Organising

The RMT Young Members Conference took place last month. RMTv have produced a video of the event showing why it so important for young people within the union to get involved and how the conference both educates members on how to steer debate, and the way the conference can set the agenda and union policy.

Canteen rep Petrit Mihaj

RMT has agreed reduced-rate subscriptions of £1 per week for workers at Initial Cleaners and Sodexho canteens in London Transport. This reduced rate is part of our organising campaign to achieve recognition in these two companies, and will be reviewed in 12 months' time.

RMT General Grades Committee decision:

We note the report from our Regional Organiser, that Initial is paying the London Living Wage to cleaners, but has not met any other demands in our pay and conditions claims. This leaves these cleaners among the most exploited workers in London, working for disgracefully low pay, and without the sick pay, pensions and other benefits enjoyed by other workers.

RMT General Grades Committee decision:

That we note that a further meeting of our steering group has taken place and that a summary report of the survey among our Renewals members is on file. We also note that the work on the RMT Track Contractors Charter for London Underground is progressing and is about to be launched.

The General Secretary is instructed as follows:

• To provide any practical and material support and assistance that may be required by our London Underground Engineering Branch for a successful launch of the Charter;

RMT General Grades Committee decision:

We endorse the Track Contractors’ Charter drafted by our LU engineering reps to form part of our Rail Renewals forum, and instruct the General Secretary to ensure that it is printed promptly and in sufficient quantities.

We note that the Council of Executives has already agreed reduced-rate subs for these workers, and that the branch has an effective campaign plan. We look forward to a successful campaign to recruit to RMT, achieve recognition, and win improvements for these workers.

RMT CLEANERS have forced contractor John Laing Integrated Services to recognise the union on London Overground following an organising campaign that has seen the vast majority of the workforce join the union since the end of March.

A ballot carried out under Central Arbitration Committee rules after the firm refused to enter into a voluntary agreement returned a six-to-one vote to give RMT bargaining rights for the staff, who work from depots at Acton, Gospel Oak, New Cross Gate and Willesden.

This organising plan was agreed by the Regional Council Executive on March 8.

RMT has 12,614 members in the LTRC region, of these there is 1,527 that are classed as Young Members. The purpose of a Young Members' officer is to mobilise as well as organise these members into an active and effective part of our union.

The average age of a Trade Union representative is 47 years old, to properly organise our Young Membership is to be laying the foundations for a sustained future.

This is the proposed LTRC 2011Recruitment and organising plan which will be submitted for approval to the London Regional Council meeting on 31st March.

LONDON TRANSPORT REGIONAL COUNCIL RECRUITMENT AND ORGANISING PLAN 2011

Organising team

Two years ago LTRC set up a ‘recruitment and organising team’. This year, we should develop this, adding new activists and overseeing the implementation and review of this plan. The Membership Secretary should convene the recruitment and organising team. The team will consist of a member from each branch (ideally the Branch Secretary or membership secretary) within the region and will meet at Unity House. An up-to-date regional membership list will be available at the meeting.

RMT's General Grades Committee has agreed a detailed campaign to organise workers in Carlisle Cleaning and Support Services. This is a national campaign, which will initially start outside our Region. However, it is relevant to our Region, as Carlisle holds contracts in London Transport, including TfL/LU secruity staff and Docklands Light Railway cleaners.

Here is the full GGC decision: