RMT FORGES CLOSER LINKS WITH OFFSHORE WORKERS

RMTnews :: april 2007 :: www.rmt.org.uk 10 A Special General Meeting in Doncaster last month overwhelmingly gave authority for the union to proceed with a transfer of undertakings to take OILC into RMT. Addressing conference, OILC general secretary Jake Molloy explained that the organisation was set up in the aftermath of the Piper Alpha disaster in 1988 which killing 167 men. Today, OILC is an independent trade union, receiving a certificate of independence from the Certification Officer for Trade Unions in 1992. “OILC represents a vigorous and dynamic self-help organisation, run by offshore workers for offshore workers,” he said. OILC organises over 2,000 construction and engineering workers, caterers, drilling workers and support workers under very difficult conditions against often very hostile employers. He welcomed the fact that RMT had the same determined and militant approach to defending its members and advancing their pay, terms and conditions of employment. “We do not do ‘sweetheart deals’ and we do not believe that ‘social partnership’ with our employers will improve safety or pay. “However, we do believe in democratic and independent trade unionism,” he said. Backing the proposal, RMT delegate Jimmy McAulay, Glasgow shipping said that people in OILC were in it because they want to be in an effective union. “That’s the sort of people we want in our union,” he said. Tony McGovern, Ipswich said that he had two questions about OILC joining: Why RMT? – he said that it had been answered in the debate – and is there anything to ‘bite us on the bum’? He accepted that answer was no after following the discussion and backed the proposal. John Stewart, Leeds City said that he had also had reservations and had been given free hand by his branch but now supported OILC joining RMT. “When I hear that all members are activists it is music to my ears,” he said. He said that ‘partnership’ with the employers had not worked elsewhere and would not be in the best interests of offshore workers either. Brendan Kelly, Bristol described the move as a “tremendous and historic step forward”. OILC have taken on some of the biggest and wealthiest multinational companies in the world and stood their ground, so we want them on our side. “Just from the material they publish you can tell they mean business,” he said. Linda Wiles, Transport for London said that her branch supported OILC coming into membership. “We at TfL know what it’s like to deal with a hostile employer,” she said. Danny Drury, Orpington said that some members were worried about the speed of the process and questioned what would happen if OILC members failed to vote for it. Chris Fuller, Dover Shipping said that OILC and RMT members were in a common fight over section 9 of Race Relations Act, the Working Time Directive and against ‘sweetheart deals’ and on that basis the two organisations should come together. RMT general secretary Bob Crow said that OILC had the same industrial outlook as RMT and the two organisations should be one. He recalled how RMT had already won a tremendous 45 per cent pay increase for diving members working in the North Sea last year following ten days of strike action. “OILC and RMT coming together makes industrial and political sense,” he said. The motion was carried by 50 delegates voting for, two against and one abstention. The transfer of undertakings will now be considered by a joint RMT/OILC working party and the Council of Executives. RMT FORGES CLOSER LINKS WITH OFFSHORE WORKERS Special General Meeting agrees to proceed with the transfer of undertakings for the Offshore Industry Liaison Committee (OILC) to join RMT SOLIDARITY: Bob Crow with OILC general secretary Jake Malloy and RMT president John Leach