PRESIDENTS COLUMN

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: october 2013 :: RMTnews INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY There was recently some debate on Facebook regarding the executive members being on ‘foreign trips’ and I feel that I should explain why I think international links are important. My view is that these relations are vital because as capital operates globally, we need to do the same. Many British companies operate abroad and, of course, many foreign companies operate here. We need to work together to deal with this situation. A prime example is when the Australian unions refused to unload ships that had been loaded by scab labour during the Liverpool dockers’ strike. Indeed, RMT runs a course called Winning in the Global Workplace that deals with these very issues. It is an excellent course which explains how a lot of companies in the UK are controlled by international conglomerates. The course brings in international guests and links by video and phone to share experiences, discuss how we can tackle mutual problems and how to help each other. I highly recommend it. I have been abroad quite a few times this year. I went to Berlin, and Paris, with EC member member Tim Butler, to take part in discussions with other European transport unions about the 4th Railway Package. This EU ruling will force European countries to privatise their public transport. RMT and the Swedish unions, which also have privatised public transport, had to explain to the other unions just what it will mean and how we can combat it together. I also attended a meeting to lobby European Commissioners in Brussels on the same issue. An EU commissioner accused me of perpetuating the myth of privatisation being bad, but they were perpetuating the myth that it is good! Myself, the general secretary and EC member Kevin Morrison also attended the Transport Workers of America conference held in Las Vegas. I admit that this sounds glamorous, but the reality of Las Vegas is there is a lot of poverty and one of the reasons the TWU held it there was that it is relatively cheap. RMT has established close links with them over the years and we can help each other with disputes with companies that operate on both sides of the Atlantic, just as the Australians did with the Liverpool dockers. Finally, I attended the SIPTU conference in Dublin to celebrate the centenary of the Dublin Lockout. It is an honour we have been invited to thank us for the support given by the NUS and the NUR to our Irish comrades during that bitter dispute. That support is something we should be proud of. So we should remember how important international links are. I know there are demonstrations and rallies in this country and I can assure you that EC members get to a great amount of them, as well as standing on picket lines all over the UK. It should be remembered that they already spend long absences from their families, but I also accept that they volunteered to be on the EC. Obviously there is a social side to these delegations but to call them “jollies” is totally unfair. A lot of hard work is put into them as well and the social side is important to make links with comrades in common cause. I have no problem with these points being raised, after all, we are a democratic union, and all healthy debate is welcomed. Remember unity is strength! Peter Pinkney President’s column interference in the prosecutions. The campaign has continuously called for the release of all the government papers relating to the trials. The government continues to refuse to release the papers quoting Section 23 of the Freedom of Information Act. They say that it would not be in the public interest to release them as this would not be in the interests of National Security. Ricky in his own inimitable style said: “’National Security’ my A…!”. Not to be deterred Ricky and the campaign decided to set up a government ‘E’ Petition with a view to achieving 100,000 signatures which would have guaranteed a debate in the House of Commons. The campaign complained to Downing Street direct and they were told that some 40,000 signatures were dismissed on the excuse that the petitioners did not comply with the process. The campaign committee have now decided that the ‘E’ Petition be closed and they have now embarked on the traditional Paper Petition to achieve their 100,000 target. Ricky, who is now 74 years of age, continues to say he was innocent of these charges in 1972 and he is innocent now. All Ricky wants is to have his name cleared before he dies. The spontaneous reaction from the audience was to give Ricky and his campaign team a standing ovation. The Regional Council unanimously agreed to affiliate to the campaign and to urge all branches in Scotland to do the same. Copies of the Paper Petition were sent to all our branches for circulation and it was agreed that the union should spread the message throughout all the STUC affiliates to ensure the campaign is supported and that, when the truth eventually comes out, it should be published. For more information go to www.shrewsbury24campaign.org.uk