RMT conference takes fighting position on urgent political questions

Photo Iain Dalton (Click to enlarge)

Socialist Party members in RMT

The 2016 annual general meeting (conference) of the Rail Maritime and Transport Workers Union (RMT) took place 26-30 June against a backdrop of heightened conflict in both the industrial and political arenas.

RMT's battle against down-skilling and the removal of safety critical guards on Southern rail services threatens to become the most bitter dispute the union has fought for some time.

With the new anti-union bill about to take force RMT, like other trade unions, has to consider how to combat the anti-democratic demands of new ballot procedures and further restrictions of picketing.

The conference took a clear position on the anti-union legislation. It repeated RMT's call to the TUC for general strike action should the new act be used to prosecute any TUC affiliated union and further agreed that RMT will seek agreements with other trade unions to support each other should the new powers be used against us.

Two of the most hotly debated decisions related to the new political situation after the EU referendum. The conference called on Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn to campaign for an early general election to dump the Tory government. RMT has issued a statement of support for Corbyn's leadership and delegates wanted to see Labour setting the agenda for exit from the EU on the basis of a fight against austerity and privatisation.

TUSC

Related to this was a further debate on the union's political strategy. The conference overwhelmingly agreed to continue participating in the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC). A TUSC fringe meeting attracted half of the delegates.

They committed to support Corbyn but felt that, at this time, it was essential to maintain an electoral alternative to Labour that was 100% anti-austerity.

Delegates, a number who have stood as TUSC candidates, were clear that we will not give blanket support to Labour councillors who cut jobs and services or MPs who vote for austerity and war.

RMT members and activists are rightly proud of the militant industrial and political stance of our union. The 2016 conference shows that those traditions are continuing to shape our union's policies and actions.

Southern Trains: "We have got to break them"

The boss of Govia Thameslink Railway, who operate Southern Trains, insists he will force through plans to get rid of conductors from services despite a summer of strike action by the RMT. The union said chief executive Charles Horton declared "war on the workforce, jobs and passengers." The RMT has also accused the government of supporting the company in the dispute with Peter Wilkinson, a senior Department for Transport official, reportedly saying "we have got to break them" referring to Southern Rail workers. The dispute is still live with further strike action possible.

Donate to the Socialist Party

Finance appeal

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.

Inevitably, during the crisis we have not been able to sell the Socialist and raise funds in the ways we normally would.

We therefore urgently appeal to all our viewers to click here to donate to our Fighting Fund.