Swine Flu

Submitted by Janine on 1 May, 2009 - 20:02

To read reports on swine flu, how it affects you and what your union is doing to demand that your employer protect your safety, click here.

The Politics of Flu

Submitted by Admin on 1 May, 2009 - 19:45

The World Health Organisation, backed by Western leaders, argues that pandemics can be contained by the rapid responses of medical bureaucracies. The idea is that the strain is identified and then dealt with by local populations getting enough anti-viral drugs.

Rather than working together to produce a vaccination for each new flu strain, which is unprofitable for the pharmaceutical companies because many new flu strains don’t reach pandemic level, governments tend to rely on generic anti-virals such as Tamiflu.

The ABC of Influenza

Submitted by Admin on 1 May, 2009 - 17:49

Swine Flu is a highly contagious acute respiratory disease.

Influenzas are classified into three major genera: A, B and C. Over thousands of years Influenzas B and C have been domesticated by long circulation in human populations. The Influenza C is a cause of the common cold for instance and B produces a classic winter flu.

Stratford no.1 Draft Branch Minutes: Thursday 8th April 2009

Submitted by Janine on 1 May, 2009 - 12:44

1. Attendees – See list

2. Apologies – M. Mujahid, T. O’Neil, Peter Heyes, Vic Morgan,.

3. Matters Arising March Minutes • Still waiting for reply from Bob Crow about Brother Finney being asked to leave No 2Eu meeting. • DM – Still waiting report on training room door issues.

• Minutes moved – Dick Millhouse • Seconded – Glenn Brown

4. Standing orders – To be oked at next meeting.

5. Leavers and joiners – at time of meeting the branch Sec had still not received any leavers and joiners list.

RMT Calls on Israel Railways to Drop Discriminatory Policy

Submitted by Admin on 1 May, 2009 - 10:01

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow has sent the following letter to the Israeli ambassador. ...

April 27 2009

His Excellency Ron Prosor Israeli ambassador to the Court of St James 2 Palace Green London W8 4QB

Dear Mr Prosor

I refer to the matter of 40 Israeli Arab citizens who were handed redundancy notices on Sunday March 29, effective from the beginning of April, following the decision of Israel Railways to change its employment terms.

Report: RMT London Busworkers' Meeting 20 April 2009

Submitted by Admin on 1 May, 2009 - 09:03

busLondon busworkers met at the Bulstrode public house in Hounslow on Monday 20th April 09. The meeting was a very lively affair with many important topics being discussed. There was a debate on the proposed RMT London Busworkers' Charter. The charter contains the aspirations and objectives of London's RMT busworkers and include the demand for the re-nationalisation of the London Bus network, recognition of RMT on the London bus network, pay parity with Tube drivers (currently £40,073), terms and conditions parity with underground workers and joining the TfL pension. Other points include the provision of toilet facilities at every terminus and turning point, free staff gyms at garages, decent canteen provision at all garages, and for staff passes to be valid on all National Rail services.