Here is the statement of the Green Party Trade Union Group on the decision by the RMT to back the 'No to EU. Yes to Democracy' campaign in the European elections on June 4th. The sheer political myopia of the Communist Party of Britain and the Socialist Party in backing this campaign, particularly in London, is mind boggling. And as for democracy! There has been no democratic process within the RMT about this decision whatsoever, with £40.000 of members' money from the political fund being spent on it and no democratic procedure for selecting candidates. Instead the CPB, true to its Stalinist traditions, has engaged in a backroom stitch up.

What is even worse is that the slogan appeals to the worst aspects of xenophobia and echoes the 'British Jobs for British Workers' so beloved of the Daily Star, Sun etc. It could also endanger the seat of London's Green MEP, Jean Lambert, who is one of the members of the European Parliament who has done most for trade unions and workers rights. As one colleague in Green Left said to me, it is firmly in the tradition of "the working class right or wrong" rather than a clear headed radical initiative. It is also doomed to failure, but in the process will damage the progressive cause in general. I would have thought that Bob Crowe would have had more political sense than to be lulled into this political cul de sac by the CPB and the Socialist Party.

GPTU statement re RMT and Euro elections

The GREEN PARTY TRADES UNION GROUP has been shocked and disappointed by the decision of the RMT to stand candidates in the forthcoming euro elections. We had hoped for RMT support for a coherent environmental plan, including an ecologically sustainable public and publically owned transport system.

We fear that the current RMT electoral platform does not offer this within the context of a sensible political program and may have damaging consequences such as splitting votes and allowing the election of far right racist candidates, or endangering the seats of green Euro MPs who have a very good record of promoting workers’ rights in Europe.

Inspite of this GPTU will continue to actively support the RMT’s legitimate Trade Union activities and its campaigning for an ecologically sustainable public and publically owned transport system, but we cannot currently advise a vote for RMT candidates, which would currently be a wasted and dangerous vote.P.Murry (Secretary) pp GPTU yrrumuk@yahoo.co.uk tel 07736525187