Mick Cash retires
RMT General Secretary Mick Cash announces his retirement amid alleged “claims of harassment”.
TRIBUTES have been paid to RMT General Secretary Mick Cash, following his decision to retire due to an alleged “campaign of harassment”.
Cash, who was appointed to the role following the death of Bob Crow in 2014 and then re-elected for a further five-year term in August 2019, had reportedly faced a number of clashes with the union’s National Executive Committee in recent months.
His decision to retire immediately followed an acrimonious RMT annual general meeting on November 3, during which Cash had opposed a motion to reinstate Senior Assistant General Secretary Steve Hedley. The latter had been suspended in April, after being accused of saying on social media that he would throw a party if
Prime Minister Boris Johnson died of Coronavirus ( RAIL 903).
Speaking directly after the AGM, Cash said: “It has been an absolute honour to be elected twice as RMT General Secretary and I want to thank the rank and file membership of the union for their continuing loyalty and support.
“Unfortunately, factional groupings within the union have seized every opportunity to undermine and frustrate my efforts to keep the organisation focused on delivering for our members regardless of the consequences.
“That campaign of harassment has come to a head at this AGM, to the point that my authority has been systematically destroyed to such an extent that I can no longer deliver the RMT rule book functions of the General Secretary and have no option but to announce my retirement.”
In a letter sent to RMT branches and regional councils on November 4, Cash confirmed that during the AGM he had defended the NEC’s original decision in April to suspend Hedley.
He also warned that he “would have no authority if the NEC decision is overturned”, and that in such circumstances he would “not be able to continue as General Secretary”.
He added: “I apologise if the decision disappoints you, but I am of the strong view that I had no other choice. I am proud of what we have all achieved together over the past six years.
“By retiring it will allow the election of my successor to take place and effect an orderly transition using the constitution of our Rule Book.”
Cash went on to thank staff and regional organisers including former RMT Assistant General Secretary Mick Lynch, who had
himself stepped down in September after accusing members of the NEC of bullying and harassment.
Lynch had also been serving as acting General Secretary before Cash recently returned to work from an extended period of sick leave for stress (see separate story).
Cash’s retirement was greeted on social media by a widespread show of support, including from those who had sometimes been on the opposite side of negotiations during industrial disputes.
Former Office of Rail and
Road Chief Executive Richard
Price responded: “We had our disagreements, too, but Mick has a great understanding of the railway, which he’s used to represent his members’ interests well. He’s been a real asset to the union.”
Ex-British Rail policy advisor and independent operations consultant Gordon Dudman added: “Although I completely disagreed with his political view of both life and the railways, he always struck me as a very principled individual. For his rank and file members he was undoubtedly their champion.”
Cash has been an RMT member for 42 years and served as Senior Assistant General Secretary from 2002 until his election to General Secretary in 2014.
As this issue of RAIL went to press, the RMT had yet to confirm an exact timeline for a new leadership contest.