www.rmt.org.uk :: december 2006 ::
contents Page 4-7 GENERAL NEWS
Page 8 DIVERS NET 44.7% PAY DEAL
Page 9 PARLIAMENTARY COLUMN
Page 10 PLANET BEFORE PROFITS
Page 11 RAIL FRANCHISING HAS FAILED
Page 12 RMT BATTLES FOR RIGHTS OF FERRY WORKERS
Page 13 THE VIKING LINE CASE
Page 14 SHIPPING LETTERS
Page 15 BRING BUSES BACK UNDER PUBLIC CONTROL
Page 16 SIGNALS FROM STIRLING
Page 18 DEALING WITH BACK PAIN
Page 19 LOL MAKES LEGAL HISTORY ON ASSAULTS
Page 20 TIME FOR REAL ACTION ON ASSAULTS
Page 21 KEEP THE EAST LONDON LINE PUBLIC
Page 22 SAVE YORK WORKS
Page 24 TRADE UNIONISTS LAUNCH SHOP-FLOOR FIGHTBACK
Page 26 21 REASONS TO BE A MEMBER OF RMT FIGHTBACK
Page 28-30 NEWS
Page 31 PRESIDENTS COLUMN
Page 32 CHRISTMAS QUIZ
Page 34 BOOK REVIEWS
Page 35 EQUALITY IN DIVERSITY
Page 36 CROSSWORD/CLASSIFIED ADS/LETTERS
Page 40 HOW TO JOIN THE CREDIT UNION
RMT News is compiled and originated by National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers, Unity House, 39 Chalton Street, London NW1 1JD. Tel: 020 7387 4771. Fax: 020 7529 8808. e-mail bdenny@rmt.org.uk The information contained in this publication is believed to be correct but cannot be guaranteed. All rights reserved. RMT News is designed by Bighand Creative and printed by Leycol Printers. General editor: Bob Crow. Managing editor: Brian Denny. No part of this document may be reproduced without prior written approval of RMT. No liability is accepted for any errors or omissions. Copyright RMT 2005
RMTnews
EDITORIAL
ACTION BRINGS RESULTS fter ten days of continuous strike action our North Sea diving members have netted themselves a pay deal worth over 44 per cent over the next two years. This really shows what can be achieved if members stand together. Other members are also taking a stand against the imposition of pay and conditions without proper consultation or negotiation. Signallers in the Midlands and Eurostar cleaners have indicated that they are prepared to defend their interests and take strike action. Meanwhile, the private sector continues to prove itself inefficient and incapable of delivering the huge increase in transport capacity our environment demands. A National Audit Office report has revealed that the West Coast Mainline upgrade is “vastly overbudget” and the line will be incapable of coping with passenger growth. Virgin, the private train operator on the line, has also taken nearly £600 million more in public subsidy than originally expected under its franchise agreement. Meanwhile, the bankrupt company Sea Containers will be allowed to continue running the GNER contract on a management basis for a further two years despite government claims that it does not renegotiate rail franchises. The stark warnings in the Stern report underline the need for a fundamental rethink about transport and a shift from road and air travel to trains, trams and buses. To achieve this we need a growing, joined-up and affordable railway in an integrated transport network, and a new high-speed north-south railway is clearly essential. Yet it is clear that it cannot be delivered by the current fragmented and privatised set-up. The recent appalling performance of Metronet shows that the privatisation of Tube infrastructure, known as PPP, is incapable of delivering expected maintenance and renewal work on time. Yet that does not prevent the privateers from racking in a million pounds from the taxpayer each week. It is no good London Transport Commissioner Peter Hendy repeating complaints about Metronet's performance and for an “end to the excuses”. The fundamental problem lies with the very nature of the complex PPP contracts and the solution is to bring the lot back in-house before disaster
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strikes. This inability by private companies, once described by London mayor Ken Livingstone as “thieving scum”, is also the reason that the labour movement does not want the East London Line taken out of the public sector. There is an alternative, and bringing rail maintenance back-in-house has played a major role in Network RailÕ s improved performance. The same medicine should be administered to track renewals. It is good news that NR’s operating profits will be ploughed back into the industry rather than disappear into shareholders’ pockets – it’s a pity that can’t also be said of train operations. This relentless drive to introduce competition is causing more problems than it solves, often creating instability and uncertainly in what are supposed to be essential services. This chaos is exactly what is facing the Gourock-Dunoon life-line ferry route following the imposition of EU diktats demanding that the service go out to tender without subsidies. This tendering process was carried out at a huge public cost, yet no private companies want to operate the route without guaranteed profit from the public purse. This has left local communities that rely on these services facing an uncertain future and the taxpayer has been forced to pick up the bill for the whole pointless exercise. Finally, congratulations to our newlyelected executive members and I look forward to working with them and our new president John Leach. I am sure you will all join me in thanking our outgoing president Tony Donaghey for all his hard work over the last three years. The next issue of RMT News will have details of our new education centre in Doncaster, but you can enjoy a ‘virtual tour’ on the RMT website now to see for yourself what excellent facilities are available. I would like to wish you all a happy Christmas and a peaceful and prosperous new year, and hope you enjoy a well-earned break. Best wishes
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