STOP THE BNP

RMT helpline 0800 3763706 :: april 2010 :: RMTnews 6 Due to First Scotrail management’s intransigence and its refusal to comply with existing agreements on driver-only operation at recent talks RMT members took four days of solid rolling strike action earlier this month. RMT guards and drivers took two days of action and sleeper train managers launched two days of action immediately afterwards. The stepping up of the action comes after a total refusal by First Scotrail to resolve the dispute at ACAS, the government’s conciliation service. RMT general secretary Bob Crow said that the company had refused to give assurances regarding keeping guards on the Airdrie Bathgate Line and on all those lines to be electrified under the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Project (EGIP). “The company is now blaming Transport Scotland for this situation and relying on the fact that it will be indemnified against any strike action by the taxpayer. “First Scotrail and the Scottish government are still refusing to face up to their responsibilities to the travelling public and their staff and are prepared to slash corners on rail safety in the dash for cuts and the drive for profits. “I repeat my call for a face to face meeting with First Minister Alex Salmond to resolve this issue and to get the company to comply with their obligations in respect of the guards. “If First Scotrail and the Transport Minister are not able to bring this dispute to a conclusion then it falls to the First Minister to intervene,” he said. RMT MEMBERS AT SCOTRAIL TAKE FURTHER ACTION KICK IT OUT: Alex Gordon, Dagenham player Abu Ogogo (Man of the match), Bob Crow and Stephen Cavalier of Thompsons solicitors STOP THE BNP R MT general secretary Bob Crow and RMT president Alex Gordon joined the anti- racist campaign Kick It Out recently at a recent game at Dagenham and Redbridge football club. Kick It Out works throughout the football, educational and community sectors to challenge discrimination, encourage inclusive practices and work for positive change. The campaign is supported and funded by the game's governing bodies, including founding body the Professional Footballers Association, the Premier League and The Football Association. Bob Crow congratulated ‘Daggers’ and their supporters for backing the campaign. “This area has been targeted by the British National Party which encourages racism for political gain just as the Nazis did in Germany. “There can be no place for this disgraceful political ideology in East London or anywhere else,” he said. Alex Gordon said that the BNP is already the official opposition in Barking and Dagenham and only needs 26 councillors to take control of its first-ever council. “It's almost halfway there, currently holding 12 seats. Six "marginal" council wards will determine this election -- and every vote will matter. “RMT is backing the Hope Not Hate campaign to make sure that doesn’t happen,” he said. For more information contact http://action.hopenothate.org.uk