MERGER WITH TSSA OFF
Members attending March's branch meeting were advised that the proposed merger with sectionalist rivals TSSA was now off!
TSSA's National Executive had decided that there was no point continuing talks as our differences were too great. The main sticking point was TSSA's sycophantic attitude to New Labour whereas RMT has a policy of supporting politicians who support the policies set by our members through democratic structures that we are fiercely proud of.
After a debate the consensus from Edinburgh & District branch was astonishment at TSSA's attitude. After all, they are unable to survive on their own due to crippling debt. Their outgoing General Secretary admitted in the TSSA journal that they need to recruit 13,000 new members to stay independent. Instead, they are losing 250 members every month... industrial elitists to the last!
ONE INDUSTRY - ONE UNION
Our branch has always supported the concept of one union for all workers in our industries BUT we do not believe we should compromise our principles and weaken ourselves in order to achieve this.
Our branch supported Wishaw and Motherwell branch in their efforts to stimulate open and democratic debate on this vitally important subject by arranging a meeting in Manchester. Once again, our sister branch has taken a lead and is a perfect example of rank and file organisation that is completely within our rules and proud traditions. Open debate and sharing of information with our members should be encouraged and lessons should be learned from this. The lack of information coming from our leadership was regretful to say the least and just increased our concerns
TSSA PROPOSES A GOLDEN PARACHUTE TO FAILED TSSA OFFICIALS THAT RIVALS THE BANKER'S AUDACITY
We are now hearing the detail of the recent discussions and we are shocked that our leadership were even prepared to discuss some of TSSA's ridiculous terms. For example, it was reported that TSSA were looking to get 2.5 x salary for any TSSA official who failed to get elected ... that's over £100,000 compensation if members did not vote them into office. It's rumoured that TSSA's starting point was 10 x salary - that's almost half a million pounds!! No wonder they are skint and what an attitude to the money that ultimately we the members pay in subs.
KEEP THE FAITH - ORGANISE IN A PROUD UNION - RMT
Edinburgh & District branch firmly believe there is no reason nor excuse to belong to TSSA. We salute our pioneers who bravely fought for strong trade unionism based on principles that declared every worker an equal. We deplore the selfish industrial snobbery that attracts misguided workers into the arms of sectionalist associations like TSSA.
