Young members

Adrian Rowe, London Transport Regional Council delegate and National Chair of Young Members for 2009/2010 reviews the 2009 Young Members Conference in Birmingham.

Both the Young Members Advisory Committee and the Conference delegation would like to wish a speedy recovery to Ray Spy-Shute (Education Officer), and thank him for all his hard work in preparing for the 2009 conference. We would also like to thank Alastair Gittins from the RMT Policy Department for standing in for Ray as a secretary of our conference.

It’s a cold, February Saturday morning we are in the Comfort inn, in Birmingham; why?? Well…it’s the RMT Young Members Conference 2009.

It was really positive to see lots of new young enthusiastic faces and a row of observers at this years conference.

This resolution, proposed by TfL no.1 branch, was passed unanimously at the February meeting of the Regional Council.

More than three million are expected to be unemployed by the end of 2009. Young people are among the first to be thrown on the scrapheap. Currently, 40% of those losing their jobs are between 18 and 24.

Jen York (RMT Learning) describes the event that took place on a weekend in November in Brighton...

Day One

09.30 Saturday morning and the music is vibrating through the doors at the Komedia in Brighton. Ten Young RMT members make there way into the studio and on the Decks are KMT aka Ian Solomon and Dave Smith, TUC tutor from the College of North East London.

Rebecca Crocker, London Transport Regional Council Young Members' Officer gives her insight into Taking the Power back and Current issues that she feels affect all young members in our union.

You might ask, ‘what’s the point of having a young members’ section of the union’? Well ...

If more young people don't get involved, the union movement will literally DIE. The average age at union branch meetings is 40+.

Unions should fight over issues that young people care about.

Emma Baldwin (Watford Branch) Reports.....

When I first joined RMT I was told about a trip to Cuba that they do and how I should definitely get myself on to that trip, so when the chance came for me to go I jumped at it feet first!

There is a bit of a warning attached to this you have to remember that Cuba has a trade embargo with the USA, for many decades and because of this some things are very basic, when the information you receive says “basic but adequate” it may not be what you imagine it to be.

From RMT Young Members ...

Write in with your work or union related query stating your employer, grade and line/location of work and we’ll ask the font of all trade union knowledge and give you a response in the next edition.

Keeping Informed.......

Long extinct is the carrier pigeon and by the time snail mail arrives the issues have moved on – no offence to our postal comrades at CWU.

So don’t be shy contact us via e-mail with “dear comrade” in the subject line.

Joanne Parry, National Young Members Chair tells us what 2009 has in store for RMT Young Members

So far you have read articles on what our young members got up to in 2008. So what’s in store for 2009? Well your union needs you!

You don’t have to be an established rep or an activist to take part in any of the activities below you just have to be a paying member who is willing to find out a bit more about the union and mix with folk your own age.

From RMT Vision volume 1 issue 1

Tickets for the best music festivals are always in short supply and can be very expensive but RMT can help... and it won’t cost you a penny!

Throughout 2009 RMT Young Members will be looking for volunteers to work as bar staff at some of the UK’s greatest music festivals to help raise money for the RMT young members fund. The money raised is then used for organising events and courses for Young Members to help keep the cost of future YM activities to the bare minimum.

Attached you will find RMT's new magazine for young members. Click on '1 attachment' and/or the file name to download and print it.

And here are the introductions from the Editor, and from the National RMT Young Members Chair, ...

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Welcome to RMT Vision, our London Transport Regional Magazine specifically designed for the exclusive under 30’s club. This magazine had been a long time in the pipeline, but with the right enthusiasm and dedication I am proud to say we have finally reached “lift off”.

Circular sent on 11th December 2008 to all Branch Secretaries, Regional Councils & Regional Organisers

Dear Colleagues

Young Members Course to be held at the AGM in Isle of Man Sunday 29nd June to Friday 3rd July 2009

I am pleased to advise you that the Union will be holding a one week Young Representatives Course at this years’ AGM.

Members wishing to attend should be under 30 years of age. The course will deal with: -