Mick Rix - Union Career

Union Career

Rix is the former General Secretary of ASLEF. Rix left school at 16, and started work the next day, with no qualifications. During Rix's tenure of ASLEF, most members saw their real earnings rise by an average of 6% per annum, and their working week cut to an average of 35 hours, and with many working a four day week.. He fought for the safety of his members, and the huge railway enquiries taken place under Cullen. He got into trouble with Cullen, when he was quoted in the press stating that leading counsel for Railtrack where lying to cover up their negligence about the cause of the Ladbroke Grove crash. Rix refused to apologise, stating to do so would dishonour the memories of his deceased members. There is a plaque and a tree outside Euston station which Rix planted to celebrate the memories of those killed in railway disasters. Rix founded the group Take Back the Track, which was successful in turning Railtrack into a not-for-profit publicly owned company in 2001. Rix's defeat in the election for General Secretary of ASLEF by Shaun Brady, a relatively right wing candidate, came as a great surprise to the left wing of the trade union movement. It was widely known that those in New Labour and the railway companies had a hand in his defeat. The defeat led to a period of instability in ASLEF culminating in a brawl at a barbecue at the union's London headquarters. This resulted in a number of senior officers being removed from their positions, including Brady.

Rix is currently a National Officer with the GMB Union responsible for relationship with DHL,. He also leads the union on all transport, and aviation matters, including Yodel, BA, Servisair, Menzies, BMI, the private hire taxi industry and ASDA Distribution.