides the union’s future and how to be a part of the democratic structures moving forward. The course was run by young members chair Sarah Cundy and the previous chair Rhys Harmer who delivered important information on the history of the union and the struggles along the way to give delegates an understanding of why their workplace looks like it does today. Jonathan White from the RMT policy department delivered a lecture on public ownership, what a Labour Party could deliver and the potential limitations its plans for rail plan could be. This made for a good debate on how activists organise nationally and the potential to pressure the Labour Party on the need for full public ownership of transport modes. The young members advisory committee also congratulated Kierin Offlands, winner of the 2024 John Cogger award. Young members chair Sarah Cundy said that his work on organising pier to pier messaging for balloting in the national and LUL dispute had been relentless and had no doubt inspired young workers to get involved not just in their local area, but nationally. If you are under 30 and would like to get involved in the work of the young members advisory committee, please contact ymchair@rmt.org.uk RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: july/august 2024 :: RMTnews 23 R MT young member Taylor Beal has been newly elected as workplace representative for Gemini rail at Wolverton. The 23-year-old has been working at Gemini for just over a year, as a welder and a shunter and she relished the chance to represent her workmates. “I have always been a hands on kind of person, and enjoy a challenge.  “The reason why I have decided to become a union representative is because I would like to express other people’s concerns, as well as my own, in order to make the workplace a more fair and comfortable place to work. “I also hope to inspire other women in the industry to step up and find the confidence to voice their opinion,” she said. Taylor is the very first female ever representative in the depot. YOUNG MEMBERS AT AGM ORGANISING FOR THE FUTURE TODAY CALENDAR FOR RMT YOUNG MEMBERS FOR 2024 AND 2025 2024 RMT branch youth officer, what is the role and how to apply it in the union Online August 13 Introduction to trade unionism at the Marx Memorial Library October date to be confirmed 2025 Young members conference in Canterbury February 21/22 Women in the workplace May - date to be confirmed RMT young members course at AGM in Glasgow June 23/27 Durham miners political school day before Durham miners rally Introduction to trade unionism at the Marx memorial library October date to be confirmed YOUNG REP ELECTED AT GEMINI RAIL