SCOTTISH TUC OPPOSES FERRY SELL OFF

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: may/june 2012 :: RMTnews 15 society, or we will be the first generation to leave a Worse situation for those who come after us,” said Bob. “It is a straightforward choice. You can lay down and be kicked or you can stand and fight.” That choice had become a personal one for Wessex organiser Peter Gale, who drew a parallel with his own fight to overcome serious illness and was given a rousing welcome back by conference. “If you are determined to stand up and fight back the best place to do it is in RMT,” said Peter. “It all starts with organisation — we must strive for 100 per cent membership in every depot, identify the reps and get them trained,” he said. Organisation was key to building the union, said Phil Boston, organising unit, and every member was capable of helping RMT to grow. Successful recruitment was about a non-aggressive approach, and being sensitive to potential members who might, for example, have problems filling in a form. The union had to brace itself because the worst from the government was yet to come, said conference president Joe Hayes, Salisbury No 3. “We have organisation and education to be proud of and we have to be there for the members,” he said. • Delegates asked the union to look at the problem of bus companies monitoring social networking sites looking for complaints about staff, and using them as the basis for disciplinary action. • Union lawyers had won more than £5 million in compensation for members in the last year, noted Thompsons Solicitors’ Malcolm Cherry — but he warned that the government, egged on by insurers, was putting the squeeze on costs, compensation and criminal- injuries payouts. • A call for union subs to be frozen was rejected by delegates, who agreed that it would result in unacceptable cuts to member services. • Delegates sent their best wishes to conference secretary Keith Murphy, who was unable to attend due to ill-health, and to assistant general secretary Mick Cash who had suffered a family bereavement. Delegates agreed that the 2013 bus workers conference would be held in Skegness. S cottish TUC delegates backed RMT concerns that the SNP Scottish government’s Ferry Services Draft Plan will lead to the fragmentation and privatisation of the Clyde and Hebrides routes. The Draft Plan commits to “opening the market to greater competition” and “less prescriptive specification”. Congress agreed that the government was embarking on a process that could lead to a massive attack on jobs and conditions of employment, social dumping, cuts in services and increased fares. The 1992 EU Cabotage Regulations also require Clyde and Hebrides services to be put out to tender every six years, further threatening the future of Scottish Ferries, as services next have to be put out to tender in 2013. Congress resolved to support public ownership, resist EU regulations for compulsory tendering of service and insure the fullest possible protection for services, jobs, pensions and conditions. RMT general secretary Bob Crow seconded a motion highly critical of the EU ‘s austerity drive and calling for resistance to EU directives and treaties that privatise public services and undermine democracy. Congress also backed RMT opposition to the government attacks on health and safety which would increase the number of deaths and accidents at the workplace. Delegates applauded RMT’s campaign for improved safety in the offshore sector, including seeking the adoption of Norwegian standards which provide far stronger standards for safety representatives, including greater worker involvement, training and enforcement powers. SCOTTISH TUC OPPOSES FERRY SELL OFF RMT’s STUC delegation