LAST MONTH the RMT leadership narrowly voted to accept a new Machinery of Negotiation for British Rail staff. Before the ink has dried it has become clear that the decision has seriously weakened the union.
Union reps have been told by BR that as old structures have been abolished so have all old local agreements. The dispute and Manchester Piccadilly is happening because management have been given the green light to move against anyone trying to protect those agreements.
The new machinery gives increased power to BRs new business sector' management structure. Rail workers who previously organised together will find themselves split up and having to negotiate with what is now in effect dozens of separate companies In 1989 similar proposals were seen off after a token strike. BR knew that RMT members had been mobilised and were ready to fight. This time nothing has been done to explain the issues to ordinary rail workers.
Having managed to safeguard the role of national officials by retaining semblance of continued national negotiation, the reality of local and regional negotiation has been abandoned.
Coming soon after the sellout of London Underground workers this new capitulation is a serious blow to the RMT. The union response to events in NUPE, GMB) have opposed Manchester underline the dangers - following legal advice it has been decided that no circular on the dispute will be issued to anyone outside Piccadilly.
RMT General Grades Committee (GGC) members are now saying the BR are going beyond what was agreed and that they would never have voted to accept the new machinery if they had realised this was what would happen.
If this is to be seen as anything more than a weak excuse after the event then the GGC must immediately repudiate the deal and start to mobilise the membership for a real fight. As a first step thev could stand up to the legal threats and begin to organise some support for the sacked Manchester workers. build support throughout the