Report on the Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers’ Union (RMT) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Introduction

The Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers’ Union (RMT), headquartered in King’s Cross, London, represents a significant force in the British labor movement. Despite the decline in trade union membership nationally, the RMT continues to grow and maintain influence, advocating for workers’ rights and fair wages. This report highlights the union’s activities, leadership, and political stance, with a focus on their alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Historical and Political Context

• The RMT office is steeped in 20th-century leftist tradition, symbolizing a commitment to social justice and workers’ rights.
• The union has a history of militancy and political activism, often challenging government policies to secure better conditions for its members.
• Leadership transitions, including the recent appointment of Eddie Dempsey as general secretary, reflect continuity in the union’s mission.

Leadership and Vision

Eddie Dempsey, the current general secretary, embodies a traditional working-class perspective, emphasizing:

1. Decent living standards and secure employment (SDG 1: No Poverty; SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth)
2. Accessible public services including education and healthcare (SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being; SDG 4: Quality Education)
3. Community rebuilding and social cohesion (SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities)
4. Peaceful societal relations (SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions)

Political Stance and Challenges

• The RMT’s opposition to EU membership reflects concerns about restrictions on public ownership and state intervention, aligning with SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure).
• Dempsey’s controversial past, including a humanitarian visit to eastern Ukraine, underscores the union’s complex international engagements.
• The union advocates for a return to collective bargaining systems similar to Scandinavian models, aiming to restore worker power and improve living standards (SDG 8).

Socioeconomic Impact and Labour Movement

The RMT’s activities contribute to addressing several SDGs through:

• Promotion of fair wages and secure employment, combating poverty and inequality (SDG 1, SDG 10).
• Advocacy for nationalization and investment in infrastructure, supporting sustainable economic growth and industry revitalization (SDG 9, SDG 11).
• Rebuilding community ties and fostering social inclusion, which enhances sustainable urban development (SDG 11).

Challenges Facing the Labour Movement

1. Declining union membership and fragmentation of working-class identity.
2. Political polarization and the rise of populist right-wing movements.
3. Economic constraints due to fiscal policies limiting public investment.

Strategic Priorities for Sustainable Development

• Reconstruction of the trade union movement to strengthen collective bargaining and worker representation (SDG 8).
• Promotion of equitable economic policies that prioritize investment in manufacturing and infrastructure (SDG 9).
• Enhancement of social protection systems to ensure dignity in retirement and healthcare access (SDG 3, SDG 10).
• Fostering social cohesion and reducing inequalities through inclusive community development (SDG 11, SDG 16).

Conclusion

The RMT, under Eddie Dempsey’s leadership, exemplifies a commitment to sustainable development through its advocacy for workers’ rights, social justice, and economic renewal. By aligning its objectives with the Sustainable Development Goals, the union aims to contribute to a fairer, more inclusive society with improved living standards and strengthened public services. The challenges are significant, but the union’s focus on collective action and community rebuilding offers a pathway toward achieving these global goals.

Image Caption

Eddie Dempsey, photographed by David Sandison for the New Statesman

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed or Connected

1. SDG 1: No Poverty – The article discusses the decline in living standards, employment security, and the need for a good standard of living for workers.
2. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being – Reference to public services that look after people when they are sick and provide retirement in dignity.
3. SDG 4: Quality Education – Mention of public services that educate people.
4. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth – Central theme of trade unionism, securing decent wages, employment rights, collective bargaining, and rebuilding the economy with proper investment.
5. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities – Focus on restoring power to working-class people, reducing inequality through collective bargaining and public ownership.
6. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities – Discussion on rebuilding communities and shared responsibility.
7. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions – Desire for a world that lives in peace and the role of institutions like trade unions in political representation and social cohesion.

2. Specific Targets Under Those SDGs Identified

1. SDG 1 – Target 1.2: Reduce at least by half the proportion of people living in poverty in all its dimensions.
2. SDG 3 – Target 3.8: Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection and access to quality essential health-care services.
3. SDG 4 – Target 4.3: Ensure equal access for all women and men to affordable and quality technical, vocational and tertiary education.
4. SDG 8 – Target 8.5: Achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including young people and persons with disabilities.
5. SDG 8 – Target 8.6: Reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education or training.
6. SDG 10 – Target 10.4: Adopt policies, especially fiscal, wage and social protection policies, to progressively achieve greater equality.
7. SDG 11 – Target 11.3: Enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated and sustainable human settlement planning and management.
8. SDG 16 – Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied to Measure Progress

• Indicator for SDG 1.2: Proportion of population living below the national poverty line, by sex and age.
• Indicator for SDG 3.8: Coverage of essential health services and proportion of population with large household expenditures on health as a share of total household expenditure or income.
• Indicator for SDG 4.3: Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal education and training.
• Indicator for SDG 8.5: Employment rate, average real wages, and proportion of workers covered by collective bargaining agreements.
• Indicator for SDG 8.6: Proportion of youth not in education, employment or training.
• Indicator for SDG 10.4: Growth rates of household expenditure or income per capita among the bottom 40% of the population and the total population.
• Indicator for SDG 11.3: Ratio of land consumption rate to population growth rate and proportion of urban population living in slums or inadequate housing.
• Indicator for SDG 16.6: Proportion of the population satisfied with their last experience of public services and perceptions of institutional effectiveness.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets and Indicators

Source: newstatesman.com