Regional Organiser's Report: Urgent Protest Over Job Cuts, plus much more!

Submitted by Admin on 3 February, 2009 - 17:20

1. Thousands of job losses are being proposed by LUL/TfL. We are attending another meeting tomorrow to get more details. The RMT HAS A VERY CLEAR POSITION WE WILL CAMPAIGN AGAINST ALL JOB CUTS AND BALLOT OUR MEMBERS IF COMPULSORY REDUNDANCY IS FORCED ON PEOPLE.

In the meantime we are calling on you all to support a protest outside LUL HQ, 55 Broadway (ST James Park station) on Wednesday 11th February at 7.30am to demand that no jobs are cut.

2. We are meeting with Gerry Duffy to discuss levels of representation for drivers, SRT, service control, King's Cross station.

LUL's Guidance on Adverse Weather

Submitted by Janine on 3 February, 2009 - 14:57

Here is LUL's guidance for staff who couldn't get to work because of the snow.

Guidance for attendance for all Operational Staff in LU following the adverse weather conditions.

Employees are required to make every effort to get to their place of work and should always be encouraged to use every reasonable means to achieve this objective. It is their responsibility to get to work.

Bad weather underlines need for more rail staff and a unified railway network, says RMT

Submitted by Admin on 2 February, 2009 - 11:43

RMT press release, issued today

THE EXTREME weather that has played havoc with Britain’s transport system has underlined the failings of a fragmented rail network and the folly of the long-term reduction in the number of front-line staff, the country’s biggest rail union said today.

As staff struggled to maintain services in worsening weather conditions, RMT contrasted the commitment of front-line workers with train-operating companies that have chipped away at staffing levels since privatisation to boost profits.

RMT London Transport Regional Council - Recruitment and Retention Strategy 2009

Submitted by Janine on 2 February, 2009 - 10:05

This strategy was agreed at the January meeting of the Regional Council.

The recession makes union membership even more important for all ordinary people in Britain.

However many people are not aware of what a union is let alone the importance of a well-unionised workforce for pay, conditions and job security. Some non-members, particularly, may think union membership is an unnecessary expense. Active recruitment is now even more important than ever. It is in the interests of the whole workforce that RMT has the biggest possible membership

HipHop Vs Trade Unionism

Submitted by Janine on 31 January, 2009 - 13:17

Jen York (RMT Learning) describes the event that took place on a weekend in November in Brighton...

Day One

09.30 Saturday morning and the music is vibrating through the doors at the Komedia in Brighton. Ten Young RMT members make there way into the studio and on the Decks are KMT aka Ian Solomon and Dave Smith, TUC tutor from the College of North East London.

Demonstration for Free Education

In 2010 the government will look to lift the current £3000 a year limit on university fees. Soon we could see a return to times when working-class people can't consider university, as they simply won't be able to afford it. The situation here will be like America, where fees could be £40‐50 grand a year, and someone like George Bush can buy a degree from Harvard.

Not everyone wants to go to university. But soon working-class young people won't have the choice!

'Crocker's Corner': What Young RMT Members Are Doing

Submitted by Janine on 31 January, 2009 - 13:04

Rebecca Crocker, London Transport Regional Council Young Members' Officer gives her insight into Taking the Power back and Current issues that she feels affect all young members in our union.

You might ask, ‘what’s the point of having a young members’ section of the union’? Well ...

If more young people don't get involved, the union movement will literally DIE. The average age at union branch meetings is 40+.

Unions should fight over issues that young people care about.

RMT Young Members Visit Cuba

Submitted by Janine on 30 January, 2009 - 19:42

Emma Baldwin (Watford Branch) Reports.....

When I first joined RMT I was told about a trip to Cuba that they do and how I should definitely get myself on to that trip, so when the chance came for me to go I jumped at it feet first!

There is a bit of a warning attached to this you have to remember that Cuba has a trade embargo with the USA, for many decades and because of this some things are very basic, when the information you receive says “basic but adequate” it may not be what you imagine it to be.