Printed by Tridant Press, Edenbridge. Published by Idolrare Ltd, PO Box 1109, London N4 2UU. Copyright © 1994 SALES IN CHILDRENS SWEET SHOPS The RMT Signal Grades conference on September 18 agreed to link talks on their pay claim with talks on "restructuring". This is a step backwards in the dispute. It is preparing the basis for a climbdown by the RMT leadership.
The signal workers' fight has become a test case for government attempts to hold back public sector pay. Railtrack wants to hobble the RMT before full privatisation of the industry.
There is no chance of the government agreeing to a settlement which is in any way favourable to the RMT - unless they have to.
Signal workers are becoming demoralised by the lack of success of one day stoppages confined to a small number of workers.
This is not the time to expect the government or Railtrack to be reasonable. This is the time to go for JIME & TON PORT HONES "D&DIS DES escalation.
WORKERS Music It is absurd that other rail workers are working normally, while signal boxes are staffed, unsafely, by managers and scabs.
The safety issue must be used to bring out other RMT workers on strike days, as part of a programme of escalating the action.
Without such escalation, there is a danger that the signal workers' fight could drift to defeat.