RMT to hold special debate

The RMT rail union is to hold a special general meeting in Glasgow on 6 February to discuss its growing rift with the Labour Party.

The latest crisis was sparked when the union's executive gave five RMT branches in Scotland leave to affiliate to the Scottish Socialist Party. This followed a decision by the union's 2003 annual conference to allow branches to support other organisations, subject to executive approval.

The executive has subsequently received requests from two more branches and a regional council for permission to affiliate to the SSP.

The union now faces being thrown out of the Labour Party. Labour's deputy general secretary, Chris Lennie, has written to the RMT saying that the union "has placed itself outside the constitution of this Party."

He said that, unless the union revokes its decisions regarding the SSP, "the matter will be reported to the (Labour Party) National Executive Committee at the earliest opportunity with a recommendation that the RMT be treated as disaffiliated from this Party forthwith."

RMT general secretary Bob Crow said the union's response "will be entirely in the hands of the special general meeting - the union's parliament." He said branches were being encouraged to hold special meetings in advance of the SGM.