LETTERS

RMT helpline 0800 3763706 :: june 2010 :: RMTnews 31 letters THANK YOU FROM IRELAND Dear editor, On behalf of the Jim Connell Society I would like to express our sincere gratitude to RMT for their continued support for the May weekend trade union festival in Kells, County Meath, Ireland to celebrate the life of the author of the song The Red Flag. This year our speakers included Bob Crow, former NUM president Arthur Scargill and Dublin TUC president Phil McFadden. A special guest this year was RMT national secretary Steve Todd. The parade was led by the RMT brass band and their banner was to the fore of the procession. The crowd exceeded 1,200 on the day and everyone enjoyed themselves. Well done to RMT, without your support it could not have been possible, here’s looking for to next year. Yours sincerely, Tommy Grimes Labour Party councillor Exeter number two branch honoured two retiring members Dennis Donson and Ray Hayward recently and executive committee member for the South West Dave Letcher presented them with RMT-engraved cut crystal glass tumblers. Dennis served the union for 40 years in various branch positions including chair, treasurer and trustee. Ray was also a branch stalwart for over 30 years. EXETER BUS PRESENTATION RMT WORTH EVERY PENNY Dear editor, I was involved in an incident at work in September 2009 which led to me being charged with misconduct. Throughout this process I was represented by RMT rep Phil Rixon based in Leicester. He was very thorough, efficiently gathering information and spending many hours preparing my case. He acted in a professional manner at all times and returned my calls without delay, nothing was too much trouble for him. A month later I attended a disciplinary hearing with Mr Rixon and was given a final written warning and a three day suspension despite and unblemished record of 22 years. Mr Rixon urged me to appeal and a hearing was finally held in May 2010. Mr Rixon was concise and to the point and it was clear to all that he had prepared an ex cellent case. The outcome was ‘no case to answer’ and all charges were dropped. I am indebted to Mr Rixon and the union as I believe the outcome would have been different without his presence, although I always believed myself innocent. Mr Rixon is obviously very passionate when he sees an injustivce. I feel that he is a credit to the union and I think he deserves to be awarded for his helpfulness and expertise. I now realise that being an RMT member was one of the best decisions I ever made. The small amount I pay for my membership is worth every penny. Regards Vaughan Williamson GREEK RAIL WORKERS SOLIDARITY CALL Dear editor, A new era of feudalism has been unleashed on Greek railways and those who work in the industry. The Greek government has signed a memorandum of understanding with the International Monetary Fund and the European Central Bank for the 120-year-old industry to be dismantled. The government, being guided by a colonialist ideology, is consigning the railways to be broken up and its most profitable parts will be handed over to the private sector for private profits. This will include the sacking of 50 per cent of rail workers, which is around 3,000 of the 6,000 left working on the railways after previous cuts. All collective bargaining agreements, regulations and conventions covering working conditions are being torn up. The remaining staff are being asked to accept these drastic cuts and attacks on working conditions which will decimate the rail industry. We are asking transport workers to express their support with Greek workers in struggle in any way they see fit. W e are constantly protesting against the enactment of these attacks which threaten our way of living. In solidarity Pan Hellenic Federation of Rail Workers Andreas Vasilopoulos, General secretary Nikolaos Kioutsoukis, President