Manchester Piccadilly RMT branch votes to support RESPECT
Chris | 09.03.2004 17:58 | Social Struggles | London
Manchester Piccadilly Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) unanimously votes to support RESPECT...
'Historic' RMT vote for Respect
Manchester RMT Piccadilly Number One branch voted unanimously to support Respect, the Unity Coalition at a meeting yesterday (Monday, March 8). It means that members will now be able to contribute financially to the new party as well as to campaign for it.
John McDonald, the RMT branch secretary, said: "The Labour Party no longer reflects the needs of ordinary working people. That's why we've voted to support Respect. We must not just give Respect our money but we must support it in every way we can."
Respect co-founder George Galloway MP added: "This is a historic vote.
Manchester Piccadilly may well be seen in future in the same way as the Doncaster Society of Railway Clerks whose initiative was responsible for the founding of the Labour party more than a century ago."
Respect members in the north-west of England now plan to visit every RMT branch in the region. RMT branches in London have also invited Respect to send speakers to their next meetings to talk about why the union should support Respect.
"This has all been moved by ordinary RMT members," says Unjum Mirza, the RMT's London Regional Policy Officer. "It has been agreed that at most branch meetings there will be a Respect speaker. Nine out of the 12 RMT branches in London will now be discussing whether to support Respect or not.
Two are taking place on 31 March, five on 1 April and two on 7 April."
The RMT were disaffiliated by New Labour last month after a special conference decided that the union's political funds could be used to support parties other than Labour.
Manchester RMT Piccadilly Number One branch voted unanimously to support Respect, the Unity Coalition at a meeting yesterday (Monday, March 8). It means that members will now be able to contribute financially to the new party as well as to campaign for it.
John McDonald, the RMT branch secretary, said: "The Labour Party no longer reflects the needs of ordinary working people. That's why we've voted to support Respect. We must not just give Respect our money but we must support it in every way we can."
Respect co-founder George Galloway MP added: "This is a historic vote.
Manchester Piccadilly may well be seen in future in the same way as the Doncaster Society of Railway Clerks whose initiative was responsible for the founding of the Labour party more than a century ago."
Respect members in the north-west of England now plan to visit every RMT branch in the region. RMT branches in London have also invited Respect to send speakers to their next meetings to talk about why the union should support Respect.
"This has all been moved by ordinary RMT members," says Unjum Mirza, the RMT's London Regional Policy Officer. "It has been agreed that at most branch meetings there will be a Respect speaker. Nine out of the 12 RMT branches in London will now be discussing whether to support Respect or not.
Two are taking place on 31 March, five on 1 April and two on 7 April."
The RMT were disaffiliated by New Labour last month after a special conference decided that the union's political funds could be used to support parties other than Labour.
Chris