LETTERS

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: july/august 2015 :: RMTnews 29 Dear Editor, At last we are to be allowed a referendum on European Union membership and the chance to reject it and the economic disaster it has become. We also have the chance to leave behind EU directives that encourage the privatisation of our railways and ferry services to the detriment of our citizens. However we do have a long way to go to convince many of the benefits of leaving the EU, but convince them we must. A No vote is the only way forward for our country to regain its ability to govern itself once again and decide its own transport policies without interference from the EU. Our union must campaign strongly for a no vote and carry on the legacy of Bob Crow and the 'No2EU' party. Yours Sincerely, Ian Bentley Dear editor, I would like to thank RMT and specially Jim McDaid, Leon and Toyo for their support and nominating me as a delegate to attend the TUC disabled workers’ conference. It was first time for me and I was honoured and privileged to be there and see the work that reps from all the unions do and their campaign against the austerity and cuts and how all this have a direct impact on disabled people and welfare of disabled people. It was also an honour to meet Janine Booth and see her work as a campaigner for disabled people's rights, she was also re-elected as a chair of conference. So a big thank my union and to you all for giving me the opportunity to be part of this. Regards Ketan Jagada Dear Editor, In a final response to the two replies to my letter maintaining that the SNP is to the left of the Labour Party I would like to address some of the issues raised. In response to Ian Brown, I agree with Ian that Labour have historically been the party that represents working people in the Westminster parliament. I voted Labour for many years but am now unable to do so. I would argue that tragically ‘Labour’ now equals ‘Tory’ – a party that is full of career politicians, like Douglas Alexander and the odious Jim Murphy– thankfully ‘rumbled’ by the Scottish electorate and deposed. Jeremy Corbyn is the obvious choice for leader if Labour seriously wants to stand a chance of winning the next Westminster election; trying to ape the Tories and win the centre ground will achieve nothing. I never said that the SNP were perfect, nor socialist. However they do offer alternative policies to the electorate that the ‘mainstream’ parties no longer afford (ie renewable energy/anti-austerity/scrap Trident etc.). Perhaps this explains their landslide victory in Scotland and should offer a lesson to the Labour party. The Police Scotland and Fire authorities have been introduced but I fail to see how this will affect anyone on a local basis. I understand that the armed police officers to which he refers have been deployed on routine duties rather than ‘sitting around’ waiting for incidents. As for council cuts I would suggest that these are a result of cuts to the Scottish budget imposed by Westminster which would not be happening if the SNP achieved their core ambition ie Scottish independence. As for Brendan Glynn’s letter, my original comment about parliamentary majorities was obviously written before the awful result in the UK general election. Brendan’s idea of personal freedoms seems to be very selective. He argues for people to be allowed the personal freedom to blow cigarette smoke in my face in pubs, restaurants and other public places - non- smokers obviously shouldn't have the personal freedom to breathe clean air. According to Brendan sectarianism is about the freedom to use ‘crude chants at football matches’ and ‘sing well-known songs’ in public. The fact is that the vast majority of Scots are not ‘old firm’(Rangers/Celtic) supporters and support the ending of dangerous, outdated sectarian nonsense. Next up – minimum alcohol pricing. This legislation is being challenged by big business but has the support of the Chief Medical Officer, the BMA, the Royal Colleges, the Association of Chief Police Officers, and numerous campaign groups like Alcohol Focus Scotland. Hot on the heels of the anti-sectarianism bill and minimum alcohol pricing the SNP government passed a bill to legalise gay marriage in Scotland, making it the first part of the UK to do so; the third major seriously contentious bill to be put before the Scottish Parliament by the majority government in barely over a year. All three were faced with considerable political opposition yet the public have responded by voting SNP in larger and larger numbers. Jeff Kirk Edinburgh No1 Branch Dear editor, I am writing to say a huge thank you to all RMT AGM delegates that contributed to the collection made for me following my dismissal from TPE. The support and generosity I have received from union members and branches has been phenomenal and the money collected as well as collections from work colleagues has helped me to start a small business of my own to help me through these hard times. My family and I will always be grateful to all that helped and also I would like to say a special thank you to John Tilley, Gary Jackson and everyone who stood on the picket lines at Cleethorpes and Sheffield. These have been testing times for me but the solidarity shown by RMT members helped us reach a settlement that we were happy with. Thanks again, Glenn Watson Dear editor, Recent correspondence in RMT News refers to the free movement of labour, Karl Marx’s 19th century analysis and even a RMT president’s support for the Green Party. As a Labour councillor can I appeal for reality to break out? In May the Conservative victory means basic trade union rights will change. There is no chance of getting rid of Thatcherite legislation that bars secondary action. The trade union movement must recognise is that you cannot beat capitalist oppression by syndicalist methods. Workers’ rights in terms of better conditions, social provision and services will only come through Parliamentary legislation. The trade union movement needs to go back to basics and teach the next generation who face far worse life chances, that collective action and mutual support is the way forward, not individualism. That, brothers and sisters, will involve higher taxes certainly for the better off and even for transport workers. Please RMT wake up to reality. We have the most reactionary government since 1945 or even the 1930s. Learn to get through to your members that the majority in the UK are far removed from Karl Marx. Far too many are greedy, materialist and separatist. The way to protect all workers is to back Labour, warts and all. Yours fraternally Andrew Beere Labour councillor l e t t e r s VOTE TO GET OUT OF THE EU SCOTLAND AND THE SNP TUC'S DISABLED WORKERS CONFERENCE THANK YOU FROM GLENN WATSON LABOUR REALITY