20.07.1995

Rail unity urged

DAY TWO of the Aslef rail strike resulted in an almost complete shutdown of the system. British Rail managed to operate a tiny number of Mickey Mouse services, using RMT drivers who have been instructed to work normally by union leaders after the failure of their strike ballot. Very few passengers are using these trains, or the fleet of coaches hired at great expense to substitute for rail services.

Pressure is building up on the British Rail Board and government, as the two days of strike have cost over £20 million. More than enough to give drivers a six percent increase.

Ballots held on London Regional Transport have resulted in substantial majorities for action. London tube workers will be coordinating their strike days with Aslef railworkers, which will cause complete transport chaos in the capital.

The RMT nationally is threatening to re-ballot British Rail drivers over the board’s inability to pay the agreed three percent increase to RMT drivers without also paying it to Aslef. RMT drivers in Manchester are pursuing two other local options to get a ballot.

Joint meetings are continuing in Manchester and a real unity has been forged at the grass roots. This has blunted management’s attempts to cause animosity between Aslef and the RMT. Manchester Picidilly Aslef is calling on the trades council to support the drivers and to help set up a railworkers’ support group. A rally at the Picidilly station picket is planned for Thursday July 27.

Paul Watkins, British Rail Board personnel director, has called for Aslef to reballot its membership, as he feels drivers are unhappy with the dispute. Aslef has rightly rejected this, pointing to the 100% support of Aslef drivers on the ground. This is the only ballot we need.

Manchester drivers suggest that Watkins puts his idea to the Tory government, which clearly has an unhappy electorate. Maybe we should also ballot on whether drivers think Watkins and his cronies should receive their 25% performance bonus.

One-day strikes are all right as a start, but if drivers are to win this dispute we will need to escalate. It is vital that drivers link up with other railworkers and win their support. The example set by Manchester needs to be followed everywhere. Support groups must be built now to prepare for any escalation.

Aslef driver, Manchester

Support the railworkers

OVER 70 people attended a meeting organised by the Colin Roach Centre and the RMT London Midland District Council to organise support groups for Aslef and RMT strikers.

Over 50 railworkers from British Rail and London Underground attended with 20 supporters from various leftwing groups who understood the importance of a victory for railworkers to stop privatisation.

There was unanimous agreement from the meeting that we needed to put solidarity action on the agenda, not only in the rail industry, but to coordinate with other workers in dispute over pay - ie, healthworkers and teachers.

It was widely felt that a summer of discontent could bring down the enfeebled Tory government.

Railworkers were outraged to find out that the BR chairman had been given a wage rise of £60,000 and that BR bosses had given themselves a 20% bonus when workers are offered a pay-cutting three percent - inflation is at about 3.7%.

More than once railworkers pointed out that we could not be content with getting rid of the Tories, but had to ensure through industrial action that any incoming Labour government would realise that it faced a militant and organised workforce who would continue to battle against it.

Many workers expressed no confidence in Blair and some even called for a new party which would represent working class interests.

Confidence was bolstered when Euston railworkers told how they had refused to go on track at night for three weeks because of inadequate numbers of staff and faulty lighting. Their grievances have now been met in full.

To achieve this victory workers leafleted other depots and ensured that any victimisation would be met with immediate walkouts. This shows that solidarity gives us a real power to demand our rights.

RMT, member London