Category: Equality

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Serious about equality

RMT takes equal opportunities seriously.

 

This means listening to women, black and ethnic minority, lesbian, gay and bisexual and transgender members. We believe that everyone has the right to be treated with respect and dignity in the workplace.

RMT listens to its members and has three National Advisory Committees:

  • Black and Ethnic Minority Members’ Advisory Committee
  • Women’s Advisory Committee
  • LGBT Members’ Advisory Committee

 

Nominations are now being invited from Branches for all of the Advisory Committees for the next three year term, January 2016 – December 2018.

If you want to be nominated, contact your Branch Secretary for more details. Members do make a difference and by joining together, we can change things for the better.

 

Join us in our fight for equality – make your voice heard! Equality Matters

 

Poster for advisory committees 2016-2018

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VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN TRANSPORT WORKERS POSTER

VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN TRANSPORT WORKERS POSTER

 

I am pleased to report that earlier this year the European Transport Workers’ Federation Women’s Committee endorsed the RMT submission for the poster competition “Violence against women transport workers – it’s not part of the job”.

 

A few copies of the poster are enclosed for distribution and display in workplaces.  If you would like more copies, please do contact our Equal Opportunities Officer, Jess Webb, [email protected]

 

Yours sincerely,

Mick Cash

General Secretary

 Violence against women posterv2

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RMT WOMEN’S COURSE, 25-26 SEPTEMBER 2015

My ref: EO/18

23 July 2015

Circular No. NP/132/15

 

TO: THE SECRETARY

ALL BRANCHES & REGIONAL COUNCILS

 

 

Dear Colleague,

 

NOMINATIONS FOR RMT WOMEN’S COURSE, 25-26 SEPTEMBER 2015

 

I write to inform you of this year’s women’s empowerment course.  The purpose of the course is to help women understand how the union works, including history, structure, writing and presenting resolutions etc to overcome the barriers which can discourage them from becoming active.

 

The course will take place from Friday 25 September to Saturday 26 September 2015 at our National Education Centre in Doncaster.  The course will commence with a lunch at 1pm on Friday and will conclude by 4pm Saturday, so it only requires only 1 night away.

 

Branches are invited to nominate one representative but in doing so please ensure that your nominee will definitely be able to attend the school if allocated a place. The application form can be sent directly to the Education Centre and the costs of this course will be met by Head Office.

 

All women members are encouraged to take this course once and then move up to representative/officer level courses.  Any queries, please do contact our Equal Opportunities Officer, Jess Webb, [email protected]

 

Yours sincerely,

Mick Cash

General Secretary

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RMT BEM Course

Jessica Webb

Deputy Manager, National Policy Department

& Equal Opportunities Officer

RMT, Unity House, 39 Chalton Street, London NW1 1JD

 

 

My ref: EO/18

24 July 2015

Circular No. NP/134/15

 

TO: THE SECRETARY

ALL BRANCHES & REGIONAL COUNCILS

 

 

Dear Colleague,

 

NOMINATIONS FOR RMT BLACK AND ETHNIC MINORITY MEMBERS’ COURSE, 6-7 NOVEMBER 2015

 

I write to inform you of this year’s black and ethnic minority (B&EM) member’s empowerment course.  The purpose of the course is to help B&EM members understand how the union works, including history, structure, writing and presenting resolutions etc to overcome the barriers which can discourage them from becoming active.

 

The course will take place from Friday 6 November to Saturday 7 November 2015 at our National Education Centre in Doncaster.  The course will commence with a lunch at 1pm on Friday and will conclude by 4pm Saturday, so it only requires only 1 night away.

 

Branches are invited to nominate one representative but in doing so please ensure that your nominee will definitely be able to attend the school if allocated a place. The application form can be sent directly to the Education Centre and the costs of this course will be met by Head Office.

 

All B&EM members are encouraged to take this course once and then move up to representative/officer level courses.  Any queries, please do contact our Equal Opportunities Officer, Jess Webb, [email protected]

 

Yours sincerely,

Mick Cash

General Secretary

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BRIGHTON PRIDE

TO: THE SECRETARY

BRANCHES & REGIONAL COUNCILS

 

 

Dear Colleague,

 

BRIGHTON PRIDE – SATURDAY 1ST AUGUST 2015

 

Please find enclosed a poster regarding RMT taking part in the Brighton Pride 25th Anniversary Parade for display and circulation.

