RMT News

ISSUE NUMBER 5, VOLUME 13,

Essential reading for today’s transport worker

MAY/JUNE 2012

www.rmt.org.ukwwww rmt org ukw rm

OVER 100 MPS SLAMMCNULTYPAGE 8

BUS WORKERS MEETPAGE 14

LUCKY LANDINGPAGE 11

RMT News is compiled and originated by National Union of Rail, Maritime &Transport Workers, Unity House, 39 Chalton Street, London NW1 1JD. Tel:020 7387 4771. Fax: 020 7529 8808. e-mail [email protected] Theinformation contained in this publication is believed to be correct but cannot beguaranteed. All rights reserved. RMT News is designed by Bighand Creativeand printed by Leycol Printers. General editor: Bob Crow. Managing editor:Brian Denny. No part of this document may be reproduced without priorwritten approval of RMT. No liability is accepted for any errors or omissions.Copyright RMT 2011

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: may/june 2012 :: RMTnews

3

Ten years ago the lethal consequencesof privatising Britain’s railways were

lodged indelibly in the public mind withthe images of the disaster at Potters Bar.

Seven people died and 76 wereinjured as a direct result of actions byMPs determined to destroy the notion ofa publicly owned railway run as a publicservice.

The faulty points with loose andmissing bolts that caused the tragedywere supposed to be maintained by thecontactor Jarvis working under thedirection of the private companyRailtrack.

To prove the extent of the corrosiverelationship between politicians and bigbusiness that led to privatisation in thefirst place, one Jarvis boss was noneother than former Tory Mayoralcandidate and former cabinet memberSteve Norris.

Yet RMT demands for a joint publicinquiry into both Potters Bar and theGrayrigg derailment has been ignored bysuccessive governments.

Inquests and safety investigationshave repeatedly exposed the part playedby the failures of privatisation but thepolitical class has run scared of anexamination that would shine the lighton the ideology that led to the horror ofPotters Bar in the first place.

This is because they are hell bent ondragging us into an action replaythrough the McNulty proposals for railwhich demand further fragmentation,decimation and privatisation.

McNulty’s core objectives – de-staffing trains, stations and track, gold-plated 15 year franchises and openingup infrastructure once again for profit –are already well in train.

Across Europe similar transportprivatisation is also being rolled out byundemocratic EU diktat onto memberstates that have run railways as publicservices for decades.

In the face of all of this our fight fora safe and secure railway goes on.

Working with sister unions acrossEurope, the TUC, commuter groups andcommunities RMT will be holding moredays of action, building on the work so

far. Potters Bar is a reminder of justwhat is at stake.

RMT has also called on the SNPadministration in Scotland to call offtheir planned sell-off of the NorthernIsles Ferries service to private outfitSERCO. This whole botched privatisationplan has descended into chaos with oneprivate bidder mounting a legalchallenge against another. This is noway to run essential, lifeline ferryoperations that are a fundamental publicservice.

RMT gave evidence to the TransportSelect Committee in Parliament againstproposals for more competition in localbus markets.

Bus and coach fares have increased inreal terms by 20 per cent over the lastdecade yet the wages and conditions ofbus workers have continued to stagnateas a direct result of a Thatcheriteprivatisation that should be reversed atthe earliest opportunity.

The serious gas leak from Total’sElgin platform and the recent crash ofanother Puma helicopter also show thatoffshore health and safety isn’t all itshould be.

EU proposals to centralise regulationof offshore oil and gas safety will onlymake matters worse.

Even employers agree with RMT thatthe proposed EU regulation wouldundermine the regulatory regime ofoffshore safety and environmentalprotection.

RMT members on the Royal FleetAuxiliary took 24-hour strike action thismonth alongside other public sectorworkers.

The hammering the Con Dems took inthe polls this month should also serve asa wake-up call from working men andwomen that we will not roll over andtake the hit for their crisis.

As part of that fight back against ConDem and EU austerity there will be thehuge demonstration on Saturday October20 in London. So bring your bannersand be a part of an alternative visionboth here and across the world.

contents EDITORIAL

When you have finished with this magazine give it to a workmatewho is not in your union. Even better, ask them to join RMT byfilling in the application form opposite

POTTERS BARREMEMBERED

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STIRLING SIGNALLERS STRIKE INROSTERS DISPUTEPage 5

STRIKE AT TUBE LINES Page 6

LONDON MIDLAND PROFITEERING FROMTICKET OFFICE CLOSURESPage 7

ROYAL FLEET AUXILIARY MEMBERSSTRIKE FOR DECENT PENSIONSPage 8

OVER 100 MPS SLAM MCNULTY Page 9

PARLIAMENTARY COLUMN

Page 10

DEFENDING BUS WORKERSPage 11

LUCKY LANDINGPage 12

FIGHTING MCNULTY Page 14

BUS WORKERS FIGHT BACK Page 15

SCOTTISH TUC OPPOSES FERRY SELLOFF Page 16

NO TO LONGER RAIL FRANCHISESPage 18

WOMEN AGAINST THE CUTS Page 19

WREXHAM INDEPENDENT ELECTIONVICTORYPage 20

CELEBRATING MAY DAYPage 22

EU ATTACKS WORKERS’ RIGHTS Page 23

PRESIDENT’S COLUMN Page 24

DEALING WITH ACOUSTIC SHOCKS Page 26

LEARNING AT NETWORK RAIL Page 27

ELECTION ADS/LETTERSPage 27

ELECTION ADS/CROSSWORD0

CREDIT UNION


4

RMT is balloting forboth strike action and

action short of a strike ofFreightliner fittermembers at Southamptondepot in a dispute overrosters and restructuring.

Despite protractednegotiations lasting overa year, Freightliner hasnow thrown workableproposals to negotiatewith the union but alsowithdrawn their ownsuggested modified plansand returned to theiroriginal restructuringwhich represents anoutright attack on staffworking conditions.

RMT general secretaryBob Crow said that RMTrepresentatives had beennegotiating theserestructuring proposalswith Freightliner for wellover a year and justwhen a resolutionappeared achievable, thecompany withdrew allconcessions previouslytabled.

“Freightliner hasconducted itself in acompletely disingenuousmanner.

“It is as a result of theaggressive and underhandtactics of the companythat the RMT executivehas taken the decision toconduct a ballot of allour members atSouthampton for strikeaction and industrialaction short of a strike.

“The union isconfident that ourmembers will show theirstrength of feeling to thecompany by returning amassive yes vote in theballot for industrialaction,” he said.

Signal workers in the Stirlingarea in Scotland took rock

solid strike action in a disputeover rosters in early May withmore action planned for the endof the month after voting 100per cent for industrial action.

Pickets were out in force forthe latest 24 hours of strikeaction on May 10 2012.

RMT has for some time beentrying to negotiate 12-hourrosters for signallers in theStirling area. The companyinitially declined the union’srequest claiming that there wasno desire to introduce 12-hourshifts amongst the workforce.

In order to prove that thecompany claims were false, RMTconducted a referendum whichresulted in an overwhelming 15to 1 vote in favour of theproposal. Unable to argue a lackof support for union proposals,Network Rail started makngbogus claims of additional cost.

RMT general secretary BobCrow said:"Our members arerock solid in support of thesecond wave of action todayand pickets are out in forcesending a clear message to theemployers that RMT isdetermined to win this fight.

“RMT will not allow NetworkRail to ride roughshod over theclear democratic will of our

members to improve the qualityof their work/life balance.

“Although management hasso far refused to budge theycannot ignore the strength offeeling demonstrated by thesecond day of action today andRMT remains available for talksaimed at resolving the matter,”he said.

RMT is balloting tube cleanersworking for ISS and Initial

for both strike action and actionshort of a strike in disputes overpay, pensions and benefits.

RMT is demanding that thecleaners, who do some of thedirtiest jobs often in appallingconditions to keep the tuberunning, should receive asubstantial, above inflation payincrease and an Olympic Bonusin line with the paymentsoffered to LOROL staff.

The union is also demandinga sick-pay scheme, free travelpasses and improvements to thepension scheme

Despite attempts to resolve

these issues with the companiesthrough negotiations both ISSand Initial have failed to comeup with offers that reward thetube cleaners with pay, pensionsand working conditions thatreflect the crucial role that theyplay in delivering a clean andsafe tube environment.

RMT General Secretary BobCrow said that RMT wasdetermined to secure a fair dealfor cleaner members.

“These staff are an integralpart of the London Undergroundteam and should be properlyrewarded as such and not justseen as a money-making tool tobe exploited for every last

penny in the interest of privateprofits.

“In the run up to theOlympics it is simply scandalousthat the staff who will bekeeping the transport systemclean for the millions of visitorsto the city are being treated likedirt.

“RMT urges Londoners toback this campaign for justicefor our cleaners and join us inforcing the Mayor and LondonUnderground to drag ISS andInitial back to the negotiatingtable to resolve these disputes,”he said.

STIRLINGSIGNALLERS STRIKEIN ROSTERS DISPUTE

TUBE CLEANERS BALLOTEDFOR STRIKE ACTION

FREIGHTLINERSTRIKE BALLOTOVER ROSTERSANDRESTRUCTURING

MEETING: Stirling signallers discuss tactics


5

London Underground TubeLines staff, including the

Emergency Response Unit, took72 hours of strike action lastmonth following a four to onevote in support of a disputeover pensions and benefitsjustice.

RMT has been demandingthat all Tube Lines staff,including ex-Alstom staff atStratford Market depot, beallowed to join the Transport forLondon Pension Scheme andreceive the same travelconcessions as those who workfor LUL, including formerMetronet staff.

The union call for justice hasbeen on the agenda ever sinceLUL took over Tube Lines aspart of the rescue operationafter the failure of the tubeprivatisation project

Parity would bring TubeLines staff free travel within

London and 75 per cent of thecost of travel on the mainlinerailway – the concession that allTube staff, including ex-Metronet people, already get.

Tube Lines staff areresponsible for bothmaintenance and upgrade workon the Jubilee line, Northernline and Piccadilly line.

They also provide a numberof services across the networkincluding the EmergencyResponse Unit (ERU),Distribution Services and TransPlant.

RMT general secretary BobCrow said that members haddelivered a massive mandate foraction following astraightforward demand forparity with other Tube staff.

“This dispute is about justiceand about ensuring that allgroups of staff under theumbrella of London

Underground receive the samerights and benefits and ourmembers have no choice but tostrike to secure those basicrights,” he said.

RMT has warned that thefailure of tube bosses to agree asimple harmonisation of themost basic employmentconditions could be linked to asecret plan to reprivatise themaintenance work unleashingthe nightmare of a PPP2.

