PARLIAMENTARY COLUMN

Parliamentary column TRADE UNION CO-ORDINATING GROUP LAUNCHED www.rmt.org.uk :: september 2008 :: RMTnews 9 A cross-union Trade Union Co- ordinating Group(TUCG) was launched at the TUC Congress this month to give trade unions a new and stronger voice in parliament. RMT has joined with a number of other unions to co-ordinate industrial and political campaigning and develop working class representation within parliament. At the launch John McDonnell MP welcomed the fact that the National Union of Journalists (NUJ), the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) and RMT had come together on such a basis. “This is a significant breakthrough in trade unions working together on a common agenda of key issues facing their members and importantly securing a strong political voice and representation in parliament,” he said. Over recent years a number of trade unions have reviewed their arrangements for securing representation in Parliament on the issues of direct interest to their members. This has resulted in the reformation of several trade union Parliamentary groups, bringing together MPs to act on issues of concern to the particular union and provide representation in Parliament to promote their policies. However, it has become increasingly clear that there are a number of issues which are core concerns to several unions and where a common approach can be taken. RMT general secretary Bob Crow said that the group would be well placed to stimulate the constructive debate needed to respond effectively to developments in government and parliament. “Trade unionists have had a bellyful of anti-trade-union laws, privatisation and attacks on public services and this initiative will help us to co- ordinate campaigning in parliament on the issues that matter to working people,” he said. NUJ general secretary Jeremy Dear said that the establishment of the group was about trade unions standing together united, making sure that the views and values of the movement are given a strong and powerful voice. PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said that when all the political parties were agreed on pay cuts, running down the welfare state and yet more privatisation, unions required new forms of political action. FBU general secretary Matt Wrack also told the meeting that the TUCG was a crucial development in the history of political representation. “It provides a voice for workers and trade unionists from across all the sectors and who are under attack from privatisation, pay cuts and the rising cost of living,” he said. To promote greater co- operation and co-ordination MP’s will be invited to take part in the Trade Union Co- ordinating Group and promote a number of key policy objectives, including opposition to the privatisation of public services and support for public ownership. The promotion of trade union rights, in particular the enactment of the Trade Union Freedom Bill, the eradication of low pay and the protection of decent pensions will also be high on the agenda. R MT recently took part in a TUC-organised conference on trades unions and climate change. If steps are not taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, we face serious consequences and increasingly bitter trade disputes as countries struggle for control over key natural resources. The Climate Change Bill commits the UK to legally binding targets to reduce carbon emissions by between 26 per cent and 32 per cent and then 60 per cent by 2020 and 2050 respectively. Reductions on this scale will inevitably lead to changes in a series of energy intensive, high polluting industries including transport. Around 450 delegates discussed the role trades unions should play in mapping out a sustainable future whilst ensuring that jobs and skills are protected. RMT led the discussion at two lively transport workshops which discussed a range of issues including public ownership, electrification, high- speed rail, road user charging, rural bus services and Heathrow airport expansion. Transport currently accounts for around a quarter of UK carbon emissions the vast majority of which are from road transport, although emissions from aviation are growing rapidly and projected to increase even further by 2030. Trains, buses and coaches have clear environmental advantages over cars and planes. In order to deliver a sustainable future, a publicly owned, fully integrated and environmentally sustainable transport plan is required. There will be important consequences for jobs and skills as demand for domestic and short haul flights and long distance road haulage reduces and demand for rail, bus, coastal shipping and light rail increases. One of the key points RMT made was that it is essential to protect jobs and transfer skills, by involving trade unions in drawing up and delivering such a plan. Workers in effected industries should not suffer. There is no point in bringing forward a plan which leads to thousands of job losses with no prospect of future employment except for in the low-skilled, low-paid service industry. RMT’s recent report into developing a high- speed rail network as an alternative to both short haul flights and the third runway at Heathrow explains that a new high speed network could create thousands of jobs in construction, train manufacturing and on rail services, for workers at Heathrow to transfer to. The alternative is a market driven free-for-all, leaving workers exposed to job losses and reduced living standards. This is a future which will benefit neither the environment or transport workers. TACKLING CLIMATE CHANGE