National Executive Committee Midlands Region
2025 Casual vacancy
Vote Ted WOODLEY 1
Great British Rail - RMT
must be ready to fight to defend our jobs, pay and conditions
"I will do everything possible to ensure that our interests are protected if and when GBR becomes a reality - including supporting industrial action when the members demand it."
I will fight for every member, every company, every workplace.
My commitments to RMT members:
• Industrial
For a fighting strategy to restore the real-terms pay we have lost since the Covid pandemic. We must defend all jobs, pay and conditions across all grades within the transport sector. RMT must maintain its position as a leading force in the British labour movement and help lead a national fightback against austerity- regardless of whichever party is in government.
• Political
I support RMT’s political strategy - we must only support politicians who support our union’s policies. No support for any politicians voting for cuts or privatisation in local or national government. We must keep pressure on Labour to repeal the antiunion laws and we should be prepared to give support to independent anti-austerity, pro-Trade Union candidates.
• Our union
All of our workplace reps should be supported by the branches and regional councils in building RMT membership and strength.
Branches are the key building blocks of the RMT. I will offer my support to branch secretaries and committees in the form of of regular direct contact and also by assisting the branch in recruitment and other activities.
Our workplace reps must feel able to pick up the phone and speak to me about issues affecting them and their members at any time.
We must do more to recruit those who need us the most such as low paid and outsourced workers.
• RMT members in charge
I will ensure that RMT is a member-led union. Members must be engaged with and involved in all key decisions. Efforts must be made to maximise participation of members in the life of the RMT, especially the branches and conferences.
• For working class unity
RMT must eliminate racism, sexism and all other forms of discrimination from the workplace and society. United we stand, divided we fall. Support our union equalities conferences and lead working class initiatives to counter the far right anywhere in society that it rears its ugly head.
About me:
I am a Senior Conductor (guard)
11 years employed on the railway 11 previous years in the bus industry
Officer and committee member of Coventry no.1 RMT branch
Local industrial rep and former H&S rep RMT Midlands Regional Council executive member and Outsourced Members Officer 4 times RMT Annual General Meeting and 1 time Special General Meeting delegate
Committed socialist and union activist, track record of involvement in RMT political, industrial and community campaigns
Moved branch resolutions on several issues including DOO and pay I believe in solidarity, workers should support each other against the bosses’ agenda
"Rail, Taxi, buses, road haulage… all Midlands members deserve the full support of their NEC member - I will fight by your side."
Great British Railway
Campaigning by RMT has helped build public support for renationalisation of the railway. I welcome the commitment to nationalise the TOCs, but the highly profitable Rolling Stock Leasing Companies and freight operators have been left in private hands. They should also be nationalised so that profits are reinvested into the railway for the benefit of all - not for the fat cats. I am also concerned about the implications for our jobs, pay and conditions presented by the creation of GBR. I believe that GBR must deliver improvements for our members. We must be prepared to defend our interests against attacks from GBR bosses who will look to make cost savings by orchestrating a race to the bottom. All of our terms and conditions are precious and have been achieved through struggle and trade union negotiations going back decades.
Ted is supported by reps across the industry…
"Ted’s support and advice during our recent dispute was a massive help. We need Ted on the NEC to continue his good work for all our members." Ian Triggs, Avanti Train Managers’ Company Council rep
"We need more people like Ted in our region and at the top of our union fighting for the members."
Paul Reilly, Network Rail route council rep, RMT Engineering Grades conference President
"Ted is an energetic and committed RMT rep and that is why I support him 100%. I will be recommending all my Cross Country colleagues vote for Ted."
Tony Davis, Cross Country Senior Conductors Company Council rep and RMT Midlands Region President
"We need strong, experienced representation on the NEC - someone who knows our industry inside out. That’s why I believe Ted is the best candidate for the job." Kier Chewings, East Midlands Railway RMT Company Council
GBR must not be a mechanism to 'level down' our hard-won jobs, pay and conditions but should be an opportunity to create a fully funded, unified and publicly owned railway as part of an integrated public transport system. My priorities for rail members:
• Fight to restore real-terms pay lost due to inflation
• Bring outsourced workers back in-house
• Repair the damage done to Network Rail maintenance members’ working conditions through the disastrous 'Modernising Maintenance' scheme
• Defend the railway pension scheme and end the multiple-tier system which provides an inferior pension for new entrants at some companies
• Continue to fight DOO and booking office closures - for a safe railway, accessible for all.