THE RECENT RMT ballot for strike action over PT&R (redundancy arrangements) was defeated 10,193 for This major setback was seen as a result of the total lack of campaigning by the leadership. The only publicity materail produced was at a local level.
When the RMT Special General Meeting last week heard the result it agreed to call upon the General Grades Committee to examine what had led to the defeat.
Two hours After a two hour session immediately after the close of the SGM the committee agreed by 10 votes to 9 to set up a special sub committee to investigate why nothing had been produced by head office and to take control of any publicity produced for any further ballots.
This is a step in the right diRMT leader Knapp rection to recover from the defeat but angry activists at special conferences this weekend were sceptical. They will be convinced of a change when they see somehting different.
Ballotting is about to take place for interim pay award for signalling grades and there is still a dispute with British Rail over negotiating machinery.
The left needs to put pressure on the special committee to reverse what is seen as a betrayal by union officials FIVE DAYS of study, discussion and fun.