lies, damned lies and the sun · issue number 10, volume 12 essential reading for today’s...

ISSUE NUMBER 10, VOLUME 12

Essential reading for today’s transport worker

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2010

www.rmt.org.ukwwww rmt org ukw rm

Lies,damned liesand the Sun

TransportTransportfor Lies

for Lies

Support the fight for

Jobs and Safety on our Tube

INSIDE THISISSUE

CUTS WILL LEAD TOUNSTAFFED STATIONSPAGE 7

DEFENDING LIFELINEFERRY SERVICES INSCOTLANDPAGE 11

DERAILING EUTRANSPORTPRIVATISATIONPAGE 14

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 2007

RMT helpline 0800 3763706 :: november/december 2010 :: RMTnews

3

It’s always nice to win one over onthe mouthpiece of our ruling class,

its loyal media.The union-bashing rag, The Sun,

has paid £5,000 into the RMTWidows’ and Orphans’ fund afterapologising for claiming that I had aluxury car and a union-subsidisedhome.

You may remember that the samenewspaper boasted last year that ithad harassed me while on my way towork by Tube.

It’s no surprise that when workingpeople defend themselves, right-wingnewspapers like The Sun take cheappot-shots at their unions and thosethey have elected.

Incoming bosses’ club CBI leaderJohn Cridland is not only exemptfrom these attacks, he has not evenbothered to submit himself to asecret ballot of his members - aclassic case of one law for the bossclass and another for the workingclass.

He is a leading advocate oftougher anti-union laws designed toban the fundamental human right tostrike via the back door. We canexpect more of the same once hetakes up the hot seat.

People like Cridland aredemanding that working people andthe services they rely on should bearthe brunt of the ConDem cutsagenda. That is why the labourmovement needs to start mobilisingnow to ensure a huge turn out forthe TUC demonstration on March 26against the savage cuts and attackson the welfare state.

Workers in Ireland are alsofighting back against EuropeanUnion attempts to seize control oftheir economy on behalf of thebanks. The EU is protecting thefinanciers and bankers not jobs,standards of living or public services.

This is completely in line with EUpolicy, whereas government actionon unemployment, investment inpublic services, and other measuresnecessary to defend working peoplewould be considered a threat to theEU monetary union.

That is why this union is forginglinks with workers across Europe andbeyond to campaign against the EU

drive to privatise transport networks.We have held meetings acrossScotland to build the campaignagainst the break up of CaledonianMacBrayne ferry services. Maritimeunions are uniting to save Isle ofMan ferry services threatened byundercutting and social dumping.

RMT is hosting an internationalconference on January 31 against EUrail directives which demand thesame ‘competition’ and‘liberalisation’ poison which enrichesbig business and undermines socialtransport provision.

The next day, February 1, theunion is holding a seminar in theHouse of Commons on the future ofthe bus industry after thegovernment threatened to withdrawsubsidies from the sector in itsdraconian spending review.

The threat hanging over hundredsof jobs at the Royal Fleet Auxilary isa major area of concern followingthe strategic defence review. RMT isforcefully arguing that selling off theRFA will threaten a vital lifeline tonaval vessels around the world.

As we go to press RMT is to ballotLondon Underground workers forindustrial action following thevictimisation of two union reps bymanagement. Instead of harassingour members and activists ontrumped up charges the LondonUnderground management should bedirecting their energies into reachinga settlement to the on-going disputesover tube safety and safe staffinglevels.

The Network Rail reorganisationdeal, which will also deliver a £2,000lump sum before Christmas and rulesout compulsory redundancies, wasendorsed by a margin of around fourto one.

After working all year, you alldeserve a break at Christmas and achance to catch up with family andfriends. So enjoy a well-earned restand hope you have a prosperous newyear.

Best wishes

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

FIGHTING TO WIN Page 4

SOUTH EASTERN ONBOARD MANAGERSWIN RECOGNITIONPage 5

DRIVERS BALLOTED OVER PAY ATARRIVA TRAINS WALESPage 6

TUBE FLEET MAINTENANCE STAFF VOTEFOR ACTION OVER SAFETY-CRITICALCUTSPage 7

RMT EXPOSES JOB CUTS WILL LEAD TOUNSTAFFED TUBE STATIONSPage 8

SCOTTISH PARLIAMENTARY GROUPLAUNCHEDPage 9

PARLIAMENTARY COLUMNPage 10

LIES, DAMNED LIES AND THE SUNPage 11

DEFENDING LIFELINE FERRY SERVICESIN SCOTLANDPage 13

DERAILING EU TRANSPORTPRIVATISATIONPage 14

RMT PLEDGES TO FIGHT JOB CUTS ATROYAL FLEET AUXILIARYPage 15

COURT RULES AGAINST FOUR WEEKSPAID LEAVE FOR OFFSHORE WORKERSPage 16

POLITICAL SCHOOL REPORTPage 17

EDUCATING MEMBERSPage 18

EDUCATION COURSE PLANNERPage 20

HEALTH AND SAFETY REPS FIGHTINGFOR YOUR RIGHTSPage 22

RMT LEGAL SERVICESPage 24

BOOM TIME FOR RAIL PRIVATEERSPage 25

PRESIDENTS COLUMNPage 26

PLYMOUTH AWARDSPage 27

THREE BRIDGES HOSTS A CELEBRATIONPage 28

25 REASONS TO BE A MEMBER OF RMT1

LETTERSPage 32

PEOPLES PUBSPage 37

CLASSIFIED/CROSSWORDPage 38

CREDIT UNION


4

RMT general secretary BobCrow before laying a

wreath on behalf of the unionat the annual remembranceservice at the MerchantSeamen’s War Memorialgarden at Tower Hill, London.

He laid the wreath onbehalf of seafarers who losttheir lives in both the First

and Second World Wars andmore recent conflicts.

Over 35,000 merchantseamen were lost in WorldWar Two alone, most thevictims of U-Boat attacks,with over 5,000 takenprisoner. British merchantships were on the front line inthe struggle against fascism.

RMT has won full trade unionrecognition rights on all

Carlisle Cleaning and SupportServices contracts following aruling by the Central ArbitrationCommittee (CAC).

Previously the company hadclaimed that RMT only hadrecognition rights for threeCarlisle Cleaning and SupportContracts, namely Eurostar,London Midland andAlstom/West Coast.

Despite the union’s bestefforts, the company refused torecognise RMT for negotiatingpurposes on any other contractsand refused to provide therequested information claimingit was ‘commercially sensitive’.

The information requestedfrom Carlisle included payscales, a breakdown of thenumbers employed within eachof the respective grades and thefringe benefits available to staff.

As a result of the company’sfailure to disclose thisinformation for the purposes ofcollective bargaining, RMTsubmitted a complaint to the

CAC under Section 183 of theTrade Union and LabourRelations (Consolidation) Act1992.

Under this law “employershave a duty to disclose torepresentatives of independentrecognised unions information,without which representativeswould be impeded in carryingout collective bargaining orwhich in accordance with goodindustrial relations practiceshould be disclosed”.

Following a hearing, the CACfound in favour of the union,agreeing that RMT hadrecognition rights throughoutthe whole company.

Regional organiser Ken Ushersaid that a concerted campaignof recruitment organisation andretention was required followingthe ‘historic’ victory.

“We can co-ordinate ourrespective pay and benefitreview submissions which wouldprovide greater strength andsupport across all contracts forstaff that so desperately deserveit,” he said.

RMT has won trade unionrecognition rights for

members at Freightliner RailportLimited at both the Bristol andDoncaster sites.

The union had been indiscussions with the companysince Freightliner opened a newsite in Bristol earlier this year toacquire recognition rights inrespect of Freightliner Railport.

The executive committeewelcomed the work put in byRMT negotiators in securing therecognition deal.

The organising unit iscurrently recruiting withinFreightliner Railport andidentifying new reps to go ontraining course as agreed withthe company.

RMT has won trade unionrecognition rights for South

Eastern Railways onboardmanagers after taking thecompany to the CentralArbitration Committee.

The CAC is a permanentindependent body with statutorypowers to resolve disputes underlegislation relating torecognition and de-recognitionof trade unions and forcollective bargaining issues.

South Eastern refused to givetrade union recognition for 78onboard managers.

RMT launched a recruitmentcampaign with regionalorganiser Paul Cox and DaveMarshall and Alan Pottage ofthe union’s organising unit.

After 58 per cent of staffjoined the union it applied to

the CAC for recognition. Theunion argued that onboardmanagers were a distinct gradeof workers that requiredseparate bargainingarrangements and the CAC agreed.

RMT now has a rep in placein each of the three depots, andany two of these reps will makeup the company council.

Paul Cox said that unionmembership was steadilyincreasing among onboardmanagers and that the union’sfirst pay submission for theseworkers had just beensubmitted.

“These workers have anexcellent level of unionrepresentation thanks to thehard work of the union to winrecognition,” he said.

SOUTH EASTERNONBOARD MANAGERSWIN RECOGNITION

UNION WINSFULLRECOGNITIONAT CARLISLECLEANING

RECOGNITION DEAL ATFREIGHTLINER RAILPORTREMEMBERING THE FALLEN


5

RMT is urging drivers on Arriva TrainsWales to vote for strike action and

action short of a strike in a dispute overpay.

Negotiations with Arriva Trains Waleshave ground to a halt with a derisory offerfrom the company being rejected by RMTmembers.

As a result RMT has no option but tobegin balloting for action with the ballotclosing on the November 30.

RMT general secretary Bob Crow saidRMT had totally rejected a contemptuous

pay offer from the company that wouldhave left members out of pocket and whichwas loaded with strings.

Members would have ended up withinferior working conditions for a de factopay cut.

“Arriva Trains Wales has shown us in theclearest possible terms that they have nowish to reward the hard work and loyalty tothe staff and are motivated solely by thedrive for bigger profits to line the pockets ofthe shareholders and that is why we arenow balloting for industrial action.

“RMT is making it clear that this stalemate on pay at Arriva Trains Wales can nolonger be tolerated. Without the hard workof our members there would be no companyprofits and it’s high time that Arriva TrainsWales recognised that.

“We are calling on our members for anoverwhelming ‘YES’ vote for industrialaction and industrial action short of a strikethat will force Arriva Trains Walesmanagement to get back round the tableand put forward a decent pay rise, withoutstrings, that properly rewards their staff.”

RMT maintenance members at NetworkRail have overwhelmingly endorsed a

reorganisation deal that, twinned with analready agreed pay deal, will deliver a sevenper cent pay rise by the end of 2011.

The package, which will also deliver a£2,000 lump sum before Christmas and rules

out compulsory redundancies, was endorsedby a margin of around four to one afterbeing recommended to members by theunion.

RMT general secretary Bob Crow said thatmembers had endorsed a deal that wouldbring a substantial real-terms pay increase

after standing solidly together during alengthy and sometimes difficult process.

“Our negotiators were backed by a solidstrike mandate, and at a time when workingpeople have been told to shut up and takepay freezes our members have shown that ifyou stand together you can win,” he said.

RMT is balloting members onMerseyrail, excluding guards

and drivers, for strike action andaction short of a strike in adispute over pay.

Pay negotiations withMerseyrail for the gradesaffected have been on-goingand have ended with twoderisory offers being rejected by

RMT membersAs a result of the total failure

of Merseyrail to put forwardserious proposals that protectthe living standards of staff,RMT had no option but to beginballoting for action, and theunion is campaigning for amassive yes vote.

RMT members at First GreatWesterns Long RockMaintenance Depot inPenzance are taking industrialaction in support of theircolleague Kane Jonesfollowing his unfair dismissal.Following a massive ballotresult in favour of supportingKane Jones, RMT memberstook one hour strike action andbegan an overtime ban.

RMT general secretary BobCrow said that Kane Joneswas dismissed for wholly unfairreasons.

“RMT has informed First GreatWestern that we remainavailable for talks and we hopethat management will now seesense and take the necessarysteps to resolve this dispute,”he said.

DRIVERS BALLOTED OVER PAYAT ARRIVA TRAINS WALES

RMT MEMBERS AT NETWORK RAILENDORSE REORGANISATION DEAL

WORKERS DEFEND SACKEDFIRST GREAT WESTERN MEMBER

RMT BALLOTS MERSEYRAILMEMBERS FOR INDUSTRIAL ACTION


6

Unions representing hundreds of workersat the Isle of Man Steam Packet have

launched a campaign against socialdumping on ferry services to the mainland.

Steam-Packet workers lobbied the Manxparliament for intervention to protect localjobs and services from attempts byEstonian-registered Mezeron Shipping todrive out the world’s oldest operating ferrycompany.