 

All family and friends are welcome to join the RMT group.  Should you plan on attending please contact Roger Hackett so that t-shirts can be provided to everyone (Roger@[email protected])

 

RMT will also be supporting the following pride events: Plymouth 8th August, Cardiff 15th August and Glasgow 22 August.  Please contact our Equal Opportunities Officer, Jess Webb ([email protected]) with any queries.

 

Yours sincerely,

Mick Cash

General Secretary

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PARENTAL LEAVE

My ref: EO/3

1st July 2015

Circular No. NP/117/15

 

TO: THE SECRETARY

ALL BRANCHES & REGIONAL COUNCILS

 

Dear Colleague,

 

PARENTAL LEAVE

Following new rules introduced in April this year, parents with at least one year’s service with their current employer qualify for 18 weeks’ unpaid parental leave per child, which can be taken any time up until the child’s 18th birthday. Previously only parents with children under five were eligible for this EU-derived right.

The statutory right is to unpaid leave which has to be taken in blocks of one week. However, employers can go beyond the statutory minimum and pay the leave or allow it to be taken on a daily or more flexible basis.  The leave must be requested 21 days in advance.

With schools breaking up for the summer holidays in the next couple of weeks, parents who might want to use this unpaid time off work should let their employers know as soon as possible. Employers can postpone parental leave for up to six months if they feel it would unduly disrupt the business.

The TUC’s guides to leave and pay for working parents are available at https://www.tuc.org.uk/equality-issues/gender-equality/caring

 

Please contact our Equal Opportunities Officer, Jess Webb ([email protected]) with any queries.

 

Yours sincerely,

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Report on the National Women’s Advisory Committee Wednesday 10 June 15

Report on the National Women’s Advisory Committee Wednesday 10 June 15

There are 40 Members for the RMT National Women’s Advisory Committee with 10 vacancies still open. Our meetings are very well attended with lots of interaction and views about various issues.

The General Secretary Mick Cash was in attendance today. He gave a talk on the current events and some disputes which were ongoing around the country.

Janet Cassidy of North Clyde Branch announced that she was retiring from her job and so was standing down from her positions in the RMT. She will be taking up other duties in the STUC. Mick Cask presented her with flowers and some crystal glasses to thank her for all the hard work that she had contributed to the RMT.

We also welcomed three members of the Council of Executives (CoE) to our meeting. A written report was received from the Equal Rights Sub-Committee which came from the resolutions put to the CoE. Please see review below:

  1. RMT – Coverage of Equalities Issues

The view of the Committee was that the coverage of women’s and other equality issues has been good and reasonably prominent in the RMT News given the pressures on space in the journal.

  1. Challenging Sexism and Sexual Harassment at Work

The following actions are being carried out:

  • Negotiate a sexual harassment policy with all companies with whom we have recognition.
  • Ensure all industrial and health and safety representatives are trained in identifying and dealing with sexual harassment and;
  • Produce a guidance booklet and place before the CoE after consulting with our advisory committees.
  1. Violence Against Women Transport Workers Poster

The poster which was produced by the RMT is being printed up and will be distributed to the Branches before the UN Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on 25 November.

The next RMT National Women’s Conference 2016 will be held in Scarborough. The dates are to be confirmed as the March dates are conflicting with others conferences taking place.

There is a Women’s training course taking place in Doncaster on 25-26 September. All Women members are welcome to attend.

The Women’s Advisory Committee are Celebrating 100 Years of Women in the RMT at the Houses of Parliament, 25 November 2015 between 5-7pm. The RMT Parliamentary Group will be invited to speak. Further details will follow about the invitations to this event.

One resolution was discussed which was supporting two women members, ISS cleaners who were subject to physical sexual harassment. On discussion we felt that a letter of support and a petition should be arranged.

The next meetings will be 23 September and 25 November.

