Solidarity and Unity

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2011-10-11T22:44:00.001+01:00

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ConDem's declare war on Trade Union Movement

2010-07-05T14:21:00.001+01:00

REPORTS THIS morning that the ConDem Government are planning to rig the anti-union laws even further in favour of the employers have been slammed as a "declaration of war" on the Trade Union Movement as the administration seeks to prevent workers from fighting back against attacks on jobs and working conditions and against public spending cuts.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:

"The ConDems know that the main opposition to their austerity and cuts plans will come from the Trade Unions. They are running scared and are now looking to tighten the noose of the anti-union laws around the workers necks to choke off resistance.

"Under these proposals to raise the bar hardly a single MP in the UK would have been allowed to take up their seats. It's one law for the political class and one law for the working class in a move that has echoes of a right-wing South American dictatorship.

"The idea that Boris Johnson has been called in to advise after dealing with RMT on the tube is incredible. Our members on Tube Lines will be out on strike again next week as they stand up for jobs and safety.

"This is a declaration of war on the Trade Union Movement and our response will be robust as we lay down plans for co-ordinated and generalised industrial and community action against the cuts."

RMT sounds safety alarm over 40% transport cuts

2010-07-05T13:43:00.001+01:00

TRANSPORT UNION RMT today raised serious safety fears over rail maintenance as it emerged over the weekend that the transport budget is being lined up for cuts of up to 40% as the ConDem government tightens the screw on public spending.

RMT is warning that the scale of cuts being planned will savage maintenance and renewals work dragging the railways back to the chaotic and lethal conditions under the Railtrack regime that led to the Potters Bar and Hatfield tragedies.

The procurement of new rolling stock is being scrapped, fares are set to increase by up to 10% and developments like high speed and electrification are being shelved.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:

"With cuts of up to 40% in the transport budget we are looking at thousands of job losses amongst the staff who operate and maintain services with dire consequences for passenger safety as corners are cut. It is crystal clear that modernisation and upgrade works will be axed with high speed, electrification and Crossrail all on the butchers block.

"With the government also planning to raise fares by up to 10% it doesn't take a genius to see that the state-funded racket of rail privatisation is being protected from the scorched-earth economics of the the ConDems.

"The public will be forced to pay through the nose to travel on condemned and crowded trains on creaking and dangerous track while the private rail companies are laughing all the way to the bank."

Pay research

2010-07-03T15:58:00.004+01:00

Latest research out on the subject of staff pay indicated that increasing peoples pay, giving them more money didn't make them happier. It tended to do the opposite and make the unhappier. Here are two takes on it from different perspectives.

RMT’s Bob Crow calls for “generalised strikes and community direct action”

2010-07-01T05:28:00.000+01:00

SPEAKING TO delegates at transport union RMT's annual conference in Aberdeen today, General Secretary Bob Crow will issue a "call to arms" to the entire Labour and Trade Union Movement and communities under attack for a "sustained campaign of generalised strikes across both the public and private sectors and community direct action to defend public services in the teeth of the fiscal fascism being unleashed by this ConDem government."

Bob Crow, RMT General Secretary, will say:

"This ConDem administration has thrown down the biggest challenge to the Trade Union Movement since Margaret Thatcher took on the National Union of Mineworkers. I have no hesitation in saying that it will take general and co-ordinated strike action across the public and private sectors to stop their savage assault on jobs, living standards and public services.

"The Trade Unions must form alliances with community groups, campaigns and pensioners organisations in the biggest show of united resistance since the success of the anti-poll tax movement. Waving banners and placards will not be enough – it will take direct action to stop the Cameron and Clegg cuts machine.

"We have a right wing Tory Government propped up by a Liberal Party that has binned every commitment that it gave to voters in the run up to the election in order to grab power. That's why we say this administration has no mandate for its cuts and that's why we argue that bulldozing through their austerity measures amounts to fiscal fascism. It was zombie capitalism that dragged us into this mess and our people should not be made to pay to clear it up.

"The Trade Unions can only fight these attacks from the front foot. We have a Government of millionaire public school boys who are determined to rule by fear – fear of losing your job, fear of losing your home and fear of losing your benefits and the public services that you rely on.

"RMT says don't fear them, fight them. Our Trade Union has a slogan, "never on our knees", and from Aberdeen we want those words to ring out on the Millionaires Row of Clegg and Cameron. They started this fight with the working class and we are up for it."

REORGANISATION, TRACK RENEWALS (EXCL. PLANT) - AMEYCOLAS JOINT VENTURE

2010-07-01T05:27:00.001+01:00

Our Ref: BR4/15/4

30^th June 2010

Dear Colleague,

REORGANISATION, TRACK RENEWALS (EXCL. PLANT) – AMEYCOLAS JOINT VENTURE

I write to inform you that the RMT have entered into a formal 90-day consultation period following the shocking and disappointing announcement that the AmeyColas Joint Venture are proposing the loss of 170 of the 540 posts. In relation to the Track Grades this will mean a staggering reduction of 60% from 228 posts to just 90. The affected Track workers depots will be Bletchly, Bristol, Doncaster, Newport, Saltley and Alpha Tower and Swindon. The remaining 32 redundancies will be spread over other various departments.

Regional Organiser, Brendan Kelly, attended a meeting last week with senior representatives from AmeyColas and they stated that the main rationales behind these proposals are as follows;

Network Rail imposed efficiently savings of 21%.
High output contract now capped at fixed rate of £118k/ckm (10% below current operating cost).
The Conventional (R24) contract is now capped at 10% below 2009/10 levels.
The rate that the JV gets paid will drop a further 20% in 11/12.

This is clearly not only an attack on jobs but also on pay and conditions. The Joint Venture will not be able to manage their current workload with their newly proposed staffing levels and so inevitably will increase their use of sub-contractors on worse pay and conditions. The company have also made it very clear that they will be seeking to change the present terms and conditions with a view to making the workforce 'more flexible'. Historically such developments have always been to the detriment of the employee.

Your union does not endorse any compulsory redundancies and these proposals are being taken very seriously. However, in all employment matters I expect the Company to adhere to the PTR&R (Promotion, Transfer, Redundancy & Promotion), which can be viewed in the Pay and Conditions database in the Members' area of the RMT website (www.rmt.org.uk).

With a view to being prepared for all eventualities I ask that you contact the RMT Helpline on 0800 376 3706 to confirm your employment and personal details. It is also important that all current local reps and Safety reps contact the Bristol regional office on 0117 925 5018 with their current details. Alternatively you can contact the full time officer Brendan Kelly on 07815 967 675 or email on b.kelly@rmt.org.uk

This would also be a beneficial time for any of your colleagues who are not members of the RMT to join, always remember that there is strength in numbers, and I ask that you encourage them to join, either by phoning the Helpline or seeing the RMT website.

Yours sincerely

Bob Crow

General Secretary

AmeyClas Reorganisation 21st June 2010, Proposed changes shown

2010-06-23T15:01:00.005+01:00

All the images can be enlarged by clicking upon them, these are the current organisational charts as AmeyColas is today. They show the extent of the changes once the reorganisation has taken place. A colour code system is used and is as follows:

GREEN = Outside the scope of this reorganisation.
BLUE = Mapped, unaffected by the reorganisation.
YELLOW = At risk, posts to be reduced.
RED = Posts do not exist with the new organisation.

AmeyColas Western 1, Project Specific Management.

AmeyColas Western 2, Teamleaders and trackworkers.

AmeyColas Western 3 High Output Swindon.

AmeyColas London North Western/Eastern 1, Organisation.

Two posts are gone at the Bletchley office in the new organisation, and three others are at risk.

AmeyColas London North Western/Eastern 2, Organisation.

AmeyColas London North Western/Eastern 3, Track Staff.

Under the reorganisation AmeyColas want 4 Team leaders and 12 Trackmen under Bletchley depot.

RMT slams 'lethal and unworkable' Tory plans

2010-06-17T14:34:00.000+01:00

TUBE UNION RMT tonight condemned "lethal and unworkable" plans leaked to the BBC from within the GLA Tory Group to axe all train drivers and operators on London Underground and to move the entire tube system to a driverless operation.

The leaked report, confirmed as being under discussion by the GLA Tories and which London Tory Mayor Boris Johnson is aware of, recommends sacking all of the 3,525 train drivers and operators estimating that it could result in savings of £141 million per annum.

The report is also clear that the plan is part of a secret drive by the Tory Party to break the strength of the Tube's biggest and most powerful trade union, RMT.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:

"Under normal circumstances I would be tempted to dismiss this leaked report as some kind of a joke, cooked up by anti-union fantasists, but in the current climate of cuts and attacks on public services we are taking it very seriously.

"People only have to look at the footage of the carnage down the tube after the 7/7 bombings, and the brave and critical role played by train operators and platform staff in dealing with that emergency situation, to see why these crew are so vital to the safety of Londoners.

"The people behind this Tory Party report not only want to get rid of the drivers but they want no staff on the tube trains at all. That just proves that they have no understanding of the tube system and a complete and utter disregard for passenger safety.

"It may well be that some junior politician is simply flying a kite to make a name for themselves but RMT will not sit back and allow this lethal and unworkable idea to gain any traction whatsoever.

"We are already involved in a battle to defend Tube Lines, station and platform jobs and our fight for safe staffing levels across London Underground, including the use of industrial action, will continue."

Important dates for your diary: Durham Miners Gala & Tolpuddle Festival

2010-06-15T16:10:00.000+01:00

Dear Colleague,

Important dates for your diary:

Durham Miners Gala Saturday 10^th July 2010

Tolpuddle Festival Friday 16^th July to Sunday 18^th July 2010

Key dates in the calendar of the trade union movement have been announced and as ever, I would like to encourage RMT members to attend to ensure the maximum Union presence where we can pay tribute to working class solidarity and our trade union forefathers at the Tolpuddle Festival and the Durham Miners Gala.

Please bring your banners flags and whistles!

Durham Miners Gala Saturday 10^th July 2010

The past struggles of mineworkers and the NUM continue to inspire working people everywhere and tens of thousands of trade unionists will gather in Durham to pay tribute to their example. The RMT has a special bond with the Gala through the solidarity shown by the NUR and NUS during the landmark 1984 dispute. I will provide more details when they are available.

Tolpuddle Martyrs Festival Friday 16^th July to Sunday 18^th July 2010, Tolpuddle, Dorset

The Tolpuddle Festival commemorates an historic episode in the struggle for trade union rights in Britain and around the world. In 1834 six farm labourers from Tolpuddle were arrested on a charge of taking part in an illegal oath ceremony. The real offence was that they had dared to form a trade union to defend their livelihoods. For this they were sentenced to seven year's transportation to the penal colonies of Australia. The sentences provoked an immense outcry, leading to the first great trade union protest. The campaign won free pardons and the Martyrs returned to England. For further information on the Tolpuddle Festival, see www.tolpuddlemartyrs.org.uk

Yours sincerely,

Bob Crow

General Secretary

RMT warns of Government plans to axe thousands of transport jobs

2010-06-15T16:07:00.000+01:00

TRANSPORT UNION RMT warned today that the new Government is planning to take an axe to transport budgets as the department is lined up as a soft touch for cuts, putting thousands of jobs on rail and the buses at risk.

The warning comes as the Campaign for Better Transport (CBT) predicted 33% fare increases over this parliament, fewer buses and a shortage of train capacity – all of which will push more people back into their cars and make a mockery of Government claims to support a green transport policy. CBT have also warned that "buses will become extinct outside the centres of cities and towns" under this Government.

Transport Secretary Philip Hammond – who will be visiting the Crossrail project this afternoon – has also made it clear that he will pursue a review of rail costs that will lock in and protect the inefficiency and fragmentation of privatisation, and which will ring fence the profits and fare increases to the private train operators with even longer franchises, while safety-critical jobs are sacrificed.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said today:

"The Government have sent out the clearest possible signal that transport is going to be right in the front line as the cuts assault on our services is unleashed.

"During the election there were predictions that the transport budget could be slashed by 27% - that now looks like an underestimate. Thousands of jobs on the trains, buses, rail infrastructure and operations and the Tube are at risk while the waste, profits and subsidies of privatisation and the private train operators are ring fenced with even longer, gold-plated franchises.

"Today Philip Hammond visits Crossrail, an infrastructure project which, like High Speed, electrification and the Tube upgrades, is on the critical list as the ConDems look to dump manifesto commitments to vital transport modernisation projects.

"RMT is committed to mobilising to fight the attacks on jobs and services in the sectors we organise and will co-ordinate resistance with other trade unions facing similar threats."

Eighth Annual RMT Garden Party for Cuba - with Alabama 3

2010-06-08T16:30:00.000+01:00

Dear colleagues,

Eighth Annual RMT Garden Party for Cuba - with special appearance from Alabama 3

Just to remind you that tickets are now available for the eighth annual RMT Garden Party for Cuba, which will be held at Maritime House in Clapham, London, on the evening of Tuesday June 22 this year.

The event, which we organise in conjunction with the Cuba Solidarity Campaign, has become a firm favourite on the movement's calendar – an opportunity to have a great time while raising money for a good cause.

As usual, there will be live music – with a special guest appearance by our good friends the Alabama 3 – good food and a free bar, as well as special guests, including the Cuban Ambassador, H.E Rene Mujica Cantelar ; John McDonnell MP; Tony Benn; Unite assistant general secretary Len McLusky, and Geoff Shears.

Tickets, at £15, can be ordered from RMT, Unity House, 39 Chalton Street, London NW1 1JD (cheques payable to RMT). Credit card orders can be taken by telephone on 020 7387 4771

I hope to see you there

Best wishes,

Bob Crow

RMT General Secretary

RMT warns of “dangerous” staff cuts to stations serving Arsenal football ground.

2010-06-08T16:28:00.001+01:00

TUBE UNION RMT today exposed the safety dangers of cutting station staff serving one of London's largest regular crowd venues – Arsenal's Emirates Stadium.

RMT have revealed that London Underground plan to almost halve staffing numbers at stations that come under enormous pressure when matches and events are being held at the Emirates. The stations affected are Arsenal, Finsbury Park, Caledonian Road and Holloway Road - all on the Piccadilly line.

Congestion Control Emergency Plans (CCEP's) have been altered showing dangerous cuts to staffing – impacting on day to day safety as well as for events at the Emirates. For example, the largest and busiest station Finsbury Park, which serves Victoria and Piccadilly Lines, as well as national rail to Stevenage, Peterborough and Cambridge, will be cut from the current staffing level of 20 to just 12. This will seriously increase the risk of major incidents and dangerously reduce the ability to evacuate quickly and safely.

RMT general Secretary Bob Crow said:

"Once again, Boris Johnson has broken another pledge - that he would protect front line staff and services from any budget cuts. Now we see that he plans to dramatically increase the risk to staff and football fans alike by ruthlessly slashing essential staff serving one of London's busiest sporting venues. This is just a foretaste of what's to come as we build up towards the 2012 Olympics.

"The cuts to staffing at stations around the Arsenal ground are matched by cuts elsewhere on the Tube where 800 jobs are under threat and we are committed to taking action to protect both our members and the travelling public."

RMT reissues demand that Scotrail scrap plans to axe Guards.

2010-06-08T16:26:00.000+01:00

RAIL UNION RMT today reissued its demand that Scotrail call an immediate halt to plans to extend Driver Only Operation on its services as it emerged that another train derailed on the Oban-Glasgow line at Falls of Cruachan 13 years ago due to a landslip. Incredibly, the same Guard, Angus MacColl, was on board both trains and was praised back in 1997 for his professional and calm response as he implemented emergency procedures.