Tesco wants to use Mezeron’s freightships Kurkse and Kalana, which pay rock-bottom wages, to undermine long-standing,negotiated arrangements with the SteamPacket company.

Trade unionists also converged on the

Port of Liverpool building at Pier Head todemonstrate in support of the Steam-Packetcampaign and against shipownersemploying seafarers on rates below theminimum wage.

The 180-year-old company maintains avital lifeline to the island and employs 350permanent staff and a further 150 seasonalstaff.

Its Isle of Man service runs fromLiverpool and Heysham to Douglas or,during winter months, from Heysham onMondays to Fridays and from Birkenhead onSaturdays and Sundays.

Its freight revenues have for many yearscross-subsidised passenger fares and thecompany does not receive any operatingsubsidy from either the Manx or UKgovernments.

Any reduction to passenger services willnot only impact on jobs but also will have adamaging knock-on effect on the Manxeconomy through a significant reduction totourism and industry, with an impact onlocal taxis, suppliers and support services.

RMT general secretary Bob Crow joinedthe workforce and fellow shipping union

Nautilus in a meeting in Douglas with theisland’s minister of Infrastructure to put thecase for intervention to defend jobs againstsocial dumping.

“It is a scandal that there is now anorchestrated attempt to undermine theviability and the future of the Isle of ManSteam Packet, putting more than 300 islandjobs, plus many more that depend on thecontinuation of the service, on the block,”he said.

London Underground fleet maintenancestaff launched a work to rule last month

after voting by nearly 90 per cent forindustrial action.

Staff will only process vehiclemaintenance instructions, and will not carryout higher grade working or co-operate withstaff movements away from home locations.

Fleet maintenance staff voted by 88 percent in favour of industrial action oversafety-critical cuts that have ripped up tubemaintenance schedules leaving brakes andother equipment in a lethal state ofdisrepair.

The action comes on the day that ashortage of functioning trains caused chaoson the Metropolitan and Victoria Lines andafter a finance-driven extension ofmaintenance schedules on the District Lineled to the withdrawal of the entire fleet dueto cracking of key parts.

RMT general secretary Bob Crow saidthat the union had warned repeatedly thatLU/TfL’s cuts plans were playing fast and

loose with safety and will turn the tube intoa death trap.

“It is a scandal that the London Mayor,Boris Johnson, and his transport officialshave chosen to ignore those warnings.

“The anger of our members who carryout the safety-critical function ofmaintaining the tube fleet at the cuts beingimposed from above is reflected in this

massive vote for action,” he said.The closure of District Line services, and

the shortage of rolling stock on other lines,has been a damning indictment of LondonUnderground’s cuts plans which has rammedhome the consequences of ripping up therule book on fleet maintenance.

UNIONS STEP UP FIGHT TO SAVEISLE OF MAN STEAM PACKET

TUBE FLEET MAINTENANCE STAFFFIGHT SAFETY-CRITICAL CUTS

FAULTY: A faulty coupling on the District Line


7

RMT EXPOSES JOB CUTSWILL LEAD TO UNSTAFFEDTUBE STATIONS

Transportfor Lies

Support the fight forJobs and Safety on our Tube

Aleaked internal LondonUnderground document has

confirmed that Transport forLondon’s claim that they haveno plans for unstaffed stationsas a result of the cuts is a totallie.

The leaked document wasspecifically on the subject ofproblems with stationannouncements to passengers inthe current climate of cuts andadmits that stations will be “leftunstaffed from time to time”.

However, a TfL spokesmanhad claimed: "LondonUnderground's future staffingproposals will continue to meansafe stations staffed at all timesand all stations with a ticketoffice will continue to haveone” - a statement directlycontradicted by the leakeddocument passed to RMT.

The memo from managerPaul Kilius-Smith, dated July30, deals with cash cutbacks tothe Tube's public-address systemwhich allows broadcasts to bemade from a central point tostations which do not have thefacility to do so.

These are meant to keeppassengers and train driversinformed of disruption anddelays to services.

Mr Kilius-Smith states that a"number of risks" have beenidentified in deciding whichparts of Long Line PA were tosuffer "de-activation".

"There are a number ofstations across the networkwhich is (sic) left unstaffed fromtime to time.

"Where this is the casewithout LLPA there is noaudible means of providingservice disruption informationto customers on platforms."

This, he warns, may happen"more frequently". There couldalso be problems in contactingthe train driver, he says, and"this could exacerbate a delay".

RMT general secretary BobCrow said that once again TfLhad been caught out lying aboutthe service and safety impact oftheir station staff jobs cutsplans.

“They have repeatedly toldthe public that they have noplans to run unstaffed stationsand yet this communicationsreport shows that that is exactlywhat they are planning for.“There is no way that on anunstaffed station they will beable to communicate with thepublic in the event of anemergency or pass on serviceinformation.

“Unstaffed stations are amuggers’ and vandals’ paradiseand the mayor has promisedthat there will be no unstaffedstations.

“It’s about time they told thepublic the truth about their cutsplans,” he said.

MPs joined a chorus of callsfor TfL to reverse plans to cut2,000 Underground jobs.

Hayes and Harlington MPJohn McDonnell and JeremyCorbyn, Islington North MP, putdown an early day motionagainst the proposals that havealready been denounced by theGreater London Assembly andLondon TravelWatch.

Around 11,000 RMT andTSSA members across thenetwork have taken strike actionamid growing cross-partyconsensus that cuts in safety-critical Tube jobs are a seriousand potentially fatal blunder.

HOUSE OF COMMONS EARLY DAY MOTION 920

That this House condemns the Mayor of London's proposals tocut 2,000 jobs on London Underground as a serious mistakewhich will damage passenger services and undermine safety;notes that he has broken a 2008 campaign pledge to defendlocal ticket offices and that his proposals have been denouncedby a cross-party vote in the London Assembly; commendsmembers of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and TransportWorkers and the Transport Salaried Staffs Association,pensioner groups and transport campaigners in seeking todefend the Tube as a vital public service; acknowledges LondonTravel Watch's severe concerns that the cuts will be keenly feltamong the elderly and disabled who rely on help to buy tickets;worries that the job losses will lead to increased maintenanceproblems, more delays for passengers and increased risks asrigorous safety standards are reduced; believes these cuts wouldleave passengers feeling less secure and staff less able to cope inemergencies; and calls on the Mayor, as Chair of Transport forLondon, to withdraw the proposals and to agree with theunions' reasonable and safe staffing levels right across theLondon Underground network to ensure that passengerscontinue to receive excellent service.

John McDonnell and Jeremy Corbyn


8

The Scottish Parliament RMTGroup of MSPs was officially

established in November withElaine Smith MSP elected asConvenor and former RMTorganiser Phil McGarryproviding political andsecretarial support.

RMT general secretary BobCrow launched the group in thepresence of a number of MSPs,researchers and members of thepress.

Bob expressed his pleasure atspeaking to Scottish MSPs atsuch an important time fortransport services in Scotlandand explained that the groupprovided a forum for RMT andMSPs to express their viewsregarding transport matters andhow this impacts on workersand the wider community.

Current concerns includedthe forthcoming Ferries Reviewincluding proposals to break-upCal Mac and tendering for

Northlink Ferries. Theindemnification clause withinthe Scotrail franchise whichsimply allows privateers toprofit from the public purse attimes of industrial dispute wasalso raised. The arrangementeffectively means thatemployers have no incentive toreach agreement with theunions.

At a later formal meeting ofthe group, which includes MSPsElaine Smith, Bill Butler, JamieHepburn, Dave Thompson,Marlyn Glen; Cathy Peattie;Patrick Harvie and Brian Adamit was agreed to advance aprogressive agenda on behalf ofthe around 10,000 RMTmembers in all areas of publictransport including:• Public ownership and public

accountability of the railnetwork.

• Increased employment of

Scottish seafarers in theScottish shipping industry

• Support for an integratedpublicly owned andaccountable ferry service

• Safety before profit in theoffshore sector

• Repeal of all anti-trade unionlegislation and the promotionof rights at work.

MSPs had a good generaldiscussion and agreed that thegroup should meet quarterly.No MSP from the Conservativeor Liberal Democratic party hadexpressed an interest in joiningand membership comprised ofLabour, SNP and Green PartyMSPs.

Group convenor Elaine Smithsaid that she was delighted thatthe RMT MSP group was up andrunning.

“It was fabulous that BobCrow could join us to addressthe first meeting and I hope that

he will attend at a futuremeeting.

“I look forward to workingwith colleagues to advance aprogressive transport andemployment agenda here inScotland.

“At this time of vicious cutsand threats to the public sector,it has never been moreimportant to promote publicownership and protect jobs andservices,” she said.

Others have expressed aninterest in joining but need tobe endorsed by the RMTExecutive.

The next meeting of thegroup is provisionally onJanuary 18 2011. The delegationwill be led by regional organiserIan MacIntyre, Council ofExecutive members and theregional council secretary JimGray.

SCOTTISH PARLIAMENTARYGROUP LAUNCHED

A video of this protest in Scotland against the cutscan be seen on youtube at the web address below

http://www.youtube.com/user/RMTtelevision

Parliamentary column


9

As RMT members will have noticed, thecoalition government is using this post-election period to implementcontroversial legislation which will havedeep impacts on our public services andour country's constitution.

Members of the RMT ParliamentaryGroup are challenging this and fighting arearguard action to protect services forworkers and their families, who remainvulnerable to the cuts being imposed.John McDonnell’s Lawful Industrial Action(Minor Errors) Bill received its SecondReading debate on Friday October 22.

I was proud to be a sponsor of this Billdesigned to level the playing fieldsomewhat in industrial relations, andprevent employers from using the courtsto rule out the results of strike ballots forminor errors which have no materialaffect on the outcome.

There was the usual filibustering byseveral backbench Tory MPs during thedebate but when the closure motioncame we were just 13 votes short of the100 needed for the motion that wouldhave overridden the filibuster and allowedthe Bill to move to the next stage.

This was a hugely important piece oflegislation and many of us weredisappointed that despite many weeksnotice we could not muster enoughLabour MPs to be there – even just forthe vote. Despite a substantial number ofthem having been supported by tradeunions financially during the election theyfailed to deliver their support on the day.The Parliamentary Labour Party andtrade unions must learn that we do needto strengthen resolve within our ownranks for the task ahead.

We must build alliances where we can inour campaigning and this wasdemonstrated when later on the sameday Liberal Democrat Simon Hughes MPput pressure on the government during aCommons debate on marine training andemployment on the River Thames.

This gave RMT group members, myself

and the tireless John McDonnell, theopportunity to raise with the governmentthe precarious position Thames Boatmasters have been placed in by theMarine and Coastguard Agency’sexcessive new tests for workers on theThames.

Boat masters on the Thames are a vitalresource to the capital and maintain theriver’s position as the major commercialand cultural inland waterway in thecountry.

This is why the Maritime and CoastguardAgency’s decision to demand a formal re-test of boat masters’ skills is soperplexing and worrying. Thousands ofboat masters will face losing their skilledand specialist jobs for no more reasonthan the regulatory zeal of the MCA.

No group of workers on any other inlandwaterway are required to take this test,and the test is not a part of the MCA’sstatutory duties. The change will impacton the Thames’ status as a safe andsecure waterway for the public, tourists,local authorities and businesses tonavigate.

Indeed, the MCA has form in this area.The early proposals for the BoatmastersLicence, introduced in the aftermath ofthe Marchioness tragedy, were whollyunacceptable and were only revised aftera concerted campaign by RMT and thoseof us in parliament who could see thatthis was an excessive response to anecessary requirement.

I have tabled Early Day Motion 837 onthis issue and was encouraged by SimonHughes’ commitment in the debate totake this matter up with colleagues ingovernment. John and I will be followingthis up.

On behalf of the members of the RMTgroup may I wish all of you a HappyChristmas and a New Year that sees usready to face the challenges that lieahead in a united way.

