The Frustrations of a Union Rep.

Posted in Tubeworker's blog on ,

So we have reached stalemate and the strike is on tomorrow.Amid posturing from both sides no progress has been made and we have strike action on New Year's Eve.This strike is supposed to be a major event,the RMT Executive have been proclaiming an overwhelming mandate for strike action however on the eve of this proposed industrial action where is the leadership?Yet again the rank and file are left to wandering in the wilderness.As a Tier One Health and Safety Rep I have tried in vain to try and get hold of Functional and Head office people.Head Office is closed for the Festive season and I have left messages with a Functional council rep.I'm not the only one to struggle and make contact with these people.I can't believe that a strike has been called for New Year's Eve and there seems to be no one to give guidance and leadership.I phoned my Branch Secretary to find out what was going on regarding picketing on my group.I discovered he is Doncaster and the Branch Chair is in Scotland.I was told that there is a leafleting campaign tomorrow at Central London stations.Wow,what good is that going to do?Telling customers what is going on and all the while depots will be left unpicketed(I assume).
Well I'd like to deliver a message to our leadership in the RMT,yes we would like a 35 hour week although we didn't ask for one however I can't believe for one moment that the leadership didn't see this coming and have left it to the eleventh hour to take action.It is no secret how devious LUL management so it is not surprising then we have come to an impasse.
The communication between Head Office,Functional Council and it Tier/Level One Reps and rank and file members needs drastic improvement.The rank and file members are what this Union is all about.Unity is Strength but we can only be strong if we are united by a strong leadership.Talk to us,nurture us and lead us.
This strike could be our equivalent of the miners' strike of the 1980's,if we lose this,our credibility with the membership and the public will be lost.
The Union thought LUL would back down because it was New Year's Eve but their bluff has been called.
Where do we go from here?We need to regain the high ground.I have already have lost a member already this week.
New Year was a bad time to call a strike,it penalises the wrong people.
I'm proud to be in the RMT but a radical shake up in the hierachy is needed and rank and file members involved more and playing a more active role within the Union.

I hope somebody will listen.

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