RMT AT TUC

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: october 2014 :: RMTnews 10 RMT’s TUC Congress delegation had a highly successful week, securing broad union support for the union’s core priorities which will greatly assist our campaigning work over the next twelve months. President Peter Pinkney set the Liverpool conference venue alight with a blistering contribution in the main debate on the government’s austerity policies and the cost of living crisis. Peter started off by welcoming the marches and demonstrations but most of all “the use of industrial action, including by RMT members on London Underground, who have shown the way in the fight to defend jobs and services”. Reminding delegates that it was the unions that formed the Labour Party, Peter rammed home the point that it is right that we demand that MPs elected under the Labour banner understand what they are here for. To rousing applause Peter concluded with a call to “get off our knees”. “We shouldn’t waste time worrying what the rich and the right wing press think. What matters is those prepared to stand up and fight,” he said. Conference held an emotional tribute to the late general secretary Bob Crow with a heartfelt contribution from the president and a noisy minute long ovation in memory of Bob and the trade union and socialist principles that he fought for all his life. Bob’s partner Nicky joined the RMT delegation on the floor of the conference for the duration of the tribute which also featured a moving and beautifully presented video which captured the enduring legacy that Bob has left us with. General secretary Mick Cash moved the key composite motion on transport policy immediately after the tribute to Bob and started off by thanking the entire trade movement for their support and solidarity in what has been an extremely difficult six months for our union. On the policy agenda Mick listed the continuing catalogue of private failures across the transport sector but warned that there was worse to come as the franchising process demanded further cuts and the axing of staff. “Privatisation has been a failure on all fronts unless you are one of those making profits from our railways or one of the European state operators currently hovering up franchises offered up by this rotten government,” he said. Calling for a united trade union response that also engages the public, Mick demanded a renewed fight for public ownership, not just of the railways but of our bus services as well. Pointing to the recent nationalisation of Network Rail, Mick said:“If you can nationalise the track then of course you can nationalise the trains as well and the message to Ed Miliband is simple – what are you waiting for?” The RMT-led motion was carried unanimously. National secretary Steve Todd led for the union in debates on ferries and the wider maritime industry. Steve spoke of the evil of social dumping which remains rife in the sector, used by greedy employers as a key lever in the race to the bottom. Paying tribute to the loyalty and determination of seafarers who have stuck by the union in the most difficult of environments, Steve warned employers that the unions resolve to fight for the shipping industry and decent pay and working conditions remained rock solid. Pointing to the £1.5 billion in subsidies that the shipping companies have raked in RMT AT TUC