RIP Bob Crow A militant remembered

I am sad to pass on the news of the passing of Comrade Bob Crow this morning aged 52. The general secretary of the RMT union for many years leading them to successful victories time after time on pay, jobs and working conditions. I understand Bob died in the early hours of Tuesday the 11th of March 2014 of a heart attack. His death will be a huge loss to the labour movement not just in the UK but around the world where his militant stance and taking on the employers one admirers all over the world. While I didn’t agree with Bob on everything such as the his No to EU project and its semi left nationalism and his 145 k a year salary not taking a workers wage we cannot knock his record in fighting for his members and his class as a set of results. Bob was revered by the Tories and the labour party alike who saw him as a troublemaker and hell bent on strikes and bringing the London underground to a standstill. This was not true at all as you would expect me to say. The only reasons tube workers and their drivers got such good pay was through their fight and determination to not roll over and give in to the employer’s demands. I do hope Bob’s legacy is remembered well for me he was one of the greatest trade union leaders in his generation. I just hope we don’t see the crocodile tears from the labour party and their hangers on as they were no friends of the RMT or Bob Crow demonizing him on many occasions over the years. Let’s put our efforts in to making Bob's legacy a one he would have been proud of. As the big man would not have wanted us to mourn his death but to get organised and continue the battle for a better world instead as Bob more than most understood collective power in the workers movement. RIP and solidarity. To all who knew the man.

Please support the tube strikes

Thousands of London Underground workers are taking part in a 48-hour strike over proposed cuts which include closing every Tube ticket office in London. Members of the RMT and TSSA unions walked out on Tuesday and will stay out until 9pm on Thursday 6th February in the first of two 48-hour stoppages. Under the proposals being put forward by London mayor Boris Johnson and Transport for London (TfL) hundreds of station staff jobs would be lost and supervisors would be moved from stations. TfL claims the plans are needed to save £50 million a year. The London Chamber of Commerce and Industry estimate each strike could cost the London economy £50 million a day. Workers have already been taking action with an overtime ban in place since last month which has led to some station closures. From Friday union members are set to start a 'revenue strike' which should allow free travel between certain times on certain days. The second 48-hour stoppage is due to take place from 9pm on Tuesday 11th Feburary to the same time on Thursday 13th February. Picket lines Workers are asking members of the public to support their picket lines and are expecting supporters from groups fighting austerity, such as Disabled People Against the Cuts and Occupy, to attend. Please visit this website below http://www.rmtlondoncalling.org.uk/node/4830 To find out where picket lines will be and to pop down and lend your support. During the next few days where we will see some rough stormy weather why not warm a tube worker up by popping along to the picket lines and offering solidarity. This is sure to be a long drawn out bitter dispute with Boris Johnson looking to try and smash the unions. Don’t let him these are attacks against our class we must stand up and show solidarity with our brothers and sisters who work on the tube day in day out and provide the safety in their assistance they give us. As a disabled person I am hugely appreciative of the kind support and assistance I can access when travelling the tube and this allows me to access the capital and travel independently. Do not allow Boris his moment in the sun. Solidarity and victory to all tube workers.

solidarity with RMT tube drivers who ballot to strike over unfair sackings

TUBE UNION RMT today announced strike dates after members voted by almost two to one for strike action in a ballot of all train operator and instructor operator members in the on-going disputes over the victimisation of union activists including two driver members - Eamon Lynch and Arwyn Thomas - over their trade union activities.

All London Underground train driver members are instructed not to book on for any duty that commences:

•between 21:01 on Monday 16 May and 11:59 on Tuesday 17 May
•between 12:00 on Wednesday 18 May and 11:59 on Thursday 19 May
•between 12:00 on Friday 20 May and 21:00 on Friday 20 May

All London Underground train driver members are further instructed not to book on for any duty that commences:

•between 21:01 on Monday 13 June and 11:59 on Tuesday 14 June
•between 12:00 on Wednesday 15 June and 11:59 on Thursday 16 June
•between 12:00 on Friday 17 June and 21:00 on Friday 17 June

Eamon Lynch, RMT Bakerloo Line drivers’ health and safety rep, has been sacked by LU and although he remains on full pay following the union’s victory on Eamon’s behalf at an “interim relief” Employment Tribunal hearing the company has shown total contempt for the Tribunal process and have upheld his sacking. Interim relief is only ever granted by the Employment Tribunal where there is the clearest possible evidence that an employee has been dismissed on the grounds of their trade union activities. RMT is currently awaiting the outcome of Eamon’s full tribunal hearing.


Arwyn Thomas, a long-standing RMT activist and driver at Morden has been sacked on trumped-up disciplinary charges following unproven allegations made against him by strike breakers. Arwyn has been an RMT/NUR member for over 29 years and has held various positions in the union. Arwyn has also won an interim relief hearing at the Employment Tribunal on the grounds of his victimisation as an RMT activist and has been put back on full pay as a result.


RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:


“It is the abject failure of LU to recognise that their policy of victimisation of union activists has been well and truly rumbled both in the Employment Tribunal and in their own depots that has left us with no choice but to name these dates for strike action.