"We understand there arealready vulture companieshovering in the wings foranother shot at robbing Londonblind through PPP2 andreducing the network to chaos.

"Instead of playing gameswith our members’ pensions andbenefits tube bosses should begetting round the table andresolving this straightforwarddispute,” he said.

London Underground is tobe prosecuted by the railregulator over a runawayengineering train whichoccurred on the NorthernLine at the start of themorning rush hour inAugust 2010.

Maintenance firm TubeLines is also to beprosecuted by the Office ofRail Regulation.

A grinder cameperilously close tocolliding with a passengertrain and RMT warned atthe time that it was aserious mistake on the partof London Underground todownplay the potentialconsequences.

RMT general secretaryBob Crow said that thevery least LU should ruleout any suggestion thatTube Lines should be re-privatised, to take allcontracted work fully in-house with staff integratedon LU terms andconditions.

“We want an assurancethat the cuts programme,and the associated pressureon staff to cut corners,should be brought to animmediate halt,” he said.

STRIKE AT TUBE LINES

LUL FACEPROSECUTIONOVERRUNAWAY


6

RMT is balloting members forstrike action and action short

of a strike in a dispute overpensions on East MidlandsTrains.

Management has proposed toreduce the Joint ContributionRate (JCR) in the East MidlandsTrains section of the RailwaysPension Scheme despite theobjections of the union.

RMT representatives have

made it clear that reducing theJCR is irresponsible at a timewhen pension schemeinvestments and the economicclimate are volatile.

As a result of managementignoring RMT requests tomaintain the present JCR,members will be balloted forindustrial action.

RMT general secretary BobCrow said that while staff will

receive a small financial gainfrom a reduction incontributions it was clear thatthe biggest winner will be theemployer by saving around£750,000 each year.

“This short-term measurecould well have serious long-term implications for the healthof the fund as the volatilefinancial markets headdownwards on the back of the

Eurozone crisis.“This refusal to withdraw the

proposal is irresponsible andonly suits to line the pockets ofshareholders.

“The employer may alter as aresult of a change in franchisebut the pension scheme memberswill remain the same and it isthey who will be left to pick upthe pieces after future valuationsare downgraded,” he said.

RMT has published leakedinternal documents showing

that London Midland plans toprofit to the tune of £1.25million a year from theirprogramme of savage cuts toticket offices and staffing levels.

London Midland are blazinga trail for the McNulty plans toaxe ticket offices and eliminatestation staff and, as RMT haveexposed from leakedDepartment of Transport emails,are doing so in direct collusionwith the government.

Now leaked financial reports,marked confidential, show thatthe company owned by Goviaplan to make a cash profit of

one and quarter million poundsfrom the ticket office closures inthe face of total opposition fromstaff, passengers, transportgroups and disabilityorganisations.

The London Midland planswould close a dozen ticketoffices completely, result insavage cuts at 86 out of 90offices and threaten over 100jobs. They have been opposedby 18,000 people in responsesto the public consultation alongwith passenger groups, statutorymonitors, disabled groups andpoliticians.

RMT general secretary BobCrow said that the documents

show that for vandalising ticketoffices and destroying jobsacross the service LondonMidland and its shareholdersstand to profit to the tune of£1.25 million.

“We warned from the leakedDepartment of Transport emailsthat this was a ‘cash forclosures’ programme and theextent of the money that thecompany plan to rake in from

this scandalous assault on jobsand services is now laid bare.

“Passengers, staff, politiciansand user groups will be rightlyangry when they see what thistrail-blazer for the McNulty cutsmeans in cash terms for theprofiteering private railcompanies and we will be usingthis information to jack up thenational campaign of resistanceto ticket office closures,” hesaid.

RMT members working on theTyne and Wear Metro

delivered a 100 per cent vote forstrike action in a dispute overthe pay and conditions.

The ballot result comes afterextensive talks with theoperating company DB Regiofailed to produce a realistic offerthis year on pay and conditions.

RMT general secretary BobCrow said that the union had nooption but to ballot for action indefence of member’s standard ofliving.

“In the face of the insultingzero pay offer from the companywe have had no option but toballot for action in the battle toeliminate poverty pay and toimprove our member’s standardof living.

“This fight is about securingpay justice on Tyne and WearMetro it's as simple as that,” hesaid.

Labour MP Grahame MorrisLabour MP for Easington joinedRMT Churchill Cleaners from theTyne and Wear Metro at the

Newcastle May Day and he hassupported their campaign inParliament for Metro free travel.

Strike action on Tyne and

Wear Metro last autumn duringthe pension’s dispute led to a 100per cent shutdown of services.

LONDON MIDLANDPROFITEERING FROMTICKET OFFICE CLOSURES

PENSION ACTION ON EAST MIDLANDS TRAINS

TYNE AND WEAR METRO STRIKE VOTE


7

RMT has called on the SNPadministration in Scotland

to call off planned sell-off ofthe Northern Isles Ferriesservice to private outfit SERCOas it emerged that the plan isnow bound up in a legalchallenge from anotherprospective bidder.

SNP Ministers attempted tosmuggle out the news that the

lifeline Northlink routes were tobe sold off to SERCO in a dealworth almost £250 million atteatime on the Friday after thelocal elections when all eyeswere on the count in areas likeGlasgow.

RMT general secretary BobCrow said that the wholebotched privatisation plan haddescended into chaos with one

private bidder mounting a legalchallenge to another.

“This is no way to runessential, lifeline ferryoperations that are afundamental public service.

“The SNP administration gotthis decision badly wrong andthis legal challenge gives thema chance to stop digging thehole, drag themselves out and

reverse this unwanted andunnecessary privatisation offerry services,” he said.

RMT is seeking urgentmeetings and assurances interms of jobs and workingconditions and the fight todefend Scottish ferry servicesfrom cuts and privatisationgoes on.

RMT members on the RoyalFleet Auxiliary took 24-hour

strike action this monthalongside other public sectorworkers.

Following the national day ofaction observed by RFAmembers and many other publicsector workers last year, furthertalks have taken place with thegovernment in the dispute overradical pension cuts.

There has been no further

progress and the unacceptableproposals by the Con Demgovernment to make all publicsector workers pay more andwork longer for a reducedpension are still in place.

RMT general secretary BobCrow said that RMT members onthe RFA, the service thatsupplies the Royal Navy fleetaround the world in times ofboth war and peace, had stoodshoulder to shoulder with

hundreds of thousands of otherpublic service workers.

“We sent the clearestmessage to the government thatwe will defend our pensions tothe hilt and the demand that ourmembers should work longer,pay more and get less will bethrown back in the faces of thisgovernment of millionairepublic schoolboys.

“The hammering the ConDems took in the polls in May

should serve as a wake-up callfrom working men and womenthat we will not roll over andtake the hit.

“It’s the bankers and thebosses who have gambled withour country’s future and themen and women who providethe lifeline services to the RoyalNavy fleet should not have totolerate a worse pension and beforced to work longer to makeup for their mistakes,” he said.

ROYAL FLEET AUXILIARY MEMBERSSTRIKE FOR DECENT PENSIONS

RMT DEMANDS HALT TOSCOTTISH FERRIES SELL OFF


8

More than 100 MPs have signed an earlyday motion (EDM) 2299 criticisinggovernment proposals for the future ofrailways based on the McNulty report.

The EDM, put down by John McDonnellMP, warns that the McNulty review “willworsen passenger services through the lossof thousands of frontline workers fromtrains, stations, ticket offices and safety-critical infrastructure and operational roles”.

The TUC joined forces with rail unionsfor a day of action on May 28 to distributepostcards to passengers at key railwaystations warning of the impact of McNulty.

Trades councils have also been holdingpublic meetings opposing the government’sproposed cuts to jobs and services in the railindustry.

New research has found that while fareprices are going through the roof,investment by train operating companies inthe railway network has been halved overthe last five years.

There has been an 80 per cent reductionin investment in stations – while there hasbeen over twice as much spent on backoffice functions such as IT and web costs.There has also been a 15 per cent reductionin private investment in new rolling stockand a 100 per cent reduction in funds spenton track and signals.

On the tenth anniversary of the PottersBar disaster, RMT has warned thegovernment that another tragedy onBritain’s railways was "inevitable" if plansto bulldoze through the McNulty RailReview proposals go ahead.

McNulty’s key recommendations -massive job cuts, de-staffing both on trainsand on track along with opening upinfrastructure to private companies throughthe creation of a series of mini-Railtracks -now form the basis of a GovernmentCommand Paper

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said

that under the McNulty plans adopted bythe government, rail infrastructure wasgoing to be run for profit, setting up thesame poisonous set of conditions that led tothe disasters of the past under Railtrack.

"We have witnessed the lethal truth atPotters Bar and Hatfield that when profit isthe motive, repairs and maintenance workgets ignored and delayed because companieswant to maximise returns for shareholders.

“This is what happened in the run-up toprevious tragedies, corners were cut and thegovernment cannot be allowed to simplyignore the facts in the interests of a pro-privatisation ideology.

"Though the ConDems are not going forfull-scale privatisation of Network Rail,they're pushing through localised “deepalliances” where effectively the train-operating companies are calling the shots.

“The first of these ill-conceived, mini-Railtracks kicked off on South West Trainsonly last month and RMT is in no doubt

that the end result will be furtherunnecessary deaths and injuries on therailways,” he said.

TUC Deputy general secretary FrancesO’Grady said that MPs from across thepolitical spectrum were voicing the concernsof thousands of their constituents who feelripped off by private train operators whoinflict heavy fare rises while cutting staff ontrains and stations and keeping investmentin decent facilities on trains and stations toa minimum.

ASLEF general secretary Mick Whelanrecalled the previous transport minister,Philip Hammond, warning last year that therailways could become ‘a rich man’s toy’.

“The Command Paper is a detailed blue-print of how to deliver that scenario,” hesaid.

TSSA general secretary Manuel Cortessaid that passengers were being told thatthey are expected to stand for further fareincreases, fewer trains which will be moreovercrowded and fewer staff delivering aless safe and more confusing environmentin and around stations.

It is a national disgrace designed tobenefit shareholders and allow governmentto deny responsibility,” he said.

