TRACK engineering workers in seven companies spanning the country have overwhelmingly voted for industrial action. As we go to press, the ballot results from workers in three other companies are expected to see similar endorsement of the RMT's campaign for decent wages and conditions. A special Engineering Conference on 6th June will discuss what action should be taken.
At the same time a ballot of RMT members on LUL will conclude. The time has come to start to fight back against privatisation.
The RMT has already notched up one major victory this month. Train Crew on South West Trains were facing the introduction of Driver Only Operation (DOO) which would have resulted in the loss of some hundreds of jobs, with worse conditions for those left to pick up the work. After a strong campaign amongst the membership a ballot endorsed strike action by a massive majority. Faced with a united workforce the company was forced to back down. They abandoned their plans and are now having to dismantle equipment at every station they had just installed at great expense. This is the first time in twelve years that DOO has been stopped through industrial action. It is a clear indi. cation of how vulnerable the new rail companies are.
However, the engineering workers' dispute will not be solved so easily. The two to one vote for action to win decent pay and conditions now has to be translated into an effective campaign of action. It is clear that one-day strikes here and there will not work.
The engineering companies have already laid plans to deal with such sporadic action. The special Engineering Conference must recognise that long term action will be necessary. At a minimum this means striking for a week at a time, if not all out. This will have to be fought for throughout the country.
From the meetings held in the build up to the ballot, it is clear that the activist membership in many areas is preparing for such a struggle.
But to be translated into Remember when Labour leaders marched with the rail workers? reality the whole membership will need to be convinced that the Union is wholly committed to their struggle.
Meetings and rallies organised through the RMT, but also bringing in the wider movement, will be vital in preparing the ground over the next weeks for the solidarity campaigns that will be needed when action starts. D& DIS