RMT weakens links with Labour
The RMT union has voted overwhelmingly to reduce by half its funding for the Labour Party, and authorize branches to support other political candidates.
The decision is highly symbolic and marks a further cooling of relationships between the Labour Party and the main unions.
Though lessening the funding was considered by UNISON among others, most other trade union leaders had called on members to reclaim the Labour Party rather than disaffiliating.
The general secretary of the RMT, Bob Crow took the other approach, slamming the Government’s policies and suggested that total disaffiliation may occur within five years.
In his speech to delegates, Bob Crow accused the Cabinet of being ‘war mongers’ who had ‘betrayed’ the workers.
“They don’t like us and they don’t want the unions to have any power. They are in favour of keeping it a bosses’ party.”
“Like a marriage that comes to an end, sometimes it is better if there is a divorce. I am not urging a divorce but how long can we sit back and support a political party that has gone further than the Tory party? People say do we want to get the Tories back in again – I say, how would we know?”
Mr Crow also urged union members to send a message to the Government that they are not prepared to sit back and accept another six years of the same policies.
