I have already posted a couple of blog entries about particular debates at this year's RMT AGM. Here is a round-up of other discussions - all from a personal point of view, of course!

This is the first time I've been a delegate to RMT's AGM, but not being the shy, retiring type, I had a hatful of resolutions to propose, and something to say on several others.

Industrial issues that reached the conference included refusal to work on the grounds of safety, short-notice duty changes and, of course, the Tube cleaners' fight for decent pay and conditions. Resolutions on staff assaults, lethal Unimog machines and pensions all attracted a lot of support although little controversy.

There was certainly controversy on Israel / Palestine, where I proposed a resolution calling for support for the Palestinians and an independent Palestine alongside Israel, condemning Hamas, and proposing solidarity campaigning rather than boycotts. The issue of contention was the boycott, which existing RMT policy supports and which Bob Crow vigorously defended in opposing the resolution. The resolution was carried with a big majority, and I look forward to helping the union put it into action.

The AGM heard John McDonnell give a thorough report on the work of the union's Parliamentary group. I complimented him on his defence of abortion rights and recorded my disappointment at the few members of the Parliamentary group who voted the wrong way.

The union agreed to take steps forward to assert working-class political representation, passing this resolution proposed by my good self.

Overall, the AGM was a gathering with very little hostility to the union's leadership. On one level this is fair enough - compare RMT's tops with most other unions' and you will see people a lot more willing to fight, not tied up in 'partnership' deals and not in the pocket of an anti-working-class government.

But absence of hostility is not the same as absence of criticism. Several resolutions implied dissatisfaction and called for improvements in certain areas, in particular: better information and accountability of negotiators during pay disputes; more campaigning on issues such as the anti-union laws at workplace level as well as at national meet-ups; and an approach to international visits that avoids overblown delegation sizes and recognises that international solidarity can only be effective if you don't neglect your own backyard.

The only issue on which the 'top table' suffered defeat all week (other than the Israel/Palestine resolution referred to above) was an appeal against withdrawal of legal support for a particular case in Glasgow. The employer sacked the member concerned following an anonymous complaint about him. The union backed his case to Tribunal, where he won, and thence to Appeal, where he lost, but then withdrew support rather than take the case to Court of Sessions. The AGM voted to overturn this decision, I think partly because of the merits of the case itself and the principle involved, and partly because a lot of branches are unhappy with deserving cases not getting union support on the basis of conservative advice from the lawyers and the Appeal over this case seemed a good way to make that point.

But on some issues, discontent that is plain amongst the membership did not find a voice at the AGM. There were two resolutions about the situation in EWS, where a vicious anti-union employer has marginalised RMT with the help of other unions. One resolution criticised the union's handling of the situation; the other did not. The President deemed the uncritical resolution to 'cover' the critical one, so the latter was not voted on. The criticism quietly slipped off the AGM agenda.

I don't like this business of one resolution 'covering' another, and objected when it reared its head again on the issue of migrant workers. There was a good resolution on the politics of migrant labour and the need for working-class unity; and another (submitted by my branch and others) on what the union should do to step up its organising work among migrant workers. When the President ruled that the former 'covered' the latter, I was on my feet challenging that ruling for fear that the specific proposals on organising would be lost. Although my challenge was defeated, it drew sufficient attention that lots of speakers specifically stated that they supported both resolutions, which will be hard for the Executive to ignore. Hopefully, people will also start to question this whole 'covering' business and support a rule change to replace it with a compositing process.

Having been successful in arguing my point on one internationl issue, I was most certainly in a minority on another: Cuba. But I feel that some things just have to be said, and my branch had unanimously agreed that I should get up and say it, so ... Cuba is a one-party state, and a significant number of our members and activists are uncomfortable with the union's uncritical cheerleading of the Cuban regime; we should be in solidairty with the Cuban people not with the regime. Including mine, there were four votes against the resolution, three more than I expected!

I successfullly proposed a resolution committing the union to fight the BNP on the basis of working-class politics rather than alliances with Tories, and the AGM also unanimously backed a resolution supporting Notts Stop The BNP's mobilisation against the Nazis' Red White and Blue festival in Derbyshire this August.

And one final thing: This year saw the first ever creche at at RMT AGM, without which I would not have been able to attend. I very much hope that this becomes a regular feature, and that the union makes sure that members know that having young kids does not stop you putting yourself forward to be a delegate.