RMT press releases

Tory Tube review to look at privatisation and workforce 'modernisation'

RMT warns of mother of all battles against government’s plans for tube privatisation and driverless trains

TUBE UNION RMT today responded to the government terms of the review into Transport for London which say there will be a:

“review of the current operating model and whether there are any opportunities that alternative operating models could bring over the longer term, including consideration of structures and governance.”

And also,

As Coronavirus crisis rages on, Tory prime minister calls for driverless tube trains

RMT Senior Assistant General Secretary Mick Lynch said;

"It is outrageous for Boris Johnson to wheel out the dangerous nonsense of driverless trains as a condition of the emergency Covid-19 funding of Transport for London. This is the sort of cheap political stunt that was a hallmark of his time as Mayor and we would have hoped he would have grown up by now.

New TfL commissioner must give Tube cleaners free travel

RMT says new Transport for London Commissioner must give Underground cleaners the same free travel pass he is entitled to

On the day that new Transport for London Commissioner Andy Byford starts work [Monday 29 June], RMT called on him to put a stop to a shameful injustice by giving London’s heroic Underground cleaners the same TfL travel pass that he and the Mayor are entitled to.

RMT demands that Mayor lift congestion charge from London lifeboat staff

Thames waterways union RMT today demanded that London Mayor Sadiq Khan exempt staff working at Tower RNLI station from the congestion and ULEZ charges warning that a failure to recognise the vital contribution of this group of staff at the UK's busiest lifeboat station is robbing them of hundreds of pounds a month. 

RMT expresses concern over botched face mask announcement

RMT writes to Grant Shapps warning that requirement for face masks on public transport risks being marred by confusion and conflict.

Transport union RMT has written to the Secretary of State Grant Shapps to warn a lack of consultation and proper discussion in the transport industry means that the requirement for face masks on public transport from 15th June risks being marred by “confusion and conflict.”

RMT calls for compulsory coronavirus protections

 RMT CALLS FOR NEW COMPULSORY COVID-19 PROTECTIONS FOR PASSENGERS AND RAIL WORKERS

As increased rail service timetable comes into place today RMT calls for new compulsory Covid-19 protections for passengers and rail workers.
RAIL UNION RMT is calling for new compulsory protections for passengers and rail workers on trains as the increased rail service timetable comes into place today – Monday 18th May.

The protections are:

Crowded train and bus services are “categorically less safe”

TRANSPORT UNION RMT said today that crowded train, tube and bus services are “categorically less safe” and should not run unless two meter social distancing can be enforced.

The union said unless the government took urgent action to enforce two meter social distancing public transport would become a “turbo charged Covid -19 breeding ground” driving a new wave of infections. The warning has come as the Government begins it's back to work drive this week with a surge in passenger numbers expected on Monday morning.