Rail unions

by Janine Booth, President, Hackney Trade Union Council London Underground plans to hand over the East London Line to a private Train Operating Company. Even though railway privatisation is one of the least popular policies ever, it is to be inflicted on us again - unless we fight to stop it. The line currently runs from New Cross to Shoreditch, but for years, there has been a plan to extend it both northwards through Hackney and southwards to Croydon. That plan has been repeatedly held up. First it took a back seat to the Jubilee Line Extension, because projects linking business areas are...

As London Underground decides to privatise the whole of the East London Line, Tubeworker declares war against the sell-off. We argue for an uncompromising campaign by Tube unions and the working-class communities alongside the line. And as RMT calls off industrial action over safety and over Chris Barrett's sacking, we look at how these campaigns can go forward. Plus plenty of workplace reports, with typical unseasonal cheer from management. Download pdf .

By Angela Paton The Executive of the railworkers' union RMT met on 8 December 2003, and voted in favour of RMT Scottish region affiliating to the Scottish Socialist Party (SSP). Done and dusted - they told the SSP earlier tonight. The SSP structures however aren't really ready for a trade union affiliation. No-one is quite sure how it will work, certainly not on a block vote like it used to be in the Labour Party. They will have representation on the national committee and on regional committees, but I'm sure there will be much discussion inside the SSP over this.

London Underground workers are due to take industrial action on 9-10 December over safety on the Tube and privatisation of its infrastructure. The biggest Tube union, the RMT, is demanding 24-hourly inspection of all Tube track; immediate introduction of speed restrictions wherever track defects are discovered; and all track, signalling and rolling-stock maintenance work to be carried out by qualified London Underground employees. On 9-10 December it is calling on drivers to drive at 10mph on all dubious track section, and station staff to close stations whenever they become overcrowded...

This month, Tubeworker assesses London Underground's policy for dealing with harassment at work, and looks at the commitment to equality from both the employer and the unions. We also argue for more action over the safety crisis: a 'go-slow' is not enough, and should be added to by more imaginative action, followed by strikes. Workplace reports include updates on two sacked train drivers, plus more examples of the chaos created by privatisation. You can download it as a PDF here .

Firefighters, postalworkers, Tube: Make it a Winter of Discontent! By Gerry Bates As Solidarity goes to press, more and more firefighters across the country are joining unofficial industrial action. This battle comes just after the postalworkers' victory, through unofficial strikes, against Royal Mail bosses' attempt to impose unilateral changes in work conditions. Meanwhile, London Underground workers are ballotting for industrial action on safety after the recent derailments on lines now contracted-out to private maintenance. In two depots they have already ballotted on action over...

Diane Abbott's decision to send her son to a private school is disgraceful. She has been widely condemned throughout Hackney for turning her back on the Borough's schools, teachers and children. Below is a resolution - which I proposed - passed by Bakerloo Line RMT, condemning her and asking the national union to remove her from its Parliamentary group. "This branch condemns Diane Abbott MP for sending her son to a fee-paying private school. Such schools are a backbone of class inequality and privilege. We reiterate our support for free, well-funded, quality, comprehensive state education for...

After two derailments in two days, Tubeworker urges workers and the unions to push forward their fight for safety and to bring back the Tube's maintenance into the public sector. Workplace stories include the fight to save Chris Barrett's job, the sham terrorist exercise at Bank, and the election for RMT President. Download pdf .

Hammersmith & City drivers: Vote YES to strike! London Underground has sacked Tube driver Chris Barrett after claiming to have filmed him visiting a squash court when he was off sick with an ankle injury. Despite Chris' doctors saying his action was wholly appropriate, LUL is determined to uphold its 'right' to persecute its staff who are ill or injured. Chris' union, RMT, is balloting its members at Edgware Road and Barking depots for strike action to demand his reinstatement. The deadline for voting is Wednesday 29 October. This special issue of Tubeworker encourages all Chris' colleagues to...

Last weekend saw two shocking derailments on London Underground. On Friday evening, a Piccadilly line train derailed just outside Baron's Court station; on Sunday morning, several people were injured - at least one seriously - when a Northern line train came off the rails in a tunnel at Camden Town. Both seem to be the fault of poor track condition; both can almost certainly be blamed on the privatisation of the Tube's infrastructure. The day after the second derailment, representatives of one of the tube workers unions, the RMT, held a big and angry meeting. The union has committed itself to...