What is a National Executive Committee decision?

This article is an 'executive decision' which has been written by the RMT National Executive Committee. The National Executive is the union's governing body in between AGMs. Its decisions set out what the union will do on a particular issue.

These decisions can often be brief, and may be one of several passed over a period of time. To get a better understanding or find out more information about what the RMT is doing, speak to your rep or attend your branch or Regional Council meeting.

Equalities Resolutions: Executive Decisions

STATUTORY MEETING OF THE COUNCIL OF EXECUTIVES - JUNE 2012

“NO TO HATE CRIME”

No to hate crime campaign 17-24-30.org are a non-profit making organisation that have been running vigils in Trafalgar square in October for the last two years. They are currently going through the process to achieve charitable trust status.

This region notes the importance of a collective stand against all forms of hate crime and the hard work done by 17-24-30.org to date.

This region resolves publicise the 17-24-30.org and the affiliation form.

The Council of Executives adopted the following report from the Equal Rights Sub-Committee:

That the General Secretary is to write to this organisation and ask these relevant questions:

1) What is their definition of hate crime?
2) Do they just campaign on homophobic crime or what other characteristics do they campaign on?
3) What is their relationship with established organisations?
4) What is their democratic structure and can we have a copy of their procedures?

MERCHANDISE FOR WOMEN

“This Women’s Committee accept the fact that males make up the majority of the RMT membership. We note that merchandise is mostly geared at men. Also rentable flats available to our members are male orientate. Smaller umbrellas, compact mirrors with our logo could be considered as merchandise for our female members. Accessible mirrors within the flats for use of hair-dryers would be a viable asset.

This Committee asks the Executive to go some way to making this Union more female friendly.”

The Council of Executives adopted the following report from the Equal Rights Sub-Committee:

That after considering the resolution, the General Secretary is to review the fixtures and fixings eg mirrors and sockets accessible for hair- drying at Slater Mews which will benefit all members staying there.

Further the Women’s Advisory Committee to give the General Secretary suggestions on what “women’s” merchandise they would like us to obtain.

RMT NATIONAL LGBT ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Submitted by Stratford No.1 Branch:

“We note that in many regions across the country, vacancies remain unfilled on the RMT National Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Members' Advisory Committee, and this includes regions with a large RMT LGBT membership. It is important that the Advisory Committee has as many representatives as possible, to accurately reflect the ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, number, geographical location and specific grades of the Union’s members.

It may be that some branch and regional secretaries are still unfamiliar with LGBT equality issues and the role of the RMT National LGBT Advisory Committee. It may be that some RMT LGBT members require more support and encouragement to participate and become more active within RMT.

We recognise the importance of clear organising strategies in the regions for building mutual support against homophobia and for equality, for the benefit of the RMT, and we recognise the importance of keeping RMT members informed of these strategies.

We understand that members of the RMT National LGBT Advisory Committee are keen to visit regional councils across the country to promote their work and discuss homophobia and equality issues affecting RMT LGBT members.

We call upon the RMT General Secretary to write to Regional Organisers requesting details of strategies for organising for mutual support against homophobia and for equality, for the benefit of RMT, and we ask the General Secretary to make arrangements for this information to be published on the RMT website.

We also call on the RMT Council of Executives to explore the option of central funding to support members of the RMT National LGBT Advisory Committee to attend and speak at regional councils across the country - ideally in twos - to promote greater awareness of LGBT issues and encourage wider participation of all RMT members in organising against homophobia and for equal rights, regardless of sexuality.”

The Council of Executives adopted the following report from the Equal Rights Sub-Committee:

That we note the resolution and would expect the Council of Executives members to include this item when they do their Council of Executives report. Further the General Secretary to place a new item in front
of the Council of Executives to have a “common strategy in eradicating homophobia.”

That we remind the Regional Councils that it is a legitimate use of the Regional Council fund if they require a speaker from the LGBT advisory committee to give a report at the Regional Council on LGBT activities and filling of vacancies on that committee.

AVIATION INDUSTRY FORCED GAY FLIGHT ATTENDANT INTO A SHAM MARRIAGE

Submitted by TfL No.1 Branch:

“This Conference notes the appalling treatment of gay flight attendant Maxim Kupreev by his employer Aeroflot for trying to set up an LGBT staff group by a response of a forced sham marriage to a school friend at the end of last year and a statement that there was no need for an LGBT staff group since they had no gay employees. As reported in gaystarnews http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/aeroflot-forces-gay-flight-attendant-...