Kate Hoey MP for Vauxhall

THAMES BOATMASTERS EDM 837

That this House recognises the valuablework of skilled and experiencedThames boatmasters in ensuring safetravel on the Thames; acknowledgesthe crucial support they provide theeconomy, particularly the tourismindustry, and transport in London; isconcerned that this service to thecapital and the livelihoods ofboatmasters could be threatened bythe Maritime and Coastguard Agency'sproposal to hold compulsory re-tests ofexperienced boatmasters for operationof vessels between Margaretness andPutney; notes that no such testing orrevalidation appears to be required inother inland waterways of the UK and isnot a legal requirement; regards theproposal for re-tests as an overzealousinterpretation of the law which riskspenalising unfairly experiencedboatmasters who do not haveexperience of formal, classroom-basedexaminations; supports both thehighest possible safety standards andan experienced workforce on theThames; and calls on the Governmentand the Maritime and CoastguardAgency to engage constructively withthe Thames boatmasters to reach asolution which preserves the existingskills and experience of boatmasters

Kate Hoey MP

DEFENDINGTHAMES BOATMASTERS

10


RUPERT MURDOCH’S union-bashing tabloid, The Sun,

has apologised, paid £5,000 intothe RMT Widows’ and Orphans’fund and covered the union’slegal costs after makingfabricated claims that generalsecretary Bob Crow had aluxury car and lived in a union-subsidised home.

The paper acknowledged thatthere was no truth in theallegations, made by its veteranpolitical commentator TrevorKavanagh in an anti-unionarticle printed during the TUCCongress in September.

It also accepted that, far fromeven owning a car, Bob usesand champions public transport– as it would have known withonly the most cursory research,not least in its own archive.

Only a year or so before, thesame newspaper boasted that ithad harassed Bob while he wason his way to work – by Tube.

“It’s no surprise that whenthere is talk of unions takingaction to defend the jobs, pay,conditions and pensions ofworking people, right-wingnewspapers like The Sun takecheap pot-shots at unions andtheir leaders,” Bob said.

“I have always thought thatif the right-wing press weren’tattacking me I would probablynot be doing my job properly,but if they tell outright lies theyneed to be brought to book.”

V-SIGN OF THE TIMES

The Sun is the second Murdoch

newspaper to have to eathumble pie after telling untruthsabout the union: in June 2005The Times paid damages andcosts after alleging that Bob hadinterfered in the union’spresidential election bylaunching an attack on one ofthe candidates.

The reality was that theunion, acting on legal advice,had included an explanatoryletter in a ballot mailingcorrecting factual errors in oneof the candidate’s statements –the wording of which the lawdid not permit the union toalter.

The Times at first denied thatits article was defamatory, butwhen the IndependentCertification Officer of TradeUnions ruled 18 months laterthat Bob and the union hadacted lawfully throughout itsettled the libel proceedings outof court.

THE PAY RISE THAT NEVER WAS

In the run-up to this year’sTrade Union Congress, at whichdelegates agreed to fight public-spending cuts with co-ordinatedindustrial action, the right-wingmedia went into overdriveagainst the unions.

A number of right-wingnewspapers, including the TheSun, The Daily Mail, theEvening Standard, the Express,ran stories about supposedly‘fat-cat’ union leaders –disingenuously includingpension contributions and out-

of-pocket expenses to theiractual salaries in order to distortthe picture.

Some also claimed that BobCrow had been given a 12 percent pay increase – but the truthwas rather different: because thefirst pay-day of the new yearfell on a bank holiday, Bob –like other members of RMT staff– was paid a few days early.

But that early payment hadto be included in the previousyear’s figures, artificiallyinflating the salary declared tothe Certification Officer.

That of course means thatnext year’s figures will show apay CUT – but it remains to beseen if that will be reported askeenly – or at all.

LOW STANDARDS

On the day of the second 24-hour strike against Tube staffcuts by 11,000 RMT and TSSAmembers the London EveningStandard had no room for asingle word from either unionabout the strike itself.

It did, however, find room fora full-page opinion piece bySimon Jenkins which statedbaldly that the union’s safety

concerns over massive jobs cullwere “rubbish”.

It also had room for aneditorial which accused theunions of dishonesty and refusalto negotiate and, perhapsnastiest of all, a page of reportswhich included an anonymous‘tweet’ wishing Bob would berun over by a bus.

When the union submittedan article by Bob Crow ofsimilar length to the Jenkinspiece to exercise his right ofreply it took the Standard twoweeks to say that it would not“be able” to print it.

It was only when the unionthreatened to go to the PressComplaints Commission that thepaper relented, and finallyprinted a heavily edited and farshorter piece – alongsideanother by a LondonUnderground boss.

The paper couldn’t bringitself to print Bob’s words thatto suggest that 11,000 Tubeworkers had been duped intostriking was an insult to theworkforce, or even that theStandard had itself campaignedfor adequately staffed ‘saferstations’.

Lies, damned

lies and the Sun

There’s nothing new in

right-wing media

barons launchin

g

attacks on the u

nions – but when their di

stortions become

lies it’s time to draw

a line in the sa

nd

BANK OFMURDOCH

£For and on behalf of

News International

Date

Pay

Authorised signatory

“12344” 22”236789

4100098765’44

20-90-34

12343678

Bank of Murdoch

Account payee

Isle of Dogs branc

h

RMT Orphans Fund

five thousand pou

nds5,000

18-11-2010

11


RMT is campaigning alongside the ScottishTUC and Nautilus International to stop theprivatisation of key Scottish ferry routes.

The Scottish government proposes toseparate certain routes from the protectionof the Clyde and Hebrides ferry network andtender them on a commercial basis.

This would place in jeopardy Scottishmaritime training and employment, and avital lifeline for the islands.

A consultation document sent out by theSNP Scottish administration, as part of theScottish Ferries review, proposes tofragment routes and tender them along linesoutlined under European Union competitionrules.

RMT is campaigning for the ferry routesto continue to be part of the Clyde andHebrides ferry network where they benefitfrom economies of scale and cross subsidy.Above all they should be run in theinterests of the local communities, not asprofit making enterprises.

In addition the training and employmentprovided by Caledonian MacBrayne is vitalfor sustaining maritime skills and providesan important source of employment forlocal communities. Privatisation would openthe door to social dumping - shippingcompanies exploiting cheaper foreign labouron UK ships, in some cases paying just £2per hour.

Currently the lifeline ferry services to theClyde and Hebrides are run by CaledonianMacBrayne, a publicly owned ferrycompany, after previous attempts to parceloff the services to the private sector failedin 2008.

That failed tendering process, carried outunder the auspices of EU law, cost taxpayers£17 million that the union and the vast bulkof public opinion said should have beenspent on improving services.

RMT general secretary Bob Crow alsowarned against social dumping by bosseswho replace organised crews with cheaperoverseas labour has been boosted byEuropean Court of Justice rulings that makeeffective strike action in defence of jobsvery difficult.

“On top of that we have EU regulationsthat insist on putting ferry services out totender and we will be fighting to defendservices and jobs, against legaliseddiscrimination and for seafarers’ rights.

“Since the Irish Ferries dispute in 2005,when unionised Irish crews were replacedwith unorganised low-paid east Europeanlabour, we have stepped up our campaignalongside colleagues in unions acrossEurope,” he said.

The union has organised well-attended

meetings in Stornaway, The Uists, the Isle ofBarra, the Isle of Arran and Rothesay aspart of the campaign to end to the break upof Cal Mac services.

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP

• Fill in the postcard and return it byFREEPOST – RMT will pass the cardsdirectly to the Scottish TransportMinister.

• Write to your MSP asking him or her tosupport the retention of a publicly ownedand publicly accountable Clyde andHebrides ferry network.

• Read the RMT submission to the Scottishgovernment at www.rmt.org.uk and seeCampaigns Maritime.

DEFENDING LIFELINEFERRY SERVICES INSCOTLANDEvery RMT member in Scotland will receive a postcard to sendto the Scottish minister for Transport to stop the privatisationof lifeline ferry services and social dumping


13

Nationalisation not PrivatisationAn Open Conference of FightingTransport UnionsLondon, Monday January 31, 2011

The European Commission haslaunched plans to establish “asingle European railway area”based on EU rules demandingthe privatisation of the sector.

The commission is claimingthat it is simply ‘recasting’existing EU legislation such asthe First Rail Package whichpromotes a ‘vertical split’between rail infrastructure andoperations to stimulate aninternal market in rail services.

Yet the European Transport

Workers’ Federation says that itwill have huge consequences forEurope’s railways that couldeven challenge the right tostrike.

This follows the EU’s drive tohand European lifeline ferryservices, from Greek ferriesservices in the south toCaledonian MacBrayne servicesin the north, over to the privatesector.

In the bus sector EU-sanctioned corporate takeovers,

such as German state railwaysDeutsche Bahn’s (DB)acquisition of Arriva, has seenthe creation of EU-widetransport monopolies. NationalExpress also sold Travel Londonand Travel Surrey toNetherlands rail companyAbellio and Paris metro operatorRAPT bought 25 per cent of busgiant Transdev.

These developments representa direct threat to job, wages andcollective bargaining rights.

In reality the commission isdismantling state-ownedtransport networks, using EUcompetition rules to replacethem with private monopolies.

The rapid consolidation inrecent years of global logisticscompanies such as DHL, ownedby Germany’s privatised postoffice, are the models for thislegislation.

Such ‘Euro champions’compete in global markets while

seizing control of railways andmaking renationalisationstructurally complex andpolitically difficult.

EU Transport CommissionerSiim Kallas said: “My aim in allof this is more competition inpassenger and freight services”.

This confirms that EUinstitutions operate in theinterests of monopoly financecapital, with a strategicobjective to remove any vestigesof public ownership and controlof transport in favour of marketcompetition and ‘liberalisation’.

The bitter experience of railand bus privatisation in Britainhas seen public subsidies soarand profits of the privatemonopolists who run publictransport ballon along withpassenger fares.

That is why RMT is hostingthe conference to buildresistance to the EUprivatisation agenda.

DERAILING EU TRANSPORT PRIVATISATIONRMT hosts internationalconference in London onJanuary 31, 2011 todiscuss the fightbackagainst the EU’s transportprivatisation drive

FUTURE PUBLIC TRANSPORT L’ avenir des transports publics - Die zukunft der öffentlichen verkehr - El futuro del transporte público -O futuro dos transportes públicos - Framtiden av kollektivtrafiken - De toekomst van het openbaar vervoer- Budoucnost ve ejné dopravy - Tulevaisuus joukkoliikenteen - A jöv a tömegközlekedés - Il futuro deltrasporto pubblico – N kotne sabiedrisk transporta - Viešasis transportas ateitis – Tulevik ühistransport -Fremtidens offentlig transport – Przyszło transportu publicznego - Kamu ula tirma gelece i

RMT is hosting an international conference todiscuss how European Union rules are the drivingforce behind the privatisation of transport industriesacross the EU.RMT has invited unions from across Europe todiscuss the growing crisis in the transport sectorand how to resist the privatisation drive. If yourbranch wishes to participate please [email protected] or phone 020 7529 8307.


14

RMT is mobilising a nationalpolitical and public fight

against cuts and privatisationplans at the Royal Navy’ssupplies lifeline – the RoyalFleet Auxiliary (RFA) – as aconsequence of the ConDemGovernment’s Strategic Defenceand Security Review.

Hundreds of jobs and threevessels out of the currentsixteen servicing the naval fleetare under threat.

An internal memo circulatedto staff by RFA Commodore BillWalworth says “SDSR for theRFA means we will lose atanker, probably Bayleaf, aLanding Ship Dock Auxiliary(LSD-A), probably Largs Bay,and an Auxiliary OilerReplenisher (AOR) probably FortGeorge.

“These are likely to occur byApril 2011, however we will beregenerating Fort Austin[another AOR],” it says.

RMT has also been alertedthat separate and secretive

discussions over the possibleprivatisation of some or all ofthe RFA’s services including fueltransports, ammunition suppliesand troop movements on behalfof the Royal Navy, are takingplace behind closed doors.

Trade newspaper Lloyds Listsays that a number of leadingprivate sector shipping outfitsare eyeing up the RFA, withDenmark’s Maersk widely seento be in pole position.

RMT is warning that axingjobs, and flogging off what isleft of the RFA to privatecompanies, would threaten thereliability and security of thisvital lifeline to our naval vesselsaround the world as the drivefor profits and cuts wouldoverride the quality of service.The MoD would also lose directcontrol of the most essentialelement of the Royal Navy’ssupport structure.

RMT general secretary BobCrow warned that there wouldan angry backlash against any

attempt to compromise nationalsecurity by embarking on thereckless gamble of cash-led cutsand privatisation to thisessential lifeline to UK navalcrews all around the globe.

RMT national secretary Steve Todd said that hundredsof skilled merchant seafarers,serving the Royal Navy in warzones around the world and athome, face the possibility ofbeing slung on the scrap heap ifthese ill-conceived cuts and

privatisation plans are bulldozedthrough.

“That would be a disgracefulkick in the teeth to braveseafarers who have played avital role in conflict afterconflict with many paying theultimate price with their lives.

