10.08.1995

Labour strike breakers

DAVID LENNOX, chairperson of Carlisle Constituency Labour Party, knows which side his bread is buttered.

First, in his role as Customer Services Director for British Rail, his job was to warn Rail Maritime and Transport union members that, if they voted to strike, “there is a possibility that there may be no job for you when you come back”.

Then, wearing his Labour Party hat, he called for the disciplining of John Metcalfe, the RMT delegate to the Carlisle party, for having the temerity to call for his resignation. John Metcalfe responded:

“I regard his position as untenable. We are a socialist organisation and yet when it comes to the right of an affiliated trade union to take bona fide industrial action without interference from senior BR figures, the Labour Party rallies round to support the manager.”

David Lennox was unavailable for comment, but a BR executive said there was “no conflict of interest between his management function and his political role”.

Jimmy Knapp, RMT general secretary, has been asked to intervene with the local Labour Party to stop the disciplinary procedure.

Mr Johnson, secretary of Carlisle City RMT branch, warned that this “could lead to a split in the Carlisle Labour Party”.

Wouldn’t that be a terrible thing?

Phil Kent