ROY BUTLIN writes on the latest development. BRITISH Rail isn't giving up at Coalville. They are hitting our depot with one cutback scheme after another. The latest - the fourth since the end of the miners strike — is a nan to close the Coalville crossing signal box. This box controls not only mainline, but also a very OFFICIAL photo: MARk SAI.MON COALVILLE RAIL depot was a symbol of solidarity with the NUM during the miners strike. Now it is under increasing attack by British Rail management.
busy road crossing. It involves the jobs of three signalmen.
All these schemes are part of a relentless Walli paign punishment against our depot because we stood firm and refused shift. coal during the miners' determined to resist this scheme, just like every other one management has come mo with Ter thee. ast three months. To date, jobs have been ear-marked for the chop, but we are convinced that wholesale closure of our depot is in the pipeline.
With scheme management has come up with to date, we insisted tor reese to shift refusing shift coal. But is was difficult to pin down this claim.
The recent cutback scheme involving the jobs the signanne most blatant of all. There is no justification for this scheme except to remove three signalmen who refused to shift coal during the strike. Management hopes to eventually move control over the crossing to the box, OU WCI vhich will open in Marct 1986. But if the power boxes in the East Midlands during the miners strike are anything to go by, then the new box won't get involyed any industrial disputes. It is a reasonable assumption that the LICI who will staff Leicester owe will probably e hand-picked and they Cesay won't be strong union members.
We're going approach the fight to these three jobs iust like the rest of the schemes we.ve scored a minor victory over the scheme to cut 11 jobs in Mantle Lane yard. Our negotiators (at Sectional Council level) fell down badly when they conceded the loss •I V OI le lE jobs. When that happened, we decided wouldn't accept this outcome. It was to our good fortune that management hadn't followed their own rules carefully enough. We caught them out loophole, and despite th Sectional Council's unwillingness fight, have now won the right to brand new meeting at regional level over these jobs. In our industry Sectional Council invariably gets its own way, so this second chance is practically unheard of. The fact that we've got a second chance show something l've said many times. Nothing is inevitable.
If we can get our Sec. tional Council back to the table after a decision has been reached, then surely should give railworkers more сопfidence to see that the same kind of thing can br achieved with our nationa leadership. That's why remain optimistic today, despite the attacks from management that we are having to face daily.
140 copies of the pamohlet Railworkers Miners the story of Coalville depot during the miners strike, were sold at the Yorkshire miners gala.
LAST FRIDAY Liverpool bordget coupled with result Liverpool have set a e Liverpool agrees Socialist Action The District Audit Service Dear councillor Norwond ÉO June 1985