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Wednesday, December 10, 2003
Rail union risks Labour split over SSP
Rail union risks Labour split over SSP BRITAIN’S main railway union, the RMT, is just one step away from being expelled from the Labour Party after its Scottish wing took a decision to start forging concrete links with the Scottish Socialists.
The Scottish RMT decision represents a huge fillip for Tommy Sheridan’s party, which has been courting several of the big, left-leaning unions for some time.
But it also represents a major blow to the Labour Party, both in financial and political terms, and it could herald the start of a general erosion of union support for the party.
Mr Sheridan said: "Trade union members across Scotland should now examine their links with New Labour which is privatising services, supporting illegal wars and refusing to give pensioners a decent pension.
"The Scottish Socialist Party is the natural home for trade union members and socialists and I would call on other unions in Scotland to follow the example of the RMT.
"New Labour is no longer the party of the millions; Tony Blair has transformed it into the party of the millionaires."
The decision of the RMT’s Scottish branches to forge closer links with the SSP could be only the first in a series of boosts for the socialists in Scotland.
It is understood that some of the more left-wing activists in the Fire Brigades Union are urging their union to follow the RMT example and disaffiliate from Labour in Scotland. The ScotsmanLabour threatens to expel rail union The HeraldScottish rail union ready to sever links with 'failed' Labour Daily Telegraph
