CALLING RETIRED ACTIVISTS!

The 2026 RMT retired activist conference will take place at the Mechanics Centre, Manchester, on Thursday April 30, 2026. This annual event is a vital opportunity for retired members to come together, share experiences and shape the union’s campaigns on issues that matter most to older people. It is also an opportunity to send a motion to the union’s annual general meeting. Last year’s conference highlighted the growing challenges facing retired members, including the removal of the winter fuel payment to ongoing threats to social care and the NHS. Delegates also passed powerful resolutions calling for fairer personal tax allowances, and improved travel concessions for retired railway workers. The conference also reaffirmed support for campaigns such as Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) and the fight for a National Care Service for the Elderly. Guest speakers, including RMT president George Welch, praised the efforts of retired activists in defending pensioners’ rights and influencing national policy. The event also provided updates on progress on campaigns such as securing legal benefits for retired members and campaigning for public ownership of bus services. Reflecting on last year’s discussions, conference vice chair Tony Donaghey reminded delegates: “All the issues raised in our motions highlight the need for older people to organise and stand up for their rights. “We are facing further austerity cuts, and it’s vital that we are ready to defend against these attacks”. The upcoming conference will continue to focus on protecting pensions and benefits from austerity measures, improving accessibility and travel concessions and organising This is your chance to have your voice heard and help shape the union’s strategy for the year ahead. The anti-fascist movement has lost one of its most dedicated fighters. Gerry Gable, the long-standing publisher and editor of Searchlight magazine and a lifelong trade unionist, has passed away at the age of 88. For RMT members, Gerry was a vital ally in the struggle to keep our workplaces free from the poison of fascism. His commitment was forged in the post-war streets of East London, where he recognised that fascism is a direct physical threat to minorities and the labour movement. Gerry was a constant presence alongside our union at the Battle of Cable Street commemorations and a visitor to our offices at Unity House. He maintained a close relationship with our former general secretary, the late Bob Crow, and our union has been a long-term supporter of Searchlight. His work with the militant 62 Group and Searchlight pioneered an “intelligence- led” approach to anti-fascism. He knew that to defeat the enemies of our movement, we had to expose their funders and confront them wherever they reared their heads – from the workplace to the ballot box. He never shied away from the “sharp end” of activism, maintaining a firm belief that anti-fascism is a core pillar of trade union duty. He believed that a divided labour movement is a defeated one and spent sixty years ensuring fascism could not find a foothold in our ranks. RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey said that Gerry was a giant of the anti- fascist struggle and a dedicated friend to the union. “He understood that fighting the fascists is an essential part of the work of any real trade union. He was at the sharp end for sixty years, and the labour movement is stronger and safer because of him.” The best tribute we can pay to Gerry is to ensure the poison he fought for six decades never finds a home in our workplaces or our movement. Gerry Gable, 1937 – 2026 RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: jan/feb 2026 :: RMTnews 24 ACTIVE: RMT retired member Arther Richardson addressing RMT conference last year in Glasgow presenting motions from the retired members conference. CALLING RETIRED ACTIVISTS! This year’s annual retired activist conference takes place in Manchester, April 30 Join us in Manchester! For more details on registration and travel arrangements, please contact your Retired Activist Branch (see below) or contact the conference secretary, Paul Norris, at p.norris@rmt.org.uk or 020 7529 8806 London & Anglia Retired Activist Branch Ray Knight LAretiredmembers@rmt.org.uk London Midland Retired Activist Branch Tony Donaghey tonydonaghey60@btinternet.com London Transport Retired Activist Branch Les Harvey lesliehharvey@gmail.com Manchester & Northwest Retired Activist Branch Noel McDonnell noelmac42@gmail.com Midlands Retired Activist Branch Colin Haycock colin.haycock@gmail.com Northwest & North Wales Retired Activist Branch Gordon Jones c/o Andy Warnock-Smith a.warnocksmith@ntlworld.com Scotland Retired Activist Branch Gerry McCann scotlandretiredmembers@rmt.org.uk Southeast Retired Activist Branch John Collins jacey1955@hotmail.com Southwest & South Wales Retired Activist Branch Kevin Williams swwretiredmembers@rmt.org.uk Wessex Retired Activist Branch David Rowland dave-rowland@msn.com GERRY GABLE: ANTI-FASCIST AND FRIEND TO RMT ANTI-FASCIST: Gerry Gable at the 80th Battle of Cable Street Commemoration pic David Hoffman