PRESIDENT’S COLUMN

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: may/june 2025 :: RMTnews 27 By the time this article is published, elections will have taken place across many local authorities in England. For unions like ours and the members in them to thrive we must take stock of the political landscape—and more importantly, challenge the dangerous and dishonest narrative that Reform UK is somehow a party for working people and families. Let’s be clear: Reform UK is not a grassroots movement. It is a registered business, led by a privately educated former commodities trader, backed by the super-rich and committed to policies that would harm—not help— ordinary people. Nigel Farage, the figurehead of Reform UK, is no friend of the working class. Educated at Dulwich College and a veteran of the City, Farage has never worked in a factory, on a railway, or in a care home. He hasn’t relied on public services or worried about the next wage packet. While there’s nothing inherently wrong with a private education or a career in finance, let’s not pretend that this man understands—or even cares about—the struggles of working people. Farage offers dangerously simplistic answers to the complex problems we face. His stock-in-trade is scapegoating pointing the finger at migrants, at benefit claimants, at anyone who isn’t responsible for the deep- rooted inequality in this country. This is no accident—it’s a deliberate strategy to divide us and deflect attention from the real causes of hardship: a broken economy rigged in favour of the wealthy, underpinned by years of austerity and attacks on workers’ rights. Reform UK has consistently opposed policies that would strengthen the position of working people. They have stood against proposals for stronger employment protections, including the Workers’ Rights Bill. Reform would destroy the hard fought workers rights we have already secured and impose further draconian measures that would have damaging consequences for all workers. But challenging the Farage narrative is not enough on its own. To win people away from these dangerous distractions, we must offer a real alternative—an alternative rooted in justice, solidarity, and economic fairness. We in the trade union movement must step forward and use our collective strength to push for real change. Our general secretary has rightly called for the proper return of sectoral collective bargaining. This would be a transformative step: enabling workers to bargain across whole sectors would mean better pay, more job security, and dignity in the workplace. It would also mean more tax revenue to invest in public services that benefit all of society. We must also challenge the scapegoating of migrants and the poor. Immigration is not the cause of hardship— inequality is. The truth is that this country is still wealthy, but that wealth is hoarded at the top. Labour must find the courage to tax the richest in society and invest in people and communities. Doing so is not just a moral imperative—it makes economic sense. Thriving communities, with strong public services and decent jobs, drive growth and stability. Labour, the party born of the trade union movement, must remember what it was created to do, it will not win back the hearts minds and votes of communities if it continues to repeat the strategies of austerity. The trade union movement have our part to play. We must make the case for collective organisation. Farage and his ilk offer anger and division. We can offer practical solutions by organising together in unity. Millions of workers should speak louder than the millions of pounds that prop up parties like Reform. George Welch President’s Column ORGANISE AND FIGHT BACK began. By this time, his condition had worsened, leading to finger blanching in both hands. A personal risk assessment in 2022 confirmed his exposure, and a further occupational health assessment in 2023 reaffirmed his diagnosis, following which he was removed from using vibratory tools. His condition has made it difficult to secure alternative employment. Following his diagnosis the worker pursued a claim, arguing that his employer failed in its legal duty to assess and reduce the risks of vibration exposure, monitor tool use, and provide adequate training. The worker secured £6,495 in compensation, with the case settling without an admission of liability shortly after the issue of court proceedings. Mark Allen, a workplace injury and illness lawyer at Thompsons Solicitors who represented the members, said that these cases highlighted the serious and preventable risks of HAVS in industries reliant on vibrating tools. “Our clients both spent years exposed to excessive vibration without adequate health surveillance or monitoring, resulting in a life- changing condition that has affected his ability to work. “Through their RMT membership, we were able to secure a fair compensation package that reflects the impact on their livelihoods and ensure that they receive the support they deserve. “We hope this serves as a reminder to employers of the importance of protecting their workforce from preventable occupational illnesses. Employers must take proactive steps to protect workers from HAVS, ensuring proper risk assessments, monitoring, and early intervention before permanent damage occurs,” he said.