by an RMT conference delegate 100 miles away from where In a series of overwhelming defeats for the union leadership, the main rail workers union(RMT) conference voted time and again for action in defence of their union rights.
The mood of the conference, and the votes taken, indicated that across the political spectrum rail workers understand that only industrial action will halt the management offensive. On receiving his retirement gift, Assistant Secretary Andy Dodds commented 'a flak jacket would have been more apt than a watch'.
Delegates voted for action around two key questions: the replacement of collective negotiating rights with individual contracts; and the 'restructuring' of the industry. It was clearly understood that the only possibility of rolling back this offensive was to achieve the unity of all grades of railworkers, as in the 1989 strikes.
But on pay, attempts by the left to tie negotiators down to a specific sum failed. The delegates to Knapp- pleaded, but got only two votes conference agreed to campaign for a 'substantial rise', thus leaving negotiators a free hand.
Delegates reluctantly recognised that the federation between the RMT and ASLEF, the drivers' union, had collapsed.
General Secretary Jimmy Knapp pleaded for a continuation of the agreement -but scored just two votes. The possibility of any move towards a single union for railworkers unfortunately looks remote. But this is a fight that must go on, based on the recognition of the common interests of all railworkers.
Thus the key issue coming out of the conference is how to pressure the union leadership to carry out its mandate for industrial action. The 1990 conference agreed a resolution committing the union to uniting all grades of workers, avoiding the possibility of British Rail management - picking sections off, one by This was simply ignored by the RMT leadership. This must not be allowed to happen again.
The French contingent call for cancellation of the Third world debt. More than 1,500 demonstrators protested outside the G7 Summit, making the front page of "The Independent on Sunday'.
PHOTO: John Harris THIS YEAR'S Transport and This was far from the only Home News •ANVEER LA DETTE The had the last T&G conference up in