The previous derailment occurred on the 5^th April 1997 just yards from Sunday evening's incident. 40 passengers were on board when the train hit a landslip of silts and boulders, derailing the train which, on this occasion, remained upright.

Due to a fault with the radio that night it was the Guard, Mr MacColl, who left the train and walked back to the nearest phone to contact the emergency services, ensuring the safe evacuation of passengers and securing the area.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:

In the light of Sunday evening's incident, and the previous derailment on the same section of track just thirteen years ago, it would be a scandal if First Scotrail and the Scottish Government pressed on with their cash-driven plans to axe the Guards on the new Airdrie-Bathgate route.

In incident after incident on our railways, going back many years, the safety-critical role of the Guard in an emergency situation like Sunday night's has been both recognised and praised by the investigating authorities.

The lesson is simple and is staring Scotrail in the face. In an emergency you need both the driver and the Guard, working as a team, to secure the incident and to implement safe, evacuation procedures.

Scotrail cannot be allowed to get away with praising Angus MacColl on one hand and then axing his colleagues from their services on the other. The political leaders at the Scottish Government cannot stand idly by while they try to do just that. We are demanding an immediate halt to the Scotrail plans for Driver Only Operation.

RMT calls for immediate halt to Driver Only Operation of trains

2010-06-07T14:39:00.000+01:00

RAIL UNION RMT today called for an immediate halt to the rolling out of Driver Only Operation (DOO) on Scotrail train services as the investigations into last night's derailment in Argyll get under way.

RMT will be writing to the Scottish Government and Scotrail demanding a halt to their ongoing plans to introduce Driver Only Operation on the new Airdrie-Bathgate route – pointing out that last night's incident has once again confirmed the safety-critical role that the guard plays in an emergency situation and that it was only the experience and training of the guard, working with the driver, that avoided a major disaster.

The first car derailed and was left suspended with only the coupling of the second car preventing it from falling down the hillside in what would have been a major disaster. While the driver put out a fire in the carriage, the guard activated emergency procedures and the evacuation of the passengers and it was the quick thinking and team working of the two crew that led the 60 people on board to safety.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said today:

"The guard and the driver on last night's 6.20pm service from Glasgow to Oban are true heroes who showed once again that you need trained and experienced crew to cope with an emergency situation. It is a miracle that a major disaster was avoided and the incident shows once again that corners cannot be cut when it comes to rail safety.

"If this train had been driver only operation it would have put the driver in an impossible and potentially lethal situation – attempting to extinguish a fire while safely evacuating a train just cannot be done and Scotrail and the Scottish Government now need to recognise that and call a halt to their plans to roll out driver only operation."

Government slammed for ring-fencing profits for private train operators

2010-06-04T14:02:00.001+01:00

RAIL UNION RMT today accused the government of moving towards a "slash and burn" attack on transport budgets as a barrage of announcements this week confirmed that the profits and subsidies of the private train operating companies are being ring-fenced while key modernisation, maintenance and upgrade works are being ditched in an all-out dash for cuts:

· Moves announced this morning to haul back the rail carriage procurement programme – following on from the shelving of the planned replacement of the Intercity train fleet earlier this year – flying in the face of government commitments to expand rail capacity.

· A demand by the regulator – the ORR – that Network Rail speed up and extend its cuts to both rail maintenance and the renewals programme putting hundreds more safety-critical jobs at risk.

· Expected increases of 6% in passenger fares – linked to the July rate of RPI – blowing apart Lib Dem election pledges to cut fares.

· A proposal by Network Rail boss Iain Coucher to delay electrification while also saying publicly that Crossrail works have "not gone so far that they could not be stopped".

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said today:

"Just a few weeks into this ConDem administration we can now see their transport policy taking shape – ring-fencing the profits, subsidies and fare increases of the private train operators while passengers are forced to travel in slow-moving, over-crowded cattle trucks on dangerously under-maintained tracks.

"All the warm words of this new government on a high-speed, green future for expanded rail travel are evaporating before our very eyes as transport is seen as a soft-target for early cuts with the private companies given a green light to continue milking profits and subsidies which could be used to invest for the future.

"Meanwhile the rail regulator (the ORR) is setting out a bonus regime for Network Rail chief Iain Coucher and his top brass which is effectively a "Butchers Charter" – the more safety-critical staff you sack, the bigger your bonus.

"As the Potters Bar inquest continues there is no question that this systematic undermining of rail budgets and rail safety makes another major disaster an inevitability and RMT will take whatever action is required to protect jobs, safe working conditions and the safety of the travelling public."

RMT challenges the UK anti-trade union laws in European Court of Human Rights

2010-05-25T06:49:00.001+01:00

TRANSPORT UNION RMT announced today that it is launching an unprecedented challenge to the UK's anti-trade union laws in the European Court of Human Rights.

Papers on behalf of RMT will be lodged with the European Court today by the union and its solicitors. RMT will argue on behalf of its members that its ability to organise industrial action to protect its members is restricted by UK law in a breach of Article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. The union will be represented in the Court by RMT's standing counsel John Hendy QC and Marcus Pilgerstorfer, instructed by Thompsons Solicitors.

The cases that RMT are challenging at European level are the EDF Energy court challenge and Hydrex dispute. These involved two groups of RMT members who balloted for industrial action last autumn – details of the cases in the editors notes below.

The RMT is putting forward arguments about two restrictions imposed by UK legislation in respect of the EDF and Hydrex cases which it says are incompatible with Article 11 of the Euopean Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. They are as follows:

1. the statutory requirement for the union to serve on an employer a notice which must fulfill onerous conditions such as providing the identification of the specific job descriptions of the intended voters; and

2. the absolute prohibition on unions organising solidarity industrial action (even where the secondary employer is closely associated with the primary employer in dispute).

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:

"The shackles that the anti-trade union laws have thrown around workers in this country seeking to take industrial action in defence of jobs and working conditions have got tighter and tighter in the past year and the EDF and Hydrex cases last autumn were pivotal with ramifications for the entire trade union movement.

"RMT is in no doubt that the fundamental human right to withdraw labour has been systematically undermined. This is clearly shown by the EDF and Hydrex cases and we have no option but to take these matters to the European Court in a bid to protect the rights of our members and of working people in Britain."

NOTE TO EDITORS:

1. On 23 October 2009 EDF Energy Powerlink Limited was granted an injunction by the High Court against the RMT restraining members from taking industrial action. The grounds for this decision was that the notice of ballot had not sufficiently particularised the job descriptions of the members who were to be balloted. The consequence of this decision was that the union were denied the right to take strike action.

2. In August 2007 approximately 20 RMT members were transferred from Jarvis PLC to a company called Hydrex Equipment (UK) Limited. In September 2009 Hydrex sought to impose new terms and conditions on these members which were less favourable than those they had enjoyed when they worked for Jarvis PLC. The members organised industrial action, and the union wanted to call out its members at Jarvis PLC who had continued to work closely with the Hydrex members following the transfer. However UK law absolutely prohibits a trade union calling industrial action by members other than those employed by the employer directly in dispute. As a result the members at Jarvis PLC were denied the right to take strike action in solidarity, the members at Hydrex were denied the support of their colleagues and the union was denied the chance to take what would have been the most effective strike action for the purposes of protecting its members' interests.

RMT demands concrete assurances on Crossrail, High Speed and electrification.

2010-05-21T13:47:00.001+01:00

TRANSPORT UNION RMT today demanded concrete assurances from the government that crucial transport infra-structure projects will not fall victim to the cuts programme amid warnings today that key pledges, like High Speed Rail, could be kicked into the long grass.

In the ConDem coalitions programme document they talk about a commitment to a national high speed rail network but with the heavy duty caveat of "financial constraints" thrown into the mix as a drag weight on progress of the scheme which already lags behind much of Europe.

The coalition have stated that they support "Crossrail and further electrification of the rail network" but again this is overshadowed by an overriding caveat that "the deficit reduction programme [public service cuts] takes precedence over any…other measures in this agreement."

RMT have slammed plans to extend the on-going disaster of rail privatisation by offering private companies longer contracts, describing it as "…a reward for failure and for ripping off the taxpayer to the tune of hundreds of millions of pounds for an inferior service."

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:

"We've had enough of warm words from politicians about High Speed Rail. This essential low-carbon transport project has had more relaunches than the Space Shuttle and yet we are still left in the slow lane compared to most of the rest of Europe where it's a genuine priority. We are demanding a fixed timetable for works to be completed for the national network and concrete assurances that it won't be seen as an easy sacrifice by the Treasury cuts machine.

"On Crossrail and electrification there is still not enough clarity and all the promises are loaded up with caveats that create a continuing air of uncertainty. The government need to be clear that these projects will happen in their totality – no ifs, no buts and no cutting back on the scale of the plans. They also need to make sure they've got the workforce to make them happen and that means an end to the jobs cull at Network Rail and its contractors."

Operate LOROL in the Public Sector

2010-05-21T05:45:00.001+01:00

Dear Colleague,

URGENT PROTEST: Operate LOROL in the Public Sector

Monday 24^th May, Whitechapel Station, London

07.30 - 08.30

On Sunday 23rd May the extended East London Line will formally re-open, as part of private company, LOROL (London Overground). The RMT has tirelessly campaigned for the upgrade of this line, but we are extremely concerned that LOROL's first priority is to shareholders and not to passengers or communities, repeating the mistake of the national rail network. £1bn has been spent on this upgrade and every single penny of taxpayer subsidy and fare revenue should be invested to improve services and not be removed from the industry in shareholder dividends.

We have called a protest on the first full working day for the Line next Monday (24^th May) outside Whitechapel Station between 07.30 and 08.30 to demand that LOROL services be transferred to London Underground, which is publicly-owned and publicly-accountable. An Early Day Motion will be tabled on that day by the RMT's Parliamentary Group of MPs.

Please make every effort to attend and help distribute leaflets to the passengers.

Please do get involved

Yours sincerely,

Bob Crow

General Secretary

RMT confirms ballot for action on East Coast Mainline

2010-05-21T05:42:00.001+01:00

RAIL UNION RMT confirmed today that it will begin balloting guards on the East Coast Mainline for strike action, and action short of a strike, from Tuesday 25th May following the failure of the company to come up with an acceptable package to compensate guards for the loss of commission income arising from the introduction of automated ticket barriers.

The automation means that the commission from the collection of on-board fares has dropped right off leaving guards seriously out of pocket and driving down their income levels .

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:

"Our members have made it clear that the loss of earnings arising from automation on East Coast is totally unacceptable and that they are not prepared to see the position of the guard undermined to the point where these key staff are reduced to become amongst the lowest paid guards in the country.

"The management on the East Coast Mainline needs to show very clearly that they appreciate the role and responsibility of their guards with an offer that fully recognises the loss of income incurred through the installation of ticket barriers.

"RMT continues to remain available for further talks aimed at resolving this dispute on this high-profile and nationally important rail line."

RMT calls on trade unions and socialists to unite behind John McDonnell’s bid.

2010-05-21T05:40:00.000+01:00

TRANSPORT UNION RMT today issued a call for trade unionists and socialists to unite behind John McDonnell's bid to secure enough nominations to stand in the Labour Party leadership contest and to use his campaign as an opportunity to begin the fightback against the ConDem government's all-out assault on public services and living standards.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said today:

"John McDonnell leads the RMT group in parliament and no MP has done more to fight against attacks on jobs, public services and workers rights. John is a tireless worker on behalf of trade unionists and the communities that will be there in the front line of the ConDem attack and he is the perfect alternative to the assorted candidates from Continuity New Labour.

"John McDonnell has a reservoir of support that extends way beyond the ranks of the Labour Party membership, it would be an absolute travesty if he was kept out of the race for the leadership and would send out a signal that the Labour Party machine has learnt absolutely nothing.

"On the big issues; defending public services, opposing privatisation, repealing the anti-trade union laws, bringing our troops home and supporting workers rights, John stands shoulder to shoulder with RMT and the trade union and socialist movement. He deserves our full support."

AmeyColas payrise offer.

2010-05-20T18:48:00.001+01:00

RMT CIRCULAR REF AMEY AND COLAS PAY

20TH May 2010

TO ALL BRANCHES, REGIONAL COUNCILS AND REGIONAL OFFICES

Dear Colleagues,

Rates of Pay & Conditions of Service 2010 – Colas Rail

I have been instructed by the GGC to hold a referendum of members on the following pay offer of a 1% increase in basic wages as of 1st April 2010 for all members that are part of the union bargaining agreement. A £100 gross on-off payment to all members that are part of the union bargaining agreement on completion of the proposed review of employment terms and conditions. The company has stated that they will be implementing these revised terms and conditions on 1st October 2010. Balfour Beatty members that were TUPEd to Colas in May 2009 have a pay review date of 1st January. These members have already had their review in 2010 and the intention is to move their anniversary date to 1st April 2011

The GGC have recommended that members reject the offer as it does not meet our aspirations. If you have any Colas Rail members in your branch and they have not received a voting paper by 28

th May 2010, please ask them to contact the helpline on

0800 376 3706 or
info@rmt.org.uk.

Rates of Pay & Conditions of Service 2010 – Amey Rail

I have been instructed by the GGC to hold a referendum of members on the following pay offer:-
a 1% increase in basic wages, no increase to allowances for all members that are part of the union bargaining agreement.∙Members on a Personal Contract will get between 0% and 1%.

The GGC have recommended that members reject the offer as it does not meet our aspirations. If you have any Amey Rail members in your branch and they have not received a voting paper by 28

th May 2010, please ask them to contact the helpline on

0800 376 3706 or
info@rmt.org.uk.

RMT blasts Mayor's Transport Strategy as a smokescreen for job cuts.

2010-05-10T16:24:00.001+01:00

TUBE UNION RMT today blasted London Tory Mayor Boris Johnson for throwing up a smokescreen under the guise of a ?Transport Strategy?, designed to deflect attention away from his multi-billion transport cuts package that threatens thousands of jobs, ticket office closures across the Capital and a systematic undermining of current safety standards.

Boris Johnson unveiled his "Transport Strategy" today and has chosen to airbrush out the attack on staffing levels, ticket offices and safety standards that is already being rolled out by his officials.

RMT today repeated its pledge to fight the tube and TfL cuts, including the threat to jobs following the final collapse of the PPP shambles with the buying out of the Tube Lines contract. The union also raised fears that the incoming government, whichever format it takes, will seek further cuts in transport budgets as it swings the axe at public expenditure.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said;

"Boris Johnson has made no effort to discuss his "Transport Strategy" with the people who really matter – the thousands of workers out there delivering transport services in London day in and day out.

"Instead, all we get from his officials are plans to cut jobs, ticket offices and safety standards that are already leaving stations all over London unstaffed and unsafe in direct contradiction of promises that Boris Johnson made in the run up to the Mayoral election.

"We have made it clear again today that unless we get assurances that staff will not be expected to pay the price for the collapse of Tube Lines and the last knockings of the failed tube privatisation experiment we will push on with plans for action and our ballot of members will go ahead."

TUBE UNION RMT CALLS FOR CLARIFICATION FROM BORIS JOHNSON

2010-05-07T15:10:00.000+01:00

Tube union RMT today called for an urgent statement from London Mayor Boris Johnson on reports in the Times this morning that he is on the verge of taking the Tube Lines operation back into public ownership - killing off once and for all the PPP disaster on London Underground.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said today:

"If the reports are true that Tube Lines is at last being taken back under public control it would be a welcome development and would kill off the privatisation disaster on the tube once and for all.

