Issue 21, May 2012

RMT branches, activists and members the length and breadth of the

UK are backing Alan Pottage to be the next General Secretary of the

RMT.

Alan’s support extends from offshore workers in Aberdeen to railway

workers in Cornwall and every grade and location in between.

Following the sad and untimely death of Alan’s good friend and comrade

Bob Crow, members understand that only Alan Pottage has the history, ex-

perience, skills and charisma to lead our great union.An active member of the RMT

for 32 years. Alan started in

the industry as an 18 year old

guard at Edinburgh Waverly.

He was first elected as a local

rep in 1983 and later was

trusted to be elected full time

to the regional negotiating

council.

Awarded the prestigious RMT

Youth Award in 1989.

Banned and expelled from

South Africa in January 1990

for building links with black

workers in the rail and dock in-

dustries.

Elected onto the Council of Ex-

ecutives in 1994. Worked

alongside Bob Crow and devel-

oped a close working relation-

ship. This became a lifelong

friendship.

Appointed as Bob Crow’s right

hand man in 2002, charged

with developing the union’s Or-

ganising and Education unit.

With Crow in charge of the

union and Pottage in charge of

the organising strategy, the

RMT becomes the fastest grow-

ing union in the country, gain-

ing over 20 thousand members.

the only candidate with hands on experience

in all industrial sectors of our union:

Rail - offshore - shipping - road

a proven formidable negotiator and organiser

at local, regional and national level

strong principles and values. WILL WORK

tirelessly for our members all over the country

will keep the RMT a campaigning, fighting

and democratic union

I am proud to state that I have always supported Bob Crow. I cam-

paigned for Bob because I appreciated his honesty, determination

and his principles. He proved his enemies wrong by becoming the best

leader our union has ever produced. It is vital that we do not slip back-

wards. I will ensure we will become stronger by building on our suc-

cesses. We will stamp out discrimination and harassment and we will

remain a campaigning, fighting and democratic union. Every single

member will feel valued in our great union.

“

”

Alan has the history and experience to beGeneral Secretary

The Union nationally gets behind

Alan Pottage to be RMT General Secretary

Alan Pottage’s commitment to equality for

all members is second to none. His personal

history of putting words into deeds has al-

ways been clear to those who know him. It is

intermingled with the history and principles

of the RMT itself.

When our union decided to play its part in

building a sister union in South Africa, Alan

was there immediately. Solidarity was the

order of the day.

The organisation ‘Rail Against Apartheid’

was formed to serve those ends.

That union was achieved at the height of a

State of Emergency that saw good trade

unionists being arrested, tortured and mur-

dered by the SA regime. At the end of that

solidarity initiative 50 SA trade unionists lay

dead, but The South African Railway and

Harbour Workers Union (SARHWU) was

born, playing a major role in bringing down

Apartheid.

At the request of the SA trade union leader-

ship Alan Pottage, along with Geoff Revell,

went to SA both to show solidarity with our

striking brothers and sisters in SARHWU

and gain first-hand knowledge of the infa-

mous ‘Germiston Massacre’. In that mas-

sacre over twenty trade union reps were

butchered as they left a train at Germiston

Station. They were murdered as security per-

sonnel stood by and watched.

Revell had been arrested (prompting a

young union tutor called Bob Crow to ‘sit in’

at the London SA Embassy demanding his

release) but Alan was co-opted on to the

SARHWU negotiating team until he joined

Revell and both were deported from the

country.

Solidarity is something you give and

greatly gain from. Alan understood from that

experience the priority of placing organisa-

tion at the forefront of the way the union op-

erates. The more workers that join RMT the

stronger we all become, this is not just a slo-

gan but the core ingredient for collective

power.

Alan knew the importance of a unified

membership and the importance of rolling up

our sleeves to achieve and maintain that

unity. This is why Bob Crow’s first appoint-

ment was to bring in Alan as his close ally

and collaborator, together they rescued a fi-

nancially wrecked, weakened, collapsing

union and completely turned it around.

We became the campaigning fighting demo-

cratic trade union that we all wanted, we

stand together undivided by gender, race,

age, or sexuality. We are gradually placing

ourselves in the vanguard of the whole trade

union movement.

Bob Crow was a brilliant General

Secretary. Let’s give his trusted ‘comrade in-

arms’ the chance to continue that brilliance.

Vote for Alan Pottage!

Fighting racism, for equality and international solidarity

For more information and to join the campaign to elect Alan Pottage RMT General Secretary email

alanpottage@yahoo.com or visit http://alan-pottage.squarespace.com

To be General Secretary of the RMT you need to have experience, longevity and a proven record; all of which Alan has in spades.

Alan’s attitude to trade unionism is exactly like the Engineering Grades I represent and am proud to be a part of. He believes that

there should be no industrial snobbery and not one grade is above another. Alan’s lifelong commitment to the RMT is second to

none. Sacked by the bosses for his trade union activities, his commitment to the RMT remained 100% rock soild. The bosses tried

to oust him from the industry but they could not take away his union. I have absolutely no hesitation both voting for Alan for Gen-

eral Secretary and recommending you do the same. Greg Hewitt, team leader off track maintenance, Brighton.

President RMT Engineering Grades conference

Alan Pottage is the man for the job. A true campaigner. He has the

head, heart and skills to carry on Bob’s legacy. I will be voting for

Alan because he has always gone above and beyond to help RMT

young members with campaigns and demonstrations. He is always

available for moral support and advice should we need it because he

believes in the importance of the YM movement and the fact that

young workers are ultimately, the future! Rosie Kirk, Dover Shipping. President RMT young members conference

Alan Pottage is an inspirational organiser who fully understands the importance of building a strong, active membership. As some-

one who regularly addresses new train drivers on behalf of the RMT within London Underground, I have always welcomed the in-

valuable advice and support Alan gives me. Under Alan’s leadership, building on Bob’s legacy, our Union will grow ever

stronger.” Vaughan Thomas, train driver, White City. RMT Trains Functional Council, London Underground.

As Vice President of the RMT Women's conference, I have always found Alan very supportive of women's issues. He is the

strongest candidate for General Secretary and will work hard with all our members to continue Bob Crow's fight against Capital-

ism and the erosion of trade union laws. Mary Jane Herbison, guard, Glasgow Queen Street. Vice Chair RMT Women’s

conference

Alan Pottage is a man of integrity. If it wasn't for Alan and his organising unit then my branch ( Nott`s and Derby`s bus branch)

would not be operating today. He is by far the best candidate for the sadly vacant General Secretary's position. He has experience

in ALL aspects and grades. Bus workers across the country should put their faith in him, as should all other members.

Joe Galea, bus worker, Nottingham. Vice President Midlands Regional Council.

Why YOU should Vote

ALAN POTTAGEfor RMT General Secretary