AWARDS/LETTERS

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: february 2018 :: RMTnews 29 ACROSS 1 Scantness (10) 8 Alleviate (7) 9 Cure (5) 10 Praise (5) 11 Voter (7) 12 Give up (6) 14 Impede (6) 16 Flight cost (7) 17 Declare invalid (5) 19 Contort (5) 20 Twist together (7) 21 Container (10) DOWN 1 Confident (4,9) 2 Representative (5) 3 Oblique (6) 4 Embryonic (7) 5 Fair play (13) 6 Desire (4) 7 Funeral car (6) 12 Property (6) 13 Receiver (7) 15 Imperfection (6) 17 Ludicrous act (5) 18 Sediment (4) £50 PRIZE CROSSWORD The winner of last month’s prize crossword Winner T Powesland Send entries to Prize Crossword, RMT, Unity House, 39 Chalton Street, London NWI IJD by March 9 with your name and address. Winner and solution in next issue. Last month’s solution... Crossword sponsored by UIA SUPPORT THE GUARDS Dear editor, 1979 was the year I started my railway career as a Guard/Conductor. It was also the year that Thatcher embarked on a war with trade unions, passing numerous pieces of legislation to undermine workers’ rights and stifle solidarity and a feeling of workplace community and camaraderie amongst working class people. Years later the Blairite new labour brigade maintained these anti-worker policies making some of them even worse. The Tory/Liberal coalition under Cameron and Clegg imposed even more restrictions on organised workers and those principles of collectivism and solidarity, but in one part of England at least called Merseyside, it appears the age old principles of unity is strength and an injury to one is an injury to all is still alive and well. It is important that not only the guard/conductor grade but all workers especially within the railway industry acknowledge the need of a second safety-critical trained person aboard all trains. I would like to pay tribute to all those Merseyrail ASLEF drivers who have shown courage and steadfast resolve standing alongside their fellow workers by refusing to cross a picket line. Make no mistake, we can and must win this dispute in the name of safety. Let us all hope that the strong unwavering principle shown by Merseyrail ASLEF drivers becomes infectious throughout their organisation. It just remains to be said, not only on behalf of my own branch Liverpool no. 5 but branches up and down and the width of the country to our friends and neighbours the Merseyrail drivers, thank you! Regards Martin McNulty On behalf of Liverpool 5 Branch LABOUR AFFIALIATION Dear editor, I wish to reply to the letter sent in by Steve Metcalfe to the November/December issue of RMT News. I take note of your opinion that my letter may have breached the advice of the RMT circular dated 27 July not to have any formal debate until we are better informed of any future contacts with the Labour Party. As you then ignored your own advice and continued a formal debate so shall I. I do agree with you entirely that the Labour Party should support a socialist Brexit, abolition of anti-union laws and secure tenancy housing matters especially post-Grenfell. I also believe the Labour Party should fully support renationalisation of rail, bus and other vital services including water and power without compensation. I also whole heartedly believe that elected members of the Labour Party who have not backed the manifesto, leadership or union campaigns and strikes should be forced to seek re-election at the mercy of the membership in fully democratic elections. I totally disagree that I have singled out TUSC or made any veiled attack on the Socialist Party. I also visited every meeting put on at the AGM in Exeter by the Socialist Party and happily took part in debate with them. I am also not a Socialist Party member. I stated: “I am afraid that supporting individual MPs is not going to achieve nationalisation of our industries or repealing of the anti-trade union laws. I am afraid supporting TUSC will not have the electability of the Labour Party. In reality I believe the only way to achieve our political aim is to support the Labour party through affiliation making stronger the commitment to socialist policies & manifesto”. I still believe that the Labour Party will win more seats and have more chance of gaining a majority in Parliament and Councils than TUSC will over the next five years, now we can ignore this or use our influence to change Labour Party to a socialist policies and manifesto. Regards, Ian Allen