"Rather than finding out about such an important development through leaks to the press, staff and passengers are entitled to hear it direct from Boris Johnson himself.

"This will be a recognition on a massive scale that transport privatisation does not work and RMT's campaign to roll out the renationalisation of the rail network will continue regardless of who forms the next government."

Amended Jarvis-Suspension of trading and appointment of administrators 06.05.10

2010-05-06T13:10:00.001+01:00

Dear Colleague,

JARVIS – SUSPENSION OF TRADING AND APPOINTMENT OF ADMINISTRATORS

The General Grades Committee met on 29^th April 2010 and took the following decision in light of the recent meeting held between the RMT, TSSA and Babcock Rail.

"That having read the report and the proposed 'agreement' between Babcock Rail and the RMT and TSSA trades unions regarding the appointment of former Jarvis employees, we instruct the General Secretary to proceed with this agreement in an attempt to protect our affected members.

This agreement is not ideal, however for the affected members it is much more positive situation than the one that currently exists.

The General Secretary is further instructed to attempt to identify where all Jarvis work has been allocated and seek with those employers that they should honour TUPE in respect of the Jarvis staff who should be working on these contracts.

Further the General Secretary is instructed to convene at the earliest opportunity meeting with all our renewals representatives to discuss a strategy for the future.

We reiterate this union's position that there should be a framework agreement governing the use and regulation of agency and contract labour across the railway industry.

We continue to pursue our legitimate claim for employment and rights for all our members formerly employed by Jarvis and we reiterate our continued support for the Justice for Jarvis Workers campaign."

Your union believes that this agreement (available to view at below) marks a significant point in the midst of such a distressing situation for so many and we will continue to put pressure on the other relevant companies to sign up to similar agreements.

I would be grateful if you could distribute the contents of this Circular to your members.

Yours sincerely

Bob Crow

General Secretary

Cuts leave tube stations unstaffed on 439 occasions in the past 6 months.

2010-05-05T19:34:00.001+01:00

ON THE eve of the election, transport union RMT warned Londoners that cuts are already leaving tube stations unstaffed on a regular basis creating dangerous travelling conditions and with far worse to come if Tory Mayor Boris Johnson bulldozes through his plans to axe a further 800 station posts.

The latest figures obtained by RMT show that from October 2009 through to March 2010 surface level stations on the District, Central, Metropolitan, Circle & Hammersmith and Northern Lines were left unstaffed for entire shifts on a total of 439 occasions. One station, Mill Hill East, was left unstaffed for 95 entire shifts.

Current cuts plans being implemented by London Underground would see up to 800 ticket office, station and platform staff jobs axed creating a wave of ticket office closures and ushering in a culture of unstaffed tube stations, particularly late at night.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:

As Londoners prepare to vote they need to be aware that a Tory Mayor, who promised no cuts to station staff and no ticket office closures, is smuggling through reductions in staffing numbers that will have lethal consequences for the travelling public. The muggers paradise of unstaffed stations is already a reality across whole swathes of the tube system as these new figures demonstrate.

They already have proposals on the table that will force tube drivers to pull away from stations without working mirrors or cameras and without the assistance of platform staff. It is only a matter of time before a passenger is dragged under a tube train as a consequence of these reckless cuts.

Tory Mayor Boris Johnson has ripped up his promise to Londoners on tube staffing and voters need to take note of that on Thursday. RMT remains committed to fighting the jobs carnage on the tube and we will continue to fight for safe staffing levels on behalf of both our members and the travelling public.

RMT condemns “death trap” proposals for tube train operation

2010-04-27T17:36:00.000+01:00

TUBE UNION RMT today slammed proposed changes to London Underground train operations that the union has warned would turn station platforms into "death traps."

Proposals submitted to RMT safety reps at the Trains Health and Safety Council (THSC), and titled the Operation Effectiveness Programme (OEP), would involve:

Using the planned cuts to station and platform staff as an excuse for trying to bulldoze through unsafe working practices on drivers.

Forcing drivers to use trains with defective mirrors and monitors without the assistance of platform staff to ensure that platforms are clear of passengers with the risk that passengers could get dragged under trains.

Forcing drivers to "detrain" (evacuate) stalled trains without station staff assistance and without the support of station staff carrying emergency lighting and loudhailers. Drivers would be forced to evacuate up to 1000 people, including passengers in wheelchairs and children in buggies, without assistance.

Forcing drivers to "notch-back" (reverse) in the event of a platform overrun without the current requirement to change ends.

RMT today blamed London Underground and the Tory Mayor Boris Johnson for trying to ram through unsafe working practices as the real consequences for public safety of axing hundreds of station and platform staff to save money become clear.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:

"Boris Johnson is the Tory politician with the most power in this country today and if you want to know what a Cameron government would be all about you only have to look at the attack on passenger safety that is being unleashed on the tube as part of the Mayors multi-billion pound cuts plans.

"We warned that the cuts to station staff would have lethal consequences right across the London Underground and these plans to try and force drivers to accept unsafe working practices ram that point home loud and clear. RMT will fight these proposals all the way."

RMT backs Justice 4 Jarvis Workers lobby of Network Rail over jobs axe scandal

2010-04-26T15:01:00.001+01:00

RAIL UNION RMT is backing a lobby by the Justice 4 Jarvis Workers campaign of Network Rail chief Iain Coucher this Wednesday ( 28th April) as the union continues the fight to save 1200 workers from being dumped on the dole following the collapse of the company last month.

Justice 4 Jarvis workers from across the UK will be taking their case to the doorstep of Network Rail, and it's Chief Executive Iain Coucher, at 1pm on Wednesday 28^th April at Kings Place, 90 York Way, London N1 9AG.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:

"1200 Jarvis workers, skilled staff who we need out there on the tracks to keep our railways running, have been totally betrayed by Network Rail who admit that these jobs still need doing but have not lifted a finger to keep these men and women in work.

"In yet another twist of the knife, Network Rail, and the contractor Babcock Rail who are picking up some of the Jarvis work, have said that in their view the Transfer of Undertakings (TUPE) regulations, that protect pay and conditions and length of service, will not apply to any workers they might re-engage. That is a scandal.

"While the election focuses on personalities and talk of deals to keep politicians in high paid positions after May 6^th, the jobs carnage on Britain's railways continues and is wrecking the lives of key staff that we need to keep the network safe.

"We are backing the Justice 4 Jarvis Workers campaign and the lobby on Wednesday and are challenging the politicians in the areas hit by these 1200 jobs cuts to cut the spin and the rhetoric and to join the fight to save these workers and their livelihoods."

RMT condemns Network Rail ‘gloating’ over dangerous jobs cull

2010-04-21T15:52:00.001+01:00

BRITAIN'S BIGGEST rail union today condemned Network Rail's 'gloating' over its cull of front-line maintenance jobs and demanded a reversal of cuts that would make another rail disaster inevitable.

AS NR boasted that 500 front-line staff would leave by the end of May, RMT charged that its slash-and-burn attack on jobs and conditions had nothing to do with overstaffing, new technology or outdated working practices, but was a dangerous money-saving gamble.

RMT general secretary Bob Crow said:

"NR is trying to con the public into believing that a cost-led jobs cull is safe when we already know that inspections and maintenance frequencies are overstretched and that most safety recommendations made after the Grayrigg crash have not been implemented in full or in part.

"NR knows as well as our skilled members that signalling systems need more maintenance, not less, that there is no widespread introduction of new technology, and that the conditions it wants to rip up have been negotiated in recent years.

"The fact is that NR is under pressure to slash 21 per cent from its budget, wants to axe 1,500 front-line posts, lump maintenance functions onto over-worked signallers, and impose changes that will undermine rail safety and make another disaster inevitable.

"The only part of NR that needs a jobs cull is the boardroom, whose latest wheeze will result in an increase in the ratio of over-paid executives on telephone-number pay and bonuses to front-line skilled staff, at the direct expense of rail safety.

"We have tried to talk Network Rail bosses into some sense, but they went running instead to the high court to overturn a democratic vote for strike action and have played a disgraceful role in refusing to use their powers to save the jobs of another 1,200 Jarvis workers.

"The company's plans are simply dangerous and RMT will continue to resist them, including re-balloting for strike action."

RMT calls on STUC to condemn SNP ‘union-bashing’ over Scotrail

2010-04-21T15:51:00.001+01:00

THE SNP government at Holyrood is set today to be accused by the Scottish TUC of "union bashing as shocking as the dark days of Thatcher" – on the very day that its leader addresses delegates in Dundee.

An emergency motion from RMT, Scotland's biggest rail union, to be debated later today, congratulates Scotrail staff who have taken six days of strike action and pledges the STUC to support the campaign against the extension of driver-only operation.

The motion (full text below) condemns the use of public money by the SNP government not only to bankroll losses by Scotrail during a dispute provoked by the company, but also to finance a strike-breaking army of scabs.

It also commits the STUC to back the campaign to see workers who were dumped with the collapse of rail contractor Jarvis to be transferred to new contractors on their existing terms and conditions.

"It is a scandal that the SNP government has abused public funds to bankroll a dispute aimed at undermining rail safety," RMT general secretary Bob Crow said in Dundee today.

"Our members have made clear where they stand, and that imposition of driver-only operation on the Airdrie-Bathgate line would be the thin end of the wedge that would see safety-trained guards removed wholseale.

"I am confident that Scottish trade unionists will put themselves squarely behind RMT's determination to defend rail safety," Bob Crow said.

RMT emergency motion to STUC on Railway Safety

Congress congratulates RMT conductors , drivers and sleeper-train managers who have taken six days strike action against plans to extend Driver Only Operation on Scottish Passenger Services. Congress pledges its full support for this dispute and states its opposition to extension of Driver Only Operation.

Congress also congratulates Elaine Smith MSP for forcing the Scottish Government to publish, on 17^th March 2010, correspondence with First Scotrail which revealed the Scottish Government and Scotrail are negotiating how much tax payer's money should be used to cover loss revenues for the dispute and pay for scab labour. Congress believes this represents a plan and coordinated level of union-bashing from the SNP government as shocking as the dark days of Thatcher.

Congress notes that the safety of the railway is also being undermined by Network Rail overseeing the sacking of hundreds of maintenance and renewals workers. The cuts are increasing the use of poorly supervised agency staff being forced to travel long distances and work long hours to find work and earn a wage. There are insecurities and low morale which in turn will have an adverse impact on how safety critical work is carried out.

Congress also notes that on 31 March 1200 Jarvis rail workers were sacked after the company went into administration and Network Rail and the UK government failed to back a rescue plan.

Congress further notes that at a meeting with the Secretary of State for Transport on 15^th April, RMT and TSSA were informed that former Jarvis work will be re- allocated in a "matter of days". Congress agrees to support the campaign to ensure all former Jarvis employees are transferred under TUPE to the new contractor.

Finally Congress welcomes the STUC's and numerous MSP's support for the recent lobby for rail safety and pledges to continue to support this campaign.

Dumped Jarvis workers to demonstrate in York tomorrow (Wednesday)

2010-04-13T16:45:00.000+01:00

RMT rails against 'stitch-up' of skilled engineering workers

JARVIS WORKERS dumped out of work following the collapse of the company will demonstrate in York tomorrow (Wednesday April 14) demanding justice for 1,200 rail engineering workers needlessly made 'redundant' despite the need for essential work.

RMT has pledged full support for the Justice 4 Jarvis Workers campaign and has expressed anger that Network Rail and the government have failed to take the simple steps needed to save the jobs – and which would have saved millions in redundancy and benefits payments.

The demonstration will gather at the Crescent Club, The Crescent, York, at 11:00 before marching to Jarvis's offices at Meridian House, now occupied by administrators Deloitte, and then to NR's offices at George Stephenson House on Toft Green.

The protest will then move back to the Crescent Club for a rally with RMT assistant general secretary Mick Cash and Transport Salaried Staffs Association leader Gerry Doherty.

"It is absolute nonsense to suggest that 1,200 skilled Jarvis workers suddenly became redundant when the company collapsed, and Network Rail could easily have stepped in to secure their jobs," RMT general secretary Bob Crow said today.

"Jarvis had several lucrative contracts in the pipeline. That work still needs to be done, and it should be done by Jarvis workers on the same terms and conditions under transfer of undertakings rules, which our lawyers have told us should apply.

"We know that since the collapse Jarvis work been done instead by a labour-only agency not only paying rock-bottom rates, but also expecting people to work dangerously long hours on top of several hours' travelling time.

"We have people who have had no money for seven weeks – people who should be out there keeping our railways safe rather than queuing for benefits.

"That is a disgrace and it stinks to high heaven of a stitch-up, the more so when we know that it will cost the taxpayer dearly to make our members redundant rather than save their jobs," Bob Crow said.

RMT gives full support to “Justice 4 Jarvis Workers” campaign

2010-04-08T08:18:00.001+01:00

RAIL UNION RMT today pledged full support for the "Justice 4 Jarvis Workers" campaign and gave an assurance that the union will continue to do all that it can to assist the 1200 workers dumped out of work through the collapse of the company.

Jarvis workers and their families will be holding a protest in Doncaster this Friday – 9^th April – marching from the Jarvis depots in Bentley Road and Marchfield and then assembling outside the Mansion House on Doncaster High Street at 11am. RMT will be holding a meeting of the workers at 12 noon in Doncaster Trades and Labour Club.

RMT President Alex Gordon will be speaking at the protest which has the full support of both RMT and TSSA.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:

"The callous and cynical way that the Jarvis workforce have been treated is a national disgrace. There is essential work for these staff to do and we are demanding that their jobs be transferred over to other contractors who are now bidding for the former Jarvis contracts. We have legal advice that the Transfer of Undertakings (TUPE) regulations should apply.

"It is a stain on the reputation of Gordon Brown and his party that Labour did nothing to save the Jarvis workers jobs - a move which would have cost them a tiny fraction of the many billions that was thrown at the bankers to save their skins. That failure to act will cost Labour dear at the ballot box in the towns and cities hit by the Jarvis collapse.

"RMT fully supports the "Justice 4 Jarvis Workers" campaign. These skilled men and women should be out there replacing worn sections of railway track, not queuing up at the benefit office. These 1200 job losses are wholly bound up with the £5 billion Network Rail cuts programme which is ripping apart both the rail industry and the livelihoods of the people we rely on to deliver safe rail travel."

RMT to lobby Scottish Parliament

2010-04-08T08:16:00.001+01:00

RAIL UNION RMT announced today that they will be holding a demonstration and lobby of the Scottish Parliament at 11.15am on Thursday April 15th followed by a rally in Committee Room 3 of the Parliament buildings. The protest comes towards the end of the latest phase of RMT strike action in defence of the role of the guard on Scotrail.

More than 550 RMT guards, drivers and sleeper-train managers at First Scotrail will take further strike action spread over a period of four days from Monday 12^th April as the union steps up its action against plans to impose driver-only operation on the new Airdrie-Bathgate line.

RMT guards and drivers will not book on for shifts between 00.01 hours on Monday 12^th April and 23.59 hours on Wednesday 14^th April and sleeper train managers will not book on for shifts between 18.00 hrs on Tuesday 13^th April and 17.59 hours on Thursday 15^th April.

