CarlisleCityRMT

Carlisle City Branch with Bob Crow outside Parliament

Wednesday 27th January 2010 approximately 400 members of RMT asembled outside Parliament to stage a noisy and visible demonstration against Network Rail's proposed jobs cull and to highlight this issue to the MPs.

Carlisle City Branch can feel proud of itself after sending along 15 delegates to support this event. And not just the maintenance workforce but representatives of Network Rail Operations and Conductors from Train Operating Companies showed their solidarity and support too.

Following the rather audible and visible demo outside, the majority of the crowd braved the cold to queue up to get in Westminster. Once there we all assembled in a committee room to hear a host of Trade Union officials and MPs speak on the importance of railways and the need to retain the jobs in the industry at this current time. Notable speeches were made by John McDonnell MP for Hayes and Harlington, Kelvin Hopkins MP Luton North as well as Bob Crow General Secretary RMT. Many of the speeches were warmly appreciated by those in attendance.

Finally many members assembled in the Lobby to meet with their own Constituency MP and demand their concerns be addressed. Those who weren't able to meet their MP or were unable to attend the event can still meet their MP by writing to them and requesting a meeting in one of the surgeries that are held within the constituencies. May I urge those to do so as this is an important issue that needs to be taken seriously by those in Parliament.

Overall a very good turnout to the RMT organised rally that was represented by those in a whole host of jobs and grades right across the railway industry.

Also worth a mention was the fact that it was attended by all of the three major unions in the transport industry. For officials of RMT, TSSA and ASLEF to be sat on the same panel highlights the importance of the issues raised. MPs should take note, occurrances such as these are still too few and should not be viewed upon lightly.