Petition Delivered By Rail To Parliament

In what has been called the most stunning demonstration at Parliament for many a year the Rail & Maritime Transport Union presented its sponsored petition to the NZ house of Parliament on Wednesday 17 October by the construction of NZ's newest rail branch "The parliament spur".
The petition handover was timed for the last day of the Unions 7th annual conference and enabled the Union to have delegates from each and every branch attend the demonstration. The conference delegates and officials were also supported by members from the Unions Wellington and Hutt Shops branches so the demonstration totalled some 150 RMTU members and many more members of the public. It was a busy day at Parliament grounds as the save the squadrons protest was also just finished when the chanting, marching RMTU
arrived.
Marching up Kate Sheppard place three abreast and chanting in unison "Take Back The Track" the RMTU let everyone know that they were there to make a point. When the parade entered parliament grounds with flags and banners waving in a gentle Wellington zephyr and with the demonstrators chanting, it was bloody impressive.
Owing to the requirements of question time and the need for them to return to the house of parliament the Minister of Finance Dr Michael Cullen gave the first address followed by the Deputy prime Minister Jim Anderton. The Greens Party co-leader Janette Fitzsimmons then spoke and she was followed by the NZCTU President Ross Wilson. The final speaker was the RMTU's General Secretary Wayne Butson. (Whilst all of this had been occuring the Upper Hutt Maintenance Gang, under the direction of Ganger Chris Sullivan, had been laying matting, sleepers and 6 metres of rail track out ready for fastening).
All eyes then turned to the track workers and the "noise" started with track poinjar machines roaring into life to screw down the rail fastening bed plates and behind them were the rest of the gang swinging sledge hammers to bang in the pandrol clips. The whole ceremony brought tears to the eyes and fingers into ears!
When work was completed and NZ had its newest branch line leading to the steps of NZ's parliament buildings the rally moved to flank the tracks and a motorised jigger was placed on the track and loaded with the 45,137 signature petition packed into suitably decorated boxes. The jigger was started and driven along the track by the Ganger Chris Sullivan to stop at the feet of the Minister of Transport Mark Gosche who would receive the petition on behalf of Parliament. Chris handed the first box to Minister Gosche and said a few words exhorting the NZ Government to "Take Back The Track" before it was too late. Well done Chris!
The Minister gave a short speech saying that the return of the rail asset into public ownership was something the Government was looking at and he drew everyones attention to the recently announced Auckland deal which saw the Auckland rail corridors return to public ownership for NZ$81m. (Not too good a deal in our view when you remember the last National Government sold the track, loco's etc etc for the measly sum of NZ$328m).
And so ended a great day for the RMTU and its supporters throughout NZ who had all slaved to obtain the very impressive signature total of 45,137.

Sequel
We became aware that the Greens Party co-leader Janette Fitzsimmons was raising the petition presentation in her speech in the house during the general debate and so a large delegation decked out in the "Take Back The Track" T shirts flocked to the public gallery. After several warnings from the speaker of the house about members of the public being welcome to observe but "not to participate in the debate of the House" the members were however unable to contain themselves from bursting into cheers following Janette Fitzsimmons speech and so were removed from the debating chamber gallery.

Proud to be RMTU - Proud to be Union.