The stepping up of the action comes after a total failure by Scottish Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson to intervene and instruct his contractors, First Scotrail, to comply with existing agreements on driver-only operation.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said today;

"Our member's courage and determination to defend rail safety and the role of the guard on First Scotrail is second to none and if the company, and Transport Scotland, thought that this issue would quietly fade away then they didn't reckon with the grit of RMT members.

"Months into this campaign, First Scotrail and the Scottish Government still refuse to face up to their responsibilities to the travelling public and their staff and are prepared to slash corners on rail safety in the dash for cuts and the drive for profits. That is why we are taking the protest to the doorstep of the Scottish Parliament.

"I repeat my call for a face to face meeting with First Minister Alex Salmond to resolve this issue and to get the company to comply with their obligations in respect of the guards. If First Scotrail and the Transport Minister are not able to bring this dispute to a conclusion then it falls to the First Minister to intervene. We will make sure that safety on Scotrail services is a major public issue throughout the election campaign."

RMT Amey pay update march 2010

2010-04-03T17:17:00.001+01:00

AMEY PAY NEGOTIATIONS 2010

We have now had three meetings with the Company to consider the RMT pay claim for 2010.

Key elements of RMT claim:

Ø Substantial rise in Basic Pay, including allowances. Special attention to the lowest paid.

Ø All members to have access to a 'Final Salary Pension Scheme'

Ø Progress on Family Friendly agreements, Travel Facilities, Shorter working week, London and south East allowances.

First Meeting, February 18:

RMT Presented our Claim. The company informed us of the work situation across AMEY and that they were only in a position to offer 0% on pay but they asked us that we come back with suggested ways of saving money for the company.

Second meeting, March 25:

RMT responded that 0% would not be acceptable to our members and that the RMT claim was for a cost of living increase "without strings". However once we have reached a satisfactory outcome to pay discussions we would then be prepared to enter into meaningful 'Restructuring negotiations' with AMEY with the intention of achieving a mutually acceptable package which we could put to our members.

After much discussion we persuaded the company to make a no strings offer. This offer was 0.5% on basic rates of pay but not allowances. AMEY have said they have "no money" to pay any more and that this is their final offer on Pay. They offered a further meeting on Wednesday 31 March to respond on other aspects of the claim.

RMT Reps made absolutely clear to the company thier view that this offer was very poor considering that AMEY had a 'record year in 2009' with their financial results, that the staff had been hard working, flexible and committed and this is why AMEY has been very successful (In fact Award winning !) in winning Rail contracts. A very significant point of principle to the reps was that senior managers have reportedly received attractive performance bonuses but were now declining staff a decent cost of living increase.

Third and final meeting: March 31st.

We met with the company as they said they wanted to respond on the other parts of our claim. At this meeting they told us that "after discussions across the business they were now in a position to put a revised offer of 1% on basic salaries (not allowances) as a final no strings offer". Your RMT negotiation team still do not feel this is a good offer. We will now report the position to the RMT Executive and we will let you know our position as soon as possible.

RMT Commitment:

RMT is absolutely dedicated to achieving a fair result for all of our AMEY members this year.

RMT is willing to be involved in Restructuring Negotiations once we have achieved a fair outcome with pay. We acknowledge that the company have aspirations as do our members. Any outcome of restructuring negotiations would go to the RMT Executive and our members will always have the final say in a referendum ballot before any changes.

Only members of the Union will be consulted on pay and any restructuring.

RMT calls on Government to act to save 1200 Jarvis rail jobs

2010-04-01T08:52:00.000+01:00

RAIL UNION RMT today called on the Government to launch a last-ditch rescue package to save 1200 skilled jobs at rail contractor Jarvis

Jarvis and its two rail companies, Jarvis Rail and Jarvis Fastline were last week placed in administration. This is in part due to the decision of the government backed Network Rail to defer thirty per cent of rail renewals work last year.

RMT understands that under the terms of the Railways Act, Jarvis is a protected industry which means that the government, if it so wishes, can be a guarantor of last resort and protect the jobs, wages and pensions of the Jarvis workers. RMT has been advised that the administrator had approached the Department for Transport to discuss what support could be made available. No response has been received from the Government.

RMT has also been advised that Deloitte yesterday met Network Rail seeking assurances on the continuation of existing Jarvis contracts. We have been advised that Network Rail have rejected this approach from the administrator.

Appallingly, Network Rail have even rejected a request for a four week breathing space and instead informed the administrator that they will instead be asking other companies to bid for the work undertaken by Jarvis.

Bob Crow, RMT General Secretary said:

"The total cost of the administrators' Jarvis rescue package would be a tiny fraction of the many billions used to bail out the banks and it would be money that would be easily recouped by the Government and Network Rail. That perfectly viable rescue plan has been thrown out with callous disregard for the livelihoods of the Jarvis workforce.

"Instead, as a result of the government refusing to use its legal powers to intervene and ignoring the administrator's proposals, 1200 workers will be sacked in a matter of days and their pensions destroyed. That is a scandal

"But there is still time to act. We have written to the Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Transport to ask them to use the Government's legal powers to intervene to protect the Jarvis rail workers. They cannot sit back and watch while these jobs are wiped out."

RMT to ballot for tube strike action over station safety, job losses etc.

2010-03-31T05:29:00.001+01:00

TUBE UNION RMT confirmed today that they are preparing for a ballot of members for strike action and action short of a strike after London Underground failed to withdraw the threat of axing 800 staff, closing ticket offices and undermining public and staff safety and following confirmation from Tube Lines that they are pressing ahead with job cuts.

RMT has also revealed today that as vacancies are left unfilled, and staff shortages hit home, the prime terrorist target of Heathrow Terminal Five on the Piccadilly Line was left unstaffed on the Friday 12^th of March with the one member of crew due to be on duty pulled away to a briefing session with LU managers.

RMT is hosting a public meeting on the tube cuts tomorrow night – Weds 31^st March – at 6pm at Friends Meeting House on Euston Road with Bob Crow and John McDonnell MP.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:

"We have already warned that the cuts that are being planned by TfL will turn tube stations into a muggers paradise and we now have concrete evidence that the company are speeding up the process and are already leaving stations unstaffed, or babysat with just one member of staff, without any consultation.

"That is a scandalous dereliction of duty and it is only a matter of time now before TfL and Boris Johnson have a tragedy on their hands as a result of their cavalier disregard for public safety. The Mayor gave assurances to the public on ticket offices and tube staffing in the run up to his election and it's down to him to pull London Underground back from the brink.

"The Tube Lines cuts are bound up with the £1.7 billion funding row with the Mayor and TfL and our members jobs, and the essential works on Piccadilly, Northern and Jubilee Lines, must not be written off as collateral damage in a political war over the failed tube privatisation experiment.

"RMT has made it clear right from the outset that we will not sit idly by while the Mayor, his transport officials and Tube Line's drive down tube staffing levels to dangerously low levels. We gave LU and Tube Lines an opportunity to pull back from these cuts but they have decided to plough on leaving us with no option but to organise ballots."

Payrise Update

2010-03-29T06:35:00.001+01:00

AMEY PAY NEGOTIATIONS 2010

We have now had two meetings with the Company to consider the RMT pay claim for 2010.

Key elements of RMT claim:

Ø Substantial rise in Basic Pay, including allowances. Special attention to the lowest paid.

Ø All members to have access to a 'Final Salary Pension Scheme'

Ø Progress on Family Friendly agreements, Travel Facilities, Shorter working week, London and south East allowances.

First Meeting, February 18:

Second meeting, March 25:

After much discussion we persuaded the company to make a no strings offer. The offer is for 0.5% on basic rates of pay but not allowances. AMEY have said they have "no money" to pay any more and that this is their final offer on Pay. They have offered a further meeting on Wednesday 31 March to respond on other aspects of the claim.

RMT Reps made absolutely clear to the company our view that this offer was very poor considering that AMEY had a 'record year in 2009' with their financial results, that the staff had been hard working, flexible and committed and this is why AMEY has been very successful (In fact Award winning !) in winning Rail contracts. A very significant point of principle to the reps was that senior managers have reportedly received attractive performance bonuses but were now declining staff a decent cost of living increase.

RMT will be consulting with our Reps and members about the final position and a report will be sent to the RMT executive following the meeting on 31 March.

RMT Commitment:

RMT is absolutely dedicated to achieving a fair result for our AMEY members this year.

RMT is willing to be involved in Restructuring Negotiations once we have achieved a fair outcome with pay. We acknowledge that the company have aspirations as do our members. Any outcome of negotiations would go to the RMT Executive and our members will always have the final say in a referendum ballot before any changes.

RMT announces national rail strike dates involving maintenance and signals staff

2010-03-27T09:10:00.001Z

RAIL UNION RMT announced today that following the failure of Network Rail to offer anything conclusive aimed at resolving disputes involving signalling and maintenance staff, after hours of talks, members will be taking industrial action:-

Signalling staff:

Strike action between 06.00 and 10.00 hours and between 18.00 and 22.00 hours on the 6^th, 7^th and 8^th and 9^th of April.

Maintenance (infrastructure) staff:

Strike action from 06.00 hours on Tuesday 6^th April to 23.59 hours on Friday 9^th of April.

An overtime ban, ban on rest day working and a ban on on-call duties to be in force throughout this period for both groups of staff running through to 06.00 hours on Saturday 10^th April.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:

"RMT negotiators have worked flat out to try and reach an agreement that protects rail safety, job security and working agreements in the disputes involving signalling and maintenance staff on Britain's railways. Despite long hours of talks we have received nothing concrete from Network Rail that addresses the key issues.

"It remains the case that Network Rail, in a drive to slash 21% from their budget, want to axe 1500 maintenance posts, lump maintenance functions onto over-worked signallers, rip up agreements and impose changes that will quite clearly undermine safety across our railways and make another Hatfield, Potters Bar or Grayrigg disaster an inevitability.

"RMT members could not sit back and wait for Network Rail to drag our industry back to the dark days of Rail Track with their cash-driven cuts plans. We have decided to stand up and fight and the ball is now in Network Rail's court to come back with meaningful proposals aimed at resolving these disputes."

A request is made to staff from other companies to respect picket lines and not cross them.

RMT pledges all out fight over TfL and Tube Lines cuts

2010-03-16T06:48:00.001Z

TUBE UNION RMT today pledged an all out fight over the threat to safety, jobs and working conditions from cuts plans announced by Transport for London and expected attacks being worked up by contractor Tube Lines as they look to slash £1.3 billion from the tube upgrade budget.

RMT's executive passed a motion last night condemning the cynical attempt by TfL to smuggle out their threat to axe 800 jobs in ticket offices and on platforms, a move that RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said will turn London's tube stations into a "muggers paradise".

RMT had twice leaked details of the TfL secret threat to close ticket offices and slash staffing levels at tube stations - on both occasions TfL accused the union of "scaremongering" but shamefaced tube bosses have now been forced to admit that RMT was right all along and that the Mayor's pre-election pledges not to close ticket offices and reduce staff are now in tatters.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:

"It is a disgrace that the Mayor and his top managers have tried to smuggle out this jobs-bombshell via the backdoor rather than using agreed procedures. They are right to be ashamed of plans to turn our tube stations into a muggers paradise and they should be under no illusions that RMT will mobilise a public and political campaign, including a ballot for industrial action if need be, to stop these lethal attacks on jobs and tube safety.

"We have also written to Tube Lines giving them until next Thursday to give us concrete assurances that they will pull back from attacks on jobs, safety and working conditions as a result of the £1.3 billion row with the Mayor. Essential tube works, and the jobs and conditions our members, should not end up as the collateral damage in the war over the failed tube privatisation experiment."

RMT Network Rail maintenance vote overwhelmingly for action over 1500 job cuts.

2010-03-12T05:37:00.000Z

RAIL UNION RMT confirmed today that members on Network Rail maintenance have voted by 77% for strike action and by 89% for action short of a strike over plans by the company to axe up to 1500 safety-critical jobs and to rip up national agreements on working practices.

The RMT executive will now discuss the next steps in the dispute at a meeting next Friday – 19^th March - in light of the massive mandate for action that has been delivered by the members and to consider the ballot result in sister rail union TSSA. RMT has issued a further call to Network Rail Chairman Rick Haythornthwaite today to re-open talks on the maintenance cuts plans.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:

"RMT members were faced with a stark choice in this ballot. They could either sit back and wait for these cash-led maintenance cuts to lead to another major disaster on Britain's railways or they could vote to take action to stop the attack on rail safety. They have overwhelmingly voted to take action.

"Nobody should be under any illusions about just how determined RMT members are to win this dispute and to stop this reckless gamble with rail safety. Nearly 150 MP's have signed the Early Day Motion opposing Network Rail's cuts plans and have urged the Government to intervene to call a halt to this jobs carnage on the tracks. We are reissuing that call today.

"RMT is in no doubt that the cuts programme drawn up by Network Rail would drag us back to the dark days of Railtrack and would make another Hatfield, Potters Bar of Grayrigg disaster an inevitability. That is what this dispute is all about and even the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) has had to concede that the botched attempt to bulldoze through these cuts has raised serious safety concerns."

"RMT remains available for talks with Network Rail and we would hope that in light of the overwhelming mandate for action delivered by our members today that the Chairman will respond to our request for meaningful discussions aimed at ensuring that the staffing levels required to deliver a safe rail system are maintained."

RMT demands legal action against Network Rail.

2010-03-01T07:33:00.000Z

Union renews call to stop jobs cull as Inspector casts doubt on all routes

BRITAIN'S BIGGEST rail union today demanded urgent action against Network Rail to halt the slide of safety standards as an improvement notice served on the company highlighted "systemic" failings in its track-work safety regime which could affect all routes.

RMT – which is balloting 12,000 track staff over safety and job cuts – renewed its call for an immediate halt in a planned cull of 1,500 safety-critical rail-maintenance jobs and urged the Railways Inspectorate to take action against NR management at the highest level.

The improvement notice, issued by Railways Inspector Liesel von Metz on February 23, concerns lines between Cardiff Central and the Valleys and fleshes out a prohibition notice served earlier in the month, but it raises the prospect that "similar failings may be present in other Maintenance Delivery Units across all routes".

The notices pinpoint a shortage of lookouts to ensure safe track working which the inspector says amount to breaches of the Health and Safety at Work Act and railway safety regulations.

"Network Rail bosses are presiding over a cost-driven dismantling of railway safety culture and it is time that they were stopped," RMT general secretary Bob Crow said today.

"It is scandalous that senior executives are being paid telephone-number bonuses for overseeing cuts that are leaving safety systems in tatters and putting our members and the public in danger.

"We know that maintenance teams are already overstretched and under-resourced, that the inspection regime was slated by the inquiry into the Grayrigg crash, and yet they want to sack 1,500 track workers and water down safety systems.

"When the Inspectorate is finding such fundamental faults it is time to call Network Rail's management to account, and if there are breaches of the law they should be in court facing charges.

"We have evidence of cuts in essential inspections and maintenance works the length and breadth of the country that mirror the situation in South Wales.

"When something goes wrong it is our members who are in the danger zone and we cannot wait for another tragedy like Tebay, in which four of our members were killed, before something is done," Bob Crow said.

ends – contacts and notes follow

For further information please contact Derek Kotz on 020 7529 8803 or 07939 595 092

Notes to editors: The improvement notice, number 1/302466657, issued on February 23, says that NR, on lines between Cardiff Central and Rhymney, Treherbert, Aberdare and Merthyr Tydfill, as an employer has contravened (and is likely to continue contravening) the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 Regulation 5(1); the Railways and Other Guided Transport Systems (safety) Regulations 2006 Regulation 19(1)(b) and Regulation 19 (5), and the Health and Safety at Work Act.

