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Issue 21, May 2012
RMT branches, activists and members the length and breadth of the
UK are backing Alan Pottage to be the next General Secretary of the
RMT.
Alan’s support extends from offshore workers in Aberdeen to railway
workers in Cornwall and every grade and location in between.
Following the sad and untimely death of Alan’s good friend and comrade
Bob Crow, members understand that only Alan Pottage has the history, ex-
perience, skills and charisma to lead our great union.An active member of the RMT
for 32 years. Alan started in
the industry as an 18 year old
guard at Edinburgh Waverly.
He was first elected as a local
rep in 1983 and later was
trusted to be elected full time
to the regional negotiating
council.
Awarded the prestigious RMT
Youth Award in 1989.
Banned and expelled from
South Africa in January 1990
for building links with black
workers in the rail and dock in-
dustries.
Elected onto the Council of Ex-
ecutives in 1994. Worked
alongside Bob Crow and devel-
oped a close working relation-
ship. This became a lifelong
friendship.
Appointed as Bob Crow’s right
hand man in 2002, charged
with developing the union’s Or-
ganising and Education unit.
With Crow in charge of the
union and Pottage in charge of
the organising strategy, the
RMT becomes the fastest grow-
ing union in the country, gain-
ing over 20 thousand members.
the only candidate with hands on experience
in all industrial sectors of our union:
Rail - offshore - shipping - road
a proven formidable negotiator and organiser
at local, regional and national level
strong principles and values. WILL WORK
tirelessly for our members all over the country
will keep the RMT a campaigning, fighting
and democratic union
I am proud to state that I have always supported Bob Crow. I cam-
paigned for Bob because I appreciated his honesty, determination
and his principles. He proved his enemies wrong by becoming the best
leader our union has ever produced. It is vital that we do not slip back-
wards. I will ensure we will become stronger by building on our suc-
cesses. We will stamp out discrimination and harassment and we will
remain a campaigning, fighting and democratic union. Every single
member will feel valued in our great union.
“
”
Alan has the history and experience to beGeneral Secretary
The Union nationally gets behind
Alan Pottage to be RMT General Secretary
Alan Pottage’s commitment to equality for
all members is second to none. His personal
history of putting words into deeds has al-
ways been clear to those who know him. It is
intermingled with the history and principles
of the RMT itself.
When our union decided to play its part in
building a sister union in South Africa, Alan
was there immediately. Solidarity was the
order of the day.
The organisation ‘Rail Against Apartheid’
was formed to serve those ends.
That union was achieved at the height of a
State of Emergency that saw good trade
unionists being arrested, tortured and mur-
dered by the SA regime. At the end of that
solidarity initiative 50 SA trade unionists lay
dead, but The South African Railway and
Harbour Workers Union (SARHWU) was
born, playing a major role in bringing down
Apartheid.
At the request of the SA trade union leader-
ship Alan Pottage, along with Geoff Revell,
went to SA both to show solidarity with our
striking brothers and sisters in SARHWU
and gain first-hand knowledge of the infa-
mous ‘Germiston Massacre’. In that mas-
sacre over twenty trade union reps were
butchered as they left a train at Germiston
Station. They were murdered as security per-
sonnel stood by and watched.
Revell had been arrested (prompting a
young union tutor called Bob Crow to ‘sit in’
at the London SA Embassy demanding his
release) but Alan was co-opted on to the
SARHWU negotiating team until he joined
Revell and both were deported from the
country.
Solidarity is something you give and
greatly gain from. Alan understood from that
experience the priority of placing organisa-
tion at the forefront of the way the union op-
erates. The more workers that join RMT the
stronger we all become, this is not just a slo-
gan but the core ingredient for collective
power.
Alan knew the importance of a unified
membership and the importance of rolling up
our sleeves to achieve and maintain that
unity. This is why Bob Crow’s first appoint-
ment was to bring in Alan as his close ally
and collaborator, together they rescued a fi-
nancially wrecked, weakened, collapsing
union and completely turned it around.
We became the campaigning fighting demo-
cratic trade union that we all wanted, we
stand together undivided by gender, race,
age, or sexuality. We are gradually placing
ourselves in the vanguard of the whole trade
union movement.
Bob Crow was a brilliant General
Secretary. Let’s give his trusted ‘comrade in-
arms’ the chance to continue that brilliance.
Vote for Alan Pottage!
Fighting racism, for equality and international solidarity
For more information and to join the campaign to elect Alan Pottage RMT General Secretary email
[email protected] or visit http://alan-pottage.squarespace.com
To be General Secretary of the RMT you need to have experience, longevity and a proven record; all of which Alan has in spades.
Alan’s attitude to trade unionism is exactly like the Engineering Grades I represent and am proud to be a part of. He believes that
there should be no industrial snobbery and not one grade is above another. Alan’s lifelong commitment to the RMT is second to
none. Sacked by the bosses for his trade union activities, his commitment to the RMT remained 100% rock soild. The bosses tried
to oust him from the industry but they could not take away his union. I have absolutely no hesitation both voting for Alan for Gen-
eral Secretary and recommending you do the same. Greg Hewitt, team leader off track maintenance, Brighton.
President RMT Engineering Grades conference
Alan Pottage is the man for the job. A true campaigner. He has the
head, heart and skills to carry on Bob’s legacy. I will be voting for
Alan because he has always gone above and beyond to help RMT
young members with campaigns and demonstrations. He is always
available for moral support and advice should we need it because he
believes in the importance of the YM movement and the fact that
young workers are ultimately, the future! Rosie Kirk, Dover Shipping. President RMT young members conference
Alan Pottage is an inspirational organiser who fully understands the importance of building a strong, active membership. As some-
one who regularly addresses new train drivers on behalf of the RMT within London Underground, I have always welcomed the in-
valuable advice and support Alan gives me. Under Alan’s leadership, building on Bob’s legacy, our Union will grow ever
stronger.” Vaughan Thomas, train driver, White City. RMT Trains Functional Council, London Underground.
As Vice President of the RMT Women's conference, I have always found Alan very supportive of women's issues. He is the
strongest candidate for General Secretary and will work hard with all our members to continue Bob Crow's fight against Capital-
ism and the erosion of trade union laws. Mary Jane Herbison, guard, Glasgow Queen Street. Vice Chair RMT Women’s
conference
Alan Pottage is a man of integrity. If it wasn't for Alan and his organising unit then my branch ( Nott`s and Derby`s bus branch)
would not be operating today. He is by far the best candidate for the sadly vacant General Secretary's position. He has experience
in ALL aspects and grades. Bus workers across the country should put their faith in him, as should all other members.
Joe Galea, bus worker, Nottingham. Vice President Midlands Regional Council.
Why YOU should Vote
ALAN POTTAGEfor RMT General Secretary