RMT President: vote John Leach
RMT members will soon get their ballot papers in the election for National President.
Tubeworker’s vote will go to John Leach, because we believe that he has the most commitment to rank-and-file members and to fighting the employers. He has a record of doing this, including leading unofficial action in defiance of the anti-union laws. He has also stood up to Bob Crow and the union bureaucracy, and will not simply be a bag-carrier for the General Secretary.
The other leading candidate, Ray Knight, is the nearest you get to a Blairite within RMT. He would spend his term as President doing his best to avoid any confrontation between the union and the employers or the government. Rail and Tube workers will lose out from this approach.
John is also the best candidate in terms of his respect for democracy, his genuine commitment to fighting discrimination, and his views on where the union’s political support should go (ie. only to socialists, not to liberals or nationalists).
Tubeworker has disagreed with some things that John has done on the National Executive. If he is elected President, he will probably do some things that we disagree with again. He will not change the way the union runs as much as Tubeworker would like – but he will change things for the better, and there is no other name on the ballot paper that we can say that about.
But remember – rank-and-file members getting organised is the best way to make any union leader deliver!
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President election
John Leach probabley would be better than Ray Knight, it would be hard not to be. i have to disagree with you that he is the best candidate for the rank and file though. As a current member of the E.C. and using this position to get his face in the RMT news,thus giving himself a clear advantage over the other candidates. Iam also confused as to how somebody who still has a year to run on the E.C. and is now running for president, meaning that if he loses will still be afull timer, can be best for the rank and file. No, i see somebody who is now a career trade unionist. I say vote for Michelle Rodgers of Manchester South branch. This election is not just between Ray Knight and John Leach.
President election
Wezzywest, could you tell us something about Michelle.
Presidents election
Wezzywest. I dont think you know John Leach very well.
I on the other hand do. To acuse him of trying to get his face in the RMT News and of being a career Trade Unionist is an insult that a man of his integrity does not deserve.
I have known John for many years and he actively shuns publicity. He does not put himself foreward, he answers the call of his membership.
John has served this Union well for many years, never putting himself first. He has served to defend the members against the bosses and the careerists inside the Union.
He had to be pushed into standing for this position as many members believe that he is the right man for the job and would keep career Trade Unionists out of it.
John is Rank and File. He is an Underground Station Superviser, and he never forgets that.
He has the total respect of everyone that has worked with him on the Underground and the full backing of the membership of the Underground for the work that he has done for us.
I agree that this election is not just between John and Ray. I also believe that a vote for anyone other than John Leach would be a mistake.
He has the best track record for standing up for the membership. He is willing and able to fight our own full time staff in the interest of the membership and he will always put the members first.
This is a very important post in our organisation. Lets unite around the right man for the job.
VOTE FOR JOHN LEACH FOR A DEMOCRATIC UNION, RUN BY THE MEMBERS FOR THE MEMBERS!!!
Rick Grogan
RMTpresident
Hi there, i take your comments on board and apologies if you feel insulted but i believe that John Leach should see out his term on the EC. as he was elected for 3 years by the membership. He should then take his experience back into the workplace and maybe run for president when the next election comes. Thanks.
President Election
What i want to know is who is going to stand against Bob Crow
as they will get my vote !
JOHN LEACH FOR PRESIDENT
Wezzywest
I can not understand why you are so obsessed with John going back to work. He was elected to the E.C. because that is where we believed that he could do the best work for us. I will be voting for him as president for the same reason. This is an important role and needs an experienced hand to hold it.
I am sure that your prefered canditate is a good and trusted trade unionist. I believe that John has the experience and talents needed for this job.
Interested observer
Bob crow is probaly the best General Secretary that we have had for decades.
He has turned this Union round from near bankruptcy to financial stability.
He has reformed our Legal representation, introduced the helpline and he is totaly behind the membership in everything he does. No one has worked more tirelessly for this Union. You would be making the same mistake that ASLEF made when they got rid of Mick Rix if you get rid of Bob.
rmt president
Easthammer, can you point out where i said get rid of Bob Crow. I think you will find that was somebody else. I agree 100% with what you say about him. Thanks.
JOHN LEACH FOR PRESIDENT
Wezzywest
if you look at my posting I did address the Bob Crow comments to the poster interestedobserver.
rmt president
TB. Michelle has been active in mancheser for around 20years. She has been involved and instrumental in unofficial strikes which took place at Manchester Picadilly in the 80s and early 90s including unofficial action when the Guards LDC at Piccadilly were sacked by letters handed to them onthe platform in front of passengers. As you can imagine doing this knowing that there might be a sacking letter for you afterwards is not an east thing to do. She was also ivolved inthe longest continuous strike on the rail of 3 weeks continuous. So i think her credentials are sound. Thanks.
politics
As a non-RMT member who's interested, could I ask what the DIFFERENCES between Michelle and John are, both in terms of industrial issues and broader political ones.