RMT holds meetings with tradecouncils across the country tohighlight the threat to rail network

OVER 100 MPSSLAM MCNULTY


9

When David Cameron and Nick Clegglaunched the first peacetime coalitiongovernment in Britain since the 1930s theyset out a shared agenda to establish a newpolitics, a new economy and a strongersociety. On all these three objectives, they havecomprehensively failed.Instead the Tory-led coalition has beencompromised by the hacking scandal,BSkyB bid and been caught out offeringdinners to donors. It has delivered theworst unemployment for 16 years and thefirst double-dip recession for 37 years. It has attacked core local services for theyoung, elderly and disabled with cuts thathave been too far and too fast. However it is the coalition’s stance onworkers’ rights and reforming employmentprotections under the guise of ‘tackling redtape’ that shows there is nothing newabout the politics of this Tory-ledgovernment.The failure of George Osborne to maintainthe economic growth and fallingunemployment left to him by the lastLabour government in 2010 has pushedthe issue of greater flexibility in the labourmarket back to the top of the Tory agenda. Following its criticism of the coalition,condemning its failure to consider howausterity policies would affect women,disabled people and ethnic minorities, theEquality and Human Rights Commissionhas now been stripped of its duty topromote equal opportunities and has hadits budget and workforce cut by half. Most recently, Theresa May has launched adetermined attack on equality protections,including a review of the public sectorequality duty and a significant curtailing ofthe power of employment tribunals to holdemployers to account.Following decades of decline inemployment protections and the powers oftrade unions to protect their members,important measures were put in placeduring the final years of the last Labourgovernment. These included long-foughtfor issues such as greater protections fortemporary and agency workers. All theseachievements now look likely to come

under sustained attack as the pace oflabour market reform hits breakneck speed.The most controversial element of reformsis the long-delayed report by venture-capitalist Adrian Beecroft. It seems that the troubled economicforecasts and the need for the PrimeMinister to be seen to have a ‘pro-growthagenda’ has strengthened his resolve topush ahead with radical reforms onworkers’ rights. This return to the hard-right agenda of the nasty-party shows justhow out of touch and out of ideas thisgovernment really is. It may raise sometensions with a small section of the LiberalDemocrats in Westminster but their recordin standing up to their Tory partners is apoor one.The austerity agenda alone has alreadyunfairly hit the poorest and most vulnerablein society hardest and this bonfire ofemployment protections for these samepeople should be seen for the viciousdiscriminatory attack that it is. Leakedreports of some of Beecroft’srecommendations include removing ‘third-party harassment’ protections for workers,removing any duty on employers to checkthe eligibility of their foreign workers andan end to the mandatory 90-dayconsultation period for redundancyprogrammes.Britain’s workers remain some of the leastprotected in the industrialised world. If Beecroft gets his way the relationshipbetween employees and their employerswill return to the era of industrialisationitself. If Cameron pushes ahead with such radicalreforms there are many in the Labour Partywho will have to accept that this is classwarfare instigated by a Tory elite that mustbe challenged in the starkest of terms.Labour must commit to repealing any suchchanges and put before the electorate acoherent plan for reinstating employmentprotections for the future.

Grahame MorrisMP for Easington

TORIES ATTACKWORKERS’RIGHTS

Parliamentary column


10

French transport giant RATPDev UK has announced the

acquisition of Epsom-based busand coach company H RRichmond, expanding RATP‘sbus operations in Britain.

The RATP (AutonomousOperator of Parisian Transports)Group is a state-owned publictransport operator headquarteredin Paris, France. Formed in1948, the group has its origins

as the public transport operatorfor the city of Paris.

Today is the world’s fifthlargest urban transport operatorwith 14 underground railwaylines, three tramway lines, 350bus lines and the shuttleservices to the two Ile-de-Franceairports.

RATP Dev UK is an RATPDev subsidiary that wasestablished last year to develop

the Group’s expansion byexploiting the deregulatedtransport industry in Britainwhich is underpinned by EUtransport diktats.

The company alreadyoperates London UnitedBusways Ltd, BournemouthTransport Ltd (Yellow Buses),Bath Bus Company Ltd andMetrolink RATP Dev Ltd inManchester.

FRENCH MONOPOLY: The RATP Grouphas its origins as the Paris publictransport operator.

RMT gave evidence to theTransport Select Committee

report into the CompetitionCommission’s proposals formore competition in the localbus markets where most RMTbus members work.

The Competition Commissionhas taken over two years toproduce a 500-page report onlocal bus markets which boilsdown to ‘let the market rip’ butwith a few regulatoryconcessions to local authorities.

The Commission completelyignores the devastation that theThatcher government’s de-regulation of non-London busservices in 1985 has caused tolocal bus services and workers,who continue to be transferredbetween private operators likepossessions.

The power over local busservices enjoyed by the big fivebus companies, Go Ahead, FirstGroup, Stagecoach, Arriva andNational Express, has led to aserious decline in terms and

conditions for our bus membersand their colleagues. As a result,bus workers have fallen downthe pay league table of transportsector workers.

RMT’s south west regionalorganiser Phil Bialyk put theunion’s position to thecommittee, highlighting thedamaging effect of a de-regulated bus system on theworkforce.

He quoted the latest“liberties” being taken byFirstGroup at RMT members’expense in the south west ofEngland, citing Devon andCornwall bus workers beingpassed around betweenStagecoach and Go Ahead.

RMT also alerted thecommittee to the situation thatcoach drivers in Plymouth werefaced with when First Groupdropped them after losing alocal contract and the newoperator refused to recogniseeven the basic TUPE protectionsfor the workforce.

The increased casualisation ofbus workers was continuing dueto the absence of strongregulations to preventing thisprocess becoming morecommon.

Such examples of afragmented and unregulated bussystem impressed upon thecommittee the reality of workingin this vital but undervaluedtransport sector and the impactthat privatisation has had on ageneration of bus workers.

Areas like the south west,with a predominantly ruralpopulation, continue to lose outunder a bus system that allowsprivate bus operators free rein towithdraw services at the drop ofa hat and hike fares as often aspossible.

RMT explained to thecommittee that even the ‘quality

contracts’ scheme introducednearly five years ago would, ifany were to actually exist,represent a step in the rightdirection.

“A quality contract andfranchising is not the best thingbut it would go a long way toproviding stability in thenetwork,” Phil Bialyk said.

The union’s policy on theneed to renationalise the busindustry was also clearlyrestated.

Bus and coach fares haveincreased in real terms by 20 percent over the last decade yetwages and conditions of busworkers have continued tostagnate. This is a direct resultof a Thatcherite privatisationthat should be reversed at theearliest opportunity.

FRENCH TRANSPORT GIANT BUYSLEADING BUS AND COACH OPERATOR

Union gives evidence in parliamentagainst proposals for morecompetition in the local bus markets

DEFENDINGBUS WORKERS


11

Oil & Gas UK and UK tradeunions have joined forces

to oppose European Unionproposals to centraliseregulation of offshore oil andgas safety.

The employers' groupjoined with RMT and Unite towarn that the proposed EUregulation "would, in practice,undermine the current UKregulatory regime and the highstandards of offshore safetyand environmental protection

that this drives".Eurocrats proposed a series

of regulatory steps lastOctober, including aggressivecoordination of EU members'regulatory systems.

Oil & Gas UK and RMThave opposed the proposal,arguing in favour of existingUK regulation of offshoresafety.

"If implemented, theproposed new regulationwould necessitate the rewriting

and/or revocation ofsignificant parts of theexisting world-class UK sector-specific legislation," a jointstatement said.

The statement also criticisesthe proposal for not involvingthe industry and workforceand for creating "widespreadcompliance confusion andproject delay".

It warned that the EU textwas "poorly drafted in anumber of important areas and

contains numerous examplesof errors and ambiguity whichwill lead to unintendedconsequences".

The proposal "will shiftregulatory control away frommember states to the oversightof the EU, with the potentialfor further prescriptiveintervention at a later date".

It also points out that “theEuropean Commission doesnot have any technicalcompetence in this area".

An EC225 Euro-copter SuperPuma operated by BondHelicopters ditched in the NorthSea on May 10 some 25 milesoff Aberdeen while on route tothe drilling rig Maersk Resilient.

This aircraft type is similar tothe 85N 'Miller flight' that wasalso operated by Bond andwhich tragically crashed intothe sea on April 1 2009 killingall 16 on board after thegearbox suffered a catastrophicfailure.

RMT immediately called forthe release of as much detailabout the latest ditchingincident to address concerns ofmembers and offshore workersgenerally.

There was a total of 14personnel on-board, two crewand 12 passengers. All escapedinto a life-raft and wererecovered by the coast guardhelicopter and the Peterheadlifeboat.

The aircraft crew put out a“may-day” call reporting anindication of low oil pressure inthe main gear box, before theyinitiated a controlled landing onthe sea.

RMT has approached BondHelicopters seeking details aboutseveral other 'alleged' events inwhich members claim theiraircraft suffered engine failuresduring April, March andJanuary of this year.

These alleged events were inBond operated EC225 aircraftand clearly concerned onemember who wrote to the unionsaying: “As we wereapproaching the shore the pilotadvised we would have tenminutes to go and to prepareourselves for landing.

“Within two minutes theaircraft jolted, tilted left andright, pitched back and forthand lost altitude. The enginemade strange noises as well asthe rotors, this went on for whatseemed like an age but wasprobably only about 30 secondsto a minute.

“From my position in theaircraft I could see most peopleand there was shock and horrorall over their faces, a repeat ofthe Miller incident wasdefinitely in our thoughts!”.

Since the event the AirAccident Investigation Branch

(AAIB) has produced apreliminary report confirmingthat a 360-degreecircumferential crack on thebevel gear vertical shaft hadbeen identified. This crack hadresulted in the shaft ceasing toturn the oil pumps whichprovided the supply of oil to themain gearbox.

RMT regional organiser JakeMolloy said there were concernsabout this latest event for thoseflying regularly with Bond,those concerns compounded byreports about other incidents.

“I had already raised theissue of alleged engine failuresand the like with the HelicopterSafety Steering Group (HSSG)prior to the May 10 ditching,and they in turn were talking toBond.

“As a result of the ditchingan 'extraordinary meeting' ofthe HSSG was convened andsought assurances about thesafety of these aircraft and we

want Bond to conduct anindependent review of itsoperations in general.

Jake provided Bond with areport setting out members’concerns and he anticipatedfurther meetings to discuss thesematters.

"These guys got really lucky,if the shaft had failed at adifferent point, we could havelost the rotors as was the casewith the tragic Miller flight inApril 2009.

“They were also lucky withthe weather as the sea wasrelatively calm, had it been a bitrougher the aircraft could haverolled immediately on hittingthe water.

“The pilot's did a great jobgetting it down and gettingeverybody out and we'll have towait on the full AAIBinvestigation to see what can belearned from this incident," hesaid.

