RMT slams “Budget for the Rich” and warns of widespread public and industrial resistance to ConDem cuts agenda

TRANSPORT UNION RMT today slammed what it described as “the ConDem’s budget for the rich” – warning of widespread community and industrial resistance once people realise the full scale of the impact of the Government’s cuts plans for public services and the true cost for jobs and standards of living.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:

“Despite all the hype about sharing the pain this is without a doubt a budget for the rich. The champagne corks will be popping in the City bars tonight as the bankers and speculators realise that they have got away with the biggest financial heist on the British people in the history of our nation.

“Instead of sharing the pain, it’s the poorest who take the hit while the greedy elite who drove our economy over a cliff fly off to the tax havens to bank the bail-out cash that could be used to protect jobs, schools and hospitals.

“The increase in VAT, the attacks on pensions and benefits and the pay freeze in the public sector will all hit the poorest the hardest. The VAT rise immediately hits the real cost of living hard and drains money out of the economy choking off recovery and undermining standards of living.

“We can already see the cracks opening up in the coalition as some Lib Dems start to realise that jumping into bed with David Cameron is a political suicide pact. We intend to lever open those cracks as part of a political fight back against this assault on the British people. There is no question that there will be widespread industrial and community resistance to the cuts agenda and RMT will be in the front line wherever people are making a stand.”

> RMT National News

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.
Wednesday, 22nd January
RMT has responded to the launch of the new skills passport and wider policies aimed at creating jobs in the clean energy sector.
Saturday, 18th January
Ken Capstick - the former National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) Yorkshire area vice president has died.
Thursday, 16th January
RMT has suspended planned strike action on Avanti West Coast services for the next two Sundays to allow intensive talks to take place following recent approaches by Avanti.