THE SAVE Marylebone Campaign lobbied the Special General Meeting of the National Union of Railwaymen last week.
We lobbied for support to stop the closure of Marylebone station and collected signatures endorsing the aims of the campaign.
The signatures included a number of leading trade unionists, such as Jimmy secretary of the NUR, Ray general Buckton, general secretary of the train drivers union ADLEr, Mick MeGahey, president of the National Union of Miners.
The Save Marylebone Campaign is a joint rail initiative local level. •The campaign co. ordinating committee is calling on the newly formed Federation of Railway Unions to spearhead a na tional campaign against cuts and closures We want to be part of that national fight, while receiving full backing une mulatives we take to save jobs at Marylebone.
The campaign was at public meeting held this July and organised NUR ASLEF branches Marylebone area.
Since we have started bulletin, held a workplace campaign meeting, Marylebone Campaign meeting.
This was attended by delegates from a number of depots - British Rail and London Transport -the Post Office Engineering Labour councillors passenger from the Standard Commuter Club. The meeting showed strong support for backed by we canval. concrete proposals for action.
However the going till then was not always easy.
co-ordinating committee had already argued long against planning application for housing the Marylebone site.
This proposal came from the local tenants' and residents' federation, and had the support of some Labour councillors.
We explained that for vices and housing ser vices housing is all The movement must be united in its opposition to tacks. If public transport is threatened then . ue• fend it wholeheartedly.
We cannot defend Marylebone, while at the same time suggesting an alternative use for the site. The unions councillors must stand firm together on this and every other question where Tories attempt to divide and rule.
The Campaign has now won the support of the tenants' and residents' federation and has receiv.
generous from them. The federation RAIONI are helping set up a cam4101- local residents, to put the case for railway SCIVILC jobs in the area.
The fight for Marylebone is one of many come Railworkers at nearby Willesden have started a campaign stop the closures of the freightliner depot, and delegates from Marylebone and Willesden attend each other's meetings.
The Marylebone coordinating committee cludes delegate NUR. will be our closest allies i there is any sign of work ing our trains into PadThis is the level of solidarity we want — joint action between railworkers against attempts to smash the railways.
We will not be lulled by the 'five year plan' which is Serpell Part 1, not the whole story We will not be deceived by the tactic of carefully timed leaks to the press, to test the response followed by a refusal to confirm the rumour.
We are preparing for s long hard battle, and we ready to join forces all other workers WIll fighting to defend jobs and public services.