TSSA salutes 125 years of “fight for working people”
THE Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association (TSSA) marked its 125th birthday with a special event in Sheffield on May 9.
Union workers, members, politicians and guest speakers gathered in the South Yorkshire city where the TSSA’s forerunner (National Association of General Railway Clerks) had been founded in 1897 (see panel).
The milestone was celebrated with an exhibition, history wall, film screenings and numerous stands and stalls related to the TSSA’s heritage and its work, both past and present.
Guests in attendance during the day included former TSSA leaders, Labour’s Deputy Leader Angela Raynor and Shadow Transport Secretary and local MP Louise Haigh.
“It’s wonderful to be returning to Sheffield - the city of our union’s birth - to be marking our 125th anniversary, and I want to pay tribute to all our members who have kept our union flourishing over the long period,” said TSSA General Secretary Manuel Cortes.
“Much has changed since our formation - workplaces are safer, working hours shorter with better rights across the board. Our rail family has never been more diverse, but we have so much more to do.
“While we celebrate and venerate our first 125 years at our gathering in Sheffield, we know our work remains not only relevant but will be utterly vital in the years to come. One thing I can promise you: our union will never cease in our daily struggle for all our members and for a better, fairer and just society.”
The anniversary event took place during the TSSA’s annual conference, held in Sheffield on May 7-10.
As the TSSA has been consulting with Network Rail and train operating companies over whether to call industrial action this summer (see pages 10-11 and 16-17), one of the key motions debated at the conference was a need to co-ordinate strikes with those of other rail unions. This was passed unanimously.
Following a keynote speech to open the conference on May 7 by former Shadow Rail Minister and York Central MP Rachael Maskell, delegates also heard an emergency motion on the conflict in the Ukraine and TSSA’s demand for inflation-linked pay increases for its members.
“Today, we continue to call for our railways to be in public hands, and right now we are resisting vicious cuts from this Conservative Government aimed at decimating rail in the wake of the pandemic,” added Cortes.
“All our industries face an uncertain future - buses, ferries, transport, and our travel trade alike. Just as our founders knew 125 years ago, members today understand the central role of our union in the collective fight for working people.”
On May 8, the guest speaker was Boilermakers Union International President Newton B. Jones, who is leading the USA-based union with which TSSA is currently in merger talks.