Speeches

One hundred years ago, a big movement grew in the east London borough of Poplar, headed by thirty councillors who went to prison rather than levy extortionate rates or cut services to the working-class population that elected them. ‘Poplarism’ won.

Is this just a dusty-but-interesting episode from history? Or does it contain inspiration and lessons for today?

This is what Janine said in the debate about Reasonable Adjustments for Disabled Workers at the TUC Disabled Workers' Conference on 11 March 2021.

I’ll start with what might be a provocative statement:

Reasonable adjustments for individual workers are Plan B. Plan A is an accessible workplace.

This is the text of my contribution to the debate at TUC Disabled Workers' Conference on 10 March 2019.

Hi. I'm Janine Booth, representing RMT. Our members work in the rail, road transport, shipping and offshore energy industries.

Janine gave this illustrated online talk about the Poplar Rates Rebellion for the TUC Tolpuddle Radical History School on 12 January 2021.

Speaking at an online meeting of rail workers in September, Janine Booth tells the story of the period after the end of the Second World War when black people came to Britain but met opposition from some white workers, until the 'colour bar' was defeated in 1966.

Janine speaks to an online audience of rail workers about the fight against job cuts.

Fellow RMT activist John Pencott also speaks.

Janine speaks as part of a panel on Covid-19, democratic ownership and the future of the economy in May 2020. - organised by Another Europe Is Possible. Video plus text of speech below.

TUC Women's Conference today debated a motion on Women and HIV (pictured). I spoke against the motion. Below is my speech, plus some additional information to help clarify what has been a controversial issue.

The motion was defeated by 89 votes to 81, with 36 delegates abstaining.

I'm asking delegates to vote against this motion.