SPECIALIST TRANSPORT UNION RMT will lead the fightback against any attempt to impose austerity cuts in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a motion to the TUC today  which will be moved by senior assistant General ,Secretary Steve Hedley RMT sets out the programme for that campaigning fightback:

"Congress pays tribute to the key workers of the Coronavirus pandemic who, in protecting our lives and livelihoods risked and sadly lost their lives. 

Together with other key workers, Ministers described transport and offshore energy workers as “heroes.” Yet already government is attacking our heroes with the PM making driverless trains a condition of London transport funding and reports rail funding will be linked to staff cuts. 

Congress will campaign for workplaces fit for heroes, including :

• No transport austerity, protect and improve rail, tube, bus,  maritime, transport and offshore jobs, pay and conditions
• Stronger safety standards and stronger powers for safety reps. 
• All key workers to benefit from the Coronavirus compensation scheme. 
• End outsourcing which is unfair and unsafe; Sadiq Khan should lead through ending privatisation of Tube cleaning.
• Scrap planned new anti-union legislation against rail workers.

Congress is concerned the pandemic has increased car use at public transport’s expense which will be disastrous for our climate and health, as raised carbon emissions increase vulnerability to diseases, with evidence air pollution is a factor in higher rates of Coronavirus deaths.

To stop the Coronavirus crisis accelerating the climate crisis we need to massively expand transport operating subsidy, capital investment and capacity to make bus, metro and rail passenger and freight services more frequent, affordable, attractive and safer to use. This to be paid for by borrowing at record low interest rates and making public transport publicly owned and integrated - saving billions through ending the inefficiency and profiteering of privatisation."