Category: Equality

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LGBT PRIDE EVENTS 2015

My ref: EO/16

29th April 2015

Circular No. NP/77/15

 

TO: THE SECRETARY

ALL BRANCHES & REGIONAL COUNCILS

 

Dear Colleague,

 

LGBT PRIDE EVENTS 2015

 

This year we wish to increase our presence at LGBT Pride events around the country.  Not only are Pride marches a time of celebration for our LGBT community, but are an opportunity to promote the union and our campaigns.  This year we will be taking the campaign for the nationalisation of the railways to the following Pride events:

 

Birmingham    23rd May

London            27th June

Brighton           1st August

Plymouth         8th August

Cardiff                         15th August

Glasgow          22nd August

 

Pride marches are family friendly events and all members, whatever sexuality or gender are welcome to join in.  I encourage branches and regions to take their banners and support our LGBT members.

 

Please do use the attached poster to advertise these events.  For any queries or to say you wish to take part, contact our Equal Opportunities Officer ([email protected]).

 

Yours sincerely,

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CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF WOMEN IN THE UNION

Dear Colleague,

 

CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF WOMEN IN THE UNION

 

This year the union celebrates the 100th anniversary of women first joining the National Union of Railwaymen, one of the predecessors to the RMT.  In 1915, with a backdrop of an increasing call for women’s equality and more women being employed within the industry due to World War I, the National Union of Railwaymen made the decision to recruit women.  It is important that we use this anniversary, not just as a celebration, but to encourage women to progress within the union and to challenge discrimination that still lurks within our industries.

 

Many of our women members have stories to tell of the challenges they have faced being a woman in male dominated industries.  Please do ask if they would share them with our Equal Opportunities Officer, Jess Webb ([email protected]), for publication in RMT News.

 

A logo has been produced for this year and I would ask that all activities by the union reference this celebration at every suitable opportunity throughout 2015.

 

Yours,

Mick Cash

General Secretary

 

 

 
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AUTISM IN THE WORKPLACE BRIEFING DAY

TO: THE SECRETARY

ALL BRANCHES & REGIONAL COUNCILS

REGIONAL ORGANISERS AND OFFICES

 

 

 

Dear Colleague,

 

AUTISM IN THE WORKPLACE BRIEFING DAY

 

There is an “Autism in the Workplace” briefing day on 4 November 2015.  This is to be held at the Workers Education Association, 4 Luke Street, London EC2A 4XW.

 

Please contact our Equal Opportunities Officer, Jessica Webb, should you wish to attend (j.webb:rmt.org.uk)

 

Yours sincerely,

Mick Cash

General Secretary

 

 

e: [email protected]

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NO TO VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

TO: THE SECRETARY

ALL BRANCHES & REGIONAL COUNCILS

REGIONAL ORGANISERS AND OFFICES

 

Dear Colleague,

 

ETF POSTER COMPETITION – NO TO VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

 

The European Transport Federation (ETF) Women’s Committee have launched a poster contest amongst its affiliates centred on a clear ‘no!’ to workplace violence. The contest will stand as ETF’s contribution to the UN Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, on 25th November 2014.  The slogan for the ETF poster contest is “Violence against women transport workers is not part of the job”.

 

Members are encouraged to enter this competition.  Suggested poster designs that the union could submit should be sent as a JPEG and the quality should be of high enough resolution so that they can be uploaded as pictures on the ETF website.  All entries must be submitted electronically (less than 10MB) and received by our Equal Opportunities Officer, Jessica Webb, by 18th November 2014.

 

Yours sincerely,

Mick Cash

General Secretary

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Jackie D'Arby Retires

The Branch would like to thank Jackie for all the hard work that she has put into the Trade Union movement over the years. She has worked tirelessly to support her work colleagues and often represented people through the most appalling harassment and bullying possible.

