l a n r u o ASLEFThe ASSOCIATED SOCIETY of LOCOMOTIVE ENGINEERS & FIREMEN J OCTOBER 2016 ASLEF in Action At thE tUc AnDY hoURiGAn on Action for Southern Africa GREGoR GALL writes an open letter to theresa May DAViD hiLLMAn: why we need a Robin hood tax We fell in love aSlEF’s new CDP The train drivers’ on the iron road best practice guide union since 1880 railway enginemen’s tax free saver plans you can save for your future for the cost of your TV sports package tax free policies from £5 per week products saver plan children’s saver plan saver and disability plan for further information call us on freephone 0800 328 9140 visit our website at www.enginemens.co.uk or write to us at Railway Enginemen's Assurance Society Limited, 727 Washwood Heath Road, Birmingham, B8 2LE Authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority & the Prudential Regulation Authority Incorporated under the Friendly Societies Act 1992 l a 6 1 0 n 2 r R E B u O T o C J Published by the AASLEFSSOCIATED SOCIETY of LOCOMOTIVE ENGINEERS & FIREMEN O Mick chairs the JfC fringe meeting at the TuC Where decisions that affect us are made 4 5 T IS sometimes easy to fall into the trap of the railway bubble, especially with some i of the toxic government-driven organisations we are forced to deal with. news Refreshingly, the TUC reminded us about all the Jeremy Corbyn joins us at Burston and AfR 4 other issues that affect our families and our futures. Naturally, we were involved in debates about How two drivers found love on the iron road 5 strategic investment and railways, the future of freight, supply chains, apprenticeships and the ASLEF’s new competence development plan 6 selling off of railway land. Showing the red card to racists in Scotland 7 Steel workers were present and the continuing 11 uncertainty for their futures, and families, moved Darran Brown and Tom Corbin take Pride 8 delegates; the striking GTR Southern conductors also got a huge response due to malicious treatment by a poor employer. Testimonies from Features teaching unions and those in the NHS make it clear that this government is creating a society for the Gregor Gall’s cheeky open letter to Theresa 10 rich, attacking social mobility and access to May on the eve of the Tory conference healthcare. From every sector the impact and effects of austerity give evidence to the lie of the ASLEF in action at the TUC in Brighton 11 Big Society; it is clear there is a real battle for all our Mick Whelan, Simon Weller, Dave Calfe, 12-13 public services. In Manchester they are talking of Ian Thompson and Paul Cutmore at the TUC sacking 1,250 firefighters so they can alter their contracts and we will support the FBU in the David Hillman on the Robin Hood tax 14 coming battle. 19 Andy Hourigan reports on the EC’s decision 15 We sometimes get questioned as to why we devote so much time and effort to politics. It’s to affiliate to Action for Southern Africa because that’s where the decisions that impact on our industry and our lives are made; trade unions 22 were set up to give workers a voice in that process. Regulars We have seen, recently, the impact in the freight sector of political decisions on coal and steel and Branch News and 100 Years of Union 16-17 the rewriting of agreements in the ITT process to Obituaries 19 sponsor forced change of hard-won agreements. The campaign is over and the Labour Party Letters and Classified Advertisements 20-21 leadership has been decided (again). Now it’s time for the party to come together to challenge a Tory Last Word: Best of the fall books. It takes a 22 government that needs to be confronted, especially red-headed woman to get a dirty job done in relation to the future of the United Kingdom On Track, Prize Crossword, ASLEF’s Legal 23 outside the EU. Services and Change of Address I met with Chris Grayling, the new Transport Secretary, and raised our concerns over the safe Cover photo by Andrew Wiard operation of the railways. It would be misleading to report that he shared our views on current policies which we oppose, and know are driven by the DfT, and told him we shall continue to contest. The ASLEF Journal is published every month by: Simon Weller, ASLEF’s assistant general secretary, ASLEF, 77 St John Street, London, EC1M 4NN Tel: 020 7324 2400 has been re-elected to the TUC general council and deserves to be congratulated. I also send email: [email protected] website: www.aslef.org.uk congratulations to Richard (Dicky) Fisher on his re- election as District Organiser No 6. EDiTor Mick Whelan l DESignEr Michael Cronin l PrinTEr TU Ink, 107 Fleet