“RMT is seeking an urgentmeeting with the Commodore toestablish the full facts on wherethe defence review leaves theRFA and the political and publicfight back starts now,” he said

RMT PLEDGES TO FIGHT JOB CUTSAT ROYAL FLEET AUXILIARYTHE ROYAL NAVY LIFE LINE

SOUTHAMPTON SHIPPINGBRANCH

NOMINATES

MARK CARDEN ASSISTANT NATIONAL

SECRETARY

USE YOUR VOTE.

NORTH EAST SHIPPING

PETER HALL

FOR THE ASSISTANT NATIONALSECRETARY’S POSITION.

OFFSHORE ENERGY BRANCH

NOMINATES AND SUPPORTS

MARK CARDEN FOR ASSISTANT NATIONAL

SECRETARY SHIPPING/OFFSHORE,A CANDIDATE FOR CHANGE

MANCHESTER SHIPPING

SUPPORT

PETER HALL FOR THE POSITION OF ASSISTANT NATIONAL

SECTARY

GLASGOW SHIPPING BRANCH

SUPPORT

PETER HALL FOR THE POSITION OF ASSISTANT

NATIONAL SECTARY

HUMBER SHIPPING BRANCH

SUPPORTS THE RE-ELECTION OF

PETER HALL FOR ASSISTANT NATIONAL

SECRETARY AND SEEKS SUPPORTFROM SHIPPING AND OFFSHORE

MEMBERS AND BRANCHES

OBAN SHIPPING BRANCH

SUPPORT


SECRETARY

EIRE SHIPPING BRANCH

SUPPORTS

PETER HALL FOR RE-ELECTION AS ASSISTANT

NATIONAL SECRETARY

DEDICATED,EXTREMELYCOMPETENT,COMMITTED

AND THE BEST CANDIDATE FORTHE JOB

LIVERPOOL SHIPPING BRANCH

SUPPORTS


SECRETARY

AND URGES ALLS MEMBERS TOVOTE FOR PETER AS THE MOST

EXPERIENCED, COMMITTEDCANDIDATE

DOVER SHIPPING BRANCH

SUPPORTS


SECRETARY


15

Dear editor,

Yet again it appears that Shell middlemanagement seem prepared to rideroughshod over corporate policy andcompromise safety while uppermanagement are either not actuallyaware or are choosing not to be aware.

In 1995 diver Brad Westell was killedwhilst diving from the CSO Orelia which,at the time, was working for Shell in thesouthern North Sea.

There were no Shell representatives onboard with any diving knowledge because,as investigations revealed, the job wasonly meant to be carried out by ROV.However, for commercial reasons, Stenachanged the operation to that of oneusing divers. Shell failed to react andhave a rep with diving expertise placedon board and the consequences weretragic.

Shell reviewed its policy to comply withthe industry standard as set out in OGP431. In section 8.2 it clearly states thatwhen diving operations take placeonboard representatives will, among otherthings, “have extensive experience on DPvessels and attend a DP appreciationcourse, be an ex-dive supervisor/diverwith extensive knowledge of working withdivers, planning diving operations,working with appropriate divingtables….thoroughly familiar with IMCAguides” etc.

Recently Shell has been using Subsea 7’snew build, Seven Atlantic, having tworeps on board at any one time, onecovering days the other at night. Yet onerep has not worked offshore for nearly 20years and has absolutely no divingknowledge at all, is not familiar withACOP and not recently experienced in DP

ops; the list goes on.

Because of this lack of knowledge, hegave instructions to work on a SubseaControl Module when it had already beendecided that further safeguards wererequired. Had it not been for the quickintervention of others this could haveresulted in another tragic accident. Otherreps do not comply with section 8.2 butnot as blatantly.

As part of the diving team I look to theclient rep as one of the main people inkeeping my employer honest and safe.With the present setup I can’t see thathappening and it will probably takingsomeone being hurt or worse beforethings improve.

Yours truly,A member of the Seven Atlantic crew

Scotland’s highest court, theCourt of Session, has ruled

against the union in the legalfight to secure four weeks-paidleave in accordance with the EUWorking Time Regulations.

The three judges decided thatoffshore workers have no rightto any time off during a periodthey would otherwise beworking.

The judges perverselyreferred to the analogy of part-time workers, claiming that if apart-time worker had to usedays they would otherwise notbe working as their annualleave "that would have theeffect of requiring that part-time worker to attend for workon each of the 52 weeks of that

year". They stated this would

infringe what is required by theWorking Time Directive, butthey failed to consider that inworking 26-weeks offshore, on12-hour shifts seven days perweek, average 42 hours perweek for 52 weeks. And thatdoesn't include travel time toand from offshore or time spenttraining while onshore.

The offshore employerssuccessfully lobbied thegovernment for a "derogation"from the normal period ofaveraging out working hours,which is over a 17-week periodonshore and secured a period of52 weeks for the purpose ofaveraging out working hours

offshore. RMT regional organiser Jake

Molloy said that the ruling wasdevastating news to those bravemembers who have fought forthis entitlement over the lastseven years.

“It should also trigger alarmbells in the heads of all thoseworkers who continue to thinkthis won’t affect them because -‘we already get 2x3 or2x2/2x4’.

Oil and Gas UK welcomedthe ruling, claiming thatworking patterns typicallyallow offshore workers to spendover 26 weeks a year awayfrom work onshore.

Jake Molloy said that if 26-weeks leave was considered

enough there was every chancethat was all workers will get inthe future.

“Anyone who currentlyenjoys 2x3, or any enhancedrota, or even paid leave throughthe OCA - beware!

“If the oil company you areworking under decides the‘economic climate’ cannotsupport the enhanced rota, itwill be gone.

“We may yet be back in thecourts, but in the meantime,every worker is exposed to thepotential of a return to thestraight 2x2 or even 3x3, whileworkers on these rotas are stuckwith it,” he said. The fulldecision will be available on towww.oilc.org.

COURT RULES AGAINST FOUR WEEKSPAID LEAVE FOR OFFSHORE WORKERS

SHELL AND SAFETY

This political course can beexplained quite simply as anexcellent introduction intopolitics and an eye opener intothe world outside the workplace.

12 delegates came from allover the country, varying in ageand covering every aspect of thetransport industry so it was agood cross section of membersfor the course.

It was a very intense week,with lots of information toabsorb from a variety of guestspeakers covering differentaspects of politics. I wasprobably the weakest member ofthe class but I believe I gainedmore knowledge than mostbecause of this. I did my ownresearch using the excellentfacilities at the union’seducation centre at Doncaster inorder to combat my lack ofpolitical knowledge.

The content surpassed my

expectations and after only fivedays, I had gone from beingpolitically naive to the pointwhere I am now campaigningand organising on politicalissues in my workplace andcommunity. Not only does thecourse educate you, it gives youthe confidence to use thatknowledge to make a difference.

I won’t forget the look on thefaces of comrades on the courseafter watching the video fromJustice for Colombia, which wasso disturbing. Every day wasinteresting and questioned ourviews on politics, changed myopinion of politicians andshowed us all what can beachieved simply by knowing thepolitical system.

At the end of the week wewere treated to a tour aroundWestminster, including sitting inthe galleries of the House ofCommons and the House of

Lords. John McDonnell MP gaveus a great insight to the politicalsystem, the Parliamentary groupand how we as individuals canhelp.

Those of us on the coursehave agreed to continue tosupport each other in differentregions and industries whilststriving to continue to educateeach other now that we have aplatform to work from thanks tothe course.

I urge all members readingthis to put your name forwardfor this course. It is a credit tothe union for investing so muchtime and effort that encouragesmembers to become more

interested in what we are upagainst whilst showing how wecan actively oppose any threatsin our workplace, industry orcommunity.

A big thanks to all the guestspeakers, the tutors, unionofficials and all the great staffat the education centre formaking it such a positiveexperience which will I knowwill help us as all in the toughtimes ahead.• The next RMT political school

will start on 13 March. Theclosing date for applicationsis January 4 2010. Pleasecontact your branch secretaryif you wish to apply.


16

RMT reps at Select ServicePartners and Rail Gourmet

attended a general reps coursein Doncaster recently to gettraining on the companies’discipline and grievanceprocedures. The course includeddebates on the companies’ useof mystery shoppers to spy onworkers, the very poorconditions workers have toendure in the workplace fromextreme heat/cold and lack offacilities.

Staff are often forced towear the uniforms of trainoperating companies whenworking on board trains,although they do not work forthat company. Low pay within

the company was also discussed,linked to the skills and tasksbeing carried out.

Recruitment and retentionwas also debated with everyoneagreeing that the union mustrecruit in the workplace and getmore reps in place. All present

drew up plans to recruit in theirbranch areas and to fight forrecognition in Rail Gourmet.

Course tutors Glen Burrowsand Graham Buchanan helpedand guided everyone throughthe procedures. Geoff Revelladdressed the reps on the

organisation and history of theunion.

More RMT members arebecoming reps at the companiesto help and defend workers aswell as recruiting new membersand encouraging more tobecome reps.

POLITICAL SCHOOL REPORTRMT shipping member DarrenProctor reports from theannual political school inDoncaster and Parliament

SELECT SERVICE PARTNERS ANDRAIL GOURMET REPS COURSE

In the picture right to left; Troy, Ron, Steve, Ian, Nikki, Shane, Chadia and Natalie


17

RMT is right to be proud of itslong commitment to trade unioneducation.

Over the years the union hasworked hard and committedresources to educating members.

Having taken up the post ofnational education officer inMarch this year, it wasimportant to assess quickly whatwas in place and what neededto be developed.

RMT members are, alongsideother workers, facingunprecedented and viciousattacks on trade union rights,living standards and jobs. Sothrough RMT’s educationprogramme needs to supportand equip officials and activistswhilst continuing to develop theunion into the future.

The acquisition of our ownnational education centre inDoncaster and educationfacilities in Clapham, London,the work of lay tutors and theregional commitment to play anintegral role in future educationprogrammes all augur well forthe union.

As part of RMT’scommitment to education, theCouncil of Executivescommissioned Professor MaryDavis to review independentlyall things educational in the

union, and as I write, this reportis being finalised and will bediscussed by the executive.

The priority has been to putin place core skills programmesfor the key levels of WorkplaceReps and Branch Officials. Thisis now largely done and agreedby the union. For existing andfuture workplace reps a 13-dayprogramme is available,beginning with a three dayintroductory course in yourregion with regional input,followed as circumstances allowfor 2x5 day courses, Level 1 and2, at Doncaster.

Branch officials should lookto attend the new level 1 coursefor branch officers with a Level2 course under construction. Allthese courses are set out on theRMT education calendaroverleaf, on the website and incirculars.

Choose the appropriatecourse, get the signature of thebranch secretary on theapplication form and it’s done.For the Regional Introductorycourses contact your region.

These core skills programmesprovide the essential knowledgeto perform that are of keyimportance to members on thefrontline of the current attacks.Additionally, branch officials

and activists across manyindustries need specialist coursesto help them, some of these arealready in place.

On health and safety, anyhealth and safety rep can takethe TUC Stage 1, 2 & 3 courses,as well as the five one-day RMThealth and safety coursesavailable across the country.

RMT also offer coursesdealing with its vital organisingstrategy, issues of the‘globalisation of work’ andmany others. There will bemany occasions when membersand officials alike need specificbespoke courses or one-offevents to assist them and thesecan be quickly developed anddelivered by lay tutors.

RMT lay tutors will havecompleted a fully accreditedtutor training course to ensurethe union can deliver all coursesto the highest standards.

For example, a raft ofeducational events took placethis year for RMT youngmembers aged under age 30.These include educational eventsat the RMT AGM, Tolpuddlefestival, Durham Miners Gala,and the Burston School StrikeRally.

If you are under age 30 andwant to get involved look out

for the adverts, promotions andcirculars about these events.

RMT’s education programmewill continue to deliver anddevelopments for officials andmembers alike.

The programme is designedwith RMT members in mind,delivered by trained RMT tutorsand a lot of attention is given toensuring a comfortable learningenvironment. So if you are abranch officer think about howthe programme might help you,if you are thinking aboutbecoming a new official at anylevel take advantage of the helpavailable. If you think there issomething you and yourworkplace needs that the uniondoesn’t currently provide getinvolved at your branch and tellus – we don’t always get it rightbut if you tell us we just mightmore often!

UNION LEARNING

The fantastic RMT UnionLearning teams are alsooperating currently. If you wantto know more about any aspectof learning then contact yourlocal RMT Union Learning Repand find out what’s available, orcontact Andrew Brattle on 020 7529 8820 or [email protected].

