LETTERS

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: june 2014 :: RMTnews 29 LETTERS In response to Ian Bentley’s letter Better Together (April/May issue), the Scottish Referendum offers Scots an opportunity not to sever their links with England, we are not separatists in that sense, but we do wish to separate from Westminster, a crucial difference. British state propaganda, as it has always done throughout its colonial history, has sought to create division in order to take the focus away from the real issues. We will not create a frontier or a border as Ian asserts, we will continue to work closely with other parts of the UK. Why would that change? The only difference is we will be independent of and not dependent on Westminster. It’s about democracy. Scots don’t vote for the neo-liberal priorities of successive Westminster governments. We have watched Scotland’s heavy industry disappear, its mines close, its steelworks demolished when it could have been mothballed. We have seen well paid jobs replaced by service and call centre jobs on minimum wage. Industrial jobs will never return, since higher fuel prices increased transport costs, Scotland and manufacturing have been disadvantaged. Why invest in Scotland when being close to the market means that a Midlands location is more attractive and profitable. We have no power to use incentives to encourage inward investment and reverse this trend. We now see zero hour contracts, food banks, increased child poverty and inequality. We also continued to see our talented young people having to move abroad to achieve their personal goals. Scottish Independence provides an opportunity to pursue a different path. The Scottish Socialists, the Scottish Greens and the SNP all support Scottish Independence, as indeed did Bob Crow. Ian Bentley peddles the fear and insecurity spread by the forces behind NO. Scotland can show England the way to a fairer society with shared wealth and shared well-being, a society that delivers hope over fear. David Allan Kilmaurs, Scotland Dear editor, I am disappointed by the report of RMT’s women's conference in the last issue of RMT News. Unlike the reports from several other conferences, which were double-page spreads, women's conference was tucked away near the back with just half a page. Unlike the other conference reports, this one did not mention any of the women delegates who spoke in the debates, any of the reports we received and discussed or any of the excellent guest speakers who addressed the conference. Sadly, it failed to capture the friendliness, spirit, camaraderie and enthusiasm of the event. The report also misrepresented one of the resolutions that the conference passed, stating that it challenged "sexualised images" whereas it in fact objected to sexist images. A conference report is an opportunity to tell RMT News readers - ie. union members - what happens at our events, with a lively, personal touch that might attract them to attend in future. This report was an opportunity missed. Janine Booth SCOTLAND MISSED OPPORTUNITY WINCHESTER NO 2 BRANCH SUPPORTS MICK CASH FOR GENERAL SECRETARY EXETER 2 BRANCH SUPPORT MICK CASH FOR GENERAL SECRETARY. EAST MIDLANDS BUS BRANCH SUPPORTS MICK CASH FOR GENERAL SECRETARY NEWCASTLE & GATESHEAD BRANCH SUPPORTS MICK CASH FOR GENERAL SECRETARY LLANTRISANT & DISTRICT BRANCH NOMINATE MICK CASH FOR GENERAL SECRETARY GLASGOW 5 BRANCH NOMINATE MICK CASH FOR GENERAL SECRETARY PICCADILLY AND DISTRICT WEST SUPPORTS JOHN LEACH FOR GENERAL SECRETARY RHONDDA BRANCH SUPPORTS MICK CASH FOR GENERAL SECRETARY