Specifically, the notice says to NR:

"You have not given effect to your health and safety arrangements for planning control and monitoring of your preventive and protective measures, in that you have not properly implemented the control measures arising out of your risk assessment for Red-Zone foot-patrolling on the railway because you have not ensured that the number of Lookouts specified in your risk assessment as a control measure is always provided and used."

An accompanying letter from the Railways Inspector concludes:

"Finally, I highlight that this action is a result of findings of a proactive inspection programme. It should be noted that the failings identified are systemic in nature and are reflected in other formal Enforcement action taken by ORR during this and previous work-years in regard to Red-Zone working. As such, I draw your attention to the possibility that similar failings may be present in other Maintenance Delivery Units across all Routes, and I strongly recommend that you endeavour to use lessons from this action to improve your safety management systems on a wider scale."

Network Rail had already been served with a prohibition notice, which said:

"I am of the opinion that there is an immediate risk of harm to the trackworkers undertaking foot patrols on the railway line between Cardiff Central and Aberdare, Rhymney, Treherbert and Merthyr Tydfil. I have therefore served Prohibition Notice P/LVM/20100205/01 on Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd, requiring that the activity of crossing structures with no place of safety under RZ(Red Zone) conditions be ceased."

See RMT media release:

http://www.rmt.org.uk/Templates/Internal.asp?NodeID=132495&int1stParentNodeID=89732

Some 142 MPs have signed Early Day Motion 80, tabled by Linda Riordan, which says:

That this House notes the decision of Network Rail to announce the loss of thousands of frontline maintenance jobs by spring 2010; believes that this will mean that in a matter of months there will be a drop ofup to20 per cent. in the number of rail workers carrying out essential inspection and maintenance work; further believes that these deep and rapid cuts raise genuine and urgent concerns as to whether Network Rail will be able to ensure the safe and efficient running of the railway, including the adequate inspection and repair of track, signals, overhead lines and other infrastructure; is deeply concerned that Network Rail is failing to consult the trade unions on the safety implications of the proposals; further notes that the cuts are in part due to the fact that the economic rail regulator, the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR), has asked Network Rail to make efficiency savings of 21 per cent. over the next five years; isfurther concerned that because the ORR is both the safety and economic regulator it will be difficult for an objective view to be taken as to whether the safety of passengers and workers will be put at risk; believes the cuts cannot be justified; and calls on the Government to use its power as the primary funder of Network Rail to intervene to ensure that Network Rail directors put safety first.

SWT slammed for drive towards un-staffed stations to maximise profits

2010-02-26T14:29:00.000Z

RAIL UNION RMT today slammed Stagecoach, owners of the South West Trains franchise, for a new round of staffing costs that will leave ticket office closed at evenings and weekends at 24 station across Surrey, Hampshire, Wiltshire and Dorset.

RMT has warned that the cost cutting plans being bulldozed through on South West Trains will lead to a massive deterioration in customer service and will seriously increase the risk of assaults at stations at evening and weekends.

Last year Stagecoach announced pre-tax profits of £170 million and confirmed that they would be axing jobs and making other cuts in a bid to maximise the returns to their shareholders regardless of the impact on services and passenger safety.

Bob Crow, RMT General Secretary, said:

"There is no doubt that Stagecoach on South West Trains are itching to move to un-staffed stations with people replaced by machines because they see that as the way of pumping up their multi-million pound profits regardless of the impact on public safety, customer service and their own hardworking staff.

"This is rail franchising in action – profits are all that matters and they see staff and passengers as pawns in a giant game of Who Wants to Be A Multi-Millionaire.

"The threat of attacks at un-staffed stations is well documented and the Government should be stepping in and taking action against these train operators who are prepared to leave the public dangerously exposed in the dash to line their own pockets."

RMT confirms dates, ballot for national rail operations staff industrial action

2010-02-26T14:24:00.001Z

RAIL UNION RMT today confirmed that a ballot for national industrial action involving Network Rail operations staff across the country will begin next Thursday – 4th March.

The ballot, which will involve all signalling and supervisory members, centres on three issues:

The company's plans for operational staff to take over responsibilities in relation to T3 possessions – the critical safety arrangements allowing for works on a section of track - previously undertaken by maintenance staff.
The company's breach of national agreements through the imposition of rosters at certain locations
The company's failure to adhere to the agreed Promotion, Transfer, Redundancy and Resettlement (PTR&R) arrangements.

RMT has sought unequivocal assurances on each of these three serious issues but, despite considerable correspondence, Network Rail has failed to provide them.

An RMT ballot for national industrial action involving 13,000 Network Rail maintenance staff began yesterday – 25 February.

Bob Crow, RMT General Secretary, said:

"Network Rail appear to believe that they can rip up national agreements at will and simply impose new working arrangements on our members. They also appear to believe that they can ignore long-established arrangements on redeployment and redundancy.

"On top of that Network Rail are prepared to scrap the tried and tested safety measure of placing detonators at either end of a track possession and to shift responsibility on to operational staff. This dangerous move is all about saving money and is bound up with their drive to axe up to 1500 safety-critical maintenance jobs.

We have worked long and hard to try and nail down assurances on these issues from the company but have hit a point-blank refusal and we now have no alternative but to ballot for action."

ScotRail staff prepare to strike this weekend RMT lays out damning safety record

2010-02-19T13:11:00.000Z

As drivers, conductors and sleeper train managers on First ScotRail prepare for the first dates in three weeks of strike action this weekend over the defence of the role of the Guards on the new Airdrie/Bathgate line, rail union RMT set out a summary of some of the key points of the safety case against Driver Only Operation which will form part of a detailed report to the Scottish Transport Minister.

While the detailed report will be submitted to the Scottish Government next week, RMT have today outlined some critical examples from the final document which reinforce the safety case against Driver Only Operation:

Finnieston West Junction Derailment – September 1990

The presence of a well trained Guard and the role he/she can play in containing and minimising the effect of serious incidents was laid out by the then publicly owned Scotrail's report into the September 1990 derailment of a Motherwell-Balloch service at Finnestion West Junction.

The leading bogie of the rear coach derailed and ran for about 280 metres before coming to a halt after the Guard/Conductor alerted the Driver. No-one was injured in the incident. The prompt action of the Guard in alerting the Driver and in applying the emergency break, bringing the train to a halt, was crucial in preventing an even more serious incident from occurring.

Newton Junction Collision– July 1991

The July 1991 collision at Newton Junction, between the Newton-Glasgow and Balloch-Motherwell services, in which both drivers and two passengers were tragically killed, further highlights both the essential role played by the Guard and the inadequate training given to Ticket Examiners in respect of dealing with serious incidents.

The report into the collision explained that it was the guard on the Balloch-Motherwell train, and not the ticket examiner, who notified the signaller that a serious incident had occurred and who requested that the overhead power supply be switched off. The guard went on to safely evacuate the train and the adjacent track.

m/f

Branchton Derailment and Collision – June 1994

Railtrack's November 1994 report into the circumstances surrounding the June 1994 derailment of the Wemyss Bay-Glasgow Central train at Branchton underlines RMT's concerns.

Staffing on the train was provided by a Driver and a Ticket Exmainer, the same arrangements ScotRail is proposing for Airdrie-Bathgate. The accident itself was caused by the deliberate placing on the line of approximately nine reinforced imperial troughing lids from the S&T troughing route by vandals. The driver of the train and one passenger died as a result of the incident.

Evidence given to the inquiry into the incident by the Ticket Examiner, who in the report was rightly praised for his efforts to protect the train, raise the alarm and look after distressed passengers, indicated he had received a three week general safety course at the time he joined the railways. The course did not deal with accident procedure or train evacuation and the Ticket Examiner was also not trained in personal track safety or in the use of detonators.

Near fatal incident avoided on Driver Only Operation service at Strood – December 2009

Only the intervention of an alert RMT safety rep, who happened to be on the platform at the time, avoided a near-certain fatality after a passenger slipped and fell down between the train and the platform. RMT has raised the incident with the Rail Accident Investigation Bureau and continues to campaign against the running of Southeastern's high speed services through Kent with Driver Only Operation.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:

"Despite all the spin and hot air from ScotRail it remains the case that the dispute on their services, and the strike action this weekend, is simply about the company compromising safety by axing the Guards in order to save money.

"The company are prepared to ride roughshod over the terms of their contract with the Scottish Government, rip up existing agreements with the unions and ignore the overwhelming safety case against Driver Only Operation simply to save £300,000 that they can add to £18 million that they paid out in dividends to shareholders last year.

"We are striking for passenger and staff safety on Scottish railways and we challenge Scotrail to join us for meaningful talks aimed at settling this issue on the basis of existing agreements and the contractual commitments that they signed up to when they took on this franchise."

RMT confirms dates for ballot for national rail strike.

2010-02-19T07:53:00.001Z

RAIL UNION RMT today confirmed that a ballot for national industrial action involving rail maintenance workers across the country will begin next Thursday – 25th February.

The ballot for action is over the threat of redundancies as part of a national drive to axe up to 1500 safety-critical maintenance jobs, a failure to follow existing redeployment procedures, a threat to use external contractors to carry out existing in-house maintenance work and a failure to communicate planned changes as part of the on-going Network Rail maintenance re-organisation. The ballot will be run in parallel with a vote for action by sister rail union TSSA.

RMT have repeatedly warned that the rail maintenance jobs massacre will threaten the safety of passengers and staff and have compiled a dossier on the impact of current unfilled vacancies – the latest example being a prohibition notice on works in South Wales due to a shortage of key workers.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:

"We are balloting for a national strike because we know that the threat to axe jobs and compromise safety standards makes another Hatfield, Potters Bar or Grayrigg disaster on the UK rail network inevitable.

"We have warned Network Rail repeatedly that if they don't lift the threat to jobs and rail safety that we will have no choice but to take action. They have ignored those warnings and so the ballot will begin next week.

"I have no doubt that the British people will understand that you cannot take reckless gambles with rail safety in the name of "efficiency" and to hit financial targets on the bottom of a balance sheet.

"We are calling for an overwhelming yes vote in this ballot but remain committed to talks with Network Rail aimed at reaching a settlement to this dispute that puts the safety and security of passengers and staff right back to the top of the agenda."

Flagship European freight depot at Trafford Park in North West to close Saturday

2010-02-17T15:08:00.001Z

RAIL UNION RMT today slammed the hypocrisy of rail freight company DB Schenker and the government over their warm words on green jobs and the future of rail as final preparations are made to close the flagship European-hub freight depot at Trafford Park this Saturday with the loss of nearly 20 jobs.

A similar plan by DB Schenker will also see the axing of all 44 jobs at their Falkland freight depot in Scotland with the operational closure of that site as well.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said today:

"DB Schenker are trying to claim that they are mothballing the Trafford Park and Falkland depots but that's just pure media spin. If you sack the entire workforce and stop running trains in and out of a freight depot then as far as we are concerned that depot is closed and that's a cold, hard fact.

"With today's unemployment figures showing that there are still two and half million people unemployed with the jobless claimant count at a thirteen year high, the axing of these two depots, with the loss of over sixty jobs in total, is a massive kick in the teeth for the rail freight industry in the UK and is a bitter blow for both the North West and Scotland.

"These plans also make a mockery of the government's green agenda to maximise the use of rail for freight transportation.

"RMT is looking at the full range of options for a renewed campaign to defend rail freight as part of our overall fight to stop the jobs cull on the railways."

First Scotrail “bang to rights” over broken promises on Driver Only Operation

2010-02-17T11:48:00.001Z

RAIL UNION RMT today produced the text of a letter dating back to November 2004 which has caught First Scotrail bang to rights over their broken assurances to the union on the introduction of Driver Only Operation (DOO).

The letter, from Mary Dickson the then Managing Director of Scotrail, says:

"….I do recognise your Trade Union's concern that Driver Only Operation would not be extended. I can give you an assurance firstly that First ScotRail will not, during the current franchise, be removing conductors from any of the services on which they are now present. Secondly, with regard to future potential services…..I will make it clear to those leading the developments….that your Trade Union strongly opposes the Driver Only mode of operation. I will also ask that the Trade Unions be involved in early consultations on such services so that any potential future difficulties can be identified and resolved at an early stage."

The key paragraph comes on top of legal opinion sought by RMT last week which confirmed that a 2001 agreement that commits Scotrail not to extend Driver Only Operation remains in force.

A series of strikes involving RMT Scotrail driver and conductor members and RMT Scotrail sleeper train managers will begin this weekend as the union fights to retain the safety-critical role of the Guard.

Bob Crow, RMT General Secretary said today:

"It's about time that Scotrail stopped the posturing and the penny-pinching and admitted that they have given firm commitments to the retention of Guards which they should have the decency to honour.

"First Scotrail is attempting to rip up agreements with RMT which date back to 2001, and all for the sake of saving £300,000 which is the cost of keeping the Guards in place on the Airdrie-Bathgate line. It's a small amount to pay for passenger and staff safety and is a tiny fraction of the £18 million that First Group paid its shareholders in dividends last year."

RMT demands immediate halt to job cuts as Network Rail gets Prohibition Notice.

2010-02-17T11:46:00.000Z

RAIL UNION RMT today called for an immediate halt to Network Rail's plans to axe up to 1500 safety-critical maintenance jobs after it was revealed that the company has been served a Prohibition Notice by the Office of Rail Regulation over a shortage of lookouts to ensure safe track working in South Wales.

In the Prohibition Notice, served by Dr Liesel von Metz, HM Inspector of Railways, it says that:

RMT have repeatedly warned that the maintenance job cuts planned by Network Rail, which are already being implemented by the non-filling of vacancies, would have lethal consequences. The South Wales Prohibition Notice reinforces the union case.

RMT have assembled evidence of cuts in numbers and frequencies of essential inspections and maintenance works the length and breadth of the country that mirror the situation in South Wales that has led to the intervention of the Inspector of Railways.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said today:

"The Inspectorate has given Network Rail a red card in South Wales and slapped the highest sanction it can on them other than dragging them into Court. That is how serious the shortage of staff has become and we know from reports from our members that we are facing the same lethal cocktail of planned staff cuts and unfilled vacancies right across the country.

"We are heading for a major disaster out on the tracks if Network Rail don't slam the breaks on the maintenance job cuts programme. The Government cannot stand idly by while safety-critical posts are either axed or left unfilled in a reckless gamble with staff and passenger lives."

RMT warns of Eurostar disruption far worse than the problems at Christmas

2010-02-12T13:08:00.001Z

RAIL UNION RMT warned today that the disruption to Eurostar services in the run to Christmas will be repeated many times over if EU mandarins are allowed to force their rail competition directive onto the route through the Channel Tunnel.

RMT has already recorded its concerns over the series of issues that led to the service breaking down between 18^th to 22^nd December – specifically the delays in implementing contingency plans and in removing the defective trains from the tunnel.

However, RMT are warning that the EU rail directive, which could open up the Channel Tunnel to a privatised free for all, would unleash total chaos with potentially lethal consequences.

European companies thought to be eyeing up the Channel Tunnel route, including German rail giant DB Schenker, do not run rolling stock compatible with the escape system operational in the tunnel. The doors do not open adjacent to the escape pods into the service tunnel potentially making it impossible for passengers to escape a serious incident.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:

"We have raised our detailed concerns over the failures that contributed to the breakdown of services on the Eurostar in the run up to Christmas and we are discussing those issues with the company to ensure that the lessons are learnt and that there is no repeat in the future.

