New Tory anti-strike laws attack basic human rights, says RMT
RMT members march, holding a banner that states "Do you know what a picket line is" alongside a photo of RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch

TRANSPORT UNION RMT slammed the Tory government’s Minimum Service Levels legislation announced tonight (Monday, November 6) attacking the right of essential workers to take strike action as ‘an assault on the fundamental freedoms of working people’.

Minimum service level legislation for rail workers, ambulance staff and border security staff will be laid in parliament tomorrow (Tuesday, November 7).

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said that it was clearly an authoritarian attack on the fundamental freedoms of working people and RMT would resist this attack by all means necessary.

“We believe employers have the discretion not to issue minimum service work notices and as such we are calling on them not to issue them. Any employer that seeks to issue a work notice will find themselves in a further dispute with my union.

“Even the government’s own impact assessment has said that the legislation could lead to more strikes so instead of attacking workers and their trade unions the government should spend its time trying to resolve disputes not inflaming them,” he said.

> RMT National News

Friday, 14th February
RMT has suspended planned strike action today and Monday by Rail Gourmet members on the TransPennine Express (TPE) contract, following significant progress on disciplinary issues.
Thursday, 13th February
Rail union, RMT has suspended strike action by Avanti train managers for the next three Sundays to allow for intensive negotiations in the long-running dispute over rest day working.
Monday, 10th February
New analysis by RMT shows that Southeastern, the rail operator owned by the Department for Transport (DfT), is routinely failing to meet its obligations to keep ticket offices open during advertised hours.
Monday, 3rd February
Rail union RMT, has condemned the appointment of Professor Iain Docherty as Chair of Scottish Rail Holdings, warning that it does nothing to address the needs of Scotland’s railway.
Monday, 27th January
Rail workers at Unipart Rail’s Crewe Depot will strike Tuesday, in protest against the company’s decision to strip RMT of union recognition.