Public services not private profit

From RMT General Secretary Bob Crow

Reminder: Join the National Demonstrations against Austerity – 20th October 2012

There are just under four weeks to go before the national demonstrations against austerity on Saturday 20 October.

Join RMT colleagues in what promises to be a historic and enjoyable day of protest. Bring your family and friends and send a clear message that we are not prepared to accept the attacks on our jobs, services and communities.

A booklet explaining the reasons for the event is attached below

From RMT General Secretary Bob Crow

There is now one month to go until the demonstrations in London, Glasgow and Belfast opposing the cuts in the name of austerity being proposed by the coalition government.

It is important that we get a good turnout of RMT members on the day, to send a message to the government that working people should not pay for the bankers’ crisis.

From General Secretary Bob Crow

I write to advise branches that the contract between UKPN Services Powerlink and London Underground will be terminated on 16th August 2013. This matter has now been considered by the General Grades Committee and has made the following decision:-

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.

Rail investment should happen swiftly and be financed by sacking privateers not railway workers.

RMT will fight any cynical attempt to finance investment at some date way off in the future by sacking guards

Following the government announcement on rail investment RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said "What we need is investment in rail today not yet another political promise of jam tomorrow.

All of the rail projects on this shopping list have been talked about for years and with the surge in passenger demand we cannot afford further delays like the ongoing Thameslink fleet replacement fiasco.

Deepest in the trough was National Express boss Ray O’Toole, whose 110 per cent pay hike took him to £1.3 million.

The bosses of the ‘big five’ private transport operators have pocketed an average £1 million each in pay, bagging an aggregate pay rise worth a shade shy of 20 per cent, according to their most recent company accounts, a study by transport union RMT reveals today.

As bus and rail passengers face fares hikes of a minimum of six per cent and service cuts, the news that transport bosses have followed the city trend to give themselves bumper pay packages will be greeted with anger and dismay, the union says.

London Transport Regional Council passed the following resolution at its May 2012 meeting:

This union notes the government’s announcement of changes to provision for children with special needs. While the current system is not perfect, these proposals will cut provision, and are a significant attack on support for the most needy kids and the jobs of those education workers who support them.

On 10 May 2012 in London, a large rally attacked the government's attempts to burden the working class with the costs of the bailout of the bankers, and planned for future action.

RAIL UNION RMT today reaffirmed its total opposition to “workfare” schemes on the railways, where claimants are forced to work for benefits, after suggestions emerged that Southern may be engaging in such a scheme.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:

“RMT is investigating reports from our branches that Southern may be in the process of rolling out a “workfare” scheme and we are demanding assurances from the company that any such plan would be dropped immediately.