Economic crisis / fighting public service cuts

Chancellor George Osborne

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:

“Rather than a thin-scraping of jam tomorrow, robbed from other parts of the cupboard, what Britain needs today is real investment for growth and we could start by ending the nonsense of sacrificing thousands of manufacturing and supply chain jobs in the East Midlands, which are threatened by shifting train building to Siemens in Germany.

TRANSPORT UNION RMT today slammed Vince Cables attack on workers’ rights and warned that as well as opening the door to a vicious “hire and fire” culture he is also giving a green light to a massive increase in social dumping that will allow companies to hire in workers from abroad to undermine pay and conditions.

RMT Council of Executives decision:

As a union we support most progressive campaigns for the advancement of people and have played a pivotal role in the anti cuts movement and continue to support trade union council and community campaigns for social justice. We also note the General Secretary is speaking at the Youth Fight for Jobs rally at Trafalgar Square.

RMT's Council of Executives has agreed to submit this resolution to TUC Women's Conference 2012:

That this Conference is concerned that Government proposals for the main line railway and the actions of London Underground in slashing staff numbers will worsen passenger services through the loss of thousands of frontline workers from trains, stations, ticket offices and safety-critical infrastructure and operational roles.

RMT Council of Executives decision:

That we affiliate to this organisation. We instruct the General Secretary to send the £100 affiliation fee and the Council of Executives through consultation with the Black & Ethnic Minority Members’ Advisory Committee send a delegate on behalf of this Union.

Council of Executives decision:

That we fully support the resolution and note our support and affiliation to End Violence Against Women campaign. We instruct the General Secretary to bring to the Equal Rights Sub-Committee a model policy for our Lead Officers to obtain nationwide.

Further, a suitable article for RMT News be drafted by EVAW concentrating on our members' experiences. Reference should be made in the article to the experiences mentioned in the AGM debate and also to the impact of the cuts on women's refuges.

Council of Executives decision:

That we note the resolution and agree to donate £100 to both the Merseyside Women Against the Cuts and London Women Against the Cuts.

An article is to be placed in RMT News and write to women on the NWAC asking if they are aware of such campaigns. In addition, the latest TUC briefing on this is to be sent and placed on our website, along with this resolution.

Please find attached a Regional Political report on the recent riots and LU Managements plans to decimate jobs on London Underground after the Olympics.

Given both the ever continuing economic crisis and the Employers determination to use this crisis as a cloak for attacks on jobs,pay and conditions it is vital that we prepare and organise for the battles upon us.

The following Resolution submitted by Neasden Branch was carried at the Regional Council meeting on 28th July.

This branch/Region supports the growing anti-cuts movement and we realise that a successful movement will require an industrial political strategy.
We realise that all three major political parties, including Labour,are making cuts in local authorities in London.