Also, are there just three candidates or more?
Hi there, not sure of the
Hi there, not sure of the differences, but Michelle is against the war on Iraq, opposes all forms of privatisation and is out recruiting members around the North west region every Monday, she gets paid 50quid for this which means she loses money as it is less than her rate of pay.There differences will show when the union sends out the ballot papers with each candidates statement on. Not sure how many are standing but i am annoyed that this web site is selling it as a two horse race, That is why i posted in the first place. Thanks.
A reply ...
Politically ... John is a socialist, and (correct me if I am wrong) the only candidate to say so on his branch circulars. He believes that the union's political support should only go to socialist candidates on the basis on working-class political representation, not to liberals, nationalists etc. He supports the LRC and John McDonnell's campaign. He was also instrumental in getting the RMT to support the Socialist Unity candidature in Hackney Central; opposes the union backing Respect; and has successfully argued to keep the RMT affiliated to the Scottish Socialist Party after the recent split.
I don't know Michelle's views on any of these, but Tubeworker hears that at the one head-to-head hustings between them, Michelle was pretty vague about her political standpoint.
Industrially, John is not the perfect Tubeworker candidate, but on a few key occasions, he has stood up to the union bureaucracy to prevent it selling out disputes. Please tell us if Michelle has ever done this. However, in her 20 years of active involvement in the RMT, she has not build a reputation for standing up to the bureaucracy, whereas over the last few years, John has.
He has also played a leading role in several industrial disputes in his region, but then again, Michelle might have done that too.
One further point. Much of the impetus behind Michelle's campaign seems to be coming from members of RMT's Organising Unit. Tubeworker does not believe it is right for appointed staff members to be organising to influence the result of union elections in this way.
rmt president
But dont you think John should see out his 3 years on the E.C. as he was elected to do and take this experience back into the workplace.It cant be right that full timers just stand for position after position and never go back into the workplace. Thanks.
JOHN LEACH FOR PRESIDENT
JOHN is a lifelong Socialist. He, like most trade Unionists oposes the war in Iraq and the proliferation of American Imperialism. He is an experienced and wily negotiator and a champion of workers rights. His experience and skills, along with the team, have benefited London Underground workers with 52 days holiday per year and reasonable working conditions. He has a proven track record.
No
I don't think that's a great principle, no.
No-one has ever proposed that RMT rules should de-bar people who already hold one full-time post from standing for another.
And the President can't restand at the end of their three-year term.
For what its worth I am
For what its worth I am putting gender politics into practice by supporting my pal Michele Rodgers for president of the union. She is a committed trade unionist and socialist and your lack of knowldge of her and passing on gossip does not alter that fact. Michele is strong and fiesty enough to defend herself so I don't intend to say any more on that.
My reason for writing is your unfounded, unsubstantiated and irresponsible attack on people employed in the RMT organising unit. Without a shred of supporting evidence you accuse them of using their employment to favour a candidate in an internal election. A charge that if ever upheld could result in their dismissal.
Those employed in the unit have over one hundred years between them of activity as trade unionists and socialists. None of them would allow themselves to put the work they all passionately believe in at risk by using the unit in the way you charge.
Of course in elections as individual members of the RMT they will have a view. That is because like all members they are expected to take part in the democracy of their union and vote. Like any other member( COE member, unity house employee ,regional office worker) they will express that view in their branches and no doubt the odd taproom. That is there right.
But what you are infering is that the org unit as a union resource is operating some kind of campaign in favour of Michele Rodgers. I have spoken to each of the recruiters and to Alan Pottage. All are appalled at your charges. Not one piece of paper or dot of ink has been used in anyones campaign. They all work independent of each other in the field and are nationally mobile, no meeting has taken place between them to discuss any candidate.
If you have evidence outside of gossip to prove your charges then produce it. That is what would be rightly demanded from the bosses who employ our members and you should accord the same rights to employees of the RMT.
It is my understanding that all the candidates in the elction for RMT National President are behaving with both restraint and dignity and I suggest you take a leaf out of their book.
Let me close by saying this. I assume the person who wrote that anonymous piece is a member of the RMT. If we in the union do not at least strive for fairness, justice and respect within our own workers organisations then we abandon the right to demand the same from the bosses.
Oh, I forgot to say, I am a socialist.
G.Revell
JOHN LEACH FOR PRESIDENT
Geoff
great to see you reading this Blog. I am sure that no one meant to put our organising dept at risk. Your personal integrity could never be brought into doubt and I would be the first to jump to your defence if anyone did.
