Rail, maritime and transport union RMT announced today that the organisation has continued to increase its membership in the past twelve months in the teeth of the most savage attacks on jobs and working conditions for a generation.

Membership figures released by the union today show that RMT has put on a net gain of 1456 members through 2012, taking the total to 77,549 – an annual growth of nearly 2% in the most challenging circumstances.

The union has increased its membership year-on-year from the 59,277 total when General Secretary Bob Crow was elected in 2002

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:

“These membership growth figures at RMT, in the most hostile employment conditions for a generation, are a testament to the fighting, campaigning stance of this trade union and the energy and determination of our members, activists, officers and staff who are out there building the organisation day in and day out.

“RMT has shown, through pay rises like the recent 3.5% deal at Network Rail, that militant, industrial trade unionism is the only defence that working people have got in the face of the savage assaults meted out in the name of austerity under the direction of this rotten government.

“RMT isn’t resting on its laurels, the entire organisation is geared up to make recruitment, education and training an absolute priority as we prepare ourselves for the battles ahead.”