When negotiations fail, RMT members take action
The following is a report of the organisational conference on 29 August requested by branches and facilitated by the Region.
The day began with a general assessment of some recent disputes, including those involving TfL, Metronet, Tubelines, and the fight against Casualisation within LUL, with a view to establishing what the union did well and where it did badly.
Positives
Now we must co-ordinate the action Come to the meeting: 19 August, 6.30pm Friends House, Euston Road, opposite Euston station Speakers: Bob Crow, and reps from all the disputes
By Steve Hedley, RMT London Transport Regional Council Secretary
Massive congratulations are in order for the RMT members who have organised effective strike action recently.
Supported RMT’s campaigns and industrial action over recent years? Thought the union did some things OK but some things less well? Come to our conference on Friday 29 August in the King’s Cross area to discuss with other union members how we can make current and future struggles more effective.
From 'RMT On The Trains' newsletter, August 2008
Recent threats of strike action combined with public campaigning by the RMT caused management to re-think their plans to cut station staff. We pointed out that a safe railway must be properly staffed. Videos will never substitute for staff.
LUL have now dropped their plans to close dozens of ticket offices. Furthermore they dropped plans to do away with station supervisors during traffic hours – not everything we want but even that could not have been achieved without determined action from your union.