“The solution is simple - LU should accept that they have been found out, get these drivers back to work doing the job that they are being paid to do and bring an end to the constant harassment of union activists whose only crime is fighting cuts to jobs and safety.


“The massive vote for action by tube drivers shows that they are well aware of the consequences of allowing our activists and safety reps to be picked off while we hear daily reports of breakdowns and failures on the network as a direct result of the very cuts that our members have been fighting.


“The attack on Eamon Lynch and Arwyn Thomas is the clearest cut case of victimisation on the grounds of trade union activities that you will ever see and it’s no wonder that the Employment Tribunal was swift to see through the management lies and grant both these members “Interim Relief” - an award which requires the strongest possible proof that their sackings were down to their union activities.”



Ends




To me i will always b ack union members wishing to take strike action no matter what as i believe in workers having a way to protect themselves against management and the onslaugh of the capitalist system at its harshest. This strike is not only right but it is fair and i do hope the two workers are reinstated on full pay and compensated for loss of earnings too. The LU think they can bully union members around well they have anotehr thing coming. This sadly is not uncommon in the workplace the victimisation of union members and union reps is something i have blogged about before on this blog and it upsets me to no end. IT just shows that the law is so unfairly balanced against trade unions in this country we barely have a foot to stand on. Its a disgrace and we must show our support and solidarity with these workers. The RMT are one of the best unions for standing up for their members and i think they should be supported not victimised and slandered by the capitalist press.

RMT to ballot members on strike action over union member victimisation by LU

SO yet more union news here now and further evidence the ruling class's and the boss are victimising union officials in a attempt to drive through their cuts. IF this strike does come about i as a trade unionist will be supporting the strike 100%. No victimisation is acceptable and not least when it c omes to union figures. For London undergroudn to go after this guy for the fact he is a union rep and making him a scape goat and a example is just plain wrong in my opinion and we must support him and RMT if they do vote to take action.

TUBE UNION RMT announced today that it has served notice on London Underground for a ballot of all train operator and instructor operator members for strike action in an escalation of on-going disputes over the victimisation of union activists including two driver members - Eamon Lynch and Arwyn Thomas - over their trade union activities.

The ballot will close on 27th April 2011.

Eamon Lynch, RMT Bakerloo Line drivers’ health and safety rep, has been sacked by LU and although he remains on full pay following the union’s victory on Eamon’s behalf at an “interim relief” Employment Tribunal hearing the company has shown total contempt for the Tribunal process and have upheld his sacking. Interim relief is only ever granted by the Employment Tribunal where there is the clearest possible evidence that an employee has been dismissed on the grounds of their trade union activities.

Arwyn Thomas, a long-standing RMT activist and driver at Morden has been sacked on trumped-up disciplinary charges following unproven allegations made against him by strike breakers. Arwyn has been an RMT/NUR member for over 29 years and has held various positions in the union. Arwyn has also won an interim relief hearing at the Employment Tribunal on the grounds of his victimisation as an RMT activist and has been put back on full pay as a result.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:

“With the Mayor and TfL announcing this week that they are increasing their cuts assault from £5 billion to £7.6 billion it is clear that part of their strategy is to attack and victimise union representatives and activists in an effort to try and bulldoze through their de-staffing plans across London Underground.

“The attack on Eamon Lynch and Arwyn Thomas is the clearest cut case of victimisation on the grounds of trade union activities that you will ever see and it’s no wonder that the Employment Tribunal was swift to see through the management lies and grant both these members “Interim Relief” - an award which requires the strongest possible proof that their sackings were down to their union activities.

“Eamon and Arwyn have been victimised for fighting cuts to jobs and services that would turn the tube into a death trap. We are balloting all of our drivers to send out the clearest signal that workers who stand up for tube safety will get the full support of RMT members.”

A few union news stories

SO in the news today there has been a couple of interesting union news stories which often dont get the recognition and the news time as perhaps they should. I myself like to keep on top of union matters and feel they dont have a big enough voice in the mainstream media. The mainstream media often the capitalist's own media refuse to publish union news stories in a positive light if they do publish stories on them its usually some good old union bashing. Well i'm a trades union member and will speak up for them and give them a voice if they need to. I wont defend them to the hilt of course but i will when i feel they have been misrepresented and anti union laws have been enforced.

So below are two news stories which have made the BBC today

Unions welcome court strike ruling
The RMT had called a strike on the Docklands Light Railway
Court halts train drivers strike
Two rail unions have welcomed a court ruling that prevents minor mistakes in balloting being used to halt strikes.

Aslef and the RMT challenged injunctions blocking strikes over small faults in procedure, such as polling those not entitled to vote.

The Court of Appeal clarified the law, saying unions cannot be expected to always have up-to-date membership records.

Trade union leaders called the ruling a "major step for industrial freedom".

Two strikes that were planned separately - by the RMT on London's Docklands Light Railway and by Aslef on London Midland - were halted in the courts because of what were seen as technicalities.

In the Aslef dispute, an overwhelming "yes" vote was set aside, because the employer objected to two ballot papers that had been sent to two members who were not entitled to take part.