EU HANDS OFF OFFSHORE SAFETY

LUCKY LANDINGAs another Bond helicopterditches into the North Sea, RMTcalls for the grounding of SuperPuma Euro-copters


12

This year’s Station Staff andAssociated Grades

conference met in the beautifulsetting of Teignmouth along theroute of Brunel’s South DevonRailway.

The organisers were delightedto be able to report that aroundhalf of the delegates were newfaces, a positive sign that theunion is recruiting new activistsbuilding a strong and vibrantorganisation for the future andpresident Chris Riley openedconference with a warmwelcome to the South West toall those in attendance.

Proceedings got under waywith a “state of the industry”presentation from assistantgeneral secretary Pat Sikorski.

Pat focussed on the threats,changes and challenges that hadbeen thrown at the union in the12 months since conference lastmet, most notably thegovernment’s adoption of all ofthe core recommendations ofthe McNulty Rail Review in aCommand Paper.

“We know what’s at stakenow, thousands of jobs, thewholesale closure and runningdown of ticket offices and thedrive to a faceless railway in the

name of profit regardless of anyconsideration for either safety orcustomer care,” he said.

Pat described the wholeMcNulty package as the “ATOCmasterplan” – drawn up by thetrain companies for the traincompanies with the connivanceof a ConDem government in hocto big business.

Tribute was paid to the unioncampaign on London Midlandto defend ticket offices underthe guidance of RMT regionalOrganiser Ken Usher.

London Midland is seen as apilot for the ticket-office closureprogramme set to be unleashedacross the rest of the countrywhere the company arefinalising a financial packagewith the government that willresult in virtually every bookingoffice being either restricted oraxed – in reality a ‘cash forclosures’ scandal.

The RMT-led campaign hassecured 18,000 individualobjections and engaged thesupport of passenger groups,disability organisations,politicians and the wider publicin a model of the kind ofresistance that the union willneed to mobilise to stop

McNulty on a national basis.Pat Sikorski said that there

should be no doubt thegovernment, particularly theLibDems, were vulnerable andour message was “we arecoming to get you”.

“They are right to be nervousas the thousands of people whouse our ticket offices are keyvoters in key seats and we havea real opportunity to ramp upthe political pressure and turnthis into a massive popularissue,” he said.

Dennis James, BirminghamRail, explained how the LondonMidland campaign hadmotivated members and builtfrom the grassroots and warneddelegates, “it’s us today and youtomorrow.”

Dennis also sent out thealert that industrial actionwould be required alongside thepolitical and publiccampaigning to force theclosures issue with thegovernment.

Ross Marshall, Camden,briefed the conference on thepressures on LondonUnderground staff in the run upto the London Olympics.

“Staff are being bundled

through safety critical licencetraining in one day andregulations that are there toprotect both the public and ourmembers are being bent to tryand cope with the sheernumbers of the Olympics,” hesaid.

Ross also pointed out thatright-wing Tory Brian Coleman– since dumped by the Londonelectorate – had refused even toacknowledge complaints andconcerns in his role as chair ofthe Fire Authority. RMT iscontinuing to campaign loudlyand publicly on the Olympicssafety issue.

Phil Jones, Cardiff, drew thecomparison with events at theMillennium Stadium whereagency staff had been swung inon a temporary basis and laterended up taking over stationenvironmental jobs. Concernswere raised that a similarunderhand manoeuvre may beunder way on the new GreaterAnglia franchise.

Craig Pearson, Liverpool, saidthat Merseyrail had developedthe theme, explaining how therapacious operators from theCarlisle group were using theirfoothold gradually to take over

FIGHTING MCNULTY Packed Station Staff grades conferenceresists job cuts and ticket office closures


13

increasing roles putting RMTmembers’ jobs on the gateline atrisk.

“There’s no pension,minimal sick pay and nosecurity – this is all aboutdriving down the quality ofpassenger service and deliveringthe work on the cheap,” he said.

A presentation by Paul Curtisfrom British Transport Policesparked off a lively debate overthe protection of both staff andpassengers from assault andabuse.

Dennis Connor, for the RMTexecutive committee, pointedout that having the BTP’stargets set by the Association ofTrain Operating Companies, whofund the policing, is a classiccase of the “tail wagging thedog”.

Conference discussed a widerange of motions agreeingpositions on key issuesincluding fatigue, winterweather working, fire regs,fitness for duty and hepatitisvaccinations.

An emergency motion movedby Caroline Parry, Gloucester onthe dangers of lone working inthe event of a serious incidentsuch as a bomb alert wasagreed.

Another successfulemergency motion attacked thepressure heaped on staff tocarry out safety checks evenwhen working under difficultcircumstances.

The process was described as“lumping responsibility ontostaff that could lead to the loss

of your jobs”, and personalexperiences were presentedwhich revealed how theprocedure was being abused bytrain operators as just anotherway of fitting up and getting ridof staff. A number of sackingshad occurred at just one station,Waterloo, alone.

In closing the meeting,outgoing conference secretaryMike Llewellin was given awarm send off after many yearsof service and Ross Marshallswas voted into the hot seat.

14

RMT bus workers renewed theirresolve to fight to defend jobs,pay, pensions and conditions attheir annual conference, held inthe north Devon resort ofCroyde last month.

It was a watershedconference, said Paul Dyer ofhost branch North Devon, at atime when the movement andworking people were facingmassive attacks from agovernment of millionaires.

It was a key strength thatRMT was “one union, regardlessof sector or grade”, and “thebest fighting union in thecountry”, said Paul.

The big-five bus operatorswere attempting to maintainprofitability by making staffshoulder the burden of massivecuts in local government andgovernment bus subsidy, saidsouthwest organiser Phil Bialyk.

“The bus industry is underattack, but don’t swallow thatwe’re all in this together,because if I was earning amillion, I’d be £40,000 a yearbetter off - while thegovernment is penalising thelow-paid, and cutting benefitsand services.”

The union had made strides

towards a single rate of pay anda single set of conditions withFirst Group, but now theemployers were going on theoffensive.

“They want your paid breaks,your sick-pay schemes and yourjobs, but RMT isn’t there tonegotiate exit terms, but toprotect jobs, pay andconditions,” said Phil

The response should be toaim at 100 per cent organisationin every depot, said Phil, whohad a word of advice for reps:“don’t have a kettle in the unionoffice — take your break in thecanteen, because that’s whereyou’ll find out what yourmembers are worried about.”

A nationalised bus industrywas the union’s aim, but‘quality contract’ franchiseswould be better than the free-for-all that existed, and theunion had lobbied MPsalongside sister unions to put abrake on the shamelesssiphoning of public money, saidPhil.

Delegates railed against theuse by the big bus operators oflow-cost subsidiaries in order todrive down pay and conditions.

The Go-Ahead group was

using it cynically as a strategyaimed ultimately at pickingapart negotiated terms andconditions, said Jim Ide, Pooleand District, and, if unchecked,could lead to bad feeling anddivision.

The union was wise to theploy, but if not challenged nowit would fester and the chanceto fight it must be grasped now,added Mark Gale, Poole andDistrict.

MASSIVE ATTACK

A massive squeeze on unionsand attacks on workers’ legalrights by the “rotten” ConDemgovernment were outlined bygeneral secretary Bob Crow.

Changes to industrialtribunals had already imposed,with workers now unprotectedby the law for two years, theimposition of prohibitive newtribunal fees and the doublingof costs if you lose.

Tribunals would no longerhave to be balanced with threemembers, there would be nomore witness expenses, and ifthe union continued to take thesame number of cases, it wouldcost close to £1 million a year.

Attacks on time-off for union

reps also presented a potentially“colossal” cost to the union saidBob.

But the response had to be tobuild the union and nurture anew generation of activists: “Itis people that hold the uniontogether — you are the union,”said Bob.

Looking outward, the unionhad doubled its investment inreps’ education, expanding theDoncaster education centre at atime when most unions hadlong closed theirs.

The massive attacks on jobs,public services and benefitsshould have had opposition MPsjumping up and down in anger,but the bulk of the politicalmainstream supportedprivatisation, cuts, illegal warsand anti-union laws.

“People won’t just voteLabour because they hate theTories and LibDems — we are atthe same crossroads we were at107 years ago when we brokewith the Liberals,” said Bob.

There were growing signsthat people were rejectingausterity, and RMT had to placeitself firmly with that resistance.

“We must stand for socialjustice and fight to change

BUS WORKERS FIGHT BACKThe need to stand up and fight to defend bus industryjobs, pay, pensions and conditions was the rallying callfrom the RMT bus workers’ conference


15

society, or we will be the firstgeneration to leave a Worsesituation for those who comeafter us,” said Bob.

“It is a straightforwardchoice. You can lay down andbe kicked or you can stand andfight.”

That choice had become apersonal one for Wessexorganiser Peter Gale, who drewa parallel with his own fight toovercome serious illness andwas given a rousing welcomeback by conference.

“If you are determined tostand up and fight back the bestplace to do it is in RMT,” saidPeter.

“It all starts with

organisation — we must strivefor 100 per cent membership inevery depot, identify the repsand get them trained,” he said.

Organisation was key tobuilding the union, said PhilBoston, organising unit, andevery member was capable ofhelping RMT to grow.

Successful recruitment wasabout a non-aggressiveapproach, and being sensitive topotential members who might,for example, have problemsfilling in a form.

The union had to brace itselfbecause the worst from thegovernment was yet to come,said conference president JoeHayes, Salisbury No 3.

“We have organisation andeducation to be proud of and wehave to be there for themembers,” he said.• Delegates asked the union to

look at the problem of buscompanies monitoring socialnetworking sites looking forcomplaints about staff, andusing them as the basis fordisciplinary action.

• Union lawyers had won morethan £5 million incompensation for members inthe last year, notedThompsons Solicitors’Malcolm Cherry — but hewarned that the government,egged on by insurers, wasputting the squeeze on costs,

compensation and criminal-injuries payouts.

• A call for union subs to befrozen was rejected bydelegates, who agreed that itwould result in unacceptablecuts to member services.

• Delegates sent their bestwishes to conferencesecretary Keith Murphy, whowas unable to attend due toill-health, and to assistantgeneral secretary Mick Cashwho had suffered a familybereavement.

Delegates agreed that the 2013 busworkers conference would be held inSkegness.

Scottish TUC delegatesbacked RMT concerns that

the SNP Scottish government’sFerry Services Draft Plan willlead to the fragmentation andprivatisation of the Clyde andHebrides routes.