"However, the failures between the 18^th and 22^nd December are nothing compared to the catastrophic impact that the deregulated free for all being lined up by the European Union would have on the Channel Tunnel.

"Companies would be allowed to milk the service for every penny that they can – jacking up fares and compromising safety in the dash for profits. We would be staring down the barrel of a disastrous failure way over and above anything that happened just before Christmas."

Rail safety - not European rail privatisation - Lille protest April 13

2010-02-11T16:47:00.001Z

Rail safety – not European rail privatisation – Lille protest April 13

Dear Colleague,

Rail safety – not European rail privatisation – Lille protest April 13

RMT, along with transport unions in other European countries, is calling on the European Railways Agency (ERA) to give a clear commitment that rail safety and jobs will not be sacrificed in the interests of competition and profit.

As a first step we are calling for a mass protest at the offices of the European Railway Agency in Lille, France on Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at 11.00. It is essential that RMT members play as full a role as possible in this demonstration, which we have been instrumental in calling.

We are calling on all transport unions and organisations that defend public transport and the environment to oppose the systematic destruction of national rail networks, jobs and safety standards brought about as a result of the implementation of European Union rail liberalisation packages.

Full details of arrangements will be sent out shortly. Please put this date in your diary.

Yours sincerely,

Bob Crow

RMT General Secretary

Legal advice shows Scotrail in breach of agreement, says RMT

2010-02-11T16:44:00.000Z

Union welcomes MSPs' call to block indemnity for First Scotrail

THE 2001 agreement that commits Scotrail not to extend driver-only operation remains in force, legal opinion obtained by Scotland's biggest rail union confirms today.

Advice from RMT's lawyers confirms that First Group is wrong in law to argue that it is not bound by an agreement with the union made by previous franchisee National Express.

Angus McPherson of Drummond Miller has told the union that the agreement is "clearly" protected by the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) (TUPE) regulations and therefore remains in force.

Mr McPherson cites Regulation 5a, which makes it clear that any collective agreement between a 'transferor' (in this case National Express) and a trade union it recognises that is in force immediately before the transfer continues to have effect after the transfer just as if it had been made between the 'transferee' (First Scotrail) and the union. (opinion in full below)

RMT today also welcomed a call tabled by MSP Elaine Smith in the Scottish parliament not to use public money to compensate First Scotrail for any losses or fines incurred as a result of the dispute.

The motion (text below), welcomes recent dialogue between Scottish ministers and RMT on the safety issues involved and supports the Scottish TUC's view that it would be "wholly wrong" for public money to be used to support employers during industrial disputes.

"First Scotrail is attempting to tear up an agreement entered into in good faith by RMT in 2001 which expressly precludes any extension of driver-only operation," the union's general secretary, Bob Crow, said today.

"It would be scandalous if First Scotrail were to be handed Scottish taxpayers' money to bankroll it against industrial action, not least because the firm has engineered the dispute.

"It takes six months to train a guard, and it is absurd of Scotrail to suggest that this dispute is merely about who opens the doors. First Group gave its shareholders £18 million in dividends last year, yet it would cost only £300,000 to keep guards in place on the Airdrie-Bathgate line

"I hope that MSPs will support Elaine Smith's motion, and I hope that rail users in Scotland will look beyond First Scotrail's disinformation and recognise that we are in dispute to protect their safety as well as our members'," Bob Crow said.

ends – notes follow

Notes to editors: More than 550 RMT guards and drivers at First Scotrail will strike for 24 hours on February 20, March 1 and March 13 after voting overwhelmingly for action against plans to impose driver-only operation on the new Airdrie-Bathgate line.

Sleeper-train managers will strike for 24 hours from 20:01 hours on February 21, February 28 and March 14

RMT members voted for action by a margin of nearly five to one on an 82 per cent turnout. (Yes: 379, No: 80).

Motion tabled by Elaine Smith MSP, February 11, 2010

S3M-05722 Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Scottish Labour): First ScotRail Industrial Relations— That the Parliament understands that a provision exists in the First ScotRail franchise agreement that provides the Scottish Government with discretionary powers to reimburse the company for revenues lost due to industrial action; supports the position of the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) that it is wholly wrong for public funds to be used to support private companies such as First ScotRail in disputes with trade unions; also agrees with the STUC that the provision and use of such powers is not conducive to good industrial relations as it weakens the incentive for private companies to reach agreement; further supports the view of the STUC that such powers should not be used in the event of industrial action in the current dispute between First ScotRail and the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT); welcomes the fact that the Scottish Government has been in dialogue with the RMT over the issues involved in the dispute, and believes that the interests of constituents in Coatbridge and Chryston, passengers, rail workers and Scotland would be best served by an early and agreed negotiated settlement to end this dispute.

Supported (to date) by: Mr Frank McAveety, Bill Butler, Marlyn Glen

Opinion from Angus McPherson, Managing Partner, Drummond Miller LLP

Dear Sir,

Driver Only Operation

Transfer of Undertaking Protection of Employment Regulations 2006

Collective Agreement between RMT, First Scotrail and their Predecessors

I have been asked to advise on the applicability of the TUPE regulations to the Collective Agreement currently in force between your members who are employed by First Scotrail Limited and their employment transferred there from previous train operating company franchise holders in Scotland since 2001, when the current Collective Agreement was varied between the then employers and the union.

It is clear that the terms and conditions of the Collective Agreement as amended from time to time are protected by Regulation 5a which stipulates that any collective agreement made by or on behalf of the transferor or of the trade union recognised by them in respect of any transferring employees that is in force immediately before the transfer shall have effect after the transfer insofar as it applies to any relevant employees just as if it had been made in or on behalf of the transferee with the union.

It therefore follows that the Collective Agreement in relation to Driver Only Operation, has survived the transfer from National Express to First Scotrail and has the same effect now as it did before.

Yours sincerely

Angus McPherson

Managing Partner

For and on behalf of Drummond Miller LLP

RMT calls for investigation and halt to cuts after another overhead failure.

2010-02-09T09:01:00.000Z

BRITAIN'S BIGGEST rail union today called for an investigation into Network Rail's maintenance failings on the West Coast Mainline after the latest in a series of overhead line failures put a stop to train services
in both directions.

RMT has also demanded that Network Rail suspend plans to axe 1,500 maintenance jobs as part of a cost-cutting plan that the union says would lead to repeated chaos and could precipitate a major rail disaster.

The union is already preparing to ballot up to 12,000 maintenance members over the threat to jobs.RMT warns that the latest overhead line failure, at Berkhamsted, is the third in just three months and represents
the shape of things to come if Network Rail goes ahead with its planned cuts.

"Our reps are telling us that there were just three people on duty at the depot that covers Berkhamsted, and that the chaos was worsened by delays in getting skilled staff out to sort the problem," RMT general secretary Bob Crow said today.

"We know that Network Rail has been chipping away at staffing levels and wants to reduce the complement of permanent staff on overhead lines by a quarter.

"Despite the £9 billion upgrade to the West Coast line there are still clearly major problems, yet Network Rail is aiming nearly half of its proposed job cuts at the route.

"This is exactly the sort of chaos we have warned will be caused regularly if Network Rail goes ahead with its cash-driven cuts policy, and it must be stopped ,"

Bob Crow said.

DEFEND THE ROLE OF THE GUARD

2010-02-05T06:34:00.001Z

February 4, 2010Circular No IR/42/10

Dear Colleagues

PROTECTION OF TRAIN CREW & SHUNTING GRADE MEMBERS

DEFEND THE ROLE OF THE GUARD

DEFEND THE TRAIN GRADES CHARTER MEETING IN DONCASTER ON
18TH FEBRUARY 2010

RMT is fighting tooth and nail to prevent the Scottish
Government and First Scotrail from removing Guards/Conductors and
introducing Driver Only Operation of the new rail service between Glasgow
and Edinburgh via Airdrie to Bathgate. If this happens it would be the
thin edge of the wedge leading to the removal of Guards on other routes
which has major safety implications.Last year Southeast Trains forced
through the partial introduction of DOO on the Channel Tunnel Rail Link.
This followed massive resistance from our Guard/Conductor members which
was thwarted by the anti union laws.Your Union believes that these two
attacks from the TOCs are not just an attack on Guards in Southeast Trains
and First Scotrail but are an attack on the grade as a whole. Both
Southeast Trains and now First Scotrail are insisting that the 2001 Guards
Agreement signed with every existing TOC, no longer applies. We must defend
the 2001 Agreement and the Operational Safety Role of the Guard.We have
called a forum for all Guards, Drivers and Shunters Company Council
Representatives in Doncaster on Thursday 18th February 2010 under the
title 'Protection of Traincrew and Shunting Grade Members' in order to
discuss this very serious situation.Release for these Representatives is
being obtained at the time of writing. Please ensure that all your Company
Councillors are fully aware of this meeting and are released to attend. It
is not for emotional nostalgic reasons that we must make the case for a
Guard in charge. The full safety and operational role of the Guard remains
as necessary today as it has always been. Further copies of the Traincrew
Charter are being printed and will be circulated for use in your Branches
and Regions. Please bring this to the attention of your colleagues. We
must remain vigilant.

Best wishes

Bob Crow

General Secretary

RMT handed dossier of rail safety failures to MP’s as unions lobby Parliament

2010-02-02T16:58:00.000Z

RAIL UNION RMT handed a dossier of safety failures and maintenance cuts to MP's as rail workers lobby parliament this lunchtime in protest at plans by Network Rail to axe a further 1500 safety-critical jobs.

Hundreds of rail workers have contacted a confidential RMT email line to say lives could be put at risk. The dossier highlights the worst examples of where the scaling back of work and changing standards in preparation for the job cuts are already leading to a serious deterioration in safety.

These first-hand accounts make for extremely disturbing reading. Examples include: -

· Reduced track safety inspections

· Delaying the repair of faulty level crossings

· Reduced safety checks on railway signals

At 12.30pm today (27^th January) rail workers from across the UK will be outside Parliament sending out the clear message that "Rail Cuts Cost Lives" and calling on MP's and the Government to demand that Network Rail call a halt to the maintenance job cuts plans.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:

"We are sending a clear message to MP's that the rail maintenance job cuts are a lethal gamble, creating the perfect conditions for another Hatfield, Potters Bar or Grayrigg railway tragedy.

"The jobs to be axed are of those workers responsible for inspecting and repairing the track, signals, level crossings and overhead lines. They work 365 days a year, day and night in all conditions to keep the railway safe. Now they are going to be sacked as part of a so-called "efficiency" drive and we are calling on MP's of all parties to join us in a campaign to stop these fatally flawed cuts from being bulldozed through."

Gerry Doherty, leader of the TSSA rail union, said:

"It seems unbelievable that we are pressing a Labour Government on railway safety more than eight years after the Potters Bar tragedy.

"We need to put safety first and that means making sure maintenance work-and maintenance jobs - are a number one priority, whatever the pressures on the public purse. Lord Adonis must tell Network Rail to cancel these job cuts."

TUC Deputy General Secretary Frances O'Grady said:

"Network Rail needs to listen to its workforce who work hard to keep up rigorous inspections on the UK's railway network and who know that safety could be compromised if 1,500 maintenance workers are made redundant.

"While senior executives at Network Rail are paying themselves huge bonuses, they seem quite happy to cut crucial jobs on the railway, potentially risking the safety of passengers and other railway employees. Transport Minister Lord Adonis must step in to persuade Network Rail from putting large numbers of its highly skilled, productive workers onto the dole before the UK is barely out of recession."

Rail regulator intervenes in dispute over axing of 1500 rail maintenance jobs

2010-02-02T16:56:00.000Z

RAIL UNION RMT today welcomed confirmation that the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) have directly intervened with the Government over the safety issues raised by the union over the threat by Network Rail to axe 1500 maintenance jobs.

In a letter to Transport Secretary Lord Adonis, in response to a dossier on the safety implications of the cuts compiled by RMT, Anna Walker, Chair of the ORR says:

"I can assure you that we have been scrutinising Network Rail's restructuring proposals for some time and we will continue to do so. We will make our own independent judgement on whether the proposed new structure can safely maintain the railway, and will take appropriate follow up and enforcement action if we believe safety may be compromised as a result of the changes.

"I have asked Ian Prosser, our director of railway safety, to report to the ORR Board on 16 February his conclusions and next steps on the RMT's concerns and he will then write separately to Bob Crow, to respond to the specific points he has raised……we expect assurance, confirmed by our own inspection activity, that safety will not be compromised as a result of changes made."

Bob Crow, RMT General Secretary, said:

"We welcome the intervention of the rail regulator in response to the RMT dossier and clearly Network Rail should call an immediate halt to the cuts process that has already left many depots short of staff as vacancies have been left unfilled.

"RMT will continue to collect reports from our members on the ground and will feed this in to the ORR and the Government to reinforce the safety case against these cuts. We have no doubt that the impact of slashing safety-critical maintenance staffing levels to the bone will have fatal consequences if Network Rail are allowed to get away with their plans."

Parliamentary Groups drive for First Capital Connect to be stripped of Franchise

2010-02-02T16:55:00.001Z

LUTON NORTH MP Kelvin Hopkins, a member of transport union RMT's Parliamentary Group, today tabled an Early Day Motion demanding that First Capital Connect be stripped of their Thameslink franchise with the service taken in-house and "run as a publicly-owned and accountable public service for the benefit of passengers, taxpayers and railway employees."

Tomorrow afternoon (3^rd February) the House of Commons will hold an adjournment debate in which Kelvin Hopkins will be joined by other members of the RMT's Parliamentary Group in piling pressure on the Government to sack FCC and renationalise their franchise.

The Early Day Motion says:

"That this House notes the continued poor service on First Capital Connect and that consequently the company is in breach of its franchise agreement; is appalled that passengers have suffered this disruption whilst First Group's Chief Executive was paid over £1 million in 2009 and the company's profits have exceeded £800 million since rail privatisation; welcomes the fact that the Minister of State for Transport has confirmed that all options are on the table when considering the future of the franchise; and urges the government to take the franchise in-house and run it as a publicly-owned and accountable public service for the benefit of passengers, taxpayers and railway employees."

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:

"The time for threatening First Group over their Thameslink franchise is over. Now it's time for the Government to act, sack the company and return their operations to direct public ownership.

"This is a company that has made £800 million in profits since privatisation and whose Chief Executive was paid over £1 million in 2009. Not only is their Thameslink service a disgrace but on their Scotrail franchise they are prepared to rip up the safety rules and kick the guards off their trains. They are a disgrace and the sooner the Government dumps them the better."

RMT welcomes positive progress in meeting with Scottish Transport Minister

2010-01-05T17:01:00.001Z

Rail Union RMT have welcomed positive progress from a meeting with Scottish Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson this morning over the crucial issue of ensuring that there is a guard on every train on the new Scotrail Edinburgh/Glasgow via Airdrie to Bathgate route which is due to begin operating this year.

The Minister made it absolutely clear that there is no economic case for scrapping guards as the net savings - £300,000 – are only a tiny fraction of the total cost of the new route. That position matches the arguments put forward by RMT, the STUC and members of the Scottish Parliament and blows a massive hole in Scotrail's case for Driver Only Operation which is based on cost.

The whole issue of Driver Only Operation now rests on the safety case and RMT will be stepping up the pressure for a guard on every train to ensure the safety and security of passengers in advance of a key meeting with Scotrail's Steve Montgomery on the 13^th of January.

