Coronavirus

Read the latest information from the RMT about our response and organising during the Coronavirus crisis.

Tube union RMT on leaked report showing impact of maintaining social distancing on London Underground

Commenting on a leaked report showing the impact of maintaining social distancing on London Underground, RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said;

"The report leaked this morning to the BBC exposing the impact on passenger numbers of maintaining Government social distancing guidelines on the tube is a wake up call to all those tub-thumping for a jacking up of transport services from May 18th without properly assessing the consequences. 

Jubilee South Branch News May 2020

Jubilee South Branch News is the newsletter for Tube workers on trains and stations as well as cleaners and canteen workers from Westminster to Stratford.

In this edition:

- ‘Covid-19’ timetable rejected once again
- AM refuses to follow social dis-tancing shift work agreement
- Furloughed cleaners face 20% pay cut
- Stations coronavirus FAQ
- If it isn’t safe, don’t do it
- Ramping up of London Underground services

Rail unions write to prime minister: this is not the time to run more trains

Britain's three rail unions - ASLEF, RMT and TSSA - have written to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Nicola Sturgeon, the First Minister of Scotland, Mark Drakeford, the First Minister of Wales, and Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, saying this is not the time to lift the lockdown and run more trains.

The joint letter - signed by Mick Whelan, general secretary of ASLEF; Mick Cash, general secretary of RMT; and Manuel Cortes, general secretary of TSSA - says it is 'completely unacceptable' to put the lives of passengers and rail staff at risk.

Government & LUL want to abandon Social distancing to increase tube capacity - Download and distribute

Below you can download the latest bulletin explaining how RMT will resist any increase in service without proper health and safety measures being in place. You can also download a copy of the report presented, by LUL, to the UITP, in which they raise the idea of cutting social distancing from 2m.

 

A story in the Telegraph (Sat 2 May) says the government is looking to abandon the advice to maintain 2m social distancing.

Social distancing at home?

Trains Functional Council notice: management of staff who are social distancing at home

Update 28 04 2020

The above matter has been raised by reps at a number of locations and was raised by the RMT at today’s TFC meeting. What is clear is that senior managers are keen to get drivers back to work, and are using local managers to achieve this.

Motion calls for four day working week during coronavirus crisis

Meeting

The London Transport Regional Council has passed a motion written by Jubilee South branch which calls for meaningfully reduced working hours, fir safety reasons, during the Coronavirus crisis.

The Jubilee South branch motion

This branch believes that there is a fundamental error in the way that London Underground is managing workers during the Coronavirus crisis. London Underground should be running a necessary service for key workers, not running as many trains as possible.

Is social distancing guidance about to change?

Today, in a presentation to the International Association of Public Transport (UITP) TfL Director of Public Transport Service Planning,

Geof Hobbs stated that with full social distancing measures of 2 metres, LUL would only be able to run at 13% of normal capacity. He hinted strongly that a reduction would ease the problem. Chief Operating Ofcer of MTA New York, Mario Peloquin also made similar
comments. With both New York and London hinting that a reduction in distance is required, we believe P.H.E is likely to change its guidance.

Jubilee News: 'Covid-19' schedules rejected again

Jubilee News is the newsletter produced by RMT activists for drivers on the Jubilee line. This edition has been produced on the eve of the second ACAS meeting to discuss London Underground's proposed 'Covid-19' timetables and schedules.

Please download it to read the latest news. You can also print and share it in your Jubilee Line depot too.