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may 2005 :: RMTnews 7 STUC CONGRESS CONDEMNS FERRY PRIVATISATION RMT SCOTTISH regional organiser Phil McGarry said that maritime unions and the STUC are working tirelessly along with the island communities to halt the tendering process. "There are clear alternatives to tendering the services, as shown in the report by economist Jeannette Findlay of Glasgow University," he noted. "Let's send a clear message from this congress. CalMac is not for sale - lifeline public services must stay in public hands." On the launch of the RAP campaign, congress also unanimously backed calls for renationalisation and for specific powers for the Scottish Executive to take the country's passenger services back under public control. RMT general secretary Bob Crow recalled that rail privatisation had been carried out in line with an EU directive on separating infrastructure from train operations and forcing "competition" on to the railways. This approach had also been behind the demand to privatise the CalMac ferry services in Scotland, Mr Crow pointed out. He told conference that he felt that he had to lie down in a dark room after hearing Transport Secretary Alistair Darling's speech. "Yesterday, Alistair Darling told you he wasn't going to renationalise the railways - and you applauded him at the end of his speech," noted Mr Crow. "You should have told him to go and get stuffed," he added, to laughter and applause. Rail nationalisation was agreed at Labour conference last year, Bob pointed out. "If it's Labour Party policy, how come it doesn't go in the manifesto?" he asked, stressing that it would help Labour's other policies and bring in more money to invest in health and education. STUC congress condemn Scottish Executive's attempts to privatise the essential lifeline ferry services operated on the Clyde and to the Western Isles by Caledonian MacBrayne STUC delegation at Dundee AN article in a Labour Research publication recently cast doubt on whether members could insist on being accompanied at an investigatory hearing. However, the right to be accompanied was established by RMT at an Employment Appeal Tribunal and as far as the union is concerned this right still exists. Some managers may now refuse to allow members to have a representative in attendance. Therefore, the memorandum reproduced here has been sent to branches so that members can use it if necessary. Copies of the letter can also be obtained by phoning the RMT helpline. You have the right to be accompanied at Investigatory Hearings