paulrutland's blog

Once again, the Morning Star must appeal to its backbone and its lifeblood, the readers who own, support and underwrite the paper - in short, you.

And if you do not respond, and soon, there may well not be a paper to support.

It has been an eventful and in many ways successful four or five years for the Morning Star.

In that period, we have gained formal support and a presence on our board of management from a solid majority of the organised trade union movement - a first that has astonished - and gratified - people throughout the labour movement.

Submitted by Roy Carey

April 22nd 2010 OSP DUTY MANAGER UPDATE

I would like to take this opportunity to make it clear, at the MATS Functional Council OSP meeting on 22/04/2010, the RMT and all other unions involved REFUSED to discuss the job cuts and in fact did not discuss any issue.

(cont'd see attachment)

Standing up for all workers

Wednesday 10th February 2010

In your article titled TfL staff lobby bosses over pay offer (M Star February 3) Steve Hedley, RMT regional organiser, is totally correct in his assertion: "Unless people are prepared to take industrial action, this will keep happening."

It's good to see various trade union leaders saying they will be fighting for their members whoever is running the country, but perhaps they should start now. Most of the recent disputes in the oil refineries, occupations at Visteon etc were started by rank and file with the leaderships being forced to support the workers.

Big adverts in the Morning Star stating how many members you have and pleading for the government not to cut public services and please be progressive do nothing. Fighting back does.

It was great to see the Morning Star headline Stunning victory for Tube workers (August 19), but, as your editorial made clear, this victory only concerns the workforce covered by the RMT who were willing to fight for their terms and conditions.

Other trade unions who have sat back are now left out of this agreement.

The same scenario is taking place in the TfL side of the dispute, but unfortunately also concerns the members of the RMT in this area.

Members of the TfL No.1 Branch visited the picket line at Mount Pleasant Sorting Office on friday 10th July to show solidarity with the CWU fight in London. The action was solid with the typical scab managers brought in from other parts of the country to make it look like work was being done.

We donated the RMT flag which we were told would be hung in the Union office.

I am writing this in a personal capacity but I believe this is the feeling of a lot of TfL members of RMT. We have given 100% to the build up of this dispute/campaign since day one. We have only 4 'recognised' Reps in the whole of TfL unlike other areas of membership. We are part of this dispute because of the possible 3000 job cuts in our area, no pay offer whatsoever from TfL and members being denied the representatives of their choice plus we already have to suffer the disgraceful 'OCP' scenario where we can be made compulsory redundant.

Please see attached press release by TSSA and UNISON. The quotes from Gerry Doherty (TSSA) and Dave Prentis (UNISON) are a bit rich considering that in this area they have been in the process of shedding jobs since September 2008! Hundreds have already gone without a mention from these General Secretaries. Why the interest now?

TSSA News Release 8 June 2009 Tfl wastes millions on consultants while thousands face sack UNISON and the TSSA today slammed TfL for wasting millions on consultants while attempting to fill a £2.4billion budget black hole by sacking thousands of staff.

Your help can stop the BNPs national billboard campaign.

Clear Channel – an outdoor advertising agency – have sold the BNP adverts on billboards across the country – they’re financially profiting from the BNP’s vicious campaign.

We are asking all our supporters to send a message to Clear Channel – demanding that they take down the BNP’s racist propaganda.

After you send your letter we will keep you up to date with details about this and other campaigns.

Click '1 attachment' / file name to download this leaflet; read the text below.

How will Management Keep London Moving By Cutting Jobs in TFL, LUL / Metronet?

THEY WON’T

Will management get the backing of their Duty Managers?