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Steve Trumm Eastern & Underground Regional Organiser
Contact number: 07581 177 115
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Steve was born 1962 in Rochford in Essex and grew up in Rayleigh. Steve had several jobs before joining the industry which included the Metropolitan Police Cadet Force in Hendon, North London, banking and the running of his own business. In the 1990’s that business became a statistic of recession.
During the recession he decided to take the opportunity to go back into education where he attended Anglia Polytechnic University to study for a degree as a Chartered Surveyor. Having completed three years of the five year course Steve secured a job as a Digital Cartographer for an American Company working on in car navigation maps which took him all over the country.
After a while, staying in hotels all week and eating out in restaurants lost its appeal and he took employment in fuel tanker driving and it was whilst stuck in a traffic jam on the M11 it occurred to Steve that drivers of the trains passing him on the adjacent line might just be having a better time than he did.
"Upon joining the industry I was proud to have joined ASLEF at what was then a 100% one union depot. I felt the excellent terms and conditions that I was enjoying had come about through the efforts of previous Trade Unionists and colleagues. Joining the Union was recognition of that debt which ultimately turned into a desire to support those achievements.
As time went by I began to suspect the founding ideals of the Union were being subverted by a group of individuals who were more interested in themselves than the greater good. It quickly became obvious that asking questions about money and foreign trips made uncomfortable conversation for those at the top.
Problems came to a head over the Brady election and the time of my ‘trueaslef’ website. Legal action was taken against me by the then, General Secretary Mick Rix, ASLEF District 5 Secretary Andrew Cotogno and others.
Seeing off these actions took a lot of time, energy and to be honest, heartache. It is extremely difficult and expensive for any one person to take on the might of a power hungry machine that has access to so much members’ money, publicity and media, but I was determined the true values of trade unionism succeeded and the ‘truth be out’.
After defending and winning the above arguments the machine was again cranked up. This time the use of verbal abuse not only attacked me but also my family. I went on to win the successful action I took against Keith Norman for his two libels in the Locomotive Journal and on the ASLEF website.
Against the words from those who falsely purport to be loyal to the movement but in essence look only to their own wellbeing, I remain determined to fight for the core values of trade unionism. Through your union, the ATCU, I will defend your right to voice your opinion and for you to question others. And in doing so, no member will be a victim of greed, power or bullying.
I want to bring back the sense of pride we all once had, that I had, to be a member of a great union. Through the ATCU, together we will do just that"!
Steve Trumm
Easter & Underground Regional Organiser