EDUCATING MEMBERS RMT education officer Andy Gilchrist outlines the education programmefor 2011 and encourages members to take up educational opportunities

EDUCATION: AndyGilchrist with youngRMT members on arecent course


18

SAT SUN MON TUES WED THURS FRI SAT SUN MON TUES WED THURS FRI SAT SUN MON TUES WED T

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

JAN B/HOL

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

FEB

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

MAR

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

APR Global

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

MAY B/HOL

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

JUN Closed Closed Closed

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

JUL Branch

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

AUG

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

SEPT Closed Closed

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

OCT

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

NOV

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

DEC

RMT Branch Officials Level 1 - (5 Days)

ULR Course - (5 Days)

28th Nov - 2nd Dec RMT Branch Officials Level 1 - 5 Days

PILOT COURSE TB

Workplace Representa�ves Le

Workplace Representa�ves Level 1 - (5 Days)


Winning in the Global Workplace - 5 Days Workplace Representa�ves Level 1 - (5 Days)

Branch Secretary's IT Course -


Vulnerable Workers Cou

RMT Branch Officials Level

Winning in the Global Workpl


Vulnerable Workers Course


RMT Branch Officials Level 1 - (5 Days)Vulnerable Workers Course - 4 x 1 day


Organsing for a Winning RMT - (5 Days)

NATIONAL EDUCATION CENTRE - COURSE PLANNER 2011

RMT Officials Level 1 ( 5 days) ULR Course - (5 days)

ULR Course - (5 Days)


Organising for a Winning RMT - (5 Days)



RMT Poli�cal School 13t


19

N TUES WED THURS FRI SAT SUN MON TUES WED THURS FRI SAT SUN MON TUES WED THURS FRI SAT SUN

18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

ULR

15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

ULR

15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

B/HOL B/HOL Closed Closed Closed Closed

17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

B/HOL Closed

14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

B/HOL Closed Closed

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

Branch

15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

B/HOL B/HOL

Branch Secretary's IT - 28-30 &PILOT COURSE TBA

orkplace Representa�ves Level 1 - 5 Days

PILOT COURSE TBA



anch Secretary's IT Course - 15-17 & 17-19

orkplace Representa�ves Level 1 - (5 Days)

Vulnerable Workers Courses - 5 x 1 Day

Vulnerable Workers Course - 5 x 1 day

RMT Branch Officials Level 2 - Pilot

Poli�cal School - 23rd - 27th

Workplace Representa�ves Level 1 - 5 Days


inning in the Global Workplace - (5 Days)


Vulnerable Workers Courses - 5 x 1 day

Workplace Representa�ves Level 1 - (5 days)

Branch Secretarys IT Course - 20-22 & 22-24

Workplace Representa�ves Level 1 - (5 days)



RMT Poli�cal School 13th - 17th

RMT Branch Officals Level 1 - (5 Days)

Branch Secretary's IT Course 22-23 & 23-25

Workplace Representa�ves Level 1 - (5 days) Winning in the Global Workplace


20

There is a perception that theworld of work is getting saferyet the following quotation froma track safety handbook is justas applicable today as it waswhen written in 1920s:

“What are the kinds ofinjuries that befall them?

“In the grim list areamputations of legs, arms andhands; fractures of skulls, arms,legs, ribs and collar bones;dislocations, ruptures, sprains,cuts bruises, burns, shocks andmany others.

“What this means to theworkers – breadwinners all – insuffering and distress, and whatit means to their homes must beindescribable”.

RMT’s National Health andSafety Conference will again beheld at the Doncaster TradesClub on Wednesday February 162011. In line with previous yearsthe conference will have atheme, this year’s theme, chosen

by the conference liaisoncommittee, will be centred onthe role of health and safety repsand the importance of effectiveaction in securing change in theworkplace to improve workingconditions for all RMT members.

As with the most recentconferences a training coursewill be available to all delegates’related to the conference theme.In the past this has made iteasier for delegates to obtainrelease with pay from theiremployers.

Since the first call fornominees was made inSeptember over 50 delegateshave registered for conferenceand it is hoped that this year’sevent will attract the highestnumbers of delegates in the nineyear history of conference. Theywill be able to hear from ourinvited guest speakers HughRobertson from the TUC, IanProsser, Chief Inspector of

Railways at ORR and finally wehope to hear from JohnMcDonnell MP.

Hugh will concentrate on thesupport that RMT and the widertrade union movement can giveto its safety reps, Ian willconcentrate on the role of theenforcing authorities and whatthey can do to support safetyreps in the field and John willlook at the wider politicalapproach to health and safetyand the potential crisis in healthand safety brought about by thecurrent ConDem government’sapproach to health and safety.

MOTIONS

As conference has become sosuccessful over recent years,branches are reminded that thisyear we have had to set a newtimetable for receivingnominations and motions.

This will enable the agenda tobe drawn up in good time for

distribution to delegates and toensure smooth running on theday. Completed nominationforms, which have already beendistributed to all Branches andRegional Councils in September,must be returned to Head Officeby Friday December 17 2010.

Any Branch motions fordebate at conference, whichshould be of national interestand relevant to health and safetywithin the transport industry asa whole, must also be submittedby Friday December 17 2010.

One of the adopted motionsfrom this year’s event called forthe union to develop a healthand safety charter and work onproducing this is well under way.The final version of the charteris due to be agreed by theCouncil of Executives itsDecember session and thecharter will be launched atconference.

HEALTH AND SAFETY REPSFIGHTING FOR YOUR RIGHTS

RMT’s annual Health and Safety AdvisoryConference takes place next year at the DoncasterTrades Club on Wednesday February 16 2011


21

22


RMT lawyers Thompsons have recovered£4,635,772 in compensation for memberswith employment rights and personalinjury claims in the last 12 months. RMT

LEGALSERVICES

HELPLINESFor an initial enquiry, one of our freephonehelplines should assist:

RMT FREEPHONE HELPLINE - 0800 376 3706

This is for advice on all work-related andUnion matters.

The lines are open 8am-6pm Monday-Friday, 9.30am-4pm Saturday.

Or email: [email protected]

LEGAL HELPLINE0800 587 7516SCOTLAND 0800 328 1014

This helpline is for advice on non-workrelated legal queries. Details of on-workaccident claims for members can be taken

on this line and the service extends toimmediate family members.

The lines are open 8am-8pm Monday-Friday (except public holidays), 9am-5pmSaturday and Sunday.

CRIMINAL HELPLINE 0800 587 7530SCOTLAND 0800 328 1014

This is for legal assistance at police stationsin respect of police charges arising out of amember’s employment. Members may alsoask for advice on this helpline beforeagreeing to take part in identificationprocedures, being charged or summonsed inrespect of police charges arising out of theiremployment.

The lines are open 24 hours a day, 7 daysa week.

PERSONAL INJURY CLAIMS

This service covers:

• accidents at work claims for members

• industrial disease claims for members

This is an extensive service and there areonly limited exceptions.

The service is accessed by submitting anL1 form to their branch.

ASSAULTS ON DUTY

Members who suffer an injury as the resultof violent crime or are injured whilst tryingto apprehend criminals or prevent a crime,may be entitled to an award under theCriminal Injuries Compensation Scheme(CICA).

An award will not be made if the offencewas not promptly reported to the police or if

RMT provides a wide range of legal services for itsmembers subject to rule for eligibility and legal assistance

RMT legal officer Jess Webb explains the unions legalservices on YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/user/RMTtelevision


23

any information is held back from them.The scheme will not pay compensation if itis assessed at under £1,000. A claim must bemade within two years of the incident.

Individuals may apply to the CICA ontheir own behalf. However, if the assaultwas on duty or while travelling to/fromwork any member who would like theUnion's solicitors to assist with a CICAclaim and/or consider a potential personalinjury claim for the assault should submitan L1 form to their Branch Secretary whowill endorse it and send it direct to theUnion's solicitors

EMPLOYMENT TRIBUNAL CLAIMS

Should a member require legal assistancefor an employment tribunal, they need tofill in an RMT L2 form and pass this with asmuch relevant documentation as possible totheir Regional Organiser.

The Regional Organiser has the ability toassist the claim in a variety of ways, eitherthrough local negotiation to seek earlysettlement, advice on to how to followgrievance procedures and on how to submitET1 forms to comply with the strict timelimits, and by helping to compile all thenecessary documentation to establish thecase. Having authorised the L2 form theRegional Organiser sends all the documentsto head office where the case can beassessed.

Legal representation is not automatic andis provided by the Union in cases that havereasonable prospects of success. Unless/untillegal representation is granted the memberremains responsible for lodging the ET1claim form within the time limit.

A paper copy of the ET1 claim formcomes with the booklet Making a claim toan Employment Tribunal available atCitizens' Advice Bureaux and EmploymentTribunal offices. Copies can be ordered freeof charge by ringing BIS publications on0845 015 0010.

A claim can also be submitted online atwww.employmenttribunals.gov.uk and it willautomatically be forwarded to the relevantTribunal office. Remember to save yoursent version on to your computer.

Original ET1 forms must not be sent toRMT head office. It is for the member tolodge these forms with the Tribunal andwithin the time limit – see below.

EMPLOYMENT TRIBUNAL TIME LIMITS

It is important to note first of all that not allemployment issues can be resolved in theEmployment Tribunal. The jurisdiction liston their websitewww.employmenttribunals.gov.uk shows thelimit to the claims a Tribunal can determine.

For those that can, there is a strict timelimit of three months, less one day, in whichto submit an ET1 claim. When the clockstarts ticking depends on the specifics of thepossible claim. For example, where theissue is unfair dismissal, it is three monthsless one day from the effective date oftermination.

The date the member was first informedof the dismissal should be regarded as the‘Effective Date of Dismissal (EDT).’ This iscrucial because, regardless of any appeal,the Employment Tribunal will not accept aclaim for unfair dismissal if it is receivedthree months or more after the EDT.

For discrimination claims, if the unlawfuldiscrimination is not a single act for whichthe three-month limit would apply, there isthe possibility that the unfavourabletreatment can be considered “continuingdiscrimination”. But that should be regardedas a last resort. If in doubt, apply theearliest possible act of discrimination asbeing when the clock started.

In other Employment Tribunal claims inrelation to a member’s employment such asunlawful deduction of wages, flexibleworking cases etc similar considerations asto time limits apply. The clock starts fromthe event giving rise to the complaint e.g.the deduction of wages, the first refusal offlexible working etc.

The law provides that the internalgrievance procedure should be used beforelodging a Tribunal claim (in dismissal casesit is the appeal procedure which should beused). So members with a potentialTribunal complaint should put in agrievance about that complaint (an appealin dismissal cases) as per the ACAS Code ofPractice. It will be possible to lodge aTribunal claim prior to exhausting thegrievance/appeal procedure, but it is alwaysbest that the grievance/appeal is lodgedpromptly so that in many cases it will beconcluded before the time limit expires. Butlodging the grievance or appeal does notextend the time limit for submitting an ET1claim to the Employment Tribunal. Thattime limit runs from the date outlined above– not from the date the grievance/appeal islodged or concluded.

POLICE CHARGES

Legal assistance may be provided tomembers in respect of police charges arisingout of their employment.

Any member requiring such assistanceshould contact their Branch Secretary.Consideration for legal assistance cannot begiven until a member is formally charged orreceives a summons to appear in amagistrates' court.

If a member is asked to attend or takento a police station for questioning, theyhave the right to see the duty solicitor.

RMT members have the option of callingthe RMT Criminal Helpline on 0800 5877530 (Scotland: 0800 328 1014) 24 hours aday, 365 days a year for legal assistance atpolice stations in respect of police chargesarising out of their employment.

Members may ask for advice from RMTsolicitors before agreeing to take part inidentification procedures, being charged orsummonsed in respect of police chargesarising out of their employment.

RMT solicitors will not charge membersfor any initial advice given and welcomeenquiries from members if they have anydoubts as to whether they need legalrepresentation.

Once a member has received a copy ofthe charge sheet or the summons, theyshould contact their Branch Secretary. TheBranch Secretary should forward a copy ofthe charge sheet, brief details of theallegation, membership number, daytimecontact telephone numbers for the memberand an indication of how the memberintends to plead to the general secretaryrequesting representation in the matter.

It is important to say whether theincident happened at work and whether thecharge could result in the member losingtheir job. Branch Secretaries are welcome tofax these details to the Legal Officer at RMThead office (fax: 020 7529 8808). Thegeneral secretary will then decide as towhether legal representation will beprovided by the union.