The Draft Plan commits to“opening the market to greatercompetition” and “lessprescriptive specification”.

Congress agreed that thegovernment was embarking ona process that could lead to amassive attack on jobs andconditions of employment,social dumping, cuts inservices and increased fares.

The 1992 EU CabotageRegulations also require Clydeand Hebrides services to be putout to tender every six years,further threatening the futureof Scottish Ferries, as servicesnext have to be put out totender in 2013.

Congress resolved tosupport public ownership,resist EU regulations forcompulsory tendering ofservice and insure the fullestpossible protection for services,jobs, pensions and conditions.

RMT general secretary Bob

Crow seconded a motionhighly critical of the EU ‘sausterity drive and calling forresistance to EU directives andtreaties that privatise publicservices and underminedemocracy.

Congress also backed RMT

opposition to the governmentattacks on health and safetywhich would increase thenumber of deaths andaccidents at the workplace.

Delegates applauded RMT’scampaign for improved safetyin the offshore sector,

including seeking the adoptionof Norwegian standards whichprovide far stronger standardsfor safety representatives,including greater workerinvolvement, training andenforcement powers.

SCOTTISH TUC OPPOSESFERRY SELL OFF

RMT’s STUCdelegation


16

RMT’s train crew conferencekicked off in Gloucester on

the day that the governmentconfirmed the approved biddersfor the new, gold-plated GreatWestern rail franchise.

As the first franchise to belet under the McNulty rules,assistant general secretary PatSikorski condemned thosequeuing up to plunder the Walesand West Country route as “theusual bunch of pirates”.

He pointed out that on FirstGreat Western RMT had now setout battle lines over the

attempts by the company toundermine the safety role of theguard on the Class 180 trainsbeing reintroduced on thefranchise:

“We know exactly what’s atstake, this is about the erosionof the guard grade in theinterests of profit and aboutblazing a trail for McNultywhere Driver Only Operation isthe default position,” he said.

Conference heard that nowthat the gauntlet has beenthrown down over the 180 stockRMT would be stepping up the

fight, relaunching the Guards’Charter and building aworkplace and public campaignharnessing opposition to theassault on the safety critical roleof train based staff.

Conference president BillyKimm, Liverpool 5 set theeconomics out in stark terms:“In this time of cuts andausterity if the government wasserious about saving moneythey would take the simple andobvious step of renationalisingthe railways.

“Shareholders in the private

rail companies have seen a 44per cent increase in theirdividends, that’s where all themoney has gone,” he said.

Bill Hendy from RMT UnionLearning explained toconference how even a goodidea like modern apprenticeshipshas been abused and exploitedby greedy private companies inthe interests of profit:

“Instead of giving youngpeople hope, we have increasingevidence of companies rippingoff the funds available for theapprenticeships and then riding

NO TO LONGERRAIL FRANCHISESTrain crew and shunting grades warn thatlonger franchises proposed under McNultyproposals will spark more profiteering


17

VICTORY: RMT members on Chiltern have won the battle to retain full control for guards over door operation on Class 67 Mark 3 stock units

roughshod over their promises,offering the bare minimum oftraining and turning them into agovernment-subsidised cheaplabour scheme.”

Delegates were urged tocontinue to support theimportant work of UnionLearning and to act as eyes andears on the ground to monitorabuses of apprenticeshipschemes.

A wide range of motionscovering the working conditionsof train crew members weredebated by the conference.

Sparking off a particularlylively debate was a motion fromLiverpool 5 on Managing forAttendance. Delegates explainedhow in many areas what shouldbe a supportive process isinstead turned on its head andused as just another mechanismto intimidate and bully staff.

Even worse, in some parts ofthe industry the attendancepolicies had been so distorted

and corrupted that people werenow afraid to take time off sickand were turning up at workwhen they should be off, as theprocess was used as a controland disciplinary tool.

Conference agreedwholeheartedly to step up thecampaign of action aroundManaging for Attendance.

Similar abuses of procedurewere dragged out into thedaylight during the debate on acomposite motion on Duty ofCare carried unanimously.

Delegates explained howDuty of Care has been used andabused by managers both topass the buck and to place staffin an impossible position –ending up having to defendthemselves against chargeswhen they were actually theones under attack and placed ina vulnerable position.

As one delegate fromManchester asked: “Where’s theduty of care to staff when EDL

yobs are smashing up a train?Where’s the duty of care whendrunken yobs are abusingpassengers and staff?”

Tributes were paid to out-going president Billy Kimm onhis retirement and a warmwelcome extended to hissuccessor, Andy Duggan.

RMT general secretary Bob

Crow sent out a rallying cryover the McNulty fight:“McNulty is our biggest issue, itaffects all grades and it must bedefeated. The fight against afaceless railway is the fight ofour lives and with a campaignrooted in both the workplaceand in the community we willwin”.

Conference heard of a fantasticvictory secured by RMTmembers on Chiltern in a battleto retain full control for guardsover door operation.

Following a year-long fight,supported by all gradesincluding the drivers, thecompany had been forced toback down from plans thatwould have seen drivers incontrol of the doors.

Controls to allow DOO hadalready been fitted in to theClass 67 Mark 3 stock units up

at Doncaster, making the victoryeven more significant.

AGS Pat Sikorski congratulatedthe workforce for standingtogether and winning a difficultdispute.

“The stunning victory by ourmembers on Chiltern overguards’ control of the doors onthe Mark 3 stock is proofpositive that solidarity across thegrades wins and is a fantasticboost to everyone campaigningagainst DOO in the face of theMcNulty assault,” he said.

CHILTERN GUARDS VICTORY


18

At last year’s RMT nationalwomen’s conference a

resolution was passed on thetopic of women against the cuts.

This called for support forMerseyside Women Against theCuts and London Women Againstthe Cuts, along with raisingawareness about these campaignsand the TUC briefing on this topicwithin the union.

The TUC also produced abriefing titled 'The gender impactof the cuts' which outlined theimpact that cuts to jobs, servicesand welfare would have onwomen.

At the time of writing many ofthe cuts were yet to take effect.However, even at that early stageit was already apparent that thegovernment's deficit-reductionstrategy would disproportionatelydisadvantage women andfamilies, particularly those on lowincomes.

The TUC updated this briefingrecently giving an overview ofthe ways in which women in boththe public and private sectorshave been affected by the publicsector cuts, as workers, asbenefits claimants and as serviceusers.

This comprehensive briefing isin the women’s section on theRMT website. In summary itshows how the government’sattacks on the public sector arehaving a disproportionate anddisastrous effect on women inthree main ways:• More women will lose their

jobs simply due to the fact thatsignificantly more women than

men are employed in thepublic sector

• Women are more reliant on theservices than the public sectorprovides and therefore stand tolose more from cuts to services

• Women are more likely todepend on the welfare systemand will be hit hard by cuts tobenefits.

The topic of the gender impactof the cuts was taken forward atthis year’s conference. The TUCbriefing of the impact of the cutswas given to the delegates andbreakout groups pooled theirexperiences and knowledge ofwhat was happening in theirareas. RMT delegation leader tothe TUC women’s conferenceTracy Darker noted the examplesdelegates were sharing and tookthem to the conference to beincluded in their mappingexercise. Besides the cut back inchild tax benefits and increases inunemployment which wereuniversal, local examples includedthe closure of children’s playareas, citizen advice bureaus andlibraries.

In addition, a request for examples onthe global recession within thetransport industry had been receivedfrom the International TransportWorkers Federation. Again delegates pooled theirexperiences which have been fed backto the ITF. Should any member wishto send in any evidence regarding thereal experience of the cut backs,please do contact the EqualOpportunities Officer,[email protected]. Oxfam - AGender Perspective on WelfareReform.

WOMEN AGAINSTTHE CUTSRMT equality officer JessWebb reports on the effect ofgovernment cuts on the livesof working women

Many campaign groups, charities, communitygroups, and NGOs have also published responsesto government policies. A selection of these can befound at the following websites:The Fawcett Societywww.fawcettsociety.org.ukWomen’s budget groupwww.wbg.org.uk/Working FamiliesComprehensive Spending Review: The Impact on Working Familieswww.workingfamilies.org.uk/articles/pdf/article/341Child Poverty Action Group

“Research commissioned by theTUC shows that female loneparents will lose 18.5 per cent oftheir net income”


19

In the May local elections inWales the WrexhamIndependent Group increased itsrepresentation on the council bywinning ten seats.

As our group of membersincreases we will continue towork with other councillors inWrexham and across NorthWales to support moreimprovements to the railnetwork.

First elected in 2004, I amcurrently deputy leader of thecouncil and vice chair of theexecutive board, a key decisionmaking body for the council.

I also deal with environmentand transport issues andrepresent the Wrexham Councilon the North Wales regionalleadership board, looking athow we can workcollaboratively across the regionto improve services.

I am a rail working groupmember and a member of theBoard on North Wales TransportConsortium (TAITH).

Since setting up the railgroup we have lobbied for railimprovements both locally,regionally and nationally. Thefigures produced by the ORR(see below) show that passengernumbers continue to grow.

I know that members inNorth Wales have questioned,and rightly so at times, why weare now ‘all Wales’, but the levelof investment by the Welshgovernment is significant. Wemust support the aim ofbringing more investment toWales which will see morepassengers using rail.

One on the major

improvements we have lobbiedfor both as a council, TAITHand the local RMT branch is theredoubling of the line betweenWrexham and Chester at thecost of £45.4 million. Singled in1980, the recent announcementby the Welsh government tosupport journey timeimprovements between northand south Wales will ensure thatseven of the 9.5 miles of singletrack are doubled together withline speed enhancements of upto 90mph between Gobowenand Shrewsbury and fromChester to Saltney.

This will allow for thererouting of the original northto south express train fromHolyhead to Cardiff to operatevia Wrexham and enable us tocampaign for more frequentservices to and from Wrexham,North Wales and the NorthWest.

We have also looked atimprovements on the WrexhamBidston line, working withTAITH and the Mersey DeeAlliance on cross-border issuesto improve the frequency of theservices together with line-speedenhancements.

Currently work is beingcarried out to increase the linespeed with the ultimate aim tohave a 30-minute serviceoperating from Wrexham toBidston. Although the currentfranchise agreement does notallow for more services, I hopethe Welsh government will belooking at a new franchiseagreement in Wales to supportgrowth.

Some of the other projects

we have been working oninclude lobbying for improvedtimetabling between Chester,Wrexham and Shrewsburywhich currently has an hourlyservice pattern with trainsbetween Holyhead, Cardiff,Holyhead and BirminghamInternational Airport viaWrexham General.

