Rail unions

Rail, Maritime and Tranposrt Union (RMT); Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen (ASLEF); Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA)

Labour threatens to expel rail union

The RMT rail union will hold a special conference in Glasgow on 6 February to discuss its response to a threat by the Labour Party to disaffiliate it. The Labour Party's move follows moves by seven RMT branches in Scotland, and the RMT's Scottish Regional Council, to affiliate to the Scottish Socialist Party. "Last year's [union conference] enshrined our affiliation to Labour in RMT's rules and agreed that branches should be free to support other organisations and campaigns in pursuance of the union's policy objectives, subject to executive approval," says RMT general secretary Bob Crow. "The...

East London line to be privatised - Stop this sell-off in its tracks!

By Janine Booth, President, Hackney Trade Union Council, RMT London Underground London Underground plans to hand over the East London Line to a private Train Operating Company. Even though railway privatisation is one of the least popular policies ever, it is to be inflicted on us again - unless we fight to stop it. The line currently runs from New Cross to Shoreditch, but for years there has been a plan to extend it both northwards through Hackney and southwards to Croydon. That plan has been repeatedly held up. First it took a back seat to the Jubilee Line Extension, because projects linking...

How Farce Became Tragedy: 'Permanent Way'

a new play by David Hare I saw this play about rail privatisation at Sheffield's Trades and Labour Club. It was refreshing to see a national theatre production taken out to an alternative venue. But I'm not sure how many of the audience on the night wouldn't have made it to the local theatre - a few maybe. Permanent Way explores the scandal of rail privatisation. It is based on a series of interviews with individuals involved - civil servants, managers, politicians, and most powerfully, those injured and bereaved in the post privatisation rail disasters. Characters talk directly to the...

Draft text on RMT/ Labour Party

Text for use in drafting motions in branches of Labour-afiliated unions on the Labour Party's threat to expel the RMT rail union. See also the resolution passed by the Communication Workers' Union on 29 January 2004 . This union deplores the moves by Labour Party head office to disaffiliate the RMT. We believe the proper solution to the conflict is not the expulsion of the railworkers from the Labour Party, but the replacement of the current Labour Party leadership by one which will return the railways and the London Underground to full public ownership and repeal the anti-union laws. This...

ASLEF threatens to de-recognise its own staff union (from today's Guardian)

Rail union accused of using 'rogue' tactics against staff Kevin Maguire Wednesday January 7, 2004 The Guardian Train drivers' leaders were likened to "rogue employers" last night after threatening to sack their workers if they went on strike, replacing them with non-union staff on lower wages. The new Blairite general secretary of the rail union Aslef reacted with fury to the prospect of industrial action at the organisation's head office in Hampstead, north London. Shaun Brady wrote to about 40 employees at their home addresses, listing severe penalties, including dismissal, if the result of...

RMT threatened by disaffiliation, calls special conference

The RMT rail union will hold a Special General Meeting in Glasgow on February 6 to discuss the future of its political fund, the union's executive has decided. The move follows receipt of correspondence from the Labour Party stating that the union's decision to allow branches to affiliate to the Scottish Socialist Party, in line with last year's AGM decisions, is inconsistent with the union's national affiliation to the Labour Party. "Last year's annual meeting enshrined our affiliation to Labour in RMT's rules and agreed that branches should be free to support other organisations and...

Local Trade Unionists Slam East London Line Privatisation Plan

Press release from Hackney Trade Union Council, 6 January 2004 London Underground has revealed that when the East London Line is extended into Hackney, it will not be a Tube line, but a privatised, mainline service. LUL's Company Council was told that the existing line - from Shoreditch to New Cross - will close in 2006 for the track to be replaced and the northern and southern extensions to be built. When it re-opens in 2008, the train service will be franchised out to a private Train Operating Company. Janine Booth, President of Hackney Trade Union Council, said: "Rail privatisation is one...

Tube's East London Line faces privatisation

by Janine Booth, President, Hackney Trade Union Council London Underground plans to hand over the East London Line to a private Train Operating Company. Even though railway privatisation is one of the least popular policies ever, it is to be inflicted on us again - unless we fight to stop it. The line currently runs from New Cross to Shoreditch, but for years, there has been a plan to extend it both northwards through Hackney and southwards to Croydon. That plan has been repeatedly held up. First it took a back seat to the Jubilee Line Extension, because projects linking business areas are...

Tubeworker 24/12/03: Stop East London Line sell-off

As London Underground decides to privatise the whole of the East London Line, Tubeworker declares war against the sell-off. We argue for an uncompromising campaign by Tube unions and the working-class communities alongside the line. And as RMT calls off industrial action over safety and over Chris Barrett's sacking, we look at how these campaigns can go forward. Plus plenty of workplace reports, with typical unseasonal cheer from management. Download pdf .

Rail union affiliates to SSP

By Angela Paton The Executive of the railworkers' union RMT met on 8 December 2003, and voted in favour of RMT Scottish region affiliating to the Scottish Socialist Party (SSP). Done and dusted - they told the SSP earlier tonight. The SSP structures however aren't really ready for a trade union affiliation. No-one is quite sure how it will work, certainly not on a block vote like it used to be in the Labour Party. They will have representation on the national committee and on regional committees, but I'm sure there will be much discussion inside the SSP over this.

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