The Socialist 19 September 2012 We can beat Con-Dems' austerity  We can beat Con-Dems' austerity All forces to the point of attack against austerity Cable launches new attack on workers' rights Global warming: Capitalists skating on thin ice Marikana miners remain defiant Stop the deportation of London Met students Interview with NUS vice-president for union development Hillsborough disaster: Truth is out, now justice Sparks' picket blockades Crossrail site Workers die on tower cranes - Con-Dems cut safety regulations HMRC seeks to axe workers' childcare Save Oaklands Pool - "This is what we pay our council tax for!" Salford: Uniting to save mental health services Save Hampshire residential care homes Stop the fire service cuts in West Yorkshire NSSN supporter invited to address RMT Slutwalk: there's NO excuse for rape Sexism - a product of capitalism Review: "From dole queue to corner and back again" |
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Home | The Socialist 19 September 2012 | Join the Socialist Party NSSN supporter invited to address RMTBuilding solidarity across the trade unionsAlex MooreOn 14 September I turned up at a meeting of the transport union RMT in Plymouth, hoping to give out a few leaflets for the National Shop Stewards Network (NSSN). I was called up to the platform to speak next to RMT general secretary Bob Crow. I am not even a member of the RMT so it was a bit of a surprise! But it showed the shared respect between the RMT and NSSN. Between 80 to 100 people, mainly RMT members turned up to hear Bob speak and give out awards for lifetime service to the union. The atmosphere was brilliant. Trade union members spoke about support for the 20 October demo and attacks on workers in the health and transport sectors. I was introduced as a member of the teaching union NASUWT and the NSSN. I began saying how Virgin had just taken over Devon Children's Service, so we might end up working for the same employer one day. I reported on the NSSN lobby of the TUC to call for a 24-hour general strike and how the NSSN was helping trade unionists to coordinate strike action, expressing my hope that if the RMT had to strike over the McNulty attack on the railways then perhaps it could be alongside teachers, health service workers and others already balloting. Of course it was Bob Crow everyone wanted to hear. He addressed the issues facing South Western railway workers first. The McNulty report commissioned by New Labour cost £217,000 - but McNulty already knew what was wanted so he started off by writing the findings! Bob warned what the proposals meant - no guards, no catering services, closures of branch lines, fare increases for commuter services and the issue of zero hour contracts for maintenance workers - who he said were being treated like "donkey jackets hanging on the back of a door". But he also spoke powerfully about pensions and youth unemployment, making clear connections about workers being made to work longer at the expense of opportunities for the new generation. Speaking about students he asked: "Where are they going to live after they pile up £48,000 of debt? I'll tell you...with you!" Lib Dem Vince Cable and Labour's Ed Balls came under the hammer too: Cable for supporting new attacks on employment rights and Balls for refusing to take the chance of promising to repeal Tory anti-trade union legislation at the TUC. "Why doesn't the Labour Party promise to re-nationalise the railways?" he asked - it could be done for free when the franchises expired? He said there were about 25 Labour MPs doing a great job - but what about the rest of them? He compared funding Labour to "paying someone to mug you" and ended up by warning that perhaps it was time to build a new workers' party. In this issue Socialist Party news and analysis
International socialist news and analysis
Education
Socialist Party feature
Socialist Party workplace news
Socialist Party reports and campaigns
Socialist Party women
Socialist Party review
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