Recruitment and Representation - Railway Sector
submitted by Paul Maybin (Senior Shop Steward / H&S Rep / Learning Rep Coordinator Metronet Rail Ltd)

Our members working in the Railway industry have for years been overlooked by the union and its predecessors, an issue that has only in recent times begun to be addressed but which is likely to take time to remedy.

Those like myself working alongside colleagues who are members and representatives of our sister rail unions have struggled to remain loyal to our union and maintain a membership in our respective companies when at times our own unions policies have compounded the problems making recruitment and more importantly retention nigh on impossible.

It does appear now that there is renewed effort being afforded to our reps and members in the sector which in turn is leading to increases in membership. However the new union must recognise what is before its eyes, and that is a massive potential to recruit and organise within the industry.

The recent Policy Conference at Bournemouth carried NEC Statement No 5 which among other important issues for the sector calls for the Government to assume control initially of a single railway franchise and to use it to benchmark against those being run by the private sector. Ok this isn't re-nationalisation as we aspire to but it is a way forward with such little political support for bringing the railways back under public control. This is exactly what our members want to see in the industry and that is policy that supports their views!

We as Gazette supporters also need to recognise an opportunity to ensure that the next person we elect on to the NEC that has responsibility for railways actually knows something about railways!

With this in mind it imperative that the new union has a seat for a Railways NEC member and that Gazette falls behind that candidate to ensure that a progressive gets the position. Our members want to know that their union knows about their issues, they want their union involved and campaigning on the high profile issues that are carried in the media on such a regular basis.

As a railways member and representative I want to see my union reacting to matters affecting the industry as and when they occur and Ii believe this can only be done by having a railways person sitting in a railways seat on the NEC!