This union prides itself on international solidarity and fighting for the cause of workers and thus calls on the union to:
campaign for ITF to organise a LGBT section structured similarly to the existing sections for organising women and youth via their board structure mechanisms that exist and by resolution to the next ITF congress if required.
Send a message of solidarity to the aviation union(s) based in Russia on this struggle for recognition of their LGBT members.
Encourage ITF to organise a campaign to demonstrate against the global airline alliance Sky Team, which owns Aeroflot and is led by Air France-KLM and includes American carrier Delta until they are willing to recognise the LGBT status of employees in all of their businesses.”

The Council of Executives adopted the following report from the Equal Rights Sub-Committee:

That we note and support the resolution and as a first step ask the ITF and the Russian airline unions affiliated to the ITF for their views.

CAMPAIGN FOR EQUAL MARRIAGE

Submitted by TfL No.1 Branch:

“This Conference believes that the current legal differences between the rights of a civil partnership and those a marriage in British legislation; and the forced divorce from a happy marriage or civil partnership if one of them legally changes their gender is discriminatory and leads to “some being more equal than others”.

This Conference is against the discrimination of not allowing same-sex marriages or opposite-sex civil partnerships and believes that the definition for marriage in the UK should be “a union between consenting adults”. This would not only allow for same sex marriages but would also afford legal rights to the trisexual minority too.

This Conference calls on the Union to:
Urge the RMT parliamentary group to campaign for a lift of the ban on same sex marriage and opposite-sex civil partnerships
To organise a campaign for members to lobby their MPs to vote in favour of the proposed equal marriage bill.
To sign up to the Equal Marriage Pledge as organised by the Equality Network in Scotland http://www.equalmarriage.org.uk/
To formally support the Equal Love Campaign http://equallove.org.uk/

The Council of Executives adopted the following report from the Equal Rights Sub-Committee:

“That we note the resolution and instruct the General Secretary to:

  1. Urge the RMT parliamentary group to campaign for a lift of the ban on same sex marriage and opposite-sex civil partnerships
  2. To organise a campaign for members to lobby their MPs to vote in favour of the proposed equal arriage bill.
  3. To sign up to the Equal Marriage Pledge as organised by the Equality Network in Scotland http://www.equalmarriage.org.uk/

In addition, the General Secretary is to write to the Equal Love Campaign and ask for their structures and what the campaign stands for.

GAY CURE ADVERTS ON TFL BUSES

Submitted by Jubilee South Branch:
“It is disgraceful that such clearly homophobic adverts could get so near to being placed on London buses.
The adverts were only stopped once their imminent unveiling across the city was highlighted in the national press. TfL should have guidelines in place so that its contractor responsible for advertising understands that these adverts are offensive to LGBT people and others. The responsibility is with TfL. If they wish to be perceived as a gay friendly employer - as of course they should - they must ensure that they aren’t covering their property with adverts extolling the joys of being cured of homosexuality, regardless of the ten thousand pound income they reportedly lost from cancelling such adverts. There is confusion over whether TfL blocked the advert, or the Mayor of London did so. We ask that RMT General Secretary Bob Crow write to TfL to express our disgust that such a situation should ever arise, and also to enquire who it was that ultimately blocked the adverts - TfL or Boris Johnson.”

The Council of Executives adopted the following report from the Equal Rights Sub-Committee:

“That we note the resolution and the General Secretary is instructed to write to TfL and express our disgust that such a situation had arisen and ask who ultimately blocked the adverts.”

WOMEN’S REFUGES – DOMESTIC VIOLENCE POLICY

The Council of Executives adopted the following report from the Equal Rights Sub-Committee:

That we welcome the feed back from the Women’s Advisory Committee and therefore instruct the General Secretary to send the policy once finalised to all lead organisers to table with the employers and enclose a briefing about the issue concerned. In addition to organise a launch event to publicise the issue more widely.

We note the correspondence from Women’s Aid. The General Secretary is instructed to work with this campaign and we donate £500.00 to this cause.

What is a National Executive Committee decision?

This article is an 'executive decision' which has been written by the RMT National Executive Committee. The National Executive is the union's governing body in between AGMs. Its decisions set out what the union will do on a particular issue.

These decisions can often be brief, and may be one of several passed over a period of time. To get a better understanding or find out more information about what the RMT is doing, speak to your rep or attend your branch or Regional Council meeting.