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RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: september 2018 :: RMTnews
13
RMT successfully participated in
its second Notting Hill Carnival
last month. The main theme was
the celebration of Claudia Jones,
known as mother of carnival,
with her slogan “A people’s art
is the genesis of their freedom”.
It has been said that in
recent years Carnival has
degenerated into a side show of
little political relevance. The
original racial tensions that saw
the need to have a presence on
the streets, displays the need to
further vocalise the political
message to those that are
unaware or willfully ignorant to
what is taking place.
It is a political message to
annually display African and
modern-day Caribbean culture
on the streets of Notting Hill. It
is a demonstration against the
racism from the state and the
agents of the state that permit
institutional racism. It is little
wonder given the history
surrounding Carnival and the
attitudes undertaken by the
Metropolitan Police.
Claudia Jones was born in
Trinidad in 1915, she was a
journalist who later founded
Britain’s first back newspaper in
1968. Claudia migrated with her
family to the United States as a
child and in her adult life faced
persecution as an active
communist in the McCarthy era.
Claudia Jones fought the
struggles that black women
faced and found solace with
white US communist comrades
as they inevitably strived to
resist the exploitation of race,
class and gender in the pursuit
of the supersession of the
capitalist system.
Amongst the struggles of
Claudia Jones, she defined the
triple super-exploitation of
black women in the Jim Crow
era. Black women were not
allowed to join trade unions nor
gain protection from the relative
labour legislation.
Claudia Jones was
characterised as a threat to the
United States government and
exiled in 1955. On arrival to the
United Kingdom, Claudia Jones
founded the West Indian
Gazette, an anti-Imperialist and
anti-racist publication. She was
active until she died in 1964
and was buried next to Karl
Marx.
At the Notting Hill Carnival
our RMT banner, stated that
“RMT remembers the anti-racist
and social campaigner Claudia
Jones and her fight for equality
and justice in the face of her
political persecution”. Activists
also leafletted the crowd and
promoting Keep The Guard on
the Train and Cut Fares not
Staff campaigns. Branch and
regional council banners were
displayed on our float.
A
ballot for industrial action
at Southeastern railways
was cancelled last month after
the company reinstated a long
serving member unfairly
dismissed for simply carrying
out his duties and putting safety
first.
Despite 34 years’ service
Norman Hutchings was
dismissed after removing an
unruly and ticketless person
from station property, no
complaint was made but it was
picked up on CCTV and he was
dissmissed.
The Dover and District
General Grades RMT branch
immediately requested a ballot
of all traincrew, station and
shunting staff members at
Dover Priory if he wasn’t
reinstated at appeal and notice
was served.
After he was reinstated Mr
Hutchings spoke at a special
branch meeting earlier this
month and said that he was
eternally grateful for the union’s
help and asked to pass on his
personal thanks to everyone
involved.
RMT general secretary Mick
Cash congratulated the branch
for its swift action which
resulted in reinstatement.
“There can be no doubt that
the clear solidarity shown by
members ensured that this
overly harsh dismissal has been
reversed.
“However that there remains
still a problem with the "Hands
Off" assault policy imposed by
the company and we are
seeking further meeting over
this matter,” he said.
RMT representatives will be
meeting with the company to
discuss how these issues can be
addressed moving forward. A
working party comprised of
RMT Industrial and health and
safety representatives is also
being set-up to look into the
policy as soon as possible.
DOVER VICTORY
RMT AT CARNIVAL
RMT member Nathan
Wallace reports on this
year’s Notting Hill Carnival