OTHER LEGAL SERVICES

The following additional services can beaccessed by calling the legal helpline above,i.e. 0800 587 7516 (0800 328 1014 inScotland):• Free wills for members including joint

wills. This is a free service but a chargeapplies to any later amendments to a willdrawn up using this service.

• Free legal advice for members. Thisapplies to non-work related legal queriesif the issue is, for example, a matter ofproperty, consumer or family law, etc.The service does not extend to appointinga solicitor to advise and assist. Themember is entitled to up to half an hour’slegal advice over the telephone, butcannot have documents considered, norhave legal representation which theywould have to arrange privately.

• Discount conveyancing and probate.These are services members pay for at adiscounted rate.


24

At a time when passengers arebeing warned to expect fareincreases of up to 30 per centover the next few years, RMThas produced new figuresexposing massive pay hikes inthe boardrooms of Britain’smain private transport operators.

The UK transport rich list istopped by Keith Ludeman –outgoing boss of the Go-Aheadgroup – who saw his salary riseby an incredible 35 per centfrom £916,000 on the June 2009figures to £1,240,000 in Julythis year.

Ludeman was responsible forthe Southern Trains franchisewhich recently announced itwas axing toilets on the keyinter-city route betweenPortsmouth and Brighton.

Hot on his heels are BrianSouter from Stagecoach on£762,000 and David Martinfrom Arriva on £743,635 (seefull list below). Company profitsalso show that the big five UKtransport operators have postedcombined dividends of morethan £2 billion sinceprivatisation.

There are also clear signalsthat transport is being lined upas a prime target for ConDemcuts.

RMT general secretary BobCrow said that budget cuts intransport would impact on jobs,safety, services, fares as well asrunning the risk of bus service

being wiped out in rural areas."Under this ConDem

government the public will beforced to pay through the noseto travel on crowded trains andbuses on creaking and unsafeinfrastructure while the profits,dividends and top bossessalaries of the private companiesare ring-fenced.

RMT MPS DEMAND ANSWERS

Katy Clark, a member of theRMT parliamentary group andMP for North Ayrshire andArran, secured a parliamentarydebate about a number ofgovernment reviews that willaffect the future of the railways.

These include appointing SirRoy McNulty to look at how therailways can provide bettervalue for money and aconsultation on a newfranchising policy.

Taken together these reviewscould lead to a highlydetrimental impact on railincluding the break up and saleof Network Rail, longerfranchises which have greaterflexibility to cut services and asignificant dilution of safetystandards.

Katy Clark also secured aparliamentary debate, whichgave MPs the opportunity tochallenge the Rail MinisterTheresa Villiers over rail policy,justice for ex-Jarvis workers andthe dispute on London

Underground. During the debateMs Clark paid tribute to the railworkers who work in allconditions to keep Britainmoving.

“It is important that theirvoice is heard in this debate andpressed ministers to consider thebenefits of having an integrated,publicly-owned railway and toensure that those conducting therail review-and the Governmentthemselves-do not just look atthe issue on an ideologicalbasis,” she said.

Katy Clark also pointed thatmany Jarvis workers are stillwithout work and have lost theirpensions and asked the ministerlook into their plight.

Labour MP for York HughBayley asked “what thegovernment can do to securejobs for those redundantworkers who have not yet gotjobs themselves, so that theirskills can be retained in therailway industry and used tobuild new railways?”

Julie Hilling MP for BoltonWest also reminded MPs that“thousands of jobs have alreadybeen lost on our railways, onboth the passenger and freightsides, and we are also seeing agradual attack on train guardsas companies try to introducedriver-only operations, whichwill reduce staffing levels evenfurther and, I believe, raisesignificant safety concerns”.

RMT group convenor JohnMcDonnell, MP for Hayes andHarlington, reminded the railminister of “question afterquestion over past years inwhich ministers were asked whywe cannot have a public sectorcomparator”.

He asked what calculationsand assessments had been madein respect of other systemsacross Europe that are underintegrated public ownership atleast some judgment could bemade of the private franchisingsystem that has been inoperation in this country for the

RMT exposes fat cattransport privateers asParliamentary groupdemands answers from theConDem government onbudget cuts, franchising,ex-Jarvis workers and theTube dispute

BOOM TIME FOR RAILPRIVATEERS

DIRECTORS PAY

Train company Highest Paid Director

Arriva Group David Martin £743,635 (31 Dec 2009)

Arriva Cross Country 199,000 (01 Mar 2009)

Arriva Trains Wales 194,000 (31 Dec 2009)

First Group Moir Lockhead £643,000 (31 Mar 2010)

First Capital Connect 398,000 (31 Mar 2009)

First Great Western 190,000 (31 Mar 2008)

Hull Trains Information unavailable.

ScotRail 429,275 (31 Mar 2009).

First Transpenine Information unavailable.

Go-Ahead Group (65% of Govia) Keith Ludeman £916,000 (27 Jun 2009)

£1240,000 (July 2010) (35% increase)

London Midland Information unavailable.

Southeastern Information unavailable.

Southern 358,000 (28 Jun 2008)

National Express Group Ray O’Toole £644,000 (31 Dec 2009)Interim 6 months ended 30th June 08

C2C 166,852 (31 Dec 2008)

Stagecoach GroupInterim 6 months ended 31st October 08 Brian Souter £762,000 (30 Apr 2010)


25

In 1954 Ealing Studios released 'TheMaggie', a comedy named after a'Clyde Puffer' - a small, coastalfreighter - in the Clyde and InnerHebrides.

In the film Captain Mactaggart, 'TheMaggie's rascally owner, wrecks hisramshackle ship and risks his crew'ssafety to fleece American tycoon,Calvin B. Marshall.

Fast-forward to 2010 and a Scottishgovernment wants to refloat rustbuckets like 'The Maggie', usingEuropean Union competition rules tohand over publicly owned, lifeline ferryservices to a bunch of latter-dayMactaggarts.

The Scottish National Partygovernment's Ferries Review aims to'unbundle' publicly owned CaledonianMacBrayne and Northlink ferryservices, allowing private companiesto cherry-pick profitable, freightroutes.

Communities in the Hebrides, Orkneysand Shetlands face direconsequences for local economies,jobs, training, safety, conditions andpensions as well as investment in newvessels if the SNP's smash and grabplan goes ahead.

Millionaire 'Stagecoach' boss, BrianSouter is eyeing up 'CalMac' services.In 2007 Souter switched his fundingfrom Labour to the SNP. By anuncanny coincidence, the SNP rapidlydropped its opposition to ferryprivatisation.

RMT general secretary Bob Crowspelt out our determination to resist'CalMac' privatisation at a publicmeeting in Oban last month.

This month Bob and I attended publicmeetings with RMT officers andactivists from Stornaway and the Uiststo Barra, across to Arran and Gourockon the Clyde, helping build a tradeunion and community campaign todefend lifeline ferry services beforenext May's Scottish elections.

Not only Scottish ferries arethreatened by EU competition rules on'free movement' of labour andservices - a euphemism for super-exploitation of workers through socialdumping.

In echoes of the 2005 Irish Ferriesdispute and the 2007 European Courtof Justice decision on 'Viking Ferries'from Finland, a German ferry operator,Mezeron is bidding against Isle of Man

Steam Packet, for Liverpool-Douglasfreight contracts, using Estonian-flagged ships and eastern Europeancrew at £3.78/hour for Able Seamenand £2.90/hour for Cooks - for an 84-hour week!

Tesco has already switched to thecheap labour operator and RMT willcall for a consumer boycott unlessTesco ends support for socialdumping. If Tesco can have ethicalpolicies for buying chickens, it canhave an ethical policy for workers thattransport its products.

Bob Crow met the Manx govermentMinister this month, reminding himthat decent union jobs provide a safeand efficient ferry service, while RMTmembers demonstrated against socialdumping in Douglas and at LiverpoolPierhead.

ITF's 'Fair Ferries Campaign',condemns seafarers' unequal pay andconditions and abuse of multinationalcrews. Yet the carnage of job lossescontinued this year with threats toreplace Stena Britannica ferry crewsbetween Harwich and Hook of Hollandwith cheap labour.

In France where unions are in disputeover the loss of 600 ferry jobs. SeaFrance argues it can't compete in amarket that is not a level playing field.

In Greece, seafarers' unions tookstrike action in April and May this yearagainst EU rules on 'cabotage' -deregulating coastal shipping.Despite hostile media, political attacksand Greek courts making strike actionillegal, Greek unions have foughtsocial dumping, preventing a Maltese-flagged cruise ship, 'Zenith', whichemploys foreign crews withoutinsurance or union recognition, fromdocking at Piraeus harbour in Athens.

EU rules and court judgmentsattacking protection from socialdumping are leading to a race to thebottom in the ferry industry.

RMT is hosting an internationalconference 'Future Public Transport:Nationalisation not Privatisation' todiscuss how seafarers, rail and busworkers can fight back on January 312011. Please join us.

I would like to wish all RMT membersand your families a safe and happyfestive season and success in 2011.Unity is Strength!

Alex Gordon

President’s column

STOP EUATTACKSON FERRYSERVICES

Early Day Motion 849

FUTURE OF THE RAILWAYSThat this House notes with concern reports that theGovernment's review of the railways will lead to asignificant increase in what are already the most expensiverail fares in Europe; is appalled that hard-pressedpassengers will be hit by these fare hikes at a time when thehighest paid directors of the big five transport groups whichrun most of UK's train operations, Arriva, First, Go Ahead,National Express and Stagecoach, have been paid salaries ofbetween 600,000 and over 1.2 million a year, with oneexecutive enjoying a 35 per cent. annual increase; is furtherconcerned that this executive excess is on the back of billionsof pounds of taxpayer subsidy to the privatised trainoperations; is dismayed that whilst passengers and taxpayersare being asked to tighten their belts these companies havepaid out dividends in excess of 2 billion since privatisation;believes that, instead of cutting services and hiking fares, theGovernment should consider urgentlya freeze in dividendsand a windfall tax on the profits of the privatised railway; isfurther concerned that the same companies who are fleecingthe railway are also lobbying for the break-up and sell-off ofNetwork Rail which will create a Railtrack mark 2 whichputs profit before safety; and further believes instead thatthe interests of passengers, taxpayers and rail workers wouldbe best served by an integrated, publicly-owned andaccountable railway.

Katy Clark MP

past two decades.John McDonnell also

urged London Undergroundto return to the negotiatingtable and to seek asettlement with RMT andTSSA.

He said that the disputeis a principled one.

“It is not about wages,but about looking after thesafety of the travellingpublic,” he said.

Katy Clark pointed outthat Tube workers whowere hailed as heroes afterthe London bombings in2005 are now often vilifiedin the press as enemies ofthe state.

“I hope that there is anegotiated settlement tothe dispute, and I paytribute to those members ofthe RMT and the TSSAwho are taking a stand onbehalf of passengers andrail safety,” she said.

Julie Hilling urged theMinister to consider theimportance of safety ofpassengers travelling onthe Underground.

“Stations can often bevery lonely, scary placesfor all rail users butparticularly for womentravelling alone.

“ The fact that we havestaff in ticket offices andon platforms increases boththe feeling of safety andthe actual safety,” she said.

She also warned thegovernment against usingthe rail review as aprecursor to breaking upNetwork Rail.

“Already there is erosionof track inspection andother safety elements andif we fragment the industryfurther, especially trackcontrol, we will certainlymake accidents, such asthose at Grayrigg, Hatfieldmore likely,” she said.

As a result of the debatethe Rail Minister agreed tomeet MPs to discuss indetail the government’sreview of the railways andthe continued plight of exJarvis workers.

The full text of thedebate and RMT’s writtenpolicy submissions togovernment can be foundon the RMT website. TheRMT Parliamentary Groupwill be hosting a seminarin the New Year to discussthe government’s review ofthe railways. Watch thisspace for more details.


26

Pulling Together givesmembers an engaging andcolourfully illustrated windowon the history of the union upto the present day.

It tells the story of how theunion developed under verydifficult circumstances againstvery powerful opponents andmaintained itself as ademocratic, fightingorganisation that today

represents members in allsectors and grades of thetransport industry.

Pulling Together isavailable free to membersfrom Unity House, 39 ChaltonStreet, London NW1 1JD witha stamped, addressedenvelope or by [email protected]

PULLING TOGETHERA Popular History of RMTNew free union publication gives an insight into thestruggles, defeats and victories of members over 150 years

Senior assistant generalsecretary Mick Cash attended

a recent meeting of RMT’sPlymouth branch to awardmembers with their 10 yearmembership badges.

