JIMMY KNAPP has been returned as General Secretary of the RMT. After a hard campaign, left challenger, Greg Tucker polled 34% of the vote. His election campaign marked a welcome sign of unity on the left with every major current participating in Despite Knapp's claim to have inflicted a "major defeat for those on the ultra-left", the vote for an openly hare lett cancicato must de seen as a serious message that RMT members are dissatisfied with the way that the union is being run.
The election for Assistant General Secretary is now to be re-run after irregularities in the ballot papers sent out to members.
The GS vote shows that a serious upset is still within the reach of the left. If the RMT is to be turned into a fighting union it is important that RMT activists redouble their efforts to see Pat Sikorski elected. We asked Greg Tucker what he thought of the elections.
"I want to thank all those activists throughout the Union who helped me in my campaign. Over the election I was able to travel around the country talking to RMT members. It is clear that many are very frustrated by the way the Union squanders the loyalty and goodwill of members.
"While there is a will to tent back against the attacks being made on us by the privatised companies, too often, our Union is dodging the issues and backing away from standing up for our members.
"What we need is a both a new leadership at national level - I hope everyone will be working to get Patrick elected - and a new spirit in our ranks. The time is right for activists to get together to organise so that our Union can fight for our members interests.
"We need officials who give a lead, so it is important that wen post" tions come up for election we campaign for candidates who will 'organise" rather than "compromise". But we also need the rank and file fighting to hold them to account. Such organisation amongst ordinary members must be our priority.
"I am glad to say that through the campaign behind my candidature we have been able to lay the groundwork for rebuilding rank and file coordination.
"I am disgusted with the way that the AGS election is being run. Head Office clearly failed to set out the ballot papers properly. Members were clearly confused about how to vote. But instead of immediately rerunning the election, the Executive tried to close its eyes to the problem and carry on regardless.
"Now that they have been forced to see sense they are trying to blame Patrick for pointing out their errors. This is utter hypocrisy.
"Instead of launching a witch-hunt against Patrick they should be apologising for having wasted up to €40,000 of RMT members' contributions.
"This is just another reason why we need to see a change at the toD of our Union."
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