28.04.2004

Serving notice

Around the web: True Aslef - trueaslef.com

As we saw last week, the official Aslef website is a typical example of the boring sites common to the trade union movement. Hand in hand with the dull aesthetic and equally plodding content was the complete absence of any hint of the union’s current civil war. That trade unionists and socialists have to rely on rumour and the bourgeois press for news about the problems facing a working class organisation is nothing short of a disgrace. But of course this is par the course for union bureaucrats of all stripes. Aslef is not the only union to have this ‘not in front of the children’ attitude, and it is doubly troubling that the majority of the left echo this approach to internal differences.

It may be a cliché, but the old phrase, ‘Never judge a book by its cover’, is especially pertinent in the case of the ‘True Aslef’ website. Its simplistic look suggests something built by someone with fairly rudimentary knowledge of HTML programming, reinforcing its claim that there is “no official sanction from any official of Aslef”. This does not stop it attempting to seize the rank and file mantle, claiming the very name ‘trueaslef’ is about train drivers having a ‘creative and positive’ involvement in ‘their’ industry. This smacks of the discourse of partnership beloved of rightwing bureaucrats throughout the labour movement. On the positive side, it notes “differing views and strong arguments may take place and the airing of these must be a benefit”. A pity that the Blairites unofficially responsible for this site only see fit to wear their democrat hats here. This apparent openness, however, comes with one important caveat: “Should any offensive, prejudiced or otherwise inappropriate material be posted on the forum we will aim to remove and block such material”.

Clicking on the ‘News’ link allows the viewer to enter the site proper. This page is headed by four links: ‘Home’, ‘News’, ‘Forum’, and ‘News archive’. Why they bother with the second link is beyond me, considering that this page is the news page. Anyway, the page scrolls down and down … and down, being indicative of regular updates by the site’s admin. At the time of writing, the first item comes from the curiously named ‘Titan’, who comments on the allegedly undemocratic practices of the so-called ‘Footplate Campaign Group’. It would have been helpful if the website, even as an aforethought, told the general viewer what this ‘footplate’ campaign was about, because the official Aslef site is not forthcoming either. Still, this piece is instructive because it and the subsequent reply by the site’s webmaster reveal a bureaucratic mindset. ‘Titan’ discusses the expulsion of five members for their involvement in trueaslef, and raises the claim that pro-Mick Rix leftwingers have a ‘mole’ on the website team. The webmaster pours scorn on this, and goes into a lengthy discourse about some of the factional moves around the London district secretary position. What comes out pretty clearly is a concern with capturing posts in the apparatus rather than a serious concern with union democracy.

The same is true of the next piece, a sneering item on the ongoing financial investigation and the announcement that the executive is no longer sitting in permanent session. Instead, this piece claims administrative power is now concentrated in the hands of the union’s presidency and vice-presidency. Just slightly further down the page is a leaked email from Mick Rix that attacks the background of Paul Blagbrough, the author of a limited report sanctioned by general secretary Shaun Brady (without executive approval) into Aslef’s murky finances. Our webmaster’s reply passes over this, suggesting it is just an attempt to discredit Blagbrough, and therefore his report. He seems unconcerned that this document is by someone who acquired a less than spotless financial record when he was at the budgetary helm of New Labour. The full report is posted further down the page for those interested. The rest of the ‘News’ items are in much the same vein.

Sadly the site’s much vaunted forum has been closed, and appears to have been so since April 2. Apparently, some people are alleged to have taken on multiple identities for the purpose of “swaying arguments”. So clicking on the forum link takes the viewer to a bland “The forum is currently in maintenance mode” message.

In sum this site is useful for Aslef members and interested parties. Despite the rotten politics on offer, it serves notice to the Aslef rank and file of the urgent need for them to reclaim their union from the bureaucrats - whether of the right or left.