RMT BACKS JUSTICE 4 JARVIS WORKERS PROTESTS

RMT helpline 0800 3763706 :: may 2010 :: RMTnews 4 O n May Day RMT issued a clear warning to politicians regardless of the outcome of the general election that the trade union movement was gearing up for a head-on fight with the political elite over an estimated £50 billion of spending cuts. RMT, and its brass band, led the May Day march in Belfast and had a major presence on the traditional London march the same day and other events from Scotland down to the south coast. RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said that in Greece thousands of workers out on the streets protesting over the collapse of their economy and the impact on working men and women who are taking the hit full-on for the failures of the political class, the bankers and the European super state (see page 20). Bob Crow, who led the EU- critical NO2EU: Yes to Democracy election coalition last year, warned that the attack on living standards, jobs and public services imposed on the Greek people by the European Central Bank and the IMF could well be mirrored in the UK in the months ahead. He warned that while the Greek debt was 13.6 per cent to GDP, Britain’s was very similar at 12 per cent of GDP. “While the political class stitch together a government in the corridors and committee rooms of Westminster they need to be well aware that the trade unions are already preparing resistance to the emergency package of cuts that we know will be coming down the track as soon as a deal is fixed. “Most people in this country want to know how many hospitals and schools will close, how many jobs will be lost and how much will be slashed from budgets like transport and pensions when the new government grabs the levers of power. “We have seen the resistance in Greece and we stand shoulder to shoulder with the Greek workers. “Don’t be fooled, the IMF and the European Central Bank will be swift to impose the same kind of austerity measures and public spending cuts on the UK as soon as the ink is dry on the political fix. “There will be industrial and public resistance on a scale unprecedented since the end of the Second World War,” he said. R MT backed protests by the Justice 4 Jarvis Workers outside Network Rail offices in London and Leeds city centre recently as the union continues the fight for the jobs of 1,200 workers following the collapse of the company in March. Jarvis campaigners took the opportunity to make their case for re-employment and payment of outstanding wages outside the offices of Jarvis administrators Deloittes who are based on Leeds City Square. RMT general secretary Bob Crow said that it was a disgrace that a mismanaged company like Jarvis could be allowed to crash and burn with the employees, essential workers playing a safety-critical role on the rail network, kicked in the teeth and dumped out on the cobbles. Jarvis workers spokesman Bill Rawcliffe said that Network Rail had sat back and watched while the job cuts scandal unfold. “We repeat our demand that Network Rail should ensure an orderly transfer of the Jarvis work to companies that are committed to re-engaging the Jarvis workforce on their existing terms and conditions,” he said. RMT assistant general secretary Mick Cash told the noisy protest that the union expected Network Rail to deliver for Jarvis workers not ensure that they are sacked. TSSA general secretary Gerry Doherty joined the protest and said the work that still needed to be carried out belonged to Jarvis workers, “not jumped up directors hiding in Network Rail head office”. RMT BACKS JUSTICE 4 JARVIS WORKERS PROTESTS RMT RALLIES TO FIGHT £50 BILLION SPENDING CUTS A short film of the Jarvis protest in London can be viewed at: www.youtube.com/user/RMTtelevision