RMT press releases

RMT on BTP conference on violence on transport services:

General Secretary Mick Cash said.

"‎The public should be under no illusions. The whole object of policy on our transport services at the moment is to axe staff and that gives a green light to thugs, drunks and racists to indulge in their violent, abusive and anti-social behaviour.

"From chopping guards off the trains, to closing ticket offices on London Underground to cutting staff on stations and platforms the whole austerity and profit driven agenda is turning our transport system into a thugs and criminals paradise.

Transport union RMT said today that it is step up the independent monitoring of crowding and safety on both rail and tube after a child fell between a train and the platform at Baker Street yesterday afternoon in the latest shocking incident that raises serious questions about the safety of passengers while top transport bosses repeatedly ignore union warnings.

Yesterday's incident at Baker Street follows the horrific events at Clapham South last week when a woman was dragged under a train, the continuing chaos at London Bridge and major incidents at Oxford CIrcus and Brixton.

Rail union RMT today listed a catalogue of faults left behind by contractors working on the £500 million redevelopment of London Bridge which have been the catalyst to the continuing chaos and overcrowding at the station in recent weeks.

Senior RMT officials have identified the following issues:

• New track and signalling layout poorly installed
• Incorrect procedures followed
• Corners cut on quality of new points
• Network Rail engineers left to correct contractor faults
• Some installation mistakes potentially dangerous
• Concerns raised by union members ignored
  

Union warnings of lethal overcrowding at "death trap" tube station were ignored by underground bosses.

Tube union RMT revealed today that it formally warned underground bosses of lethal overcrowding at Clapham South station in a specially convened safety meeting last week, warnings that were ignored. That most recent warning followed previous alerts flagged up by the union over the past year about death trap overcrowding ‎at stations along sections of the Northern Line.

RMT demands action over assaults on staff in London Bridge chaos
RAIL UNION RMT has today written to three train operators, Southern, Southeastern and Thameslink, along with Network Rail, demanding urgent action over assaults and abuse of staff caught in the crossfire of the continuing chaos at London Bridge. Staff have been threatened, had hot coffee thrown over them and been spat at as passengers take out their anger on the station workforce.

Further to my letter dated 12th January regarding the above, members are aware that your Union’s Executive Committee has taken the decision to conduct a ballot of all Train Operator and Instructor Operator members over this issue. The ballot notice was sent to the Company yesterday, your voting paper will be sent out on Monday 26th January 2015 and must be returned for the closing date of Tuesday 10th February 2015.

Staff at Waterloo Station to strike for a third time on Friday over victimisation and bullying
Following two earlier phases of rock solid action last month, cleaners employed by Interserve, looking after the busy and internationally famous Waterloo Station in London, are to strike again from friday over a comprehensive breakdown in industrial relations relating to a whole range of fundamental issues including;

• the unwarranted victimisation and dismissal of RMT members
• ignorance of basic employment rights and failure to follow agreed procedures
• underpayment of wages
  

See the attachment below for the shocking offer from TFL

Mick Cash, RMT General Secretary, said "Whilst RMT is not against night running of the tube in principle, provided all staff involved are properly rewarded and that safety and security is thoroughly worked out and agreed, the truth is that the Mayor threw this plan in as a diversion from his massive cuts and closures programme that will axe a thousand staff and decimate services and safety.

Transport for London staff join July 10th strike action in fight over attack on pay and pensions
RMT members at Transport for London will be taking a further 24 hours of joint strike action from this Thursday morning, coinciding with widespread national industrial action in the public sector, in a dispute over an all-out attack on pay and pensions that would condemn to staff to a life of poverty in retirement.

Members have been instructed not to book on for any shifts that commence between:-

• 05.59 hours Thursday 10th July 2014 and 05.58 hours Friday 11th July 2014.