Street, London, EC4A 2AB aDvErTiSing Ten Alps, Portland House, Bressenden Place, London, SW1E 5BH. Contact Edwin Rodrigues on Yours fraternally 0207 657 1819 or [email protected] l ClaSSiFiED aDS [email protected] or call 020 7324 2400 Mick Whelan, general secretary The acceptance of an advert does not necessarily imply endorsement of that product or service by ASLEF ChangE oF aDDrESS Please post your details to ASLEF, 77 St John Street, Clerkenwell, London, EC1M 4NN October 2016 l The ASLEF Journal 3 news For all, not a few ICK WHELAN, in a barnstorming speech at the Burston strike school rally, condemned Theresa May for claiming that the M Conservative Party is a One Nation party and said that’s as bankrupt as David Cameron’s idea of building a Big Society. The GS, who spoke immediately before Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, pointed out that Cameron’s Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition was simply looking for camouflage for their cuts – like libraries – in public services. And May is only governing on behalf of the few, not the many. Mick, EC5 Howard Kaye, DO5 Nigel Gibson, and RMS secretary Les Muir joined hundreds of others in the labour movement in Burston, near Diss, in Norfolk to celebrate the longest strike in British history. It began in 1914 when two teachers, Annie Higdon and her husband Tom, at the village school, were sacked for taking the side of the farm labourers, and their children, and for standing up against the landed gentry and the despotic right-wing rector of the local parish church. Sixty-six of the 72 children at Burston school walked out to join the Mick speaking at Higdons’ strike school, initially in a tent on the village green, which ran Burston (he was until Tom died in 1939. Jeremy’s warm-up man) ‘Tom and Annie, and the parents and the children in this village, and marching with MEP showed the courage and solidarity and concern for ordinary working richard howitt and the people that is still, today, at the heart of the trade union movement,’ aSlEF crew. Photos: said Mick to loud cheers and applause. Peter Everard Smith Passengers are paying more and getting less Labour Party leader taxpayers will wonder Jeremy Corbyn and why they must pay Shadow Secretary of more for an State for Transport increasingly poor Andy McDonald service. When will the joined rail union government and the leaders at London Department for are unstaffed, and rail Bridge to protest at Transport listen to companies cut the Shadow Transport Secretary the steep rise in fares those impacted by guards who ensure andy McDonald, EC1 Marz under the daft decisions and journeys run Colombini, labour leader Conservatives. New what is patently only smoothly and safely. Jeremy Corbyn, gS Mick Whelan research by the TUC good for the vested Enough is enough. It’s and James Croy of the rMT at shows that fares have interests? Are we back time for rail services to london Bridge (above) while increased at double to pricing people off be publicly owned, Merseyrail council were out the speed of wages the railway as a saving money for FiShER kinG early at liverpool lime Street since 2010. Fares have solution to passengers and Dicky Fisher has been re-elected (above left) risen by 25% in the overcrowding and taxpayers alike. unopposed for a second term as last six years, while inability to deliver?’ Instead of increasing District 6 Organiser. ‘I would like to average weekly Frances O’Grady, fares and cutting staff, thank all those who nominated twEEtS oF thE Month earnings have only GS of the TUC, said: we should be me,’ he said. ‘And look forward to grown by 12%. ‘Passengers are paying building an continuing to work hard for all our Loadsamoney boss of Mick Whelan, more and getting accessible, reliable members.’ low pay zero hours general secretary of even less. Fares go up train service that warehouse symbolises a ASLEF, said: while trains remain Britain can be proud kAY’S on boARD capitalism working against everybody else. ‘Passengers and overcrowded, stations of.’ Kay Carberry, assistant general kevin Maguire secretary of the TUC from 2003 to 2016, has joined the board of If we don’t respect Transport for London. London democracy we stand for Mayor Sadiq Khan is keeping a nothing. I’m supporting the pledge to involve trade unions in membership and Jeremy. the supervision of TfL. ian Lavery REGULAtoR cALLS REViEw Nice line from James The ORR has called for a review of Nesbitt. Describes himself the rail line crossing at Halesworth as the drinking woman’s station, described by Network Rail George Clooney.