RMT “out into the cold.”
The Rail Maritime and Transport workers union (RMT) was officially expelled from the Labour Party yesterday.
Labour booted the RMT out after the union, led by the militant Bob Crow, defied calls to disaffiliate five of its branches in Scotland with the far left Scottish Socialist Party (SSP).
At a special emergency meeting in Glasgow yesterday, the union voted 42-8 to ignore the threat of expulsion and announced plans for Scottish region representation to couple up with the SSP.
General secretary Bob Crow has threatened High Court action over Labour’s decision.
He told the emergency meeting Labour had deserted the working class.
“We should send a clear message that we are not going to be dictated to by Labour. The best way to deal with bullies is to stand up to them.”
Elsewhere, the Edinburgh branch of the Communication Workers’ Union is expected to affiliate to the SSP next Monday.
And the Fire Brigades Union chiefs may follow in their footsteps after the annual conference in May.
Under Mr Crow’s leadership the RMT cut funding to Labour from £112,000 a year to £12,500.
“I’ve got 70,000 members of my union and only 500 are members of the Labour Party. 69,500 are not in the Labour Party either, so I’m in the mainstream. I’m with the majority of my members,” he argued.
Mr Crow said his union was still permitted to representation in Parliament via a newly formed all-party group of MPs.
The RMT, formerly the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, helped establish the party over one hundred years ago.
SSP leader Tommy Sheridan said Labour’s relationship with the union was anachronistic.
“It hasn’t resulted in the re-nationalisation of the railways, it hasn’t resulted in the repeal of anti-trade union laws, it hasn’t stopped the privatisation of London underground and other public services.
“In other words, New Labour have carried out Tory policies.
“Why a trade union is affiliated to a party which is carrying out Tory polices is beyond me and I think it’s beyond a lot of RMT members as well.”