She has been a role model for many people in our branch and we all wish her well in her retirement and look forward to seeing her on a regular basis at many events and demonstrations that Jackie has attended over the years

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RELIGION/ BELIEF IN THE WORKPLACE

TO: THE SECRETARY

ALL BRANCHES AND REGIONAL COUNCILS

 

Dear Colleague,

 

EHRC RESEARCH INTO RELIGION OR BELIEF IN THE WORKPLACE

 

The Equality and Human Rights Commission have asked NatCen Social Research to investigate the effectiveness of legislation designed to protect people who hold a religion or belief or do not hold a religion or belief in the workplace.  The union has been contacted by NatCen Social Research to raise the profile of this research as they are particularly keen to hear about any members’ experiences in this field.

 

Participating in the study would involve completing a short online survey hosted on a secure website.  The contributions are anonymous.  The deadline for contributions is Friday 31 October.

 

For more information please see: http://www.natcen.ac.uk/taking-part/studies-in-field/religion-or-belief-in-the-workplace-and-service-delivery/

 

The survey is on:

https://surveys.natcen.ac.uk/mrIWeb/mrIWeb.dll?I.Project=P11319RELIGIONORBELIEF

 

If you have any questions do contact the NatCen Research team on [email protected] or ring Freephone 0800 804 8129.

 

Should any member feel that they have suffered discrimination or harassment due to their religion or not having a religion in the workplace, they must discuss this with their representative immediately as they may need to complete an L2 Form and get legal advice on the issue.

 

Yours sincerely,

Mick Cash

General Secretary

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Violence Against Women

Please see the attached circular.

 

TO: THE SECRETARY

ALL BRANCHES AND REGIONAL COUNCILS

 

Dear Colleague,

 

UN DAY FOR THE ELIMINATION OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

 

Further to an earlier Council of Executives Decision, the union will be hosting an event to raise awareness about the UN Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, on 25th November.  Please do make a note of the details:

 

Venue:                                 P21 Gallery, 21 Chalton Street, London NW1 1JD

Date:                     Tuesday 25th November 2014

Time:                     6.30pm light buffet

7.30pm speeches and presentations

 

The speeches will be followed by music and socialising.  The event is free and open to all RMT members.  It was an excellent event last year and I do encourage members to mark this important date.  Should you plan on attending, for the purposes of making the necessary catering arrangements, do let our Equal Opportunities Officer know ([email protected]).

 

Yours sincerely,

Mick Cash

General Secretary

 

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Rainbow International

AFFILIATION: RAINBOW INTERNATIONAL LGBT ACTIVIST SOLIDARITY FUND

 

At this year’s AGM the following resolution was passed unanimously:

 

“This Conference notes the important work of the Rainbow International LGBT Activist Solidarity Fund to provide vital financial assistance to frontline, grassroots, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights activists under attack or threat in the countries where being LGBT is illegal, and where people face discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity.

 

This Conference also notes that:

  • Being gay remains illegal in 76 countries across the world, and in 10 of these is punishable by death or life imprisonment.
  • In February 2014, Ugandan President Museveni signed a bill into law criminalising LGBT people and punishing anyone who supports LGBT equality with life imprisonment.
  • In Russia, it is now illegal to speak in public about being LGBT, and Putin’s draconian anti-gay laws have led to an upsurge in homophobic vigilantism.
  • In January 2014, Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan approved a law prescribing 14 years imprisonment for LGBT people. Since the signing of this law, there has been mob violence, many arrests, and the Nigerian LGBT community is living in fear.
  • Gambian President Yahya Jammeh recently said, “We will fight these vermin called homosexuals or gays the same way we are fighting malaria-causing mosquitoes”

 

This Conference shares the vision of the Rainbow International LGBT Activist Solidarity Fund of a world of true equality, justice, sexual liberation, and working class unity – free from any form of discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity.

 

This Conference calls upon the RMT to:

  • Affiliate to the Rainbow International LGBT Activist Solidarity Fund.
  • Encourage all RMT Regional Councils and Branches to affiliate.”

 

I am acting in accordance with this resolution and do indeed encourage all RMT Regional Councils and Branches to affiliate. The local rate is £50 and regional rate is £100.  More information can be found on their website http://www.rainbow-international-fund.org/affiliate-with-us

 

Yours sincerely,

Mick Cash

General Secretary

 

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