50th Anniversary of the 1966 NUS Strike

Circular No: NP/0124/16

TO ALL BRANCHES AND REGIONAL COUNCILS

Our ref: S16/1

20th April 2016

Dear Colleagues

50th Anniversary of the 1966 NUS Strike

Further to circular no. NP/0101/06 of 24th August 2006, this year the union celebrates the fiftieth anniversary of the National Union of Seamen’s historic strike of 1966.

In addition to a commemorative supplement in the RMT News, the union has commissioned a souvenir booklet and a badge to honour those members, and retired members, who took part in the dispute. You will appreciate that it is not possible to present one to every RMT member but we want to ensure that all past and present members from the 1966 NUS strike receive a fiftieth anniversary badge.

The Shipping and Dock Grades Biennial General Meeting (BGM) in Dover next month will also feature an event on Friday 13th May to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary and to remember the terms of the NUS dispute, a pivotal event in the history and development of industrial relations in this country. Attendance is a legitimate form of Branch expenditure and I would especially encourage members in Shipping Branches to attend.

All Branches, including Retired Members’ and Regional Councils are also invited to submit written contributions about or memorabilia from the 1966 NUS Strike, especially from those who were part of this momentous dispute.

To order a badge, submit contributions or get more information on the BGM event, Branch Secretaries should contact RMT National Policy Department on 0207 529 8281 or d.crimes@rmt.org.uk.

You will be kept updated with further developments.

Yours sincerely
 
Mick Cash
General Secretary