Vote Steve Hedley for RMT general secretary

The Socialist Party is supporting Steve Hedley in the election for RMT general secretary. Below we print extracts from Steve's leaflet

Steve Hedley (centre) speaking at an RMT picket line, photo Paul Mattsson (Click to enlarge)

"I pledge that, when elected, to continue to put jobs, pay, conditions, safety and work-life balance at the forefront of our campaigns. I will campaign to defend against the coming attacks on safety, wages and pensions.

As general secretary I will use all my experience and knowledge to successfully defend and protect all our members. I will continue to promote equality ensuring every RMT member is treated as an equal.

We will modernise our union and embrace technology to empower our members through facilitating participation in our great union.

I have a track record of 32 years union activity always at the forefront of the struggle. The bosses will fear me as general secretary as they know I cannot be bought or intimidated!

I am standing for a members-led union where, as general secretary, I will work closely with the national executive council, officers and reps to defend jobs, safety, terms and conditions, and pay.

I want the RMT leading the trade union movement industrially and politically. I want our union free from influences in the Trades Union Congress and Labour Party who want to stifle action and instead promote partnership with the very bosses who are attacking us!

The Covid crisis has provided the government with a smokescreen to attack us and the whole union movement. We must build the largest possible coalition of unions, trades councils, community, disabled and passenger groups to defend ourselves against this.

Since becoming senior assistant general secretary I have not taken a pay rise, but have donated around £15,000 a year to our RMT fighting fund instead. If elected general secretary, I again will not take a pay rise and will keep donating to our strike fund.

We as workers are in an unprecedented situation and we need a clear militant industrial strategy to beat off the forthcoming government attacks. We need to call on all forces friendly to the workers' movement to fight by our side. Most of all, we need unity in our own union and someone able to inspire our members and make them believe they can win!"

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The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.

The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.

The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.

The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.