Fight Continues For Olympics Payments At Train Operators And TfL

ON THE first full day of the RMT AGM in Torquay delegates are set to hear reports from the continuing fight for Olympics payments at three major train operators and Transport for London.

Although RMT has secured fair payments at a number of companies including Network Rail, Virgin Trains, London Overground. Heathrow Express, DLR and London Underground the union is in dispute and balloting at three key TOC's - South West Trains, Greater Anglia and First Great Western - and has announced industrial action for centrally employed TFL staff.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:

"The fight for fairness over Olympics payments goes on and we are determined to secure deals for our remaining members in dispute which match industry best practice,

"The sheer brass neck of a company like First Great Western saying that we are demanding "money for nothing on a grand scale" when they have ripped off hundreds of millions in profits and subsidies from a franchise that they are now pulling the plug on is breathtaking.

"We have ballots in preparation at South West Trains, Greater Anglia and First Great Western and action on the way at TFL and our message to all those employers as the clock ticks down is to play fair by their staff who will be generating massive additional profits durung the Games and give them a decent reward in return for the extra effort."

> RMT National News

Thursday, 30th July
Rail union RMT said that outsourced cleaners and catering workers at TransPennine Express (TPE) will take 48-hour strike action against low pay from tomorrow (Friday, July 31).
Wednesday, 29th July
Rail union RMT said that 24-hour strike action on East Midlands Railways will go ahead on Saturday August 1 after the company refused to withdraw faulty trains and talks collapsed.
Wednesday, 29th July
Rail union RMT has announced further strike action by Avanti West Coast members at Manchester Piccadilly station on Saturday August 1 over the unfair dismissal of a colleague.
Tuesday, 21st July
RMT members working at East Midlands Railway (EMR) plan to take strike action on Saturday, August 1, and the following two Saturdays over growing safety concerns that the company has failed to address.
Friday, 17th July
RMT has suspended three days of strike action on Merseyrail planned for July 18 to 20 after the company made an improved offer.