RMT press releases

RMT Pays Tribute To Public Transport Staff For Olympic & Paralympic Success

“The successful transportation of the millions of extra passenger journeys each day is a testament to the skill and dedication of the workforce" - Bob Crow

TRANSPORT UNION RMT today paid tribute to the thousands of public transport staff in London and beyond who have been central to the delivery of the successful Olympics and Paralympics.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:

“This has been a fantastic summer of sport for Britain and as well as the success in the medals tables we have also delivered on the biggest transport challenge that London has ever faced."

RMT Responds To News That Patrick Mcloughlin Is New Transport Secretary

At yesterdays Tory cabinet reshuffle Patrick Mcloughlin was appointed as the new transport secretary. Mcloughlin, MP for the Derbyshire Dales constituency has been a Conservative MP since 1986 The website 'theyworkforyou.com' lists him as voting 'strongly against equal gay rights,' 'very strongly for the Iraq war' and 'moderately against a transparent Parliament' among other things.

Probe Demanded Into Plans To Force Taxpayer To Spend Up To £200m On Freight Yards Gifted To Private Companies

RAIL UNION RMT today demanded a parliamentary probe into plans passed to the union which would see the publicly-owned Network Rail forced to buy-back rail freight yards gifted to private rail freight companies as part of the privatisation carve-up of railway assets.

Thameslink Fleet Sign Off Delayed By More Than A Year

In her final act of betrayal of the UK rail industry before heading to Northern Ireland, rail minister Theresa Villiers confirmed that the Thameslink fleet contract, now delayed for over 15 months, has been booted into the long grass again with only another vague statement that it may be signed off in the autumn.

The latest blow to British train building came as it emerged that Siemens, the preferred Thameslink bidder over Bombardier in Derby, have had to pay the Greek Government £262 million in settlement of bribery allegation around the Athens Olympics in 2004.

Cumbria Derailment Underlines Key Role Of Threatened Rail Staff

THE SAFE evacuation of the Northern Rail train derailed near St Bees in Cumbria yesterday underlines the importance of safety-trained train and infrastructure crew who are under threat thanks to “wrong-headed” government policy, Britain’s biggest rail union said today.

As the media reported praise for the train crew’s calm and orderly evacuation of around 100 passengers, RMT condemned the government’s plan to abolish guards under the notorious McNulty report, which aims to sack up to 20,000 rail staff to protect private operators’ profits.

RMT general secretary Bob Crow said:

East Coast And London Midland Cleaners To Strike Against ISS Poverty Pay

LOW-PAID CLEANERS on the prestigious East Coast mainline working for ISS are to strike for 24 hours on September 10 after voting by a huge 98 per cent margin for action against an employer that has offered no pay rise for three years.

They will be joined on strike by cleaners working for the same scrooge sub-contractor on London Midland, where a 24-hour stoppage has already been held at depots in Bletchley, Northampton and King’s Heath.

In both disputes ISS has failed to respond to calls for a living wage for workers who play a key role in maintaining rail services.

Cut Train Fares Not Train Staff, Say Passengers And Rail Workers

Rail unions, transport campaigners and passenger groups are holding a national day of action today (Tuesday) to protest against massive hikes in rail fares and cuts to railway staff and services.

UK rail passengers pay among the highest fares in Europe for train travel. Following last year’s inflation-busting fare rises, the government has announced that train operating companies (TOCs) will be able to increase rail fares by three per cent more than RPI inflation. This could mean price hikes on most rush hour travel, season tickets and off-peak fares on the majority of intercity journeys.

RMT Joins Forces With Web Campaigners Labour Start In “cyber Picket” Of Boris Johnson In Fight For Olympics Cleaners Pay Justice

Transport union RMT said today that it has joined forces with web campaigners and union resource Labour Start to launch a global “cyber picket” of London Mayor Boris Johnson in the fight for Olympics pay justice for tube cleaners working for ISS and Initial.

The cleaners began a 48 hours strike at 05:30 hours on Thursday 9th August 2012 and the action runs until 05:29 hours on Saturday 11th August 2012.

Pickets were out in force at Stratford and other London locations yesterday and there will be another protest at Stratford at twelve noon today.

Tube Cleaners To Strike Again In Fight For Fairness On Olympics Payments And Pay Justice

Transport union RMT said today that tube cleaners working for Initial and ISS will strike again this week in their fight for fair pay and Olympics recognition and reward.

Following rock-solid action around the opening weekend of the Games members are now instructed not to book on for any shifts that commence between:-

05:30 hours on Thursday 9th August 2012 and 05:29 hours on Saturday 11th August 2012.
RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said;