Political representation

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said: “This is a budget of the rich for the rich. The tax changes mean that a banker on half a million pounds gets a kick back from George Osborne of £17,500, money robbed from our public services and the neediest in our divided society."

RMT Warns Of Social Breakdown And Further Riots As Government Plans Budget Cuts To Top Tax While Hammering Public Services

TRANSPORT UNION RMT today warned of social breakdown and further riots as the ConDem coalition Government of public school-educated millionaires prepares to widen the gap between rich and poor by handing out tax cuts to the rich while hammering jobs, wages and services in the country’s public sector.

The RMT have written to other unions to find out whether they ask for disclosure of members sexuality on membership forms. This follows a motion which passed through the LGBT conference in 2011 asking that a voluntary question be added.

Of 54 unions asked, 27 responded. 11% ask the question on the membership form with a further 11% asking members in other ways such as through an equalities questionnaire.

RMT Council of Executives decision:

That we write to all Branches and Regional Councils in the Greater London Authority election area asking if they have any objections to supporting these candidates. We make clear to Branches we are seeking views on the GLA London wide Assembly top up list election and not the GLA constituency election or Mayoral election. A copy of the Trade Union & Socialist Coalition manifesto to also be enclosed in the letter to Branches.

Branch responses to be placed before the Council of Executives on 21st March.

Council of Executives decision in response to this resolution from the London Transport Regional Council:

That we write to the Trade Union and Socialist Coalition to ask they provide a list of all their candidates for the 2012 GLA elections.

The General Secretary is also instructed to seek a meeting with Ken Livingstone to discuss the 2012 Mayoral elections.

We also note that we are already supporting Andrew Dismore for the Barnet and Camden Constituency and that we are not supporting other candidates for this area.

The following resolution submitted by Neasden Branch was carried unanimously at the November 24th Regional council meeting.

The London Transport Regional Council states its intention to support Trade Union and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) candidates in the Greater London Assembly elections in 2012 and requests permission from the RMT Council of Executives to do so.

Click '1 attachment' / file name to download the 'Brown Book', which sets out the rights of health and safety representatives.

On a personal note, the reason that I have posted this today is that the 1977 regulations, which gave these rights to safety reps, were brought in by Labour Secretary of State for Employment Albert Booth, my uncle, who sadly died this morning.