Mick also visited outstationsas well as the main depot inPlymouth, to see and hear forhimself what the grass rootsmembers thought of thesituation developing within FirstDevon and Cornwall.

Plymouth No5 branchsecretary Mike Barry and branchchair Jill Libby (right) took Mickto the outstation at Tavistockwhere he heard of concernsregarding misuse of CCTV, drivecam and drive green, beforeproceeding to Bretonside busstation to talk to members in thecanteen and then onto theTorpoint outstation.

Mick then presented ten yearbadges to drivers’ rep PaulineHarris, Jill Libby and MichaelCox who has been driving forthe company since 1995.

Mick then spoke to thebranch, explaining that workerswere coming under attack in thecurrent economic climate andthe only way to combat this isto stand together united in onecause.

Regional organiser PhilBialyk also informed membersof current state of industrialrelations with First Devon andCornwall.

PLYMOUTH AWARDS

Seat Midlands Bus branchsecretary Dave Paling

recently presented long serviceawards to members includingtwo 40 years membershipawards to Dave Hardy and SteveHuckerby. 25 year badges werealso presented to IanCharlesworth, Andy King andTony Ward.

EASTMIDLANDS BUS

Ian Charlesworth

Dave Paling and Tony Ward Dave Paling and Andy King

27

Three Bridges branch held aspecial awards presentation

evening recently to recognisethe efforts and loyalty of longserving members of the union.

The event was held at thenew venue for branch meetings,the well-appointed ThreeBridges Football Club main suiteand boardroom, and was run inconjunction with Brighton andLondon branches.

The evening provedimmensely popular, with wellover 100 people turning out,some of whom brought theirchildren, making it an event forthe whole family.

Across the three branches, 20people qualified for long serviceawards ranging from ten to 40years, and a good proportion ofthose were able to be present onthe evening. Health and workcommitments prevented othermembers from attending, butarrangements have been madefor them to receive their medals.

Ten and 25-year medals werepresented by RMT generalsecretary Bob Crow to JohnSpies and Martyn McCormackrespectively of Three Bridges.Six 40-year medals werepresented to Ken Ockenden andBrian Anderson from Brightonbranch and Antony Ace, DennisKilshaw, Michael Tullett, RobertWalls all from Three Bridgesbranch.

Although on a tight schedule,with all day meetings at ACAS,Bob took time to talk about thecurrent situation in respect ofpensions and government cuts.

He said that whilst everyoneneeded to be aware of achanging work environment, theso-called ‘black holes’ inpension funds were not asserious as stated. A change inthe way that actuaries calculatedpensions meant that money forpensions now had to beavailable from day one for eachemployee, rather than whenthey retired, creating anapparent immediate shortagethat in reality did not exist.

Bob expressed the view heldby many people that thegovernment cuts would bedevastating.

He pointed out that Britainonly finished paying for theFirst World War two years ago,and that we would not finishpaying for World War Two untilafter 2020, much longer periodsof repayment than agreed withthe current deficit.

An excellent buffet wasprovided by Jose Arguelles andhis wife, and despite the highquality of the food there wasinevitably some left over; ratherthan let it go to waste the unionwas pleased to donate it to alocal children’s firework party.

Three Bridges Branchsecretary Dave Crawford, whoorganised the event thanked BobCrow for coming, and alsoeveryone who had helped makethe evening a success, picturesof the event and minutes of theBranch Meeting heldimmediately afterwards areavailable on the website:www.rmt3bridges.org.uk.

THREE BRIDGES HOSTSA CELEBRATION

1 COLLECTIVE BARGAININGThe union has a dedicated teamof officers elected by you toserve your interests negotiatingwith employers on issues frompay, hours of work, pensionsand working conditions.

To provide a better service tomembers RMT has increased thenumber of officers by two in2007 and a further officer willstart in 2008. These electedofficers are supported by a teamof researchers to formulate payclaims to obtain the bestnegotiated terms for you.

2 SUPPORT IN THE WORKPLACERMT has a national network of230 branches organised underregional councils aimed atproviding local support.

Every member has their ownbranch secretary to provideimmediate support and advice inthe workplace.

The union has health andsafety at work representativescoordinated from head office toensure safety is given duepriority by employers and risk isproperly managed.

RMT’s equal opportunitiesspecialists also provide supportto ensure fairness and help tostamp out bullying andharassment.

3 MEMBERS HELPLINETELEPHONE 0800 376 3706A freephone members’ helplinestaffed by experts in theindustrial relations departmentadvises members on all workrelated and membershipenquiries. Lines are openMonday to Friday 0800 hours to1800 hours and Saturdays 0930hours to 1600 hours.

4 LEGAL HELPLINE 0800 587 7516If you have a legal query onany topic besides workplaceissues, members can ring up theLegal helpline. RMT to provideslegal representation throughoutthe course of personal anddomestic claims such as divorce,property purchases, debt etc andcan give some initial advice tohelp you on your way.

5 CRIMINAL CHARGESShould a member or familymembers find themselves inpolice custody, RMT’s Criminalhelpline can give initial adviceand the provision of a dutysolicitor should the need arise.Members who are charged withcrimes at or connected to workand who are not guilty can beconsidered for legalrepresentation. All legalrepresentation is discretionaryand according to Rule.

6 INDUSTRIAL DISEASESMembers who have suffered anindustrial disease will receivefree legal support to make aclaim. Such claims areunderwritten by the union andmembers will not have anydeduction from their settlementunlike claims run by no-win,no-fee companies.

7 PERSONAL INJURY Personal injury claims coverextends to RMT family membersand friends should they sufferan injury. RMT underwritessettlements that would not beprovided by no-win, no-feecompanies.

8 EMPLOYMENT TRIBUNALSShould a member findthemselves unfairly dismissed,discriminated against or haveany claim which has reasonableprospects of success at anEmployment Tribunal, RMT willprovide legal representation.Even if the union is advised thatthe claim is unlikely to succeed,members who make a claim areeligible to receive free legaladvice.

9 DONCASTER EDUCATIONCENTREThe union has an EducationCentre in Doncaster offering arange of courses for activists toincrease our professionalism inthe workplace. The centre hasan Information Technology suitewhich is a valuable trainingresource together with videolinkage to headquarters enablingconferences with the generalsecretary and other officials.

10 ACCIDENT BENEFITPayable if you have an accidentat work or on the way to orfrom work.

Accident benefit is onlypayable if you have been off forthree days or more. Accidentmust be reported to branchsecretary within 26 weeks inorder to qualify for accidentbenefit.

11 RETIREMENT BENEFITPayable to any member whoretires over the age of 60, oraged 55 if retired throughredundancy or resettlement. Illhealth retirement also payable;proof of this must be sent withapplication for retirementbenefit.

12 DEMOTION COMPENSATIONPayable to any member who isexperiencing loss of wagesthrough being permanentlydemoted or downgraded as aresult of illness or injury.Payment of £300 provided thatmember reports this to BranchSecretary within 12 weeks.

13 DEATH GRANTIf a member dies in service (i.e.not retired) then £600 is payableto the members’ next of kin.Documents to be sent in withapplication for death grantwould be death certificate andcopy of will or probate, ifneither are available, a copy ofthe funeral invoice will suffice.

14 ORPHAN FUNDThe beneficiaries of this fundwould be any child of a memberor spouse if the member dies inservice or if a members’ spousedies and the member hasresponsibility of the children.Benefit is paid while a child isin full-time education up untilthe age of 22. Payment is madequarterly and the rate is £12.00per week for children up to theage of 16, then £12.75 per weekfrom 16 to 22.

15 OLD AGE GRANTThis one-off grant is payable toshippers who, at the time of themerger of NUR/NUS (September1990) had twenty yearscontinuous service. This benefit is paid out atretirement age of 65. If amember retires before that age,they can elect to either waituntil they are 65 and receiveOld Age Grant, or waive theright to this benefit and receivenormal Retirement Benefit.

25 REASONS TO BE AThere are many good reasons to be an RMTmember and below are just 25 of them


A claim for this benefit mustbe made within six months ofthe claimant attaining thequalifying age.

16 FUNERAL GRANTOn the death of a member ofthe Shipping Grade who hadhad twenty years service at thetime of the NUR/NUS mergerand was five years or less fromthe relevant age of retirement,the sum of £200.00 is payableto the person or personsnominated to receive saidFuneral Grant.

17 CAMPAIGNINGThe union has a political fundto run campaigns and provide apolitical voice to benefitmembers’ interests in theworkplace. RMT has a veryactive parliamentary groupwhich raises issues of concernfor members in the House ofCommons and puts down earlyday motions in support of unionpolicy.

18 FINES POOLFrom January 1 2008 theexisting Fines Pool will beadministered from Head Officeand will become open to moremembers.

If you drive a companyvehicle as part of your job andare an RMT member, then youcan join the Fines Pool. Thefund will reimburse members forfines incurred under the RoadTraffic Act during the course ofyour employment, court costs,and lost time to attend courthearing. This excludes offencesinvolving drink or drugs,smoking, mobile phones, seatbelts, parking fines, orviolations of the Driving HoursRegulations.

19 RMT NEWSMembers will receive a livelyinformative journal delivereddirect to you containingindustry sector updates andmajor issues affecting workers.There are 10 editions each yearplus a free diary packed withuseful information. Regularnewsletters are also producedfor the various grades of RMTmember.

20 WEBSITERMT’s popular websitewww.rmt.org.uk is full ofindustry information as well asa members-only area. This givesyou access to a continuallyupdated pay and conditionsdatabase and you can viewvarious RMT conferences,including the AGM. You canalso debate union-related issuesthrough the members’ forumand view and update your ownmembership details.

21 CREDIT UNIONRMT has its own Credit Union,run by members for members. Itoffers a savings and loanscheme at competitive rates ofinterest on a not for profit basis.Members can also access theiraccount through the RMTwebsite.

22 CREDIT CARDSRMT also has its own brandedcredit card with good terms andyou can apply on line for thisfacility.

23 TAX AND WILL PREPARATIONThe union can also provide apersonal taxation service andwill preparation service.

24 RMT JUNCTION

RMT members can join thesocial networking site RMTJunction which automaticallysubcribes users to particular

groups based on their grade,region and workplace. Memberscan also create their own groupsand invite other members tojoin. Simply visitwww.rmtjunction.org.uk

25 RMT MAIL

RMTmail provides you with afully functioning email accountfor you to use to send and

receive emails. When youregister for an account you canchoose your email address. Toregister you must enter yourRMT number and nationalinsurance number, which willtake you to a page where youwill choose your email addressand password. Then you are freeto use the account as you wish.Go to www.rmtmail.org.uk

E A MEMBER OF RMT

NOTIFICATION OF CONTRIBUTIONRATES FOR 2011Like most things, the cost of providing you with the benefits ofRMT membership increases every year and contribution ratesincrease to help us to maintain and improve those benefits andour services to members.

From the January 1 2011 contributions will be increased to£3.95 per week, for members aged 18 or over in an adult post.

For members who are under 18 years or who, if not in an adultpost, are under 20 years of age, the weekly contribution ratewill be increased to £1.60, the latter rate also applying to thosestaff on part-time contracts of employment.

For those full time workers on low pay of less than £15,000 wehave a special rate of £1 per week subject to the fulfillment ofcertain conditions.

Direct debit payments will be increased accordingly as willcontributions collected by employers under paybill deductionarrangements. Members who pay contributions to CashCollectors will receive a new contribution card from thecollector. Those sending cheques or postal orders direct willneed to adjust the amounts sent in accordingly.

The new rates applicable are as follows:

Period Adult/full time Junior/part time

Weekly £3.95 £1.65

4 Weekly £15.80 £6.60

Monthly £17.12 £7.15

INCREASE IN ACCIDENT BENEFITAccident Benefit will also increase arising from the highercontribution rate and for Adult/Full Time members will beweekly £39.50 with a maximum payable sum of £1,027.00

We maintain a tight control of our costs and continually re-examine them to ensure that we make best use of ourresources to deliver improved services to you. I am sure youwill agree that RMT membership continues to provide excellentvalue for money.


29


30

RMT PARLIAMENTARY BUS SEMINAR

DEFENDING BUS SERVICESDate: February 1, 2011 Time: 1400 hours to 1600 hoursVenue: Committee Room 10, House of Commons

The union and RMT’s Parliamentary group of MPs will beholding a seminar in the House of Commons to discuss thefuture of the bus industry in the light of the government’sdraconian Spending Review this month

Bus services and jobs are under serious threat with cuts to localauthority funding and the possible withdrawal of the nationalbus subsidy and support for concessionary fares.

