RMT press releases

TUBE UNION RMT today warned that London Underground are on the verge of plunging the Capitals tube system into the same lethal cocktail of safety cuts and automation that led to nine people being killed on the Washington DC Red Line service just over two years ago.

Today, the TFL Board will discuss a document entitled London Underground's operational vision, which flags up a future of driverless trains and destaffing of platforms and stations to save money.

RMT TUBE drivers are to refuse to follow what the union considers to be dangerous new instructions from London Underground after voting by a margin of four to one for industrial action over train safety.

TUBE UNION RMT today released a confidential “Operational Strategy” paper from London Underground which the union says is “a blueprint for jobs and safety carnage.”

Click on the attachments to see RMT' London Calling and LU's confidential 'Operational Strategy' paper.

After RMT "blew the whistle" on London Underground's plan to cut the frequency of tripcock testing, there has been significant media coverage of the issue, including:

• BBC: Tube train safety checks change sparks union row
• Evening Standard: Safety fears as Tube bosses plan to cut inspections on train emergency brakes
  

TUBE UNION RMT today launched a campaign for the reinstatement of tube driver James Masango who, despite winning by 100% an Employment Tribunal claim for unfair dismissal, has still not been re-engaged by London Underground.

James Masango’s case exposed an appalling litany of mismanagement which resulted in his Tribunal taking the rare step of finding 100% in his favour with not a single shred of evidence that there was any contributory fault on his part. Reinstatement in light of such an overwhelming verdict on his innocence should be automatic.

TUBE UNION RMT confirmed this morning that it has begun balloting tube drivers for action short of a strike, in a dispute over safety.

The ballot is over four particular aspects of London Undergrounds Operational Effectiveness Programme which RMT says are unacceptable and potentially dangerous. These are;

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:

“It is our members who have to deal with the consequences of these ill-conceived policies. We have tried to get LUL to see sense, but they have continued to put cash and job cuts ahead of passenger safety and we now have no choice but to ballot for action to put a stop to these dangerous proposals being imposed without agreement.”

RAIL UNION RMT today called on the Government to “wholly reject” the McNulty Rail Review proposals to axe station-based staff and guards on trains after the union was presented with a stark intelligence report from Southeastern Railways setting out a strategy for dealing with a Mumbai or Norway style “Active Shooter” attack on the railways with a warning that such an attack is a “strong possibility.”

From RMT General Secretary Bob Crow.

TUC PLEDGES UNANIMOUS SUPPORT FOR CAMPAIGN AGAINST MCNULTY RAIL ATTACK

I am pleased to be able to report that TUC congress has voted unanimously to throw its support behind the campaign to stop the McNulty review attack on our railways.

TAXI UNION RMT warned today that central London will be “jammed solid” with unlicensed and uninsured rickshaws as we head towards the London Olympics with the authorities refusing to lift a finger to clampdown on the unregulated trade.

RMT London Taxi Branch has a clear position of opposition to rickshaws in London and last month RMT parliamentary group convenor John McDonnell successfully objected to the TFL London Local Authorities Bill at Second Reading - specifically on the grounds that it would lead to the continued proliferation of unlicensed, unsafe rickshaws clogging up central London.

Taxi union RMT confirmed today that their Parliamentary Convenor John McDonnell MP has successfully objected to the TFL London Local Authorities Bill at Second Reading - specifically on the grounds that it would lead to the continued proliferation of unlicensed, unsafe rickshaws clogging up central London