Subject: INDEPENDENT PANEL REVIEW – TRANSPORT FOR LONDON

“That we note the report from our lead officer.

The report of the so-called “independent Panel” is a disgraceful document that seeks to justify imposing job cuts, transport service cuts and additional taxation onto the working class of London. RMT rejects the report entirely and demands that the mayor immediately does the same and undertakes not to act on any of the report’s findings.

The model of self-financing that was imposed onto TfL by the government and was implemented by the mayor of London was always going to fail. The idea of never ending increases in passenger numbers, fare revenues and commercial income was always a pipe dream but the Covid 19 pandemic has accelerated the inevitable funding crisis. No similar mass transit system in the world operates without public financial support.

RMT demands that the government immediately guarantees to fund TfL in order to maintain all transport services, jobs and conditions. RMT will not accept that TfL/LUL workers, users of the tube or the working class of London must pay to bail out the disastrous funding decisions taken by government and the mayor.

The “independent panel” was commissioned by the mayor to report on how to make TfL finances sustainable. The panel has reported that there is no case for any additional burden on business. The panel also rules out additional central government funding. Instead the panel identifies cuts to the TfL pension scheme and cuts in off-peak services and station staffing levels as ways to save money.

The panel also proposes road pricing for those who use a car in London plus additional council tax. The panel even proposes that the government legislates to allow the mayor to levy additional VAT on purchases made in London.

The panel’s report comes hot on the heels of the KPMG report that was commissioned by the Government and short term-funding agreement that itself imposes massive cuts onto TfL/LUL.

The panel’s proposals and the demands made by government in return for funding until April 2021 represent an attempt to force austerity onto the working class of London and both will be resisted by RMT with every means at our disposal.

The General Secretary is instructed to provide any reasonable assistance to the public campaign of the LTRC against TfL funding cuts and to seek to publicise RMTs opposition to the report as widely as possible.

The General Secretary is further instructed to circulate the contents above to all members in in the LTRC region by text and email.

The NEC is aware that meetings are planned either side of the New Year with TfL/LU representatives and members to discuss building support for Industrial action to oppose attacks on jobs and conditions.

The General Secretary is instructed to place an updated report back in front of the NEC.”