THE role of RMT is to provide inspiration for all workers in opposing fascist elements in society, the union’s young members declared at its Hull AGM today.

Alongside the union’s main conference, young members have been attending a wide-ranging course on RMT’s structures, political education and taking inspiration from the international socialist movement. 

Looking ahead to the forthcoming general election, young members’ chair Sarah Cundy said: “The RMT should have a really leading role in the political voice of the trade unions, which it does at the moment, and it needs to continue to do.

“That is very important when you consider there could be an opposition that is really right-wing and semi-fascistic in nature with the rise of Reform UK.”

Ms Cundy said the Labour Party’s promises of public ownership of rail, if carried out, would have a generational effect.

“If nationalisation is pursued, the way that is structured will have decades-long impact,” she said.

Ms Cundy went on to say that political education and knowledge of the union’s structures for reps and members does not happen automatically.

She said: “To be a good rep, you have knowledge of the structures.

“If you have an issue at work and you exhaust local avenues for resolution and you know how the union fits together, you can go to your branch and put forward a motion right to the very top of the union and even bring matters to AGM.”

Rhys Harmer from LU Fleet, who is involved in teaching the young members’ course, said: “Privatisation happened before I was born. I started working when I was 16. Every pay cheque I’ve had, every bit of tax I’ve paid, has been under a Tory government.”

And young members’ vice-chair Freddie Seale spoke to young conference attendees about his experiences on a recent trip to Cuba.

“It was inspiring to see a country that is developing and running itself along socialist rather than capitalist lines,” he said.