A lot of work has gone intosupport investment at stationsand significant improvementshave been at Ruabon and Chirkas well as an access lift installedon Platform 4 at WrexhamGeneral. A continuedinvestment programme has beenongoing throughout WrexhamCounty Borough including bus,

rail interchanges and car parkextensions at Chirk, Ruabon andWrexham General.

There are also CCTV andcustomer information schemeprojects at all stations and Chirkstation will shortly benefit fromfunding to improve disabledaccess via a new Department forTransport programme at a costof £1.2million, this will includesome match funding from theconsortia.

WREXHAM INDEPENDENTELECTION VICTORYRMT Wrexham branch secretaryand Wrexham Independent Groupchair David Bithell explains howhis group has increased thenumber of seats in local elections

Data from the ORR (Office of the Rail Regulator) showsconsistent increases in passenger numbers on this line ofroute as follows:

Year Station Journeys Growth %2002/3 Wrexham General 364267 - -

2004/5 Wrexham General 391693 27426 7.53%

2005/6 Wrexham General 401242 9549 2.44%

2006/7 Wrexham General 436468 35226 8.78%

2007/8 Wrexham General 487713 51245 11.74%

2008/9 Wrexham General 534256 46543 9.54%

2009/10 Wrexham General 584176 49920 9.34%

Total Growth 219909Wrexham General Growth 2003 to 2010 219909 60.37%

2002/3 Ruabon 28470 - -

2004/5 Ruabon 32414 3944 13.85%

2005/6 Ruabon 39854 7440 22.95%

2006/7 Ruabon 46623 6769 16.98%

2007/8 Ruabon 54369 7746 16.61%

2008/9 Ruabon 61578 7209 13.26%

2009/10 Ruabon 71346 9768 15.86%

Total Growth 42876Ruabon Growth 2003 to 2010 42876 150.60%

2002/3 Chirk 31532 - -

2004/5 Chirk 32094 562 1.78%

2005/6 Chirk 36295 4201 13.09%

2006/7 Chirk 42762 6467 17.82%

2007/8 Chirk 50688 7926 18.54%

2008/9 Chirk 54988 4300 8.48%

2009/10 Chirk 56310 1322 2.40%

Total Growth 24778Chirk Growth 2003 to 2010 24778 78.58%


20

CELEBRATINGMAY DAYMay 1 is internationally

known today as Workers'Day or May Day, a celebrationof the labour movement theworld over.

But during medieval timesMay Day was dedicated to anearlier symbol of social justice,Robin Hood, and saw songs andplays performed up and downthe country to celebrate thecoming of spring.

Rumour has it that Mayfairin London is named after aparticularly debauched andraucous festival held during the18th century.

International Workers' Daybegan life as a commemorationof the 1886 Haymarket massacrein Chicago. During a generalstrike for the eight-hourworkday police fired on theworkers, killing dozens ofdemonstrators and their ownofficers.

In 1890 May Day wasformally recognised as anannual event. In 1955, even theCatholic Church dedicated May1 to ‘Saint Joseph The Worker’.

However in the United Statesand Canada the official holidayfor workers is Labour Day in


21

Wednesday, June 20, Maritime House, Clapham, London, 7pmLive Cuban music, food, free barSpecial guests include:Wives of the Miami FiveHE Alicia Castro –Argentinian AmbassadorJohn McDonnell MPMick Whelan, General Secretary, AslefTony Woodley – former General Secretary, UniteStephen Cavalier, Chief Executive, Thompsons SolicitorsBob Crow

Tickets available at £15Credit card bookings on 0800 376 3706, or send cheques, payable toRMT, to: Cuba tickets, RMT, 39 Chalton Street, London, NW1 1JD

September as US PresidentGrover Cleveland fearedthat commemoratingLabour Day on May 1 couldbecome an opportunity tocommemorate theHaymarket events.

I Britain it wasn't until1978 that the Labourgovernment introduced theMay Day Bank Holiday onthe first Monday each Mayand May 1 is still anational holiday in morethan 80 countries andcelebrated unofficially inmany other countries.

Some Tories arecurrently campaigning toabolish the annual MayDay bank holiday. Such istheir hatred of organisedlabour the ConservativeParty wants to deprivemillions of a day off eachyear.

Right-wing governmentshave traditionally sought to

repress the message behindInternational Workers' Day,with fascist governments inPortugal, Italy, Germany,and Spain abolishing theworkers' holiday.

In April 1933, therecently installed Nazigovernment declared May 1the ‘Day of National Work’,an official state holiday, butall celebrations were to beorganised by thegovernment. Any separatecelebrations bycommunists, socialdemocrats or trade unionswere banned.

Today May Day iscelebrated across thecountry each year withevents organised by tradescouncils and localcommittees. It remains afocus for the ongoingstruggle for peace,democracy and trade unionrights.

THE 10TH ANNUAL

RMT GARDEN PARTY FOR CUBAIN ASSOCIATION WITH CUBA SOLIDARITY CAMPAIGN


22

EU ATTACKSWORKERS’ RIGHTSEuropean Commission proposes to restrict trades union rights andgives courts the right to decide on the ‘proportionality’ of anycollective action by workersLabour movement calls for areferendum on Britain’smembership of the EuropeanUnion grew recently after theEuropean Commission unveiledfurther attacks on trade-unionsrights enshrined in new EURegulations known as Monti2(1).

Monti 2 was drawn up todeal with the controversy thathas raged around two famousanti-trade union judgments bythe European Court of Justice –recently renamed the Court ofJustice of the European Union –known as the Viking and Lavalcases.

Institute of EmploymentRights director Carolyn Jonesexplains that in those cases, thecourt decided that the right ofemployers to roam the globelooking for cheap labour toprovide ‘goods and services’trumped the fundamental rightsof workers to take action toprotect their terms andconditions of employment.

“So in Viking, a Finnish ferrycompany undermined the termsof Finnish seafarers byreflagging in Estonia and hiringcheaper Estonian workers.

“In Laval, a Latvian company

undermined the terms of aSwedish collective agreement byemploying cheaper Latvianworkers to work on a Swedishbuilding site,” she said.

In both cases the tradeunions concerned took strikeaction in defence of their termsand conditions.

In both cases, the ECJdecided that Article 43 (freedomof establishment) and Article 49(freedom to provide services) ofthe EC Treaty were morefundamental than the right tostrike.

The application of Vikingand Laval in the domestic courtsof EU Member States has beenthe subject of complaints to theILO supervisory bodies, which inturn have made it very clearthat the law as developed by theECJ is not consistent withobligations arising under ILOConventions 87 and 98.

One such complaint wastaken by the pilots unionBALPA which, during a disputewith BA was threatened withlegal action and unlimited fines,not because the union had acted

in breach of domestic law, butbecause its proposed actionwould constitute a breach of theemployer’s right under the ECTreaty, Art 43 (now TFEU, Art49) following the decision inViking.

In response, the ILOCommittee of Experts has madeclear that the effect of Viking asreflected in BALPA was to takethe UK even deeper in breach ofConvention 87.

According to the Committee,‘the omnipresent threat of anaction for damages that couldbankrupt the union, possiblenow in the light of the Vikingand Laval judgments, creates asituation where the rights underthe Convention cannot beexercised’.

Today Monti 2, the newtechnocratic rules proposed bythe European Commission inMarch, undermines the right oftrade unions to engage incollective bargaining at a stroke.It restricts the right to takecollective action in a number ofways:• It does not ensure that

economic freedoms do nottake priority over

fundamental social rights orthat, in case of conflict,fundamental social rights willtake precedence

• It reinforces the‘proportionality’ test asdeveloped by the EuropeanCourt of Justice in the Vikingcase which leaves it up to theECJ and national judges todecide if collective action isnecessary

• It reinforces the interpretationgiven by the ECJ in Vikingand Laval cases and does notsolve the problems resultingfrom the judgments

According to professor KeithEwing of the IER, the Monti 2Regulation “fails to address thechanging nature of humanrights law on the right to strike”.

Instead, the Regulation wouldcodify the ECJ decisions into EUlaw, leaving ECJ and nationaljudges to use a ‘proportionality’test that is narrow and isweighted in favour of businessinterests.

“There will be no solution tothe Viking and Laval problemuntil there are clear rulesindicating that collective actionmay be taken in accordance

EU WAIVES THE RULES: In 207 the European Court of Justice ruled in favour of Viking Line’s right to impose social dumping by replacing Finnish seafarers with low wageEstonian labour. The EU court ruled that an international trade union campaign against ‘flag of convenience’ shipping was in breach of EU rules on ‘free movement’.


23

President’s column

DEFENDING TRADEUNION DEMOCRACY

This month a very rich man calledAdam Beecroft, who calls himselfan ‘venture capitalist’, was invitedby the government to proposechanges to workplace rights. This is the same man who used torun a company called ‘First Care’that provides “AbsenceManagement from Day One” toNHS Trusts, train operatingcompanies and utility companies.That’s right, you or someone youknow has probably come acrossthem bullying sick staff back towork, or terminating their contractof employment on ‘capabilitygrounds’. One of Mr Beecroft’s proposals,which Tory spin-doctors cut out ofthe final report, was “to removeregulations surroundingemployment of children”. Yes, that’s right. It does mean whatyou thought, Britain’s bosses wantto deregulate child labour. You can understand their thinking.We live in an increasingly integratedglobal market where ‘UK plc’competes with what we used to call

‘developing countries’. With theOlympics coming to London, whyshould we be at a competitivedisadvantage in the thriving

‘Olympic merchandise spin-off’industry? There are footballs to bestitched and T-shirts to be ironed.The devil finds work for idle hands. To quote comedian Jeremy Hardy,

“My daughter asked me for a newpair of football boots. I told her,

‘You’re 12 years old. Can’t you makeyourself a pair?’” But they’re not joking. A TUCreport from 2007 - 'No Medal forthe Olympics' - found evidence of12-year olds making 2008 BeijingOlympics bags, headgear,stationery and other products.Adults were earning 14p per hour(half the legal minimum wage inChina) and working up to 15 hoursper day, seven days a week.Imagine the profits! Ironically, it was a Tory governmentthat introduced the 1833 factory actfirst limiting employment of youngpeople under eighteen, as well aschildren, banning night shifts andproviding for factory inspectors. Of course, in those days the Tory

party, representing mainly the‘landed interest’, was keen to clipthe wings of its Liberal politicalrivals representing industrialcapitalists. Today, they’re all in ittogether and it looks like they wantto turn the clock back for workers’rights to the 19th century, or earlier. So what gives the likes of Beecroftthe brass neck to imagine that wewill allow the tiny group ofplutocrats who he speaks for toturn us into ‘profit-making serfs’? Partly, it is the desperation of theuber-rich, who while they amasswealth at an ever-greater rate cansee the global capitalist system isdying of financial sclerosis. Mainly however, the arrogance ofsuper-rich, parasites comes from aconviction that democracy doesn’tmatter any more, so why shouldthey care what the rest of us think?No-one in Britain voted for aConDem auterity coalition. No-one in Italy voted for Monti asprime minister. But if governmentsdon’t do as the bankers tell them,Goldman Sachs and the EU canjust replace them with ‘technocrats’. This also means relentless attackson democratic workers’ rightsacross the EU. Before beingcrowned Italian prime minister lastyear, Sr Monti was commissionedby the European Commission todraw up Regulations on EUemployment and trade union rights. His ‘Monti 2’ Regulations werepublished in March this year andput trade union rights in Europeback by over 100 years. The EU has simply regulated intolaw anti-trade union decisions madeby EU judges – in a court with nojury – to ban strikes where theyinterfere with cross-border trade.This is an EU charter for strikebreaking and social dumping. The response of trade unionistsshould be that democracy wasalways at the heart of ourmovement. In July we will celebratethe trade union roots of democracyat the Durham Miners Gala and theTolpuddle Martyrs Festival. I lookforward to seeing you there.

