LETTERS

RMTnews :: january 2008 :: www.rmt.org.uk 28 POA – our brothers and sisters Dear editor, I was astonished to read an attack on the Prison Officers’ Association on the letters page of the last issue of RMT News. There are working-class people on both sides of the bars, and POA members are no more responsible for prisons policy than transport workers are responsible for rail and bus privatisation. The POA is also no more institutionally racist than any other trade union. Most unions have a few skeletons in their cupboards – let us not forget that the history of the railways includes the infamous colour bar of the 1950s, and ending it was an important milestone for the industry and the NUR. The important thing is that the movement learns from its past and follows a progressive path. The POA has done just that, and in fact has done a tremendous amount of work against far-right influence in the prison service. It has also been at the forefront of the struggle against the anti-union laws, doing the entire trade union movement a service by mounting an illegal strike. I am proud to call the POA my brothers and sisters and they deserve our grateful support. Regards, Tony Donaghey FCC result Dear editor, I wish to thank RMT for financially backing my case against First Capital Connect and the successful outcome. RMT is a great union with a brilliant leader. I wish you all the best with your campaign to renationalise the railway. Many thanks. Yours sincerely, S Ralph Prison officers are workers Dear Editor, An RMT member called ‘Phil’ from Brighton asked in RMT News last month: “Why is the RMT promoting the interests of the Prison Officers’ Association?” ‘Phil’ then goes on to smear the POA with a series of spurious and untrue allegations against these principled and courageous trade unionists. POA is the main challenger to the influence of organised far-right and fascist parties amongst prison officers. POA is committed to racial equality, opposes racial prejudice and promotes zero tolerance of discriminatory behaviour by, or, against union members. POA opposes the rise prisoner numbers and demands the humane and progressive rehabilitation for offenders - in stark contrast to policies proclaimed by all recent Home Secretaries. POA has also lambasted the Prisons Board for forcing prisoners at risk into unsuitable and unsafe accommodation. POA General Secretary Brian Caton said:“Our prisons are being used as warehouses and we will face serious unrest or a death as a result of this crisis management”. POA has waged an unprecedented struggle to obtain recognition as a Trade Union and continues to fight for restoration of Trade Union Rights to all its members and the rest of the labour movement. Of course, ‘Phil’ may believe that prison officers should not be in a trade union. I disagree. The same spurious argument could be used to deny trade rights to psychiatric nurses in Special Hospitals, teachers in prisons, social workers in Young Offenders institutions, or for that matter anyone who does a job that involves dealing with the disastrous results of capitalist society. What about private security guards ‘Phil’? Should they be in a trade union? RMT thinks so and that’s why we organise workers on the Chubb security contract who took strike action at Eurostar last year. RMT believes they should be organised in our trade union. RMT believes that if it’s labour, it should be organised. Yours sincerely Alex Gordon, RMT Council of Executives member, South Wales & West Region 7 LETTERS N ewport Isle of Wight branch secretary Keith Murphy presented Ian Henderson with his RMT 25-year badge recently. Ian has been a driver with Southern Vectis for 10 years after moving from the mainland. He has recently taken up golf and has found that he particularly enjoys the ‘19th’ hole, the clubhouse. HENDERSON TAKES A SWING