LETTERS/AWARDS

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: february 2015 :: RMTnews 28 R MT member Paul Roberts recently received his People’s Choice Merseyrail award. Paul has just been medically retired from Merseyrail having been diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease. Paul is a lifelong rail enthusiast and a very active RMT member for 12 years, L eft to right Health and safety rep Loyd Whitby, Duty Manager John Patten and Paul Roberts. Branch secretary, Stewart Harris. Dear editor I am pleased to see that my column has caused Brother Steve Metcalfe to write in and express his views. I welcome this as that is what I want my views to generate, debate. However, I feel I must reply to some of his comments. Firstly, The Greens are not pro-EU, they support a referendum of our membership, which is, in my opinion, the right way to deal with it. To bring up the behaviour of Brighton Council is an old chestnut and, although I don’t support what they did, I suggest he looks deeper into the facts. He will see that this was a problem they inherited, and The Labour Party weren’t exactly innocent in this. The leadership aren’t socialist? Really? It was only a few weeks ago that Natalie Bennett said she was. I think their policies are a lot more socialistic than The Labour Party’s. Re-nationalise railways, repeal anti trade union laws, save and reinvest in NHS, build social housing , and tax the rich, not to mention abolishing the monarchy! Looks pretty socialist to me. I admire Caroline Lucas, as do many in the RMT, because she has put a lot of work in to help our union as part of our parliamentary group, including a private members’ bill to renationalise the railways. She was also one of the few MPs to vote against the Austerity Bill recently, something that some of our Labour members failed to do. I welcome Brother Metcalfe’s criticisms, he is entitled to his view, and I am entitled to mine. Yours Peter Pinkney, RMT president WIRRAL AWARD GO GREEN *EDITORS NOTE: The ‘Don’t go green’ letter published last month was sent in by Steve Metcalfe, apologies for the omission of his name