THE 'new realism' of RMT leader Jimmy Knapp is now poised to create the biggest disaster for London Underground workers and their trade unions since the war.
The RMT London Transport District November against the company plan, which proposes the loss of over 5,000 jobs - but is really about the destruc tion of effective trade unionism on Lon don Underground.
Management has consistently refused to negotate any aspect of the plan and from its launch made & clear that they were going to impose it, come what may They were prepared to discuss implementation with local union representatives but the main planks of the plan were only to be presented to the unions and were not up for discussion.
The RMT London District Council immediately instructed its NEC representatives Bob Crow and Dave Hatt to argue for a policy of total opposition to the plan, no negotiations at local level and for an industrial action ballot unless the company backed off.
Of course the company did not back off. But the rank and file trade union representatives also stood firm.
iney went to presentions as in structed by management under the exising machinery of negotiations but refused to enter into any discussions. Then in February the company deunion leadership, by instructing key groups of engineering supervisory statt lo apply for their own jobs.
Supervisors would now be called Team leaders'. Seniority in the grade would no longer apply, and all suitable LUL staff and outside applicants would be considered.
The District Counci cont is NEC members back to demand an immedi Dave Halt broke the mandate and supported a turious fight by Jimmy Knapp to call off any balloting until after the general election.
With the LUL District Council NEC members spit for the first time in living memory, and with enormous pressure being brought to bear by Knapp, the NEC rejected the ballot call by 18 votes to 2.
Knapp made much of the commiments he had been given by John Prescott - who of course was supposed to be the next Minister of Transport. As 2 happens the DC later got a much stronger commitment through direct pressure on Prescott himself! After 9 Apriithe activists have a mountain to cimb.
The NEC voted the day after the rection for a ballot for all out stri action against the plan. This time the vote was unanimous!
alloting in the workplace take ace from 22-29 April with anothe week alowed for posta votes. Ine to sut will be known around 6 May.
AIl RMT members on London Underground will be balloted. The Confed unions are also balloting. Utter. ly predictably, ASLEF and TSSA are Management will undoubtedly speed up imposition of parts of the plan and will promise to sack anyone taking strike action, as they did during the last ballot in April 1991. mass meeting for Tuesday 14 April to moblice for the balot. We can onh organise from there for an all out fight.
Nơ. 20 Jimmy Knapp OCIALIST Unshackle the Unions Which way for socialists in the Manchester Saturday18 - Sunday 19 July Speakers include: Arthur Scargill, Tony Benn MP, Ronnie McDonald, OILC Carolyn Sikorski 53a Geere Road, London E15 Details:
April'17, 1992
Resisting 'New Management Techniques