PHIL MAXWELL

Striking To Protect Public Safety

November 9, 2017

Last Sunday I listened to a speech Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram made at the North West Regional conference of the Labour Party. In it he mentioned disabled people. Fortunately I was able to ask Steve a question in the Q &A that followed. I said that if he supported disabled people then he would take up my invitation to join the picket line outside Lime Street station the following Wednesday. The question was well received by conference delegates but he declined the invitation.

Yesterday RMT members and there supporters stood rock solid, united and determined in the latest phase of strike action in a dispute with Merseyrail about putting safety, security and access to transport services before the profiteering of rip-off private rail companies.

Talking about strikes around the country RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said: “Political and public support is flooding in as our communities choose to stand by their guards against the financially and politically motivated drive to throw safety-critical staff off our trains. The union salutes the members who are standing firm this morning for a safe and accessible railway for all.

“It is frankly sickening that Chris Grayling and his supporters are prepared to sit back and cheer on overseas operators who are robbing British passengers blind while sacrificing basic safety standards in order to subsidise transport services in Paris, Amsterdam and Hong Kong?.

“It’s time for the Government to lift the dead hand which is preventing rail companies from negotiating deals like the ones we have successfully struck in Wales and Scotland that? guarantee a guard on the trains. If it’s good enough for Scotland and Wales it’s good enough for the rest of Britain.”

“Again this morning I am calling on Theresa May and Chris Grayling to call off the centrally imposed blockade on serious talks in these disputes and allow us to get on with genuine negotiations with their contractors.”

Regional RMT organiser John Tilley called on Liverpool Labour Councillors and Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram to support the guards who were taking strike action in order to protect passenger safety. His comments can be seen in the film below.

Guards and their supporters outside Lime Street station yesterday. Liverpool 2017.

RMT red flags flying outside Lime Street station yesterday. Liverpool 2017.

John Tilley of the RMT calls for Liverpool Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram to support the guards. Outside Lime Street station yesterday. Liverpool 2017.

Guards were delighted by the support they received from members ot the public. Lime Street station yesterday. Liverpool 2017.

Lime Street station yesterday. Liverpool 2017.

The October Revolution

November 8, 2017

The October Revolution in 2017 ushered in a new era of experimentation in art. In 1918 the Russian Soviet Republic was the first state in the world to officially support the avant-garde.

Fired by the revolution’s socialist ideology, artists rejected the Tsarist regime’s traditional and conservative approach to art. The Bolsheviks embraced pluralist cultural policies. This encouraged experimentation and the incorporation of industrial forms into art, design, architecture and film. It was modern. This explosion of ideas in art was eventually crushed by the oppressive dead hand of a Stalinist dictatorship.

My piece below is called ‘Red October’. The first person to email me (maxwellphotouk@yahoo.co.uk) can have it for £60.