13.07.1995

Support Aslef drivers

Aslef’s Lew Adams: looking for a quick fix?

AFTER the loss of the Rail Maritime and Transport union ballot for strike action over the three percent pay offer to railworkers, drivers in the Aslef union who won a ballot for strike action are looking for support.

RMT underground staff have voted for action and plan to join Aslef drivers in their one-day strike on July 26.

RMT and Aslef railworkers had hoped to co-ordinate action against the three percent pay offer and up the fight against privatisation and its attacks on workers’ pay and conditions. But only 31% of Railtrack members voted for action in a 69% turnout and British Rail workers won only a marginal victory of 51% in favour of action in a 60% turnout.

Many RMT members are extremely bitter at the result and blame the leadership for not mounting a campaign, while the leadership blames intimidation from managers.

A driver from Manchester told us: “RMT members don’t want to cross picket lines - they want to join Aslef’s action.” Railworkers in Manchester have mounted a joint campaign. RMT and Aslef members will attend each others’ meetings during the strike action, a strike committee has been set up and a support group is to be launched. RMT members have invited Pat Sikorski from the executive to speak to them on the eve of the first strike to advise them what to do.

There are 27 RMT drivers at Manchester Piccidilly - a high percentage which could threaten the strike in that area. RMT drivers have already been told to work on Friday or get sacked. RMT and TSSA traction inspectors who can drive have been similarly threatened. Lists of managers who can drive trains have already been drawn up.

The drivers’ position has obviously been weakened and Aslef is looking for a deal, which may include three percent and driver restructuring, but members of course are not party to these negotiations.

The dispute has brought a new unity between Aslef and RMT railworkers, but it also highlights the weakness of several different unions in one industry. If anything is to be salvaged, workers themselves will have to organise across union lines to disrupt management’s strike-breaking plans.

Linda Addison