Alex Gordon

Swith human rights principles, anduntil the threat of unlimiteddamages is lifted from trade unionsfor exercising a fundamental socialright,” Keith Ewing said.

Carolyn Jones points out thatthe failure of the Regulation tocorrect the growing imbalancebetween the economic rights ofemployers and the human rights ofworkers highlighted the limitationsof ‘Social Europe’ as presented byDelors and embraced by the labourmovement in 1988.

“The Treaty for Stability,Coordination and Governancesigned by the Eurozonegovernments in March 2012promises to take Europe still furtherdown the path of austerity byimposing draconian cuts on nationstates in the name of deficitreduction.

“If unions continue to berestricted in how they can legallyrespond to those cuts, then perhapsalternative action is now required.

“One such action that wouldhelp focus the minds of the EUwould be to support calls acrossEurope for referendums on EUmembership,” she said.

RMT has long argued that the‘Social Europe’ agenda has alwaysbeen a smoke screen to absorb theorganised working class into EUstructures while delivering verylittle to workers.

Speaking recently at a People’sPledge meeting(2) calling for areferendum on EU membership BobCrow warned that unelected EUinstitutions directly representedEurope’s biggest banks and theirinterests, removing electedgovernments and imposing massunemployment, social dumping andunending austerity everywhere.

“It is time that the trade unionmovement demanded a referendumin order to build resistance tocapitalist greed and austeritywhether it’s the EU or its juniorpartner, this rotten Con Demgovernment,” he said.

1. EUROPEAN COMMISSION,‘Proposal for a COUNCILREGULATION on the exercise ofthe right to take collective actionwithin the context of the freedomof establishment and the freedomto provide services’ Brussels,21.3.2012, COM (2012) 130 final2012/0064 (APP),

2. www.peoplespledge.org

LEGAL


24

In the last few years there hasbeen an increase in incidentswhere employees have sufferedhearing damage after beingexposed to acoustic shocks atwork while using telephones.Little is being done to protectemployees from injury.

Thompsons recentlyrecovered substantialcompensation for a telephoneadvisor who suffered damage tothe hearing in their left earwhen the phone gave off a veryhigh feedback-type noise.

Colleagues had previouslysuffered a similar experienceand completed incident forms,but nothing was done by theiremployer.

The term acoustic shock isbroadly defined by the HSE as”incidents involving exposure ofshort duration, high frequency,high intensity sounds through atelephone head set”.

RMT members who usetelephone headsets at workshould be alert to such incidentsand report them to their healthand safety reps.

In most cases the length andnoise exposure from an acousticshock will not be sufficient tocause noise induced deafness.The sound may only last a fewseconds, or the exposure stopsas soon as the employeeremoves the ear piece. However,temporary deafness, tinnitus,pain or numbness around theear, head and neck, andsensitivity to certain soundfrequencies (known as

hyperacusis) are recognisedsymptoms caused by a acousticshock:

Experts say that suddenacoustic sounds are randomoccurrences but arise from threepossible causes:• An electrical event such as

lightning or a fault on thetelephone system.

• A fault in the call centre oroffice equipment, or with thetransmitting or receivingequipment.

• A high level noise producedby a malicious caller such asa whistle, or siren or anaccidental noise such as achild screaming near thephone or a fire or burglaralarm being set off near thephone.

LEGISLATION AND GUIDANCE

The Department and Tradeand Industry issuedrecommendations in 1989 thatsound to headsets be limited byacoustic limiters to a maximumof 118 decibels. These limiterswere introduced in 1991 bymajor manufacturers oftelephone equipment.

The legislation which protectsemployees is the Managementof Health and Safety at WorkRegulations 1999 (to carry outrisk assessments), the Provisionand Use of Work EquipmentRegulations 1998 and theControl of Noise at WorkRegulations 2005.

Under the noise at work

regulations:• The maximum personal daily

noise exposure, averagedover an eight hour day –called the 1st action level - is80 decibels.

• The maximum of the 2ndaction level daily exposure is85 decibels.

• The maximum Peak soundlevel – a single exposure tosound - is 135 (1st action)and 137 (2nd action) decibels.

The first action limit requiresthe employer to carry out a riskassessment to get an indicationof whether there is a risk to thehealth of employees, to placethem under a health surveillancescheme and carry out hearingtests. They must also provideinformation, instruction andtraining about the risks fromnoise exposure and makehearing protection available tothose that request it.

The second action levelrequires employers to reduce thenoise level to the lowestpossible that is practical to do,to make the work area a noiseprotection zone and supplyhearing protection.

The maximum peak levelrequires employers to complywith the requirements set outfor levels one and two. If thePeak levels are exceeded thenthe employer may be in breachof the regulations.

However, the 2005regulations do not mention call-centre workers or refer toacoustic shock or the processesthat produce it.

Currently, if limiters arefitted then it is unlikely that anemployer will be in breach ofthe noise at work regulations.

In October 2004 the HSEissued a revised guidance note

for employers on acoustic shock.The organisation’s initialthoughts were that “AcousticShock Syndrome” with the latestdesigns of limiters could notcause hearing damage andalthough the latest guidanceappears to accept this is not thecase, its only advice toemployers is to implement atraceable recording system ofincidents and to retain the dataset out in the guidance note.

The HSE continues to studyresearch from other countriesand has still not sought tochange the relevant legislationto make reference to acousticshock injuries to workers usingtelephone headsets, to reducethe Peak level to 100 decibels orto require all telephoneequipment to have acousticlimiters limiting the maximumsound to 100 decibels. This isthe safest maximum level forpreventing acoustic shock.

Instead, the HSE says that, ingeneral, call handlers' dailypersonal noise exposure isunlikely to exceed the 80 dBlower exposure limit, providedgood practice in themanagement of noise risks isfollowed.

Clearly what constitutes“good practice” is open tointerpretation because theguidance is so vague. Thismeans that succeeding in aclaim for compensation causedby acoustic shock relies on thevictim being able to prove thatthe employer was in breach ofthe relevant regulations.

Unless the alleged faultyequipment is retained andtested, and unless records arekept of all incidents by unionhealth and safety reps, pursuinga claim will be very difficult.

DEALING WITHACOUSTIC SHOCKSKeith Spicer, national co-ordinator ofoccupational deafness at ThompsonsSolicitors, warns that employers aredoing too little to protect workers’hearing from injury


26

Over 50 RMT members havebeen attending adult

numeracy or literacy courses aspart of a pilot scheme runningwith Network Rail.

The scheme has been runningfor three months and wasorganised across three locations:Doncaster, Liverpool and Bristol.After putting in the workrequired the participants on thecourses are now reaping therewards having gained a Level 2qualification in their chosensubject.

A Level two qualification isequivalent to GCSE A*-C and fora lot of members this has meantreturning to the classroom forthe first time since school, andgaining the qualifications theymissed out on.

Bristol signaller Harvey Brantsaid: “It’s a long time since I’vebeen in a classroom and I wasvery nervous about going backin there, but it is a muchdifferent atmosphere to myprevious experiences ofclassrooms and throughout thecourse I have grown inconfidence. I’ll definitely berecommending it.”

Each member followed alearning plan tailor-made forthem. They were put forward forthe Level Two exam when theirtutor felt they had succeeded inbuilding on their existing skillsin reading, writing or maths andwere ready for the test.

Bristol union learning repGary Abbott said that he wasproud of every one of themembers that has completed thecourses here in Bristol.

“It has been a hugeachievement for each one of

them and I am already seeinghow it has affected theirconfidence for the better,” hesaid.

The most important elementof the pilot scheme is that it wasunion-led. The local ULRs ineach area played a key role inpromoting the courses andencouraging members to takepart.

ULRs are able confidentiallyto broach the sometimessensitive issue of literacy andnumeracy with their peers andpromote the benefits in a waythat management can’t, or arenot inclined to.

RMT Education Officer AndyGilchrist said that ULRs wereable to talk to people inconfidence without it going anyfurther.

Another successful studentPeter Rygol said: “We are allpart of the union, we trust ourunion.

“If a manager asked you togo on a course you’d do itanyway but you’ve got a lotmore faith in it being organisedby the union,” he said.

As part of the pilot scheme,those who completed courses

have been paid by Network Railfor the time they committed togaining their qualification.Although this was undoubtedlyan initial incentive to anyonesigning up, for many this wasquickly exceeded by the benefitsof up skilling in English ormaths.

Adam Potts from Liverpoolsaid: “The initial £500 paymentwas a great incentive but afterdoing the course myself I feelthat the benefits and lifelongskills that I’ve learnt faroutweigh the initial monetaryincentive”.

One key benefit for thesemembers is they have nowgained a qualification that isbased on national standards soeveryone can see what theyhave achieved and are capableof.

The success of the pilotscheme has proved that there isdemand for literacy andnumeracy training amongNetwork Rail employees andthat they are willing to put inthe work to achieve aqualification.

RMT senior assistant generalsecretary Mick Cash said that

these were only the first 50 orso members to benefit fromgaining a qualification.

“This has been a boost totheir confidence and helpedtowards fulfilling their potential.

