WOMEN IN THE UNION

Women now represent nearly 20 per cent of RMT membership, a figure that has doubled since the turn of the century. These changes are reflected in the fact that over 30 branch secretaries are women as well as around 13 per cent of industrial and health and safety reps respectively, that’s over 560 reps. Women have also had a constant presence on the national executive committee since 2010. As a part of these demographic changes three of the union’s elected regional organisers are now women. The union’s longest serving woman regional organiser Kathy Mazur says that encouraging more women to join the union required a shift in focus to issues that affect female workers. “Women in the workforce are interested in equal pay, flexible working arrangements, maternity rights and protection from workplace harassment,” she insists. When it came to improving female participation Kathy said that when she was a branch secretary, she would hold meetings at accessible times rather than evenings or weekends. “We can only get members with primary care responsibilities to participate if they can take part in the first place,” she says. The newly elected regional organiser Primrose Jeanton agrees and adds that women are not a single group with a single experience. “A disabled woman, a Black woman, an LGBT+ woman, a young woman entering a male-dominated industry or an outsourced woman worker may all face additional barriers in the workplace. “For many women, these experiences overlap and compound one another, which is why recognising intersectionality matters,” she says. Primrose believes that the union must be visible and actively support insourced and outsourced women workers and promote gains on issues that are felt by women. RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: july/august 2026 :: RMTnews 10 ELECTED: RMT regional organisers Ann Joss, Primrose Jeanton and Kathy Mazur WOMEN IN THE UNION RMT’s female regional organisers speak about their experiences