I respect your choice of candidate and your right to express your choice.
You bring order back to this debate which was needed.
I will continue to Support John Leach however as I believe that he is the best and strongest candidate. Hope to buy you a pint soon.
Rick Grogan
Marxist
easthammer
Dear Rick ,
Thanks for your kind words. Still waiting these last ten years for the last pint you were going to buy me.
Geoff
JOHN LEACH FOR PRESIDENT
GEOFF
Attend Johns victory party and I will buy you a dozen.
Hope you are keeping well. Keep the Red Flag flying
Rick
You doth protest too much
Oh dear, a bit touchy, are we?
Nothing, nothing at all, in Tubeworker's earlier posts accuses anyone of using the Org Unit as a resource to support Michelle.
It clearly says "members of the organising unit" not "the organising unit". Tubeworker stands by our view that it is inappropriate for members of staff to be organising for a candidate. Yes, we know the union's rules allow it, but that does not mean that we have to agree with it.
Perhaps you should withdraw your unfounded, unsubstantiated and irresponsible accusation that Tubeworker made unfounded, unsubstantiated and irresponsible accusations against you.
"You doth protest too much"
I have never visited a blog before, I hope this doesn't break any rules .
Sunday afternoon, nice traditional lunch,couple of glasses of red wine and my mind wanders to your anonymous quoter of Shakespeares 'Methinks he doth protest too much'. I wonder what does it actually mean, has their ever been a purely political use for any meaning in the quote. Then I start to remember.
During the French Revolution 'Terror' phase the revolutionaries Danton, Desmoulins and others were put on show trial. The prosecutor Fouqier Tinville (I think that was his name) angrily protested to the Committee for Public Safety that the guilty verdict was in question because the Dantonists' were demanding that evidence be produced so that they could refute the charges, the sans coulottes in the hall were starting to listen to them.
The Revolutionary Tribunal were told, quite illegally, to stop screwing around and get them off to be executed. This they did.
Soon afterwards Robespierre and St Just backed by the Jacobins bullied through a law to ensure Fouquier Tinville, and they, would not be in such a position again. The law was called 'The Law of the Suspects'.
It was a real corker. Anyone could be denounced as a traitor and sent to prison or their deaths without any evidence other than someones say so. But here is the beaut, to demand evidence and protest innocence was considered by the prosecutor as further evidence of guilt . Only the guilty shout their innocence. Things were really dicey for those who 'doth protest too much'.
Members of the National Assembly saw the writing on the wall , realised their own situation and turned on the architects of that law, Robespierre, St Just and the rest.
At their trial no evidence was called other than confirmation of their names. They were sent for their appointment with Madame Guillotine. They died and the 'Law of Suspect' died with them.
'Vive la France!'
JOHN LEACH FOR PRESIDENT
Tubeworker
You would be well advised to listen to Geoff Revell and not to knock him.
He has pointed out an area of the debate that could have been misunderstood.
We should thank him for bringing that to our attention and clarify ourselves without the unnecessary candour. Johns campaign will not benefit from point scoring like children and I am sure that John would distance himself from this kind of debating.
rmt president
Yes i agree.
JOHN LEACH FOR PRESIDENT
Wezzywest
you should be congratulated for opening up this debate. Hopefully we will get a lot of questions and views about the various candidates. If nothing else is achieved,those reading and contributing to the blog will have a lot of information to think over before casting their vote.
I fervently believe John Leach to be the best candidate and I hope that he wins. I know one thing about the man, he would never shy away from open honest debate and niether should we.
Easthammer ...
Tubeworker was simply expressing a view that it is inappropriate for appointed union staff to organise for a candidate in a union election.
Agree with it or not, that's a point of view. It is neither 'childish' nor 'point scoring' to state it.
JOHN LEACH FOR PRESIDENT
POINT taken tubeworker.
The main message that we should be putting out is the danger of splitting the vote.
John is by far the strongest left candidate.He has more branches backing him than any other. A vote elsewhere could allow Ray KNIGHT TO pip John to the post. I believe that would be a disaster for our Union. I am suprised that an experienced campaigner like Geoff would put the left vote at risk by endorsing another candidate but that is his right.
The Union used to have an effective broad left that would have made sure that this splitting of the vote could not happen. We should be looking at reforming that body and making sure that in future we stand one left candidate for each position.
The problem is generic in the English left. We constantly spend time fighting each other instead of the real enemy.
let us try to unite the active left behind the only left candidate with a real chance of winning. Dont let the right in by the back door.
VOTE FOR JOHN LEACH.
A MAN OF THE MEMBERSHIP, FOR THE MEMBERSHIP AND WITH THE MEMBERSHIP!!!
Rick Grogan