The government is reviewing the future of the only directnational funding for bus services – Bus Service Operators Grant(BSOG) – and may scrap it completely.

The grant is a rebate to bus operators on the fuel duty they pay.

Operators who run local registered bus services are reimbursedfor the major part of the tax paid on the fuel used in operatingthese services. These also include many rural, school andsocially important services and the grant is also increasinglyimportant to community transport providers.

Angela Smith MP has already put down Early Day Motion 402warning that if government support for bus services were to bewithdrawn it would lead to substantial fare increases, servicereductions and job losses.

The seminar will be considering these issues and how to bestset out a positive agenda for bus services, passengers and busworkers.

RMT general secretary Bob Crow will be speaking at theseminar, together with Bus Minister Norman Baker MP, publictransport campaigners, Passenger Transport Associations andcampaigning groups. All Members of Parliament will be invitedto the seminar.

The seminar will be widely advertised and RMT would like toencourage the maximum possible attendance from RMTmembers and particularly bus members. Support for attendanceis a legitimate item of expenditure from Branch funds.

Open six days a week - Mon to Fri - 8am until 6pm, Sat - 9.30am to 4pm

e-mail: [email protected] helpline: 0800 587 7516 - Seven days a week

or call the helpline on freephone0800 376 3706

Visit www.rmt.org.uk to join online

JOIN RMTBRITAIN’S SPECIALISTTRANSPORT UNION

Problems at work? Call the helpline(Now with two operators)


31

letters

WHAT IS THE POINT OF UNIONS?Dear editor,I watched the TV programme Dispatches recently called What'sthe point of the unions? The best criticism they could come upwith against Bob Crow was threatening to support his membersand that they should fight for their jobs against the comingConDem government cuts. Don't they understand that's Bob'sjob? I expect Bob is overjoyed that this accusation is levelled athim.It went on to say how much he was paid. As far as I amconcerned, he is worth every penny and I wouldn't want Bob'sjob. He is so much in demand I don't know how he has time fora private life.What I do know is that when we went on strike several yearsago I came into see where I was going to picket that day and,even though it was 5am, Bob was already there suited andbooted supporting us all the way. So continue the fight Bob, andwe are lucky to have you as our leader and over the comingmonths people will see the point of the unions.

Trevor Munton-WillisExeter No2 branch

WHERE IS LABOUR?Dear editor,Labour MP John McDonnell presented a bill to Parliament onFriday October 2010 to stop employers from taking trade unionsto court to stop strike action over “minor technical errors”within the ballot.The law currently states that trades unions have to provideemployers with not only an accurate list of the people theyintend to ballot but also details of their workplaces anddesignated grades. The bill would have kept in place obligations on trades unionsto hold secret ballots – but it would stop employers rushing tocourt to stop strikes if workers vote overwhelmingly forindustrial action.No one wants to go on strike, but the right to take industrialaction is a fundamental human right. Sometimes workers areleft with no choice but to withdraw their labour.It’s also a fact that strikes have led to some of our great socialadvances.Therefore it is extremely disappointing that the bill failed. TheTories (with a couple of exceptions) failed to turn up or activelytried to wreck the bill by “filibustering” in the chamber.Perhaps it’s no surprise that not one Liberal “Democrat” votedfor the bill – after all they are now propping up a cut, slashand burn Tory government.What should be of more concern is the failure of huge numbersof so-called “Labour” MPs to turn up and vote for the bill –even though some who failed to support were actually inParliament on the day.Perhaps the shameful decision of the “Labour leadership” not tosupport the bill played a major part in so many Labour MPsstaying away. If our MPs can’t turn up at our Parliament to defend basic

human rights and re-balance workplace industrial relationsthen it really is a sorry state of affairs. It is perhaps anotherindication of how far the ‘Labour’ Party has travelled in thewrong direction under ‘Bliar’, Brown and now Miliband.Yours, Craig JohnstonNational Executive Member for Manchester and the North West

LONDON CALLINGDear editor,RMT members in the London Transport Region have an easyway to access the news and materials they need - theRegional Council's 'RMT London Calling' website.Set up two years ago, the website now contains nearly 2,000posts, each giving members important information: aboutyour rights at work, or an event, or the latest news fromnegotiations. Members can also download leaflets andposters, and watch videos. The website has sections for eachbranch and company in the region, and for equalities andpolitical campaigns.Nearly 1,000 people have registered as users of the website,which gives them access to even more features.The website is a resource for members. It is run by rank-and-file activists, and is set up so that workplace reps can postinformation and members can post comments, so it belongs tomembers, not just officials. In our current battles to save jobs and defend conditions, thewebsite has proved invaluable in getting updates andmaterials into circulation quickly, passing on messages ofsupport for our action, and gathering information fromdifferent workplaces.Visit the website at www.rmtlondoncalling.org.ukAdditionally, the 'RMT Platform' website is specifically forLondon Underground station and revenue staff:www.rmtplatform.org.ukJanine Booth London Regional Council Secretary


32

PEOPLE’S PUBS - Words by Mike Pentelow, Pictures by Peter Arkell

MARIE LLOYDChart Street, Hoxton, London N1Queen of the Music Halls andmistress of the saucy innuendo,Marie Lloyd (1870-1922) wasalso a staunch and active tradeunionist.

The Music Hall Ladies Guildelected her as its first presidentin 1906, and she used thisposition to form an alliancewith other entertainment unionsfor a broader and stronger frontthe following year. This waswith the Variety Artists'Federation, the NationalAssociation of TheatricalEmployees, and theAmalgamated Musicians' Union.

This alliance immediatelyproved crucial in organising astrike to successfully resist anattack on their pay andconditions of employment. Themusic hall employers demandedartists lower down the bill workextra matinees without extrapay; and they forbade themfrom working at rival theatresto boost their income.

Marie, as a top-of-the billstar, was not directly affected bythese worsened conditions. Buther sense of solidarity with herfellow performers meant shejoined the strike wholeheartedlywithout hesitation.

"I will never go back uponthe music hall stage until thewants of every musician andstagehand are satisfied," shedeclared.

Leading from the front, shewas on the picket line at theEuston Palace wherestrikebreakers includedperforming animals and singerBelle Elmore, who was latermurdered by her long sufferinghusband Dr Crippen.

However, some now believehim to be innocent includingfamily members and forensicscientists, and a campaign isunder way to clear his name.

Belle was implored not to be ablackleg by one of the pickets.But Marie, who had a pooropinion of Belle's singingquality, shouted out: "Go on, lether work. She'll do the strike alot more good by going on andsinging than by stopping out!You go and work Belle!"

Sure enough when Bellestarted singing, and news spreadthat the great Marie Lloyd wassinging for free on the picketline, the entire audiencestreamed out of the theatre.

Marie also performed for freeat a strike benefit concertorganised by the union at theScala Theatre in Charlotte Street(later the first headquarters ofChannel Four). In the days ofarbitration her persuasiveevidence to the Board of Tradeconvinced it to rule in favour ofthe strikers.

She was also an activesupporter of votes for womenand appeared in a suffragistplay at The Oxford on thecorner of Oxford Street andTottenham Court Road. This wasthe theatre where she made herWest End debut at the age of15. The audiences, who werewell plied with pots of beer bywaiters during the performances,had a reputation for being"distinctly crude" in theirreactions to acts.

But the young Marie tookthem by storm with hermischievous rendering of a songabout a young woman in agarden "surrounded by variousvegetables". One line was howshe "sits among the cauliflowersand peas." When at a later royalperformance she was told thiswas too suggestive for HerMajesty she changed it to she"sits among the cauliflowers andleeks." Her Royal Highness wasnot amused.

Marie's later union militancyalso attracted royal disapproval,and she was barred from theroyal command performance of1912 even though she was themost popular star of the day.

Undaunted, Marie hiredanother nearby theatre on thesame night for a rival show withplacards proclaiming: "Everyperformance by Marie Lloyd is acommand performance - bycommand of the British public".

Her funeral was attended bythousands, and stirred acomment from the writer T SEliot that it was "her capacityfor expressing the soul of thepeople that made Marie Lloydunique".

Her father was an artificialflower maker who supplementedhis poor wages by working as awaiter in the music halls andpubs of Shoreditch. Marie hadnine younger brothers andsisters, two of whom died ininfancy, one by being smotheredin an overcrowded bed.

The pub is within a fewhundred yards of where Mariewas born at 36 Provost Street,and went to school in BathStreet.

“A Pub Crawl ThroughHistory, The Ultimate Boozers’Who’s Who,” by Mike Pentelowand Peter Arkell, is published byJanus. ISBN 978-1-85756-701-4.

33

The winner of prizecrossword no. 64 isMark Dancer of Barmouth,Gwynedd

Send entries to PrizeCrossword, RMT, Unity House,39 Chalton Street, London NWIIJD by January 6 with yourname and address.

Winner and solution in nextissue.

ACROSS7 They are carried on

demonstrations, bearingunion emblems andslogans (7)

8 Less expensive (7)10, 11, 20 World’s oldestferry service -- underthreat from socialdumping (4, 2, 3, 5, 6)

11 See 1012 Retained; maintained (4)13 Ended (10)14 One who denies evolution

(11)19 Those who pull the strings

(10)22 Dry (4)23 Siege - USA maintains an

illegal one against Cuba(8)

24 Overseas; out and about(6)

25 Had second thoughts;faltered (7)

26 Libelled or slandered (7)

DOWN1 Small rodent often kept as

pet (7)2 Forebear (8)3 Bottom line - what comes

first for the boss (6)4 Citizen of west African

republic (8)5 Sacred incantation,

repeated in meditation (6)6 Tens of years (7)9 Decorated with needle and

thread - exaggerated! (11)15 Long-snouted mammal

that feasts on insects (8)16 Set of steps - Led

Zeppelin’s wentheavenward (8)

17 Luxurious railway carriage(7)

18 Mosque tower (7)20 See 1021 Climbed - with a skin like

a fish? (6)

£25 PRIZECROSSWORDNo. 65. Set by Elk

No. 64 solution...

D1

Jane Barclay Squires, 84 yearsold and mother of AgnesLingard, passed away recently.

Jane often attended RMTgrades conferences and the

union’s annual generalmeeting as an observer andAgnes would like to thankeverybody that has asked afterJane.

Notice

CORRECTION

We would like to apologise for some errors in the last issue of RMT News. The incorrect monthappeared on the cover and the report of auditors should have been the following... The year says 31 December 2008, it should be 2009Other non-operating income: the figure for 2008 should be (212) not (1,623)General secretary’s salary: figure should read £94,747 not £94, 923

DERBY RAIL ANDENGINEERING BRANCH


Derby Rail and Engineeringbranch members received

long service awards from BobCrow.

Edwin Boole, Alan Marsh,Scott Ufton and Jim McDonald

all received 10 year awards and25 year badges were presentedAndrew Davies, Stephen Flood,Istiaq Ishaq. 40 year awardswere also given to Alan Mortonand John Gotheridge.


Cut here

Do you save monthly on 28th ? Or 4 -weekly (Fri)? You can save by calendar month or 4 -weekly

How much do you save in your RMT Credit Union Account? £ min. £5 per month

How much do you wish to save in your Christmas Club Account? £ min £10 per month in £5 multiples

The total each period for both accounts on my Direct Debit is £ the total month/4 -weekly

This is the total amount you wish to save by Direct Debit monthly on the 28th or 4-weekly

Remember that if you have a loan with us your regular Direct Debit will also include that repayment DECLARATION I understand the Terms & Conditions of the RMT Christmas Club Account and that membership of the RMT Credit Union is a condition of holding an RMT Christmas Club Account. I understand that my monthly savings into the RMT Christmas Club cannot be withdrawn until the maturity date which is on or after 14th November each year.

Your Signature

Date / /

RMT CHRISTMAS CLUB APPLICATION RMT Credit Union Account Number (If known)

Surname Address

Forename(s)

Home phone

Mobile

email Postcode

Date of birth NI Numb

Employer RMT Branch

• 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(3.75% in 2008) 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 14th Novembereach year. We will add a bonus dividend at the maturity date and paythe money direct to your bank account. There are no vouchers orhampers or 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 years bonus was 2%*, and we hope to improvethis 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 £50,000 by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme

Support the national TUC demonstration against the savage Government cuts and attack on the welfare state.

Help play your part in ensuring a big turnout by telling your workmates family and friends.

Get involved. RMT organising committees are being set up in your region.

Contact your Regional Office to volunteer.

See www.rmt.org.uk/cuts for more information

London - March 26 2011