ORGANISING FREIGHT AND LOGISTICS

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: july/august 2026 :: RMTnews 27 D elegates to the freight and logistics organising conference in Manchester agreed that the union should prioritise workplace organisation. Ian Boyle of the union’s retention and organising department outlined the need to increase activity around mapping workplaces and building membership density. “RMT is using new laws under the Employment Rights Act 2025 to develop recognition agreements in many companies. “This is an historic opportunity to expand as we only need 10 per cent density to win recognition. “It also allows the union access to workers and if companies refuse to allow us to do so they will face fines. “Therefore, we need to equip branches and regions with basic information which highlights density and the potential to grow,” he said. Conference president Mick Williams warned that over 2,000 freight companies had gone bust over the last year yet there was still a shortage of drivers. “There is clearly a crisis in the industry,” he said. Stuart Sharp, Manchester South called for an RMT freight and logistics charter. “We must set out a vision for workers in our sector and demand improvements to members jobs, pay and conditions. “For instance, many warehouse operatives are currently exploited by employers who hire on zero- hour contracts and fire without any notice when workers are not required. “We must take a more active role to recruit in this sector to improve pay, terms and conditions, reduce hours, end zero-hour contracts and develop sick and pension schemes,” he said. Delegates agreed that the charter should be developed around these issues between the conference liaison committee and head office. Conference also welcomed the fact that the union had produced recruitment materials such as lanyards, badges and cab fresheners for distribution within the sector to raise the profile of the union. Tom Wilson, Southampton said that his region was also handing out RMT wallets with the Join RMT card with the QR card inserted which can be handed to drivers. Addressing conference, local MP for Salford Rebecca Long-Bailey said that freight workers were the backbone of the economy but were being ignored. “We clearly need an industrial strategy to rebuild the economy. “Road haulage and road freight should be planned, invested in and developed instead of endless disinvestment and decline. “I am a part of RMT’s parliamentary group, and we are trying to push your union’s agenda for reindustrialisation and a new deal for workers. “We need to expose this managed decline and replace it with a real, effective industrial strategy for the country. “We also need details on how Great British Railways will develop the freight and logistics sector and that means direct investment instead or handing money to the privateers,” he said. RMT assistant general secretary Daren Ireland said that RMT and its parliamentary group needed to develop policies around the future of the rail and road logistics sector. “We need a significant overhaul of the sector by government and that means developing a list of demands. “For instance, there is no strategy to deal with the fact that rail track access charges was forcing freight back on the road from rail,” he said. He also outlined plans to grow union membership in the freight sector and the union needed to identify areas to prioritise. Mick Williams warned that most HGV road accidents could be attributed to driver fatigue. “This is due to being forced into returning to drive after only a nine-hour rest period, often after working up to 15- hour day. “The union should be pressing for a compulsory 11- hour rest period for all HGV drivers,” he said. He also called for the withdrawal of the compulsory Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) as it was simply a money-making racket, but drivers cannot legally drive despite having passed both the driving test and a health test. “The CPC adds nothing to either driving skills or safety, but as it can cost up to £500 out of the drivers’ own pocket and appears to be one of the main reasons drivers are leaving to industry. “Last year over 100,000 CPCs were not renewed which shows you how many are leaving the industry,” he said. ORGANISING FREIGHT AND LOGISTICS Local MP Rebecca Long-Bailey with delegates