RMT Affiliates to the Labour Party, But Can Support Other Candidates Too

Submitted by Janine on 11 April, 2009 - 15:40

This is the rule change, passed in 2003, that reaffirmed RMT's affiliation to the Labour but also allowed the union to back other candidates who support the union's policy objectives. The Labour Party expelled RMT as a consequence of the passing of this rule change and RMT's subsequent support for the Scottish Socialist Party.

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CHANGE OF RULE - FUTURE OF THE RMT POLITICAL FUND

New Clause 26:

Letter from Bob Crow: RMT to Re-Ballot

Submitted by Janine on 11 April, 2009 - 14:56

Rates of Pay & Conditions of Service 2009, Redundancies and Breach of Agreements – LUL

From Bob Crow, RMT General Secretary

I regret to have to inform you that despite returning a magnificent “yes” vote for both Strike Action and Action Short of a Strike we are unable to use your mandate at this present time.

For your information you voted as follows; for strike action it was 3,165 for and only 619 against and for action short of a strike it was 3,495 for and only 266 against.

The Disability Discrimination Act - a vital piece of legislation

Submitted by Brian Munro on 11 April, 2009 - 13:43

Disabled workersLike most reps and activists in the union I have not had to deal with the Disability and Discrimination Act (DDA) in any great detail. I am aware of the headline issues: the DDA exists; it is a bad thing if an employer discriminates against someone who is disabled; and an employer must carry out a thing called "reasonable adjustments" for existing staff and potential recruits. But that was the extent of my knowledge.

Resolution: Death at G20 Protests

Submitted by Janine on 11 April, 2009 - 13:40

Stratford no.1 branch has passed this resolution and submitted it for discussion at the April meeting of the Regional Council.

This branch / Regional Council regrets the violent circumstances surrounding the death of newspaper seller Ian Tomlinson at the G20 demonstrations. This unfortunate individual, guilty of nothing more than being in the wrong place at the wrong time, was known to many of our members at Bank/Monument station. We send our condolences to his friends and family and call for legal action against those individuals responsible for his death.

Resolution: Stop Post Office Privatisation

Submitted by Janine on 11 April, 2009 - 13:36

This resolution, submitted by Stratford no.1 branch and seconded by Finsbury Park branch, was passed unanimously at the April meeting of the Regional Council.

This branch / Regional Council deplores the government's plan to privatise the Post Office.

Given our experience in the rail industry, we know that privatisation - whether to a British or foreign private owner - is a disaster for workers and service users.

Blair Peach memorial event

Thirty years ago, during the run up to the election in which Thatcher triumphed, the fascist National Front arranged a public meeting in the centre of Southall - an open racist provocation to the overwhelmingly asian local community. On the day of this meeting there was a mass shut down of shops, factories and businesses and peaceful occupation of our own streets by the local community. Protests to the Council that they should deny the NF use of our town hall were ignored and so the community blockaded its own streets.

Willesden Green Post Industrial Action Report

Submitted by 1913 Lockout on 10 April, 2009 - 18:23

Happily, the industrial action between Wednesday 8th April and Thursday 9th April 2009 was a success.

Particular thanks go to the many managers who somehow found time in their “busy and demanding schedules” to keep seats warm at various stations. As a result, this freed staff taking industrial action to:

· Hand out thousands of leaflets to thousands of travelling customers informing them of the harassment, intimidation and bullying to which staff on the Willesden Green Group are subject.

RMT outrage as ‘shameful and undemocratic’ legal challenge forces rerun of Tube strike ballot

Submitted by Joffe on 9 April, 2009 - 10:11

Press release

LONDON UNDERGROUND’S biggest union today expressed outrage at a ‘shameful and undemocratic’ legal challenge by Tube bosses that has forced the re-run of a strike ballot of more than 9,000 RMT members – despite it yielding a five-to-one majority for action.

RMT today said it would re-run the ballot on the same issues of jobs and pay as soon as possible after the union received a detailed legal letter designed purely to undermine the ballot and as a preliminary to a court challenge.