PARLIAMENTRY COLUMN

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: november/december 2016 :: RMTnews 9 Parliamentary column Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn was the surprise guest at the RMT Parliamentary rally in support of the battle against Driver-Only Operation on Southern Rail He said that he had opposed rail privatisation from the very beginning and explained how franchises still “rely on the safety nets of Direct Rail and public ownership to make sure the rail system runs and operates properly”. To huge cheers, he said that it was time rail “was operated for the good of all, by bringing all train operating companies back into public ownership”. He praised “staff on stations who are incredibly supportive and helpful to an awful lot of people” but he was clear “the idea of travelling on a train where there are no staff seems to me to be a bit daft, not safe, especially in a very crowded train where you need staff there to deal with any kind of emergency”. Recognising RMT concerns he said that it was his belief “that the government wants to introduce DOO across the network”. He finished by saying “Any other system where a company cancelled so many trains, had so many late running trains, had so many overcrowded trains then surely somebody would have called that franchise in and said Sorry you are not up to the job of running this” to thunderous applause. The rally after a demonstration outside Parliament with over 200 Members was chaired by RMT Parliamentary Group member Ian Lavery MP, who said both he and Shadow Rail minister Pat Glass MP were honoured to be present before welcoming Dot Gibson from National Pensioners Convention who told the packed rally “you are acting in the best traditions of our movement and we support you to the hilt”. Solidarity from Disabled People Against Cuts was brought by Paula Peters who talked of the blatant discrimination the proposals to remove staff will result in against disabled people who need the Conductors help and assistance. Andy McDonald MP Labour’s Shadow Transport Secretary slammed the government for “deliberately provoking and prolonging this dispute”. He was adamant that “this is about safety” and “the Tories are prepared to compromise and sacrifice safety at the altar of their ideology driven by a desire to make more money” He went on “They want a cowed and broken workforce… but you have withstood provocation, intimidation and now bribery and It takes some guts to stand up for what you believe in and you have my utmost admiration” He finished by pledging “Labour stands shoulder to shoulder with the RMT in not being prepared to compromise over safety”. Caroline Lucas MP, bringing solidarity from the Green party called GTR bullying and arrogant in the way they have behaved in this dispute. She said it was wrong to keep the contract details hidden and echoed the call for rail to be brought back into public ownership. TUC deputy general secretary Paul Novak said that GTR should hang their heads in shame the way they have conducted themselves in this dispute. “The TUC supports you and for the railways to be back in public ownership where they belong,” he said. RMT Parliamentary Group Chair Ian Mearns MP then invited RMT general secretary Mick Cash to speak and he said that he had never been so proud of RMT members and guards in this dispute. “We are going to fight them wherever they try and introduce this, and our members are up for the fight, as is this union,” he told a cheering audience. PACKED SOUTHERN RALLY