PARLIAMENTARY COLUMN

Parliamentary column RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: june 2014 :: RMTnews 9 From the earliest days of the trade union movement, unions have been involved in political debate. No matter how many victories could be won with employers at local or national level, it was always clear that real progress would also require taking part in the political process. It is an absolute fact the unions have had to campaign politically in pursuit of their aims. Just a few examples of where unions using their political funds have won huge victories for members and their families include health and safety protection at work, basic employment rights, holidays and equality legislation. These are all things that are often taken for granted but would not be in place if it was not for union campaigning using the Political Fund. Even free education and the National Health Service would not exist if the Unions had not fought for them. And in the industries our members work in your political fund is used to good effect. Campaigning to protect pensions, jobs and conditions. Fighting McNulty. Fighting the London Mayor’s job cuts. For more seafarers jobs, better offshore and road safety, against bus cuts and against taxi deregulation. That’s why the forthcoming political fund ballot is so important. Remember the ballot is not about what your political views are or what you think the union should being doing politically. It’s about the basic right to have a political fund so that your union can fight for better workplaces and communities. Remember, there is no legal obligation for the bosses to hold such a fund. They can lobby politicians as much as they like for changes in the law to assist them increasing their profits. The train and bus companies spend millions wining and dining and lobbying ministers to introduce policies that cut jobs and protect profits. The shipping companies pour money into lobbying to allow them to get tax concessions and get away with minimum employment standards. Right wing campaigns spend a fortune arguing for the banning of industrial action on the underground and elsewhere. MPs are frequently on the end of multi million pound lobbying campaigns to protect the interests of offshore energy bosses. Your political fund allows your union to fight back against the employers campaigning. Your political fund gives your union a political voice. If you lose your political fund your Union will be seriously weakened. You will be receiving your ballot form soon, so remember to vote Yes in order to keep the political fund. And vote yes in large numbers to send a clear message to the bosses and politicians that you will be standing up for your rights. John McDonnell MP is chair of the RMT parliamentary group of MPs NOTIFICATION OF POLITICAL FUND REVIEW BALLOT Members should note that in accordance with the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 (as amended) the RMT is required to hold a review ballot at least every ten years, in order that the union can retain its political fund. Your union is strongly recommending your vote yes. The ballot will give members the opportunity to vote on whether the union should be able to spend money for political purposes. The law says that the union must have a political fund to do this. RMT will therefore be balloting members on whether or not to maintain the unionís political fund. The ballot will take place between 1st September and 3rd November 2014. The ballot will be a postal ballot and voting papers will be sent directly to membersí homes or to another address which the member has requested the union in writing to treat as their postal address. Electoral Reform Services will be acting as the Independent Scrutineer and will oversee the conduct of the ballot. Their address is the Election Centre, 33 Clarendon Road, London, N8 0NW. Any member who has changed their home address or wishes their ballot paper to be sent to a different address and has not yet notified the union, should contact the RMT Helpline on 0800 376 3706, or email info@rmt.org.uk VOTE TO KEEP YOUR POLITICAL FUND Members of RMT’s parliamentary group have put down early day motion 21 in support of municipal bus companies on the 100th anniversary of publically owned bus companies. The EDM notes that 2014 is the 100th anniversary of the entry into service of the first publicly-owned buses. On March 30 1914 six open-topped double deckers started work on routes in Coventry, launching a success story which has been providing an excellent ever since. The UK’s remaining municipally-owned bus companies provide cheaper fares for passengers in cities and towns, including Newport, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Nottingham, Blackpool and Reading. MPs are alarmed by the onslaught against local authority-supported bus services which has seen thousands of services cut or reduced since May 2010. Labour MP and RMT group member Paul Flynn raised concerns that the government does not record service cuts in the deregulated bus market which provides 78 per cent of bus services across the UK. “RMT research has found that since 2003 UK bus fares have increased by over 60 per cent,” he said. The union is backing Campaign for Better Transport's call for an examination of all cases for reform of the bus industry, including municipal ownership and not-for-profit services and calls on the government to enact an urgent review of bus services. Around 14 MPs have signed up to the EDM including Katy Clark, Jeremy Corbyn, David Crausby, Jim Cunningham, Jonathan Edwards, Paul Flynn, Kelvin Hopkins, Gerald Kaufman, Ian Lavery, John McDonnell, Grahame M Morris, Joan Ruddock, Dennis Skinner and Chris Williamson. Get you MP to sign EDM 21. BUS EDM