The RMT delegation was led by Assistant General Secretary Pat Sikorski and the meeting was also attended by Stephen Boyd, Assistant Secretary from the STUC and David Binnie from Transport Scotland.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:

"RMT is pleased with the positive progress from today's meeting with the Transport Minister although we recognise we still have some way to go in the campaign against Driver Only Operation on the new Scotrail route.

Crucially, the financial case for scrapping guards, which has been right at the heart of Scotrail's case for Driver Only Operation, has now been demolished.

The campaign now is all about safety and we know that we have the overwhelming support of the Scottish public who recognise the importance of having a trained guard on every service.

We are now preparing for the key meeting with Steve Montgomery from Scotrail on the 13^th January and will be looking to negotiate a positive settlement on this major Scottish transport issue."

Network Rail Job Cuts - Rally and Lobby of Parliament 27 January 2010

2009-12-23T16:53:00.001Z

URGENT MESSAGE

23^rd December 2009

Dear Colleague,

FIGHT NETWORK RAIL JOB CUTS

National Rally and Lobby of Parliament

Wednesday 27th January 2010, Assemble 12.30pm

The RMT Day of Action on 17th December called in protest against Network Rail's threat to axe 1,500 maintenance workers was a great success. RMT members distributed 25,000 postcards to passengers across more than 40 stations nationwide and made a splash in the media – TV, radio and newspapers, right across the Land.

It is essential that we maintain the momentum against the proposed job cuts and your Union has called a National Rally and Lobby of the Westminster Parliament on Wednesday 27th January. Put this date in your diary now. We ask that people arrive promptly for 12.30pm for a demonstration outside Parliament, which will be followed by a rally at 2.15pm and we would like RMT members to lobby their MPs from 3.30pm. A flyer is attached and I would be grateful if you could publicise this throughout your workplace.

RMT rail maintenance members have warned that these job cuts have grave safety implications and there is a serious concern that it will lead to another rail tragedy such as Potters Bar. Therefore these cuts affect all rail workers and we would hope all RMT activists to turn out for the rally, not just Network Rail members.

Our postcard campaign and Lobby is aimed at getting MPs to sign Early Day Motion Number 80 'Network Rail & Safety', tabled by Linda Riordan MP (see below). With the assistance of the RMT Parliamentary Group, this Early Day Motion has been supplemented by a series of regional EDMs detailing where the cuts will fall.

We want individual members to play as active part as possible in this campaign and I recommend that you visit the RMT website to find out how you can participate. You will be able to download model letters, find out who your MP is and it is important that if you wish to meet them on the day of our Lobby, that you contact them in advance. Visit http://www.rmt.org.uk/networkrail for further information.

Yours sincerely,

Bob Crow

General Secretary

How you can get involved

As well as attending the Rally and Lobby of Parliament, via the RMT website http://www.rmt.org.uk/networkrail you can do the following: -

· Find your MP http://findyourmp.parliament.uk/ and write to them either by email or post:

· Download a model letter to write to your MP urging him or her to meet you after the RMT Rally (see sample letter 1). Please note that we want you to attend the Lobby even if you do not wish to meet with your MP http://www.rmt.org.uk/Templates/Internal.asp?NodeId=130197

· Download a model letter urging your MP to sign Early Day Motion 80 (see sample letter 2) http://www.rmt.org.uk/Templates/Internal.asp?NodeId=130197

· Itinerary for the Lobby on 27th January 2010 and instructions if you wish to lobby your MP http://www.rmt.org.uk/files/130198/FileName/NationalRallyandLobbyofParliamentGuideforRMTMembers_2.pdf

· Link to EDM 80 http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=39617&SESSION=903

Network Rail and Safety, tabled by Linda Riordan MP, 18.11.09

That this House notes the decision of Network Rail to announce the loss of thousands of frontline maintenance jobs by spring 2010; believes that this will mean that in a matter of months there will be a drop of up to20 per cent. in the number of rail workers carrying out essential inspection and maintenance work; further believes that these deep and rapid cuts raise genuine and urgent concerns as to whether Network Rail will be able to ensure the safe and efficient running of the railway, including the adequate inspection and repair of track, signals, overhead lines and other infrastructure; is deeply concerned that Network Rail is failing to consult the trade unions on the safety implications of the proposals; further notes that the cuts are in part due to the fact that the economic rail regulator, the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR), has asked Network Rail to make efficiency savings of 21 per cent. over the next five years; is further concerned that because the ORR is both the safety and economic regulator it will be difficult for an objective view to be taken as to whether the safety of passengers and workers will be put at risk; believes the cuts cannot be justified; and calls on the Government to use its power as the primary funder of Network Rail to intervene to ensure that Network Rail directors put safety first.

Media coverage of RMT Day of Action, 17th December 2009

This is not an exhaustive list, but activists have advised us that news of their efforts leafleting outside their local stations given was carried in the following media outlets, along with interviews with RMT officials: -

• Daily Post

• Liverpool Echo

• BBC Merseyside

• BBC Radio Solent

• Southampton Echo

• BBC Sussex

• Brighton Argus

In a show of solidarity, RMT activists out leafleting were supported in some areas comrades from the National Shop Stewards Network and in a number of locations other trade unionists took handfuls of the postcards to distribute in their workplaces.

RMT to ballot for action over Network Rail maintenance job cuts

2009-12-23T16:47:00.000Z

RAIL UNION RMT confirmed today that it will be balloting members on Network Rail maintenance, and other staff affected by reorganisation plans, for national industrial action over threatened redundancies as part of the proposed axing of nearly 1500 rail maintenance jobs.

The national ballot for action will begin in the New Year with RMT also fighting attempts by Network Rail to rip up existing agreements and to unilaterally impose new working arrangements.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:

"The plan to axe 1500 maintenance jobs across the rail network is a reckless gamble with rail safety which would create the perfect conditions for another Hatfield, Paddington, Potters Bar or Grayrigg disaster.

We saw under Railtrack the lethal consequences of cutting back on maintenance and Network Rail now want to turn the clock back to those dark days by forcing staff out of the door in order to hit budget targets. It's outrageous and we have no option but to ballot for action.

The past few days have shown that there are already too few staff to deal with the freezing conditions on the tracks. Many of the problems that have hit the railways have been down to not enough engineers being available to unfreeze points and tracks. The 1500 planned job cuts will hit services and safety with dire consequences for staff and passengers alike."

RMT confirms six days of strike action and overtime ban in SW signallers strike

2009-12-23T16:46:00.000Z

RAIL UNION RMT today confirmed six more days of signallers strike action and an overtime ban in the dispute over the imposition of new rosters linked to the opening of the new South Wales Control Centre.

Following six days of rock solid action earlier this month RMT said today that members have been instructed to take strike action by not booking on for any shift that commences between 00.01 on Monday 4^th January 2010 and 23.59 on Saturday 9^th January 2010.

Additionally, members are instructed not to work overtime (with the exception of booked/rostered Sunday turns of duty) between 00.01 on Sunday 10^th January 2010 and 23.59 on Saturday 6^th February 2010.

In an escalation of the dispute RMT has also decided to put further pressure on management by arranging urgent ballots for strike action and action short of a strike at the following locations; Radyr, Radyr Relief, Abercynon, Park Junction, St Fagan's Crossing, Little Mill, Lydney Crossing and Caldicott Crossing and this will be done as a matter of extreme urgency.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:

"After six days of rock solid strike action, which saw managers drafted in from England with a few hours training to run the signalling with serious consequences for services and safety, RMT members are even more determined now to stop the ripping up of agreements and the imposition of new rosters that would wreck their work/life balance.

"This dispute is all about money. It's about cutting corners and demanding that staff are at managements beck and call regardless of the impact on home lives. Our members will not be treated as slabs of meat that the management can pull of the shelf when it suits them.

"Senior Network Rail bosses have refused point blank to negotiate a settlement to this dispute. RMT remains available for talks and we will continue to press management to get round the table and negotiate an agreement."

Union anger as BA strike is blocked

2009-12-18T16:24:00.000Z

Judge issues injunction after hearing of 'serious irregularities' in ballot

The great Christmas getaway was back on for a million air passengers yesterday after a judge ruled that a planned 12-day strike by British Airways cabin crew was illegal.

Union leaders reacted with fury to the ruling, which they described as a "disgraceful day for democracy", but BA executives were exultant at winning a postponement, at least, of industrial action until after the lucrative Christmas and New Year period.

Cabin crews who had been expected to walk out on Tuesday will now be expected to work as normal after Mrs Justice Cox granted an emergency injunction after hearing of "serious and substantial" irregularities in the way the ballot was carried out.

However, union leaders have not yet ruled out the option of going to the Court of Appeal in an effort to overturn yesterday's ruling. "We are studying the judgment in detail and will have to take legal advice. No decision has been made," said a spokesman.

For Unite, the union representing the cabin crews, the decision was a severe blow to its hopes of taking on the airline during a time of maximum financial pain to the company.

It has promised to organise another ballot for strike action but it will be weeks before the poll can be organised and the votes counted.

Derek Simpson, who with Tony Woodley jointly leads the union, said he could understand the "euphoria" of passengers who would have faced travel misery if the strike had gone ahead, but he remained furious at what he described as BA's "macho management" tactics in imposing new working conditions on staff.

"There is something wrong with a law that allows an employer to impose change but prevents a union from fighting back," he said after the hearing at the High Court in London. "We will certainly re-ballot. Our members will be incensed by this.

"The only good thing to come from this is that people will get away for Christmas. It was never our intention to disrupt passengers."

He said the union had been trying to get the company to the negotiating table but feared the airline would use the court ruling as an excuse to refuse to take part in further talks.

At BA the mood was one of jubilation after learning that the strike had been ruled illegal. A company statement said: "It is a decision that will be welcomed by hundreds of thousands of families in the UK and around the world. There was never any need for a strike and we hope that Unite will take this opportunity to reflect before deciding its next steps. We believe the public would want that too. It has also become very clear that our customers do not believe that old-style trade union militancy is relevant to our efforts to move British Airways back towards profitability."

The two sides remain at odds over changes to the way cabin crew work and are recompensed but a narrow hope of a peaceful end to the dispute emerged last night when Ed Sweeney, the chairman of the industrial conciliation service Acas offered to negotiate a deal.

During the court hearing, BA had argued that the ballot, in which 92 per cent of union members voted for industrial action, should be overturned on the grounds of electoral irregularities. In particular, the airline complained that staff taking voluntary redundancy who would have ceased to be employed by the time of any strike had been allowed to vote.

Mrs Justice Cox did not accept Unite's argument that it did what was "reasonably practicable" to comply with its obligations to exclude from the ballot those members who were taking redundancy, but was thwarted by BA's "intransigence".

She said there was no indication that the union had instructed members not to vote if they were leaving, and said: "That would have been a practicable and reasonable step for the union to take but it was not taken, despite the opportunity to do so."

She added: "A strike of this kind over the 12 days of Christmas is fundamentally more damaging to BA and the wider public than a strike taking place at almost any other time of the year."

RMT announces industrial action in two separate disputes on London Underground

2009-12-18T16:08:00.001Z

TUBE UNION RMT today confirmed industrial action in two separate disputes with TfL employers:

EDF Energy Powerlink

EDF RMT members are incensed with a pay offer of around only 1% with productivity. Since the announcement of an overwhelming ballot result in favour of action no improved offer has been forthcoming.

As a result, EDF RMT members have been instructed not to book on for any duty between 19.59 hours on 22^nd December and 07.59 hours on 24^th December nor for any duty between 19.59 hours on 26^th December and 07.59 hours on 27^th December 2009.

In addition to the above stoppages of work a continuous work to rule and overtime ban will be in operation from 20.00 hours on 22^nd December 2009 until further notice.

RMT has also been informed that Unite members have been balloted and will be taking the same action as ourselves at the same times.

LUL Willesden Green Group Station Staff

RMT members on the Willesden Green Group have returned a magnificent vote in favour of industrial action in support of the reinstatement of their colleague, Colleen Johnston.

RMT had been hoping that management would see sense and reinstate her on appeal, but they have failed to do so.

The union has therefore decided to use the mandate for industrial action and our members on the group have been instructed not to book on for any shifts that commence between 04:59 and 23:59 on Wednesday 23^rd December 2009.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said today:

"Our EDF Powerlink members are furious at the failure of the company to make a meaningful pay offer. Instead of entering into serious talks they have run to the courts and have wheeled out the anti-union laws in an attempt to shackle RMT. Unless we receive a positive offer this action will go ahead and the consequences for the Underground will be serious.

"The strike action on the Willesden Green Group is a response to a straightforward victimisation of RMT member Colleen Johnston who has a well-earned reputation for standing up for her workmates. That is why the company want to get rid of her. The trumped up charges are outrageous and RMT will not tolerate these kind of attacks on our members."

RMT “Cuts Cost Lives” Day of Action against rail maintenance job losses

2009-12-16T17:21:00.001Z

RAIL UNION RMT will be out in force at railway stations up and down the UK tomorrow (17 December) to launch the "Rail Cuts Cost Lives" campaign against 1500 threatened Network Rail maintenance job losses.

RMT members will be leafleting the public explaining that the threatened jobs cull on the tracks will compromise safety the length and breadth of the country and take us back to exactly the kind of shambolic maintenance conditions that led to the disasters at Paddington, Hatfield, Potters Bar and Grayrigg.

The Network Rail maintenance cuts are driven by money and a dash for billions of pounds of savings at a time when there is increasing demand for rail travel.

RMT members are already reporting cuts and backlogs in the frequency of track, signals, overhead lines and level crossing inspections and the union is compiling a dossier of evidence of the potentially lethal impact as the cuts programme begins to bite.

Bob Crow, RMT General Secretary, said today:

"Network Rail are taking a reckless and cash-driven gamble on rail safety just at the time when we need to be expanding services. When the public realise that important standards are being compromised in the dash for job cuts we know that they will sign up to the RMT's campaign and that's why we are taking our message out to the station forecourts.

"The proposes axing of 1500 rail maintenance jobs will have a devastating impact and will be felt right across the UK. This cuts programme must be stopped before we have another disaster on the tracks."

Costs of safety on new Scotrail service less than the annual pay of top director

2009-12-16T17:20:00.001Z

RAIL UNION RMT today demanded an immediate reversal of plans to introduce Driver Only Operation (DOO) on the new Glasgow/Edinburgh via Airdie to Bathgate route as company accounts revealed that the top boss at Scotrail earns more than the additional cost of employing guards on the trains to ensure passenger safety.

First Scotrail financial returns show that the highest paid director made £429,274 in the 2008/2009 financial year compared to the £300,000 additional cost of employing guards on the new service.

RMT is continuing the public and political fight to stop the cash-driven plans for Driver Only Operation which the union says will compromise safety and breach contractual agreements to have two members of staff on Scottish rail services at all times.

Bob Crow, RMT General Secretary, said today:

"We now know that the price of safety on Scotrail's new service is less than their highest paid director earned in the last financial year. That is an appalling indictment on the company and a real reflection of their priorities.

"RMT's campaign against Driver Only Operation and in support of guards on the trains is pulling in solid support from politicians and the public alike. This latest news on Scotrail bosses pay will reinforce the widespread anger at the cash-driven moves to an under-staffed and unsafe service."

