"People's Railway" Campaign Rally 05/05/09Following the announcement by Network Rail on work bank deferral's, an extraordinary meeting was called and held at the RMT's headquarters at Unity House in Chalton Street in London. Union representatives from all of the renewals companies were present at the meeting.
RMT Headquarters Unity House, 39 Chalton Street, London, NW1 1JDThe main topic was how the union would respond to the announcement of a 28% cut in the work bank. By this stage 450 jobs were to go at Jarvis and 350 were going at Babcock, and that was just for starters.
Banners against the Lisbon Treaty and Job Cuts in London Transport adorning Unity House.It was agreed that urgent action was required and sooner than later, it was announced that the union would be balloting all of its member's within the renewals companies on industrial action on this issue. And it was agreed to combined it with the existing campaign against rail privatisation, using what ever methods were available to publicise the plight of rail workers. A rally on the 5th of May was organised.
RMT activist's setting up banners in preparation for the rally.The rally was due to start at around 1330, with participants forming up at "old Palace Yard" at Westminster at 1300.
Cardiff RMT activist's setting up banners in preparation for the rally.From 1300 until about 1430 we noisily demonstrated, with horns, pacards, and flags. When demonstrator's got a positive indication from a member of the public, or a passing motorist it resulted in a flurry of horn blowing.
Demonstrator's at the Old Palace Yard forming up for the Rally.Just after 1430, the rally moved of towards the visitor's entrance. Here we had to give up our placards, banners, and horns before entering. We all had to pass through the security screen, being photographed, then pass through metal detector's, personal effects passing through an xray machine. All before being finally admitted into parliament.
The visitor's entrance is near the base of the tower, with an access ramp leading down to the security suite where everyone had to pass through before being allowed into parliament.From the security suite we made our way around to the main entrance of Westminster Hall. An imposing space, which certainly has a humbling feel, you can feel the weight of the centuries. We crossed to the far end and up the stairs turning left down a shortish corridor into the central lobby. We were in parliament proper.
Short video clip of Westminster Hall.From the Central Lobby area, we made our way to Committee Room 14. Once everyone had filed in and were seated, a number a speakers addressed those that were gathered.
"The Gladstone Room" Committee Room 14.Amongst notable figures there were Bob Crow General Secretary of the RMT, Mick Cash Assistant General Secretary of the RMT, Rt Hon John McDonald MP, Rt Hon Kelvin Hopkins MP for Luton North, Rt Hon Jim Dobbin MP for Heywood and Middleton, Rt Hon Alan Simpson MP for Nottingham South, and Stephen Joseph from the Campaign for Transport were just some.
Kelvin Hopkins"It is time that industries like transport were brought back into the common ownership. Rather than continuing with privateers running the show and robbing the public of this country blind."
Jim Dobbin"Rail jobs are green jobs! Transport in its many forms in this country accounts for something like twenty five percent of the UK's carbon dioxide emission's. Rail transport itself produces around only a third of the level of emission's that road haulage and private cars produce."
John McDanald"Even after tkaing into account the difference in the value of money today as compared to twelve to fifteen years ago. It cost's four to five time's the amount of money to relay a mile of track now as it did under BR"
Alan Simpson"Many of the companies within the Rail Industry are starting to actively seek to renegotiate their contracts, threatening that they will just walk away if they dont get more favourable terms. More and bigger subsidies from the Government, and the Taxpayer to bear more of the burden if things take a downturn. Rail Transport should be taken back into public ownership, it doesnt need to cost the taxpayer a penny. When the contracts, and franchises come up for rernewal, we just take them back."
Bob Crow"Remember when you lobby your MP, that many MP's rediscover their political principles when it comes round to an election. But if they wont listen and deliver what the people want then its perhaps time that we set up a new political party that truely represents the working class people of this country, we did it once, and we can do it again. MP's ignore us at their peril, what goes around, comes around."Committee Room 14After the meeting in Committee Room 14 closed, everyone retired to the Central Lobby of Parliament to undertake the important business of lobbying their MP's. Those that hadn't already obtained an appointment to see their MP's, filled out Green cards to their MP's and had to wait to see if they were available.
Central Lobby.Images of Westminster.
