Searchable article text
RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: september 2017 :: RMTnews 22 I first met Susan Elliott (August 10 1954-July 13 2017) in 1981. One of the earliest political campaigns she got involved in was the Anti-Apartheid movement. In those years South Africa was ruled under a monstrous regime of hatred and vicious discrimination. This regime aroused the anger of people around the world. Huge demonstrations took place in many, many countries. In Britain there was the Anti- Apartheid Movement. Susan was inspired by the courageous struggle of the South African people. It opened her eyes to many things that she hadn’t been aware before. Another event that had a large impact on Susan was the miner’s strike in 1984. Susan got involved in the Lambeth Miners support group. She, like so many others, was appalled at the brutal treatment of the miners. How the whole machinery of state was brought down on the heads of the miners and their communities. This experience helped to change the way she looked at the world. In 1986 Susan started work on the railway where she worked for the next 30 years of her life. It was not an easy time to be a rail worker. There were constant attacks on conditions and hard won rights. Susan was working a depot where the shifts started very, very early in the morning or often finished in the early hours of morning. Every day you began your shift at a different time. These were among the most demanding shift work hours worked in the country. This played havoc with your sleeping and eating patterns and could have serious effects on your health. On top of this there was bullying and intimidation from the bosses. Unfair sackings, racial and sexual discrimination and bullying were everyday occurrence. Susan got involved in many of these fights and one of them sticks out in my memory. This was the sacking of Sarah Friday a young woman train driver in my depot at Waterloo. Sarah was the safety rep. This brought her into conflict with WIMBLEDON BRANCH SAYS FAREWELL Ray Davis of Wimbledon branch remembers Susan Elliott a longstanding member, activist and comrade