RMT News Alert - URGENT: Join the RMT protests this Thursday morning

2009-12-15T16:01:00.000Z

Be Part of RMT's Nationwide Day of Action

Dear Colleague,

There has been a magnificent response from rank and file RMT members to the Union's Network Rail Day of Action on Thursday 17^th December, called to demonstrate against threat to axe 1,500 rail maintenance jobs. Across the UK, RMT activists will be leafleting passengers outside 37 major stations urging passengers to ask their MPs to sign Early Day Motion 80: 'Network Rail and Safety' (see link) http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=39617

Those workers threatened are responsible for inspecting and repairing the track, signals and overhead lines. They work 365 days a year, seven days a week, day and night in all conditions to keep the railway safe. Now despite their loyalty they are going to be sacked as part of a so called "efficiency" drive. Our message to the public is 'Rail Cuts Cost Lives'.

Be part of the massive nationwide day of action by joining the leaflet at the nearest station the RMT is targeting – full list below. Contact your Regional Office for further details or visit the RMT website.

Unity is strength.

Bob Crow

General Secretary

Ps. After the Day of Action, there will be a lobby of the Westminster Parliament in the new year against the Network Rail cuts. Get the date - 27^th January 2010 in your diary now.

17^th December Activity around the Country

Region	Station, Times, Activity & other information
Midlands	Confirmed Birmingham New Street 08.00 – 09.30 and 16.00 – 18.00 Nottingham 08.00 – 09.30 and 16.00 – 18.00 Derby 08.00 – 09.30 and 16.00 – 18.00 (Ken Usher) To be confirmed Leicester Rugby
South West	Confirmed · Cardiff · Bristol · Reading · London Paddington · Swindon (Brendan Kelly)
Scotland	Confirmed Edinburgh Waverley (morning rush hour) Glasgow Queen Street (evening rush hour) Glasgow Central (evening rush hour) (Ian MacIntyre) Inverkeithing 07.00 – 08.30 Dunfermline 07.00 – 08.30 Kirkcaldy 07.00 – 08.30
North West	Confirmed main focus Lime Street Station in Liverpool, with the Regional Council, Branches, Trades Council, Dockers etc., involved in a noisy and colourful event (perfect for a media visit). 08.00 - 09.30 and 16.00 – 17.30 (Andy Warnock-Smith) Confirmed other locations Carlisle events 4pm -6.3pm on 17^th , 6am – 9am on 18^th and 10.30am – 2.30pm on 19^th (stall in the town centre) Preston 08.00 - 09.30 Manchester Piccadilly 08.00 - 09.30 Liverpool Moorfields 08.00 - 09.30 Wrexham 08.00 - 09.30 Crewe 08.00 - 09.30 Shrewsbury 08.00 - 09.30 Chester 08.00 - 09.30 Stafford 08.00 - 09.30 Blackpool Lancaster (date and time to be decided – will be leafleting after 17^th Dec)
North East	Confirmed Newcastle Central 08.00 – 10.00 (Stan Herschel) York (morning rush hour) Leeds (morning rush hour) Doncaster (morning rush hour) Hull (morning rush hour) Newark (morning rush hour) Sheffield (morning rush hour) (Allen Heath)
Wessex	Confirmed Southampton 08.00 – 10.00 (Pete Gale)
South East	Confirmed Kings Cross 08.00 – 09.30 (Bob Crow from 9am) Liverpool Street (morning rush hour) Brighton 08.00 – 09.30 To be confirmed Euston

South Wales signallers’ strike solid – now talk says RMT

2009-12-15T15:59:00.000Z

STRIKE ACTION by Network Rail signallers against attempts to impose new rosters is rock-solid, Britain's biggest rail union said today.

As RMT members at signalling locations across South Wales and the Marches began the second of six days of strike action, the union announced that general secretary Bob Crow would join the picket line at Newport signal panel at 10:00 tomorrow (Wednesday, December 16).

Bob Crow will be available for interview at Newport Signal Panel, outside Newport Signal Panel on Queensway, adjacent to Newport Railway Station, High Street, Newport, NP20 4AXý – between 10:00 and 11:00 (see below for link to map).

With the strike little more than 24 hours old, RMT revealed that, contrary to NR assertions, the stoppage was already having an effect, with reduced services and bus replacement on some routes (details below), and routine maintenance deferred.

"Our members' action is rock-solid, and they are to be congratulated for taking a principled stand against Network Rail's attempt to rip up agreements and impose new rosters when the South Wales Control Centre opens next year," Bob Crow said today.

"Our members have made it clear that they are not prepared to see their work-life balance wrecked as part of an imposed cost-cutting exercise

"NR said the strike would have a minimal impact, but it is already clear that despite dragging in ill-trained managers from all corners of Britain they are having to curtail and cancel services on some lines in order to keep the mainline open.

"More worryingly we are also hearing from our maintenance members that they are being denied access to the track possessions for some routine maintenance on the South Wales mainline because the scab managers have insufficient knowledge of the job to cope.

"Rather than waste effort trying to undermine our members' solid strike Network Rail should be sitting round the table with us trying to thrash out a resolution to this dispute – the company knows we are ready to talk whenever they are."

RMT to fight plans to scrap East Coast Mainline connection to Glasgow

2009-12-15T15:58:00.000Z

RAIL UNION RMT today pledged to mobilise an all-out fight to stop plans to close the East Coast Mainline connection between Edinburgh and Glasgow after RMT company reps were briefed by managers that the route will be axed from early 2011. A confirmation of the decision is expected early in the New Year.

The briefing to union reps on the axing of this important Scottish rail connection flies in the face of assurances from the new East Coast company and the transport secretary that no decision has been taken.

Scottish Labour MP Katy Clark will be tabling an Early Day Motion condemning the planned closure and calling on the government to confirm without delay that there will continue to be "…regular direct services between London and Glasgow on the East Coast Line."

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:

"It is clear now that there has been a carve up behind closed doors which threatens the future of the important East Coast Mainline connection into Glasgow. We know that MP's and MSP's from all parties will be furious at this attack on a crucial Scottish rail link and RMT will be fighting all out to stop this proposal from being ratified on the 8^th of January.

"Time is short and it is deeply cynical of East Coast to try and bundle this decision through over the Christmas and New Year period.

"We are urging the public to contact their MP's and MSP's urgently to wind up the pressure to block this plan before it is too late. This cash-driven plan would blow a massive hole in rail services through to north and south Lanarkshire with dire social and economic consequences and with an impact that will be felt right along the East Coast route. It must be stopped."

144 ticket offices and 1200 jobs under threat as Boris Johnson rips up manifesto pledge on tube cuts

2009-12-09T13:13:00.001Z

TUBE AND TfL union RMT today released new information which exposes the full extent of the first wave of cuts under Boris Johnson’s £5 billion tube savings programme with 144 station ticket offices and 1200 jobs under threat of the axe.

In the first phase of LUL’s “Operational Services Review” – management code for the cuts machinery – savage reductions are being proposed across the tube network. Only main terminals will retain a full ticket office function, smaller central stations will have ticket offices open at peak times with the remainder – 144 stations – reduced to ticket machines only.

Station staff numbers will be reduced by up to 1200 with RMT warning that safety and security of the travelling public will be seriously compromised as LU drive towards unmanned operation of stations. An interim report on the planned cuts is expected before Christmas with implementation by April 2010.

In his 2008 manifesto, London Mayor Boris Johnson, who also Chair’s TfL, said that he would make transport more convenient; “By halting the proposed ticket office closures, and ensuring there is always a manned ticket office at every station.”
Boris Johnson was also photographed during the 2008 campaign at a protest against ticket office closures in Harrow and signed the petition organised by Passengers United Against Ticket Office Closures.

Bob Crow, RMT General Secretary, said today:

“The savage cuts to jobs and ticket offices exposed by RMT today show that all the pledges about services to passengers being protected from the £5 billion cuts programme are worthless.

“Boris Johnson, the Chair of TfL, was elected by Londoners on an explicit manifesto pledge to ensure a manned ticket office at every station. RMT challenges the Mayor to stick by that pledge and demand the binning of this cuts plan or stand exposed as a hypocrite who rips up key manifesto commitments to the voters who put him into office.

“The job cuts planned for underground stations would leave passengers dangerously exposed in the event of an emergency and would ratchet up the dangers for the public, particularly women, travelling late at night. It is clear from these plans that LU bosses are pushing towards unmanned operation of stations regardless of the risks.

“RMT will mobilise a campaign to stop these cuts and this union will take whatever action is required to defend our members jobs and a safe and efficient service for the travelling public. The pressure is now on Boris Johnson to stick to his word and ensure that this plan is ditched.”

Navy lifeline under threat in government cuts plan

2009-12-08T14:11:00.001Z

MARITIME UNION RMT today pledged to mobilise a national political and public fight against any plans to privatise the Royal navy's supplies lifeline – the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) – as a consequence of a reported £200 million cuts demand that the Treasury have imposed on the Ministry of Defence.

Briefings to staff over the past four weeks have confirmed that Treasury demands for 10% cuts in MoD budgets have forced the department to look at plans to privatise the Royal Fleet Auxiliary – which supplies fuel, food stores and ammunition to the naval fleet – and an announcement on a review of the RAF, including the privatisation option, is expected this week as part of the Pre Budget Report.

RMT is warning that the flogging off of the RFA to private companies would threaten the reliability and security of this vital lifeline to our naval vessels around the world as the drive for profits and cuts would override the quality of service. The MoD would also lose direct control of the most essential element of the Royal Navy's support structure.

RMT has also pointed out that a review of the of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary just two years ago concluded that the service was first rate and that there was no need to review it again until 2020.

Bob Crow, RMT General Secretary, said:

"The government should be under no illusions. RMT will mobilise a political and public campaign on a massive scale to fight off any moves to privatise the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. There is no doubt there will be angry backlash against any attempt to compromise national security by embarking on a cash-led sell off of this essential lifeline to our naval crews all around the globe."

Steve Todd, RMT National Maritime Secretary, said:

"Thousands of skilled merchant seafarers, serving the Royal Navy in war zones around the world and here at home, face the possibility of being slung on the scrap heap. That is a disgraceful kick in the teeth to brave seafarers who have played a vital role in conflict after conflict with many paying the ultimate price with their lives. This ill-conceived privatisation proposal must be stopped now."

Scotrail admit they are prepared to breach contract over Driver Only Operation

2009-12-08T14:10:00.001Z

RAIL UNION RMT today accused Scotrail of openly admitting to MSP's that they are prepared to breach contract terms over train staffing levels as the campaign over the planned introduction of Driver Only Operation (DOO) on the new Ediburgh/Glasgow via Airdrie to Bathgate route intensified.

Under their contract with Scottish Ministers the train operator is required to have a second person on the train at all times. However, in a new briefing to MSP's Scotrail admit that "….there may be times when we may choose to operate a train without a second person…"

RMT have pointed out today that with a guard on the crew, rather than a ticket examiner, a train would not be allowed to leave the station without that guard present ensuring at least two members of crew are present at all times to deal with safety and security issues.

Bob Crow, RMT General Secretary, said:

"Scotrail have let the cat out of the bag. We now know that their reason for failing to bring guards onto the new Aidrie/Bathgate service is so that they can run trains with just one member of staff. No guard, no ticket examiner just the driver up in the cab with all of the security and safety risks that such a policy brings with it.

"If there's a shortage of ticket examiners then Scotrail are saying that they will breach the contract with Scottish Ministers and run the trains anyway. When they've done it once we have no doubt that they will try and get away with it over and over again, creating a massive security and safety risk for the travelling public while at the same time jacking up their own profits by saving money on staffing levels.

"The only safe solution is guards on the trains. That guarantees the security of the public and means that Scotrail cannot play fast and loose with their contractual commitments to the Scottish people."

Ambiguity in the execution of criteria for selection of staff for VR.

2009-12-07T17:27:00.000Z

Below is a good part of an email sent to a colleague, the email was a response to announcement by AmeyColas that they wanted to shed about 19 staff on the LNW. The chief criteria that I'm aware of is that staff live 90 miles or more from Bletchley depot. But it appears that some who got letters about the redundancies from AmeyColas are inside that distance.

So it begs some questions, distance alone doesn't seem to be the sole reason that some have been offered the opportunity to go for voluntary redundancy.

-----------------------------------------------------------

They really don't have a clue about our T+C's! It's actually comical that they believe it will cost the company money if we choose to stay in accommodation nearer Bletchley depot!

The fact is at the moment we receive £5 a day subsistence allowance and £18 per day mobility allowance this was a payment Grant rail agreed with the unions to encourage us to travel from home to different sites in a large area often more than eighty miles or we could receive £23 per day lodging allowance If we choose to lodge nearer a depot(we are site based),simple maths states that this is at no extra cost to AmeyColas.

As for the "safety implications " of us travelling in excess of 80 miles i would like to state that that we are willing to travel any where we our asked to go! That includes Mansfield last week and Birmingham next week. All in a days work for me.

It seems to me that are terms and conditions don't suit , not our geographical location.

Just for the record my home address to Bletchley is under 80 miles . I think you get the idea

RMT BLASTS METRO PRIVATISATION PLANS

2009-12-05T18:36:00.001Z

TRANSPORT UNION RMT today blasted confirmation that the door has been opened for Tyne and Wear Metro to be privatised and handed over to a subsidiary of German rail giant Deutsche Bahn from April next year as a "betrayal of the people of the North East and electoral suicide in Labour's heartland."

NEXUS, the publicly controlled Metro operator, will confirm the plans at a press conference today for a takeover by preferred bidder, Deutsche Bahn subsidiary DB Regio, from the 1^st of April 2010 but RMT and local campaigners have pledged to carry on the fight for public ownership of Tyne and Wear Metro.

Bob Crow, RMT General Secretary, said:

"This is the first major privatisation under Gordon Brown's leadership of the Labour Party. It is a betrayal of the people of the North East who overwhelmingly oppose this plan and is electoral suicide for Labour bang, smack in its heartland.

"This is a disaster for Tyne and Wear which will be felt right across the Region. We can expect this essential transport service to be bled dry in the dash for profits by the private company.

"This decision is a kick in the teeth for the vast majority of local people who have supported the campaign against privatisation.

"RMT will continue to fight for public ownership of the Metro in the interests of our members who operate the service and the people of Tyne and Wear who use it. "

RMT announces six days of strike action by South Wales signalling staff

2009-12-05T18:34:00.001Z

RAIL UNION RMT today announced six days of strike action by a group of signalling staff in the Wales and the Marches Operations area over the imposition of rosters at the new South Wales Control Centre due to open in January 2010.

A ballot for action delivered a two-to-one majority in support of a strike which will run from 00.01 hrs on Monday December 14 through to 23.59 hrs on Saturday December 19.

The action will involve RMT signalling grades members at the following NR signalling locations in the Wales and Marches Operations Area; the new South Wales Control Centre, Newport panel, Vale of Glamorgan (Barry Box, Barry Relief, Aberthaw Box, Cowbridge Road Box), Rhymney Valley (Heath Junction, Ystrad Mynach, Bargoed), Cardiff panel and Port Talbot panel.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:

"Our members are furious at the attempt to bulldoze through rosters at the new South Wales Control Centre which we believe are all about saving money and which unilaterally rip up existing agreements. Their support for strike action in this ballot shows just how determined they are to force a management rethink.

"RMT maintains that the existing 12 hour roster is tried and tested and that the 8 hour roster that Network Rail are trying to impose at the new South Wales Control Centre when it opens in January will have damaging consequences.

"We remain available for talks and would urge