In July, the RMT annual general meeting passed a motion on international LGBT rights: the time for us to take action is now.
In recent weeks, LGBT rights activists in Zimbabwe have reported a shocking rise in state-sponsored intimidation, arbitrary arrests, and beatings of Zimbabwean LGBT people. In August, the building of GALZ (Gays and Lesbians Zimbabwe) was raided and President Robert Mugabe’s riot police arrested 44 LGBT activists.
At yesterdays Tory cabinet reshuffle Patrick Mcloughlin was appointed as the new transport secretary. Mcloughlin, MP for the Derbyshire Dales constituency has been a Conservative MP since 1986 The website 'theyworkforyou.com' lists him as voting 'strongly against equal gay rights,' 'very strongly for the Iraq war' and 'moderately against a transparent Parliament' among other things.
We note that this document adds further evidence to support our belief that London Underground is planning a wholesale attack on jobs and conditions, under the pretext of new technology such as driverless trains, smartcard ticketing and automated maintenance. We reaffirm this union’s view that new technology should be used to complement staff, improve services and increase safety – not as a pretext for cutting staff and cutting corners.
National Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Advisory Committee
In the absence of statistics as to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender membership, we reaffirm the existing basis of election to this Advisory Committee as up to five delegates per Regional Council area. This is to be reviewed prior to the next election in 2015.
Branches, Regional Councils and current members of our National Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Advisory Committee to be advised.
National Women’s Advisory Committee
RAIL UNION RMT today demanded a parliamentary probe into plans passed to the union which would see the publicly-owned Network Rail forced to buy-back rail freight yards gifted to private rail freight companies as part of the privatisation carve-up of railway assets.
TRANSPORT UNION RMT will put the issue of a referendum on British membership of the EU, alongside a call for British withdrawal, on the agenda at the TUC Congress which gets underway in Brighton on Sunday (9th September).
You can download the flyer below - please print and distribute amongst comrades
The RMT's London Transport Regional council has organised a meeting for members to discuss the changes to Employment tribunals - one of many attacks from the Tories on workers. The meeting will also discuss how these and further attacks could be defended against.
The meeting will cover what every RMT rep, activist and worker needs to know and what can be done in the face of further Tory attacks designed to make it even harder to fight for justice in the workplace.
The meeting takes place at The Exmouth Arms on Tuesday 25th of September at 5pm.
In her final act of betrayal of the UK rail industry before heading to Northern Ireland, rail minister Theresa Villiers confirmed that the Thameslink fleet contract, now delayed for over 15 months, has been booted into the long grass again with only another vague statement that it may be signed off in the autumn.
The latest blow to British train building came as it emerged that Siemens, the preferred Thameslink bidder over Bombardier in Derby, have had to pay the Greek Government £262 million in settlement of bribery allegation around the Athens Olympics in 2004.
This decision confirmed the allocation of members and workplaces to the 17 branches in RMT’s London Transport region, as listed here.
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We note the report from our Regional Organiser regarding spheres of influence of branches within London Transport region. We endorse the report and instruct the General Secretary to ensure its implementation.