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MIGRANT WORKERS

 

The Secretary

ALL BRANCHES

ALL REGIONAL COUNCILS

 

Dear Colleague,

 

MIGRANT WORKERS

 

Please find attached a new publication from the T.U.C. in relation to migrant workers, it will prove to be a valuable tool for our reps in both the Industrial and Health & Safety sectors where we organise.

 

Working together is the key to continued industrial success and safer workplaces.

 

The booklet covers a wide range of issues and is well set out to assist our members & representatives on matters such as Welfare, PPE, Risk Assessment, Employment Status, Accident Reporting, First Aid Provision, Training and Working Together, along with detailed case studies.

 

There are contact web-sites towards the end of the booklet which can provide members and reps with further information as and when required.

 

The booklet can be downloaded from the following address;

 

Migrant Workers Guide

 

Please bring the contents of this circular to the attention of all relevant members.

 

Yours sincerely

Mick Cash

General Secretary

www.rmt.org.uk/healthandsafety

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REPARATIONS EDUCATION WEEKEND SCHOOL

 

My ref: EO/23

4th June 2015

Circular No. NP/103/15

 

TO: THE SECRETARY

ALL BRANCHES & REGIONAL COUNCILS

 

 

Dear Colleague,

 

REPARATIONS EDUCATION WEEKEND SCHOOL – 10-12 JULY 2015

 

The union is hosting a weekend school from 10am Friday 10th July to 2pm Sunday 12th July 2015 for RMT members as well as fellow trade unionists to discuss “What is the role of the Trade Union Movement in the Fight for Reparations?” and includes how to campaign for Reparations.

 

Delegates will look specifically at organising around:

  1. a) moving the campaign forward in the union
  2. b) supporting the 2nd Reparation March being held in London on 1st August 2015
  3. c) supporting the RMT Annual Reparations Conference on 23rd August 2015

 

Professor Gus John will be one of the tutors leading the classes.

 

All Regions and Branches are encouraged nominate delegates for this school on the attached form which should be sent directly to the Education Centre by 30th June 2015.

 

Please contact our Equal Opportunities Officer, Jess Webb ([email protected]) with any queries.

 

Yours sincerely,

Mick Cash

General Secretary

 

 

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TUC LEAFLETS FOR ADOPTIVE PARENTS AND PARENTS HAVING A CHILD THROUGH SURROGACY

 

My ref: EO/3

4th June 2015

Circular No. NP/104/15

 

TO: THE SECRETARY

ALL BRANCHES & REGIONAL COUNCILS

 

 

Dear Colleague,

 

TUC LEAFLETS FOR ADOPTIVE PARENTS AND PARENTS HAVING A CHILD THROUGH SURROGACY

 

Please note that two new Know Your Rights booklets are now available on the TUC website:

 

 

  • Time off and pay for parents having a child through surrogacy – covering rights to time off to attend ante-natal appointments, rights to adoption leave and pay, paternity leave and pay, SPL, unpaid parental leave, flexible working and time off for emergencies https://www.tuc.org.uk/sites/default/files/KYR_Surrogacy.pdf

 

Both booklets also cover rights for parents in same-sex relationships to equal treatment.

 

Please contact our Equal Opportunities Officer, Jess Webb ([email protected]) with any queries.

 

Yours sincerely,

Mick Cash

General Secretary

 

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NEWCASTLE UNITY FESTIVAL – 23 MAY 2015

TO: THE SECRETARY

ALL BRANCHES & REGIONAL COUNCILS

 

Dear Colleague,

 

NEWCASTLE UNITY FESTIVAL – 23 MAY 2015

 

The union is supporting the Newcastle Unity Festival which is taking place on Saturday 23rd May 2015 at Leazes Park in central Newcastle (1-8pm).

 

The rationale for the festival is to promote unity in the North East community, celebrate diversity in the city and to stand against racism, Islamophobia and all forms of discrimination.  This free festival will comprise of music and entertainment which should appeal to families and diverse cultures.

 

All Regions and Branches are encouraged to show their support with any financial donations made out to Newcastle Unity Festival (Newcastle Unity Festival, 41 Ocean View, Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear NE26 1AL).  Please contact our Equal Opportunities Officer, Jess Webb ([email protected]) with any queries.

 

Yours sincerely,

Mick Cash

General Secretary

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