“We will now look toNetwork Rail to roll out thishighly successful scheme acrossthe country so that any memberwanting to improve their skillswill be able to do so,” he said.

Anyone can take a Skills forLife qualification if they areover 16, have left compulsoryfull-time education and do nothave an up-to-date Level 2English or maths qualification(such as a GCSE). Otherlearning initiatives are takingplace within companies acrossthe country and RMT unionlearning reps are able to givemore information on whatrunning in your workplace orarea.

Only people you choose totell will know that you havediscussed or taken up training.

To find out who your local ULR isplease contact Lindsay Rutland atRMT Learning on 020 7529 8820or email [email protected]

LEARNING ATNETWORK RAIL

In a conversation with ULR

At an open day in the workplace

Other colleagues

Manager

Posters or leaflets

HOW DID THEMEMBERS FIND OUTABOUT THE COURSE?


27

FACEBOOK PAGE Dear editor,I started a Facebook page recently for all RMT branches tocommunicate with each other, called ‘RMT Page for allBranches Nationwide’, and it has really taken off with 223members and counting thus far. Please would you look it upand give it some publicity in the next RMT magazine as wehave a real opportunity to utilise this as a viable means ofcommunication and encouraging people. This is an activepage with many members from all over the UK wanting toachieve the same goal and your help would be appreciated.Yours Sincerely, Phil JonesRMT Company Council Representative

NO ‘SNAIL MAIL’Dear editor,I would like to take exception to the use of the phrase 'snail-mail' used in the information box on page 17 of the Aprilnewsletter. Is this a slight on our hard working postmen orthe postal system in general? My father was a postman who retired eight years ago after35 years’ service. He was also a proud member of theCommunication Workers’ Union. The majority of failures in today's post office lie in itsmodern (mis)management and not in its hard workingposties. It is also a reflection on modern life whereby peopleare no longer prepared to wait a day or two for a letter toarrive, they expect it now. So please don't demean otherworkers in RMT publications, leave that to the gutter press. Yours Sincerely, Gary Churchward, Exeter guard

PEOPLE’S PLEDGE THANK YOUDear editor,On behalf of all of us at the People’s Pledge campaign, Ishould like to thank Bob Crow, RMT and the No2EU campaignfor helping us to achieve such a stunning result in our recentEU referendum campaign in Thurrock, Essex.Voters in Thurrock were the first in the country to be given theopportunity of voting as to whether they wanted a referendumon Britain’s membership of the EU. The results belowdemonstrate that an overwhelming majority of voters do wanta referendum. In addition, the voting figures in a constituencywith traditionally one of the lowest turn-out records in thecountry, demonstrates the genuine appeal of our campaign. Italso shows that when people are given the opportunity to voteabout issues they care about, they do so - and in largenumbers.Numbers voting agree: 13,111 (89.9%) Numbers voting disagree: 1,479 (10.1%)Ballots cast: 14,590Turn out: 30.39%Over ten thousand Thurrock voters also signed the pledge,further increasing the pressure on the sitting Tory MP and herLabour challenger. So, thank you for taking the time out tospeak at the No2EU meeting in Thurrock, and for your ownpersonal and continuing support for the pledge. The People’s Pledge is planning the next stage of the campaignto take place concurrently in three constituencies which wehope will include a new People’s Pledge trade union section.Clearly there are hundreds of thousands of trades unionists upand down the country, who believe as RMT does, that Britainshould have a referendum on EU membership.Yours fraternally, Mark Seddon, People’s Pledge spokesman

WATERLOO BRANCH

NOMINATES

PAT SIKORSKIFOR ASSISTANT GENERAL

SECRETARY

BRIDGEND LLANTRISANTBRANCH

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NEWCASTLE GATESHEADBRANCH

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WISHAW & MOTHERWELLBRANCH

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HOLYHEAD SHIPPINGBRANCH

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CARLISLE BRANCH

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BAKERLOO LINE BRANCH

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BRIGHTON & HOVEDISTRICT BRANCH

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EAST KENT BRANCH

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WIRRAL BRANCH

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BRISTOL BRANCH

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PORTSMOUTH BRANCH

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WILLESDEN RAIL BRANCH

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STEVE HEDLEYFOR ASSISTANT GENERAL

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TFL1 BRANCH

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STEVE HEDLEY FOR ASSISTANT GENERAL

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WIGAN BRANCH

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SWANSEA NO 1 BRANCH

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Letters...


28

EXETER 2 BRANCH

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PLYMOUTH 5BRANCH

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BASINGSTOKE NO 1 BRANCH

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LEEDS CITY BRANCH

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BRANCH

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EDINBURGH 1 &PORTOBELLO BRANCH

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CAMBORNE BUS BRANCH

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HEATHROW EXPRESSBRANCH

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STEVE HEDLEYFOR ASST GENERAL

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LU ENGINEERING BRANCH

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29

ACROSS1 Socialist island 90 miles from

USA (4)3 Royal overthrown by the

Russian Revolution (4)6 Beautiful noise? (5)10 Underwriter (7)11 Post by plane (7)12 Jimmy, 1983-2001 (5)13 Sidney, 1975-1983 (8)15 Soviet space traveller (9)17 Byes, wides, no-balls,

collectively (5)18 (Semi)aquatic fish-eating

mammal (5)20 Sam, 1986-1990 (9)22 Potty - or eaten with cheese

(8)25 Pointed projectile propelled by

bow (5)28 European goat-antelope,

whose hide is used forpolishing (7)

29 Unpleasant-looking (building)(7)

30 Wear away (5)31 US university or lock

manufacturer (4)32 Root vegetable cultivated for

sucrose (4)

DOWN1 Immature bird (5)2 Ticket to ride (for pensioners?)

(3,4)4 Propeller (5)5 Reflective of how things are

(rather than abstract) (9)6 Walk in step (5)7 Small, golden-brown member

of the onion family (7)8 Baby bovine (4)9 Entrance flush with floor or

ceiling (4-4)14 Cook in oven (4)15 Bob, 2002-present (4)16 Without purpose (9)17 Schooled (8)19 Twister (7)21 Singing to recorded backing

track (7)23 Routine (and boring?) task (5)24 Odour (or the sense that

detects one) (5)26 Cereal crop (5)27 Skin condition (4)

No. 77 solution...

ASHFORD BRANCH

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SECRETARY

CAMDEN BRANCH

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DARTFORD AND DISTRICTBRANCH

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DEPTFORD BRANCH

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EASTLEIGH BRANCH


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EAST SUSSEX COAST WAY


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KINGS CROSS

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LU FLEET BRANCH

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MARCH AND DISTRICTLONDON

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MORDEN AND OVAL BRANCH


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ORPINGTON BRANCH


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PADDINGTON BRANCH


SECRETARY

SOUTH WEST MIDLANDSBRANCH


SECRETARY

STRATFORD BRANCH

NOMINATES


SECRETARY

The winner of prizecrossword no. 77 is Scott Fowler, Fleetword,Lancs.

Send entries to PrizeCrossword, RMT, Unity House,39 Chalton Street, London NWI IJD by June 28 with yourname and address.

Winner and solution in nextissue.

£50 PRIZECROSSWORDNo. 78. Set by Elk

RMT CHRISTMAS CLUB APPLICATION

• You need to be an RMT Credit Union member to open an RMT Christmas ClubAccount.

• You have to save at least £5 per month into a regular RMT CU account inaddition to your RMT Christmas Club Account.

• You pay a monthly or 4-weekly Direct Debit consisting of your nominatedChristmas Club payment (min. £10) plus at least £5 per month to your main RMTCU account.

• Christmas Club accounts have to be opened by the end of April. Lateapplications commence the following November.

• As an RMT CU member you build up regular savings with a yearly dividend(1.5% in 2011) and you can apply for low interest rate loans.

• Your Christmas Club money is separate from your regular savings account. Thatmeans you will have a guaranteed sum available for Christmas maturing every14th November, plus a savings account growing with time.

• The Christmas Club secures your money so it’s there for the Christmas period.This means that your money is locked-in and you can make no withdrawalsuntil 14th November when all of your money, plus dividend will be paid out.

• If you make all of your payments we anticipate a dividend bonus as accruedthrough the year

• All of your money will be paid to your bank account on the first working dayafter 14th November.

• If you cancel your payments the 2% dividend is not applied and you cannotwithdraw your money until after 14th November. If you think you will needaccess to your money before 14th November, this account is not suitable foryou.

• The Christmas Club will continue year-on-year, so payments after 14thNovember start the next year’s account. Of course if you wish to cancel yourpayments you are free to do so at any time.

RMT CHRISTMAS CLUBSAVE FOR CHRISTMAS THE EASY AND SAFE WAY WITH THE RMT CREDIT UNIONSaving for Christmas can be a real headache. Take some of the stressaway by saving over the course of the year with the RMT ChristmasClub. We’ll add a little extra to your savings and pay out the moneyready for your Christmas shopping spree. This account is designed forpeople who want a secure savings account that helps them to save fortheir Christmas spending.

It’s based on the traditional Christmas Club principle of saving a fixedamount each month that is not accessible until the payout date. Manypeople like the discipline of a regular savings programme where they arenot able to access the cash!

Even a small amount saved each month soon adds up. Saving ismade easy by Direct Debit either monthly or 4-weekly to suit your paycycle.

For our Christmas Club, the maturity date will be November 4 eachyear. We will add a bonus dividend at the maturity date and pay themoney direct to your bank account. There are no vouchers or hampersor anything of that kind – you decide how you want to spend your

money.The bonus will be added to your savings if you complete all of your

regular payments. Last year’s bonus was two per cent*, and we hope toimprove this in subsequent years as the Christmas Club grows.

As all of your Christmas Club money will be paid out each year it willbe kept separately from your regular credit union savings and cannot beused against credit union loans.

There is also a summer savings club account on the same basis andprinciple with a payout date of mid-June, so that you can have readyaccess to summer holiday spending money.

If you want to open a Christmas Club account and are already acredit union member simply complete the form below. If you are notalready a credit union member you will have to complete the form belowand the credit union membership application opposite. Completed forms should be returned to our freepost address.

* NB: Past bonus rate is not an indication of future bonus rate

TERMS & CONDITIONS – IMPORTANT INFORMATION - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT RMT CHRISTMAS CLUB

Your savings are fully protected for up to £85,000 by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme

A FUTURETHAT WORKS!

October 20, 2012Mass demonstration againstausterity in LondonThe TUC is organising a mass demonstrationagainst austerity in London on Saturday 20October 20 2012. A march through centralLondon will culminate in a rally in Hyde Park.

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