Bakerloo branch stands in solidarity with protesters against police brutality

The RMT Bakerloo Branch has passed a motion on the protests against police brutality across the US and internationally. The resolution highlights that the branch 'stand in solidarity with our BEM members against the racism they face in society' and calls for the union to offer international solidarity and to 'develop and support struggles for racial justice and equality in the workplace and wider society.'

RMT BAKERLOO BRANCH RESOLUTION: BLACK LIVES MATTER: AGAINST POLICE BRUTALITY AND RACISM

This branch notes the wave of protests, across the USA and internationally, against police brutality and racism, in response to the murder of George Floyd by a white police officer.

This branch stands in solidarity with those protests. Police brutality is not an "American" problem, but something experienced across the world, including in Britain, where many people, predominantly black, have died in police custody.

We particularly salute the actions of our fellow transport workers in Minneapolis, in the Amalgamated Transport Union Local 1005, and in New York, in Transport Workers Union Local 100, who have refused to drive buses for arrestee transport.

We stand in solidarity with our BEM members against the racism they face in society, including from discriminatory policing. We believe police brutality against people of colour is linked to the wider ideology of white supremacy.

We acknowledge the legacy of transport workers' struggles against racism in this country, such as the 1963 Bristol bus boycott in response to a "colour bar" on the hiring of black workers. We note that the role of the official trade unions in these struggles has not always been an honourable one.

From experiences such as print workers' strikes in Warrington (1983) and Wapping (1986), the Battle of Orgreave (1984), and many others, we know that police brutality will be wielded against the labour movement when our struggles threaten the power of capital and the state.

This branch resolves to:

  • Publicise this motion via branch social media, and ask that it be posted on RMT London Calling

  • Write to ATU Local 1005 and TWU Local 100 with the text of this motion, and to invite representatives to attend a future branch meeting

  • Request that the national union make a statement in solidarity with protests against police brutality and racism

  • Work with our BEM Members Advisory Committee to develop and support struggles for racial justice and equality in the workplace and wider society, and to ensure liberation and equality are at the heart of our union's organising

  • Support efforts to mobilise RMT members to safely participate in ongoing protests