President’s column / RMT merchandise

Our range of merchandise has been extended again. We have secured a range of quality cargo pants at a special low price and are pleased to pass this on to members at £11.99 plus post and packing. We now have available durable nylon Wallets at only £1.99 and stylish Bronx hats at only £3.99 plus post and packing. Men’s and women’s watches are now at half price £9.99. Visit our web shop to see the full range. Buying couldn’t be easier. You can: G Buy on line at www.rmt.org.uk. Payment can be made by credit or debit card using a secure link. G Telephone your order on freephone 0800 376 3706 and pay by credit or debit card G Complete the tear off slip below and send a cheque Support and promote your union by buying and displaying these items with our famous logo. RMT launch new merchandise! Name....................................................................................................... Address.................................................................................................... ..................................................................Postcode................................. ❑ Polo Shirts £10 plus 75p postage ❑ Parker Frontier Pen set £16.99 - free postage ❑ Knitted Bronx hats £3.99 plus 50p post and packing ❑ Sweatshirts £10 plus £2.50 postage ❑ Baseball hats £5.00 plus 75p P&P ❑ Nylon Wallets £1.99 Plus P&P 50p ❑ Gents and Ladies Watches “Half Price! £9.99” ❑ Rain Jacket £27.99 plus £4.00 postage plus £1.00 postage ❑ RMT mugs £3.00 plus 0.75p postage ❑ Cargo Pants £11.99 plus £2 post and packing Sizes waist 26/28 30/32 34/36 38/40 40/42 24 A VERY important gathering of people from all over Europe took place last month at venues across London. There were three days of debate, celebration and protest with an alternative agenda for Europe and the world, collectively known as the European Social Forum. This alternative vision was one that believed in an end to eternal war and for the need for global peace and justice without racism. They reflected a popular belief that public services should exist not for private profit but for public gain. The ESF also reflected the need for a world of equality and diversity on a sustainable planet. The over 30,000-strong event was organised by a host of groups including the TUC and trade unions such as the RMT, the Greater London Assembly and a host of protest and pressure groups opposed to privatisation and corporate greed. In the run up to the G8 next year, the ESF created the right kind of momentum to ensure that our demands are put forward and heard by those in power However, despite the massive size of the event some could be forgiven for not being aware that it was even going on. This was because there was a complete lack of coverage by our so-called “democratic media” with a few honourable exceptions. What a contrast a few days later when the “leaders” of European states signed up to the proposed constitution for the European Union in Rome. This was deemed to be “big” news despite the fact that no-one has called for such a document, which was drawn up in secret by those federalist elites that believe in the creation of an undemocratic and authoritarian superstate called Europe. The fact is that working people need this constitution like turkeys need Christmas. Far from ensuring workers’ rights and decent public services, this constitution is a privatisers’ charter that will do nothing to stop governments maintaining anti-union laws. If adopted it will effectively outlaw attempts by governments to roll back the years of privatisation and attacks on public services, and will force member countries to remain on the neo-liberal economic treadmill. It effectively outlaws socialist policies at a stroke. Public opinion in Britain is demanding a return to a publicly owned, publicly funded and publicly accountable railway, yet the EU is marching us in the opposite direction. Opening up Europe’s railways to competition will pit worker against worker and can only force pay and conditions down – and that is exactly what Europe’s boss class wants. The Scottish Executive is already using EU rules to force Caledonian MacBrayne’s essential ferry routes in Scotland into an unnecessary tendering process. Delegates at the TUC and Labour Party conferences voted recently to end rail privatisation but the government has decided to ignore these popular calls. Therefore, RMT has decided to take to the road in the run up to the general election next year to draw attention to the disaster of rail privatisation. The Rail Against Privatisation campaign will involve a national march next spring beginning from various points from Scotland to Cornwall. So get your walking boots ready. Our shipping members are once more in a struggle with P&O to defend over 1200 jobs at Portsmouth, Dover and Hull and these members need all the support they can get. Members at the rail freight company EWS have shown what can be achieved. Following a ground- breaking court victory against the company’s attempt to ban strike action, EWS have dropped their divisive plans that threatened the job security of our members. The lesson is that nothing will change unless we stand up and be counted and believe that you can make a difference as a member of a campaigning union. Stand up and be counted 25 Send form to Finance Dept RMT, Unity House, 39 Chalton St. London NW1 1JD HALF PRICE RMT President Tony Donaghey speaking at the European Social Forum last month