No to EU constitution

MEMBERS FREEPHONE HELPLINE Open six days a week 8am until 6pm 0800 376 3706 e-mail: info@rmt.org.uk Legal helpline: 0800 587 7516 Seven days a week RMT news – Essential reading for today ’s transport worker 4 Burton hits the big time FORMER Council of Executive RMT member Paul Burton hit the big time as a match official at a recent football match between Millwall and Ipswich. Paul was attending as a spectator along with Alex Reid, an employee at Unity House. Just before half time one of the assistant referees had to retire with an injury. The fourth official took over and Paul was requested to report to reception as his services were required as a replacement fourth official. Paul is a qualified level four referee and can official on the Conference, Isthmian, Midland, Northern and Western Leagues. “I didn't have time to think and after being kitted out and given a crash course on the substitute electronic board I was ready for action. “The first 15 minutes of the second half were a little nerve wracking but once that was over I settled down, Ipswich Manager Joe Royle helped as he came over for a chat,” he said. The match assessor was very happy with Paul’s performance but Paul received a phone call from the Millwall supporting RMT general secretary to say that he should have indicated five minutes instead of three for injury time. Referees can never win. RMT member John Breckon has won a substantial out of court settlement nearly six years after he received a serious neck injury while working on the vessel Northern Explorer. John will never work again due to the accident which he received when he fell from a ladder in a freshwater tank he was cleaning. John had declared that he was unhappy with the dangerous nature of the work and felt that he had been put under pressure to carry it out. This implicit threat was sharpened by the fact that a member of the crew had been put off the ship some time earlier. The problem with the case is that John could not recollect anything about the accident and there were no witnesses. However, his injuries left him with more or less constant pain and pins and needles in his upper limbs and neck. This made returning to work extremely difficult. After a long battle by RMT solicitors Bridge McFarland the employer Denholms (Isle of Man) agreed to settle the matter five days before it was due to go to court. John said that without the union he would have ended up with nothing. “RMT was there for me when I needed it and seemed determined to win on my behalf. “Members might sometimes ask themselves why pay union dues, but without the union solicitors you just don’t have the protection you need,” he said. Seafarer wins substantial damages LEADING trade unionists from more than 20 unions across the country have launched a campaign against the EU Constitution, warning that it threatens public services, democracy and manufacturing. The campaign aims to unite trade unionists irrespective of their views on the EU itself. “The proposed Constitution institutionalises privatisation and robs member states of the right to govern themselves democrat- ically, said campaign secretary Doug Nicholls, who heads the Community and Youth Workers’ Union. He added that he believed the campaign reflected the majority opinion of trade unionists and workers in Britain. “This Constitution won’t give trade unionists the rights they should have,” said RMT general secretary and campaign chair Bob Crow. “This proposed EU Constitution demands the mass privatisation of industries and services and hands big corporations huge powers to increase the exploitation of workers and the environment,” Bob said. The Constitution removes national veto rights in 60 new areas, allowing Brussels to dictate, among other things, transport policies of mass privati- sation across Europe. “This document stands against the historical aims of the labour movement, imposing privati- sation and militarisation, as well as curbing democracy and civil liberties,” said Bakers’ union general secretary Joe Marino. The campaign will be working closely with Labour MPs and other progressive organisations opposed to the Constitution, including the Centre for a Social Europe. A powerful website and a pamphlet are currently in the pipeline. G For more information www.tuaeuc.org.uk email: info.tuaeuc.co.uk www.social-europe.org.uk Trade unionists say no to EU constitution plans