Greg Tucker - RMT Waterloo Branch Secretary
Two more RMT branches, reprejoined Manchester Picadilly and Waterloo in endorsing Respect. Over the next few weeks more will undoubtedly be following suit.
Two years ago when we at Waterloo were striking over pay and victimisation, Labour sided with our bosses. In response we submitted a resolution to RMT conference asking to be allowed to support socialist parties other than Labour. The resolution captured the mood of RMT members across the country. The implementation of that resolution opened the door for the union to sup.... port the Scottish Socialist Party and has led Labour to "expel" the union.
Now, a real debate has opened up about what sort of political representation the union needs outside of Scotland.
It is clear that Bob Crow and his close supporters do not want to be tied down as yet. Some of those burnt by their experiences with Scargil's Socialist Labour Party do not want to repeat their mistakes. But with Crow speaking at the Green Party conference every move in the RMT is being
••• watched carefully.
Manchester Piccadilly Branch were the first to formally back Respect. Since then some of their members have come under pressure from senior members of the union in an attempt to make them withdraw their support.
At Waterloo, branch members recognised in Respect the basis of a socialist alternative to Labour and are pleased to support it. We are now waiting for our decision to be endorsed by the union national executive How they will react is uncertain.
But pressure is building on them, as now in a round of branch meetings across London Underground, two more branches have expressed support, whilst others will have Respect speakers over the next few weeks.
Some RMT activists argue that it is too early to support Respect. They want to see a proven track record first. If only life was that easy. It is true that Respect is new and untested electorally.
It has to show it is not "here today, gone tomorrow", that it aims to develop into a fully formed long-term political party like the SSP rooted in the experience of working class struggle.
But we know that Respect already has roots in the anti-war movement that the RMT has been pleased to support.
The RMT nationally needs to engage in the process of forming a socialist alternative to Labour. Right now that means allowing branches to support the only serious elec toral expression of our socialist policies -After the June elections, and the union's conference, we should be looking to work with Respect to develop a serious party of the left, drawing in other unions such as the FBU. It will not be easy.
The development of a new political force will not happen over night. We have large obstacles to overcome inside the RT, let alone in the broader movement.
But it is clear that the time has come for us to take the first step down the road