The court said in future that the information should be "as accurate as was reasonably practicable" and that allowances should be made for "small accidental failures" in administration.

'Massive victory'

Richard Arthur, from the law firm Thompsons, who acted in the case, said the findings were a major victory for the union movement.

"There's been a series of cases over the last 18 months to two years where employers have found it easier to get injunctions and the way the legislation has been interpreted by the courts has been ever more restrictive," he said.

"This case redresses that balance and interprets the legislation in the way its supposed to be interpreted."

Keith Norman, Aslef's general secretary, said it had been almost impossible to take legal strike action in the UK.

"If the employer could find the tiniest discrepancy, the courts would find in the employer's favour," he said.

Bob Crow, leader of the RMT, called the result a "massive victory" and said it paved the way for millions of members to take action over cuts to jobs and services in the coming months.


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The second story from the BBC news today on union matters well done the BBC for getting two in today is on post ofice workers pay and conditions.

Post Office staff vote to strike over pay
The Post Office says the Crown offices are losing £55m a year
Staff who work in Crown post offices have voted to go on strike in a dispute over pay and possible branch closures.

Communication Workers Union members at the 373 branches voted by nine to one for a strike, on a 66% turnout.

Talks are scheduled with the Royal Mail but strikes could start by the end of March if they were unsatisfactory, the CWU warned.

The Post Office said it was "disappointed" by the result, adding that deliveries would be unaffected.

The union said it was worried by the lack of pay rise this year and the future of the Crown offices.

'Job security'

Crown post offices form the network of main branches in the UK's High Streets and employ about 4,000 counter staff.

CWU deputy general secretary Dave Ward said: "This ballot is about more than pay - it is the job security of our members and the future of the Crown office network which is also at stake.

"The government and the company appear to be hiding the fact that they are planning a programme of further Post Office closures," he added.

Last month, the Post Office rejected the CWU's claim for a staff pay rise, saying the Crown branches were losing money, amounting to £55m in the past year.

A spokesman for the Post Office, said: "Post Office is disappointed that staff in our 373 directly managed [Crown] branches have voted in favour of strike action. Some 97% of Post Offices are run by subpostmasters and they will be unaffected by any industrial action.

"Postal deliveries across the UK are also unaffected by this ballot result."


Just a few stories thre to get your teeth into. I'll trya nd highlight more union news stories in the coming weeks and months as giving unions a better voice on this blog may not be much but its something that the mainstream media fail to do.

Boris's blatent attacks on Londons commuters

Reading Ken Livingstones article in the Evening Standard today
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23910672-commuters-dont-deserve-outrageous-fare-hikes.do

He raises some excellent points that Boris Johnson Londons conservative mayor has been very tactical by scrapping the western zone of the congestion charge in London. This is cleverly where alot of his tory based voters originate in and will be very pleased with this move i'm sure. But to counter balance this move Boris has hiked up tube and bus fares up by huge amounts.

What's wrong with the way fares are being handled now is that people on average incomes are feeling the pinch.

The richest have an unyielding champion in the Mayor, who only last week was saying he was worried about criticism of the bankers, and warned that the tax levels of the rich could not continue.

But who is standing up for those on average incomes and those in the suburbs?

The Mayor's fare increase is a direct transfer of resources. Between £50-£70 million of income has been lost by axeing the western half of the congestion charge zone. Today's fare increase raises almost exactly the same amount.

Over the past three years we've got used to soaring fares. Since Boris was elected he's raised the price of a single bus journey on our Oyster cards by 44 per cent and pushed up weekly bus and tram passes relentlessly, now up to £17.80, an increase of 40 per cent.

There can't really be any justification for that in hard times. To pile such increases on hard-pressed Londoners in such a difficult period verges on the immoral.

It also means thumping outer London hard. From today a weekly travelcard for zones one to four will be £249.46 a year more. An annual six-zone travelcard will cost £232 a year more, breaking through the £2,000 barrier. A zones one and two monthly travelcard will crash through the £100 barrier for the first time.

Whether in City Hall or Whitehall, Conservatives seem to prefer measures either to help the richest Londoners or vanity projects such as the “new bus for London”, or aiding polluters, or piling on the misery with VAT.

The Campaign for Better Transport and celebrities such as Michael Palin are now at the forefront of demands for fairer rail fares. They are right. Fares policy is out of touch.

Tube, bus and rail fares are more unfair than at any time since London was given back its democratic voice.


Ken raises some excellent points and if he carries on these lines i think he shall pick up some support from frustrated and angry commuters who have had enough of fare rises's every year.

There is just a complete lack of investment in the tube of late which has lead to delays and signal failures. As someone who lives close to London i take a interest in London as it is our capital city and matters a lot to the country and how it runs. As to tourists it is often what people see first when arriving in the country. Having affordable public transport is a key issue for me as a disabled person as i more than a lot of others rely on the public transport. Being priced off this angers me alot.

I urge you all to take a look aat this website here which i've signed up to to campaign for fairer fares for all. I feel this is important for keeping Londoners happy.