The RMT rail union will hold a Special General Meeting in Glasgow on February 6 to discuss the future of its political fund, the union's executive has decided.
The move follows receipt of correspondence from the Labour Party stating that the union's decision to allow branches to affiliate to the Scottish Socialist Party, in line with last year's AGM decisions, is inconsistent with the union's national affiliation to the Labour Party.
"Last year's annual meeting enshrined our affiliation to Labour in RMT's rules and agreed that branches should be free to support other organisations and campaigns in pursuance of the union's policy objectives, subject to executive approval," RMT general secretary Bob Crow said today.
"The Labour Party is now saying that there is a constitutional conflict, and the matter can only be resolved by the union's supreme governing body.
"Branches will be encouraged to hold special meetings to discuss the issue in advance of the SGM.
"RMT is a democratic organisation and the decision will be entirely in the hands of the Special General Meeting, the union's parliament," Bob Crow said.
Solidarity report on 2003 RMT conference
RMT's "notes to editors"
The RMT branches given leave by the executive to affiliate to the Scottish Socialist Party are: Edinburgh and Portobello; Glasgow 1&2; Glasgow Engineering; Perth No 1, and Wishaw and Motherwell. Requests for permission to affiliate to the SSP have also been received from the Scottish Regional Council and from the Fort William and North Clyde branches.
Details of the SGM venue and timings will be made available to the media shortly.
Text of letter from Labour Party follows
From Labour Party Head Office. Wednesday, December 17, 2003
Dear Mr Crow
Affiliation to the Labour Party
I am writing to you following the decisions of the RMT Executive to allow five Scottish branches of the RMT to affiliate to the Scottish Socialist Party and the decision of the Scottish Regional Council to affiliate to the Scottish Socialist Party. I understand that the decision of the Scottish Regional Council is subject to approval by the Executive.
For the avoidance of doubt I set out below an extract from the rule book of the party. The relevant parts of the constitution of the party are:
Each affiliated organisation must:
(a) accept the programme, policy and principles of the party
(b) agree to conform to the constitution and standing orders of the party
(c) submit its political rules to the NEC.
Chpt 1, clause 11.4
Further:
In furtherance of its primary purpose and key functions, the duties and powers of the NEC shall include:
(a) to uphold and enforce the constitution, rules and standing orders of the party and to take any action it deems necessary for such purpose, including disaffiliation, disbanding, suspending or otherwise disciplining any affiliated organisation or party unit;
Chpt 1, clause VIII, 3.a
The Scottish Socialist Party is opposed to The Labour Party. The decision of the executive to approve the application of five branches of the RMT to affiliate to the Scottish Socialist Party, and any decision to approve the affiliation of the Scottish Regional Council to the same party, constitutes a fundamental breach of the Rules and the essential nature of your affiliation to this Party and amounts to a repudiation of the RMT's affiliation to this Party.
The RMT has placed itself outside of the constitution of this Party. Unless the decisions regarding affiliation to the Scottish Socialist Party are immediately revoked the matter will be reported to the National Executive Committee at the earliest opportunity with a recommendation that the RMT be treated as disaffiliated from this Party forthwith.
I would be grateful if you could clarify the intentions (and any decision) of the R.M.T. in light of the contents of this letter. I note from your letter of December 9 that you have requested a meeting to discuss this matter. If, following this letter, you feel that such a meeting may still be useful then please do not hesitate to contact me on [number deleted by RMT press office] in order to arrange a date.
Regards
Chris Lennie
Deputy General Secretary
