RMT press releases

RMT Rejects “Derisory” Tube Olympics Pay Offer

TUBE UNION RMT today rejected a “derisory” Olympics pay offer from London Underground and agreed to step up the pressure for a deal that properly rewards the additional work load and pressure that staff will need to carry throughout the Olympics period.

LU have offered a flat rate of £100 linked to “targets” and some additional shift allowances for some staff which are divisive and which fall well short of RMT’s demands for a flat rate payment to all staff across all grades applicable throughout the whole Olympics and Paralympics period.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:

Great Western Franchise Pre-empts McNulty Rail Review With Ticket Office Massacre

RAIL UNION RMT warned today that the tendering for the new Greater Western franchise, now underway and due to operate from April 2013, is being conducted under the terms of the Sir Roy McNulty Rail Review before the Government have even taken it through the parliamentary process, with dire consequences for both jobs and passenger services.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said: “It is an insult to democracy that the Greater Western franchise is being tendered on the basis of a half-baked and totally bogus set of ideas advanced by McNulty before they have even been endorsed by the country’s law makers."

High Speed Rail 2

RMT welcomes high speed rail 2, but warns that it mustn't be at the expense of jobs or services elsewhere in the rail system and should be built, run and owned by the public sector.

Bob Crow, RMT General Secretary, said: “No one has fought harder for the investment and modernisation required to drag the UK’s railways out of the slow lane than RMT and development of high speed links must be a key component of our rail plans.

UK Taxpayers Face £140 Million Bill To Prop Up Destruction Of Train Building Industry

Rail union RMT today demanded that the Government reverse the decision to award the crucial Thameslink fleet contract to Siemens after it emerged in a series of parliamentary answers to Derby MP Chris Williamson that the Siemens bid was priced in Euros and with the 10% decline in the value of the currency since tendering the cost to the UK taxpayer on the £1.4 billion contract has soared by £140 million.

Average Rail Fares To Increase By Nearly 6%

Bob Crow, RMT General Secretary, said today:

"These inflation-busting increases show that the great rail fares privatisation swindle is still rocking along, with the train operating companies laughing all the way to the bank.

Independent analysis by Government departments has proven that the fare increases are trousered by the shareholders of the private companies while passengers pay through the nose to travel in rammed and creaking carriages.

Unemployment Rises to 2.6 Million

Responding to news that unemployment has risen by 128,000 to 2.638 million in the three months to October, RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:

“These latest shocking figures show that all the Governments promises on jobs and apprenticeships are as hollow as a chocolate Father Christmas."

TfL Plan To Buy Crossrail Trains Dealt Blow By Tory Transport Minister

RAIL UNION RMT warned today that the Government could be preparing an action replay of the Thameslink stitch-up of Bombardier over the Crossrail contract as it emerged that Transport Secretary Justine Greening has sabotaged a plan that would have potentially saved train building in the nation that gave the railways to the world.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said: “Despite the long public row over the Thameslink stitch- up, and the threat to over 10,000 jobs at Bombardier in Derby and in the supply chain, reports today suggest that the Government are planning an action replay over Crossrail in a move that would kill UK train building once and for all.

News International Surveillance Operation

RMT demands names of those involved in News International surveillance operation and submits dossier of evidence to Leveson inquiry.

TRANSPORT UNION RMT today wrote to lawyers for News International demanding to know which journalists were involved in instructing an undercover surveillance operation against General Secretary Bob Crow by former policeman and MI5-trained Derek Webb. RMT is calling for full disclosure of information relating to the News International surveillance, and to any blagging and hacking operation against the union and its General Secretary.

RMT Slams Cable Attack On Workers’ Rights And Warns That Government Is Planning Huge Increase In Social Dumping To Drive Down Pay And Conditions

TRANSPORT UNION RMT today slammed Vince Cables attack on workers’ rights and warned that as well as opening the door to a vicious “hire and fire” culture he is also giving a green light to a massive increase in social dumping that will allow companies to hire in workers from abroad to undermine pay and conditions.