No policies please! In the meantime as far as London Region is concerned, the UNISON bureaucracy seems less worried about its support for Bannister, and more about its support for The editor of the Regional bulletin London Calling has asked all Labour's Mayoral candidates to write a piece for publication - but only Livingstone was forthcoming. Pressure was then exerted that the article should not be printed: so much for movilg the debate onto policy!! NEXT ISSUE THIS ISSUE of Socialist Outlook has a final copy date of November 22. Because of the Christmas and New Year break, our next issue will be produced on the weekend of January 15-16. Any feature articles or letters for publication should be forwarded to us by January 8, at PO Box 1109. London N4 2UÚ, or by e-mail to us at [email protected]. Website Visit the Outlook site on www.labourFor three weeks the RMT dithered. Despite attempts by some Executive members to have the issues discussed, the union failed to act to defend Guards under changes in rail safety rules. Now RMT the rank and file Crew Grades been recalled. It must be allowed to plot a firm course of action to defend its members.
In October, the courts decided to ban the national strike called by the RMT.
This was an attack not just on RMT Guards but on the Union and the whole trade union moveInstead of launching a campaign to defend the grade and to oppose this use of the anti-union laws the RMT leadership waited, the full decision of the judge. In fact, it is clear that Vernon Hince, RMT officer in charge, wanted to ensure that the heat went out of Rail This has been his approach all along. But like many of the other faise starts in this campaign the Train membership has had other ideas. Pressure from Branches forced the Executive to recall the rank and file Grades Conference.
should allowed to discuss how we could rebuild our campaign, what new demands can be made and how a resolution of our dispute can be had with cach individual train operating company. In particular we should be launching demand guarantees from every TOC that a full primary safety mole or nas docu whatever the Rule Book says.
Failure to produce the appropriate guarantees should immedi. the ately lead to reopening the strike with cach TOC separately. This time round we should be preparing in advance to retuse co accept that judges have any right to overturn democratic decisions to take action. It is time the Union leadershi; took heed of RMT Annual General Meeting decisions and stood up for the membership irrespecFrom Tolpuddle onwards it has always been necessary to refuse to accept unjust laws. In the context of the Ladbroke Grove tragedy it is vital that the RMT is seen to be leading the rail sately and it 1s absurd that the TOCs have been able to posture as defending rive practices.
Guards safety As part or tae the RMT should launch a peoples tribunal on rail conjunction with the other rail unions if possible, with key independent working class renresentatives sitting in judgement on the state of the railways, to which rail workers and others can give evidence. Official government Inquiries but only independent can truly get to the heart of the PrODICIN Privatisation has been able to cat away at the jobs and conditons of tal workers. inchall Crew grades have shown they can than most, but now face a serious the strengta of feeling is out there the RMT must be prepared to give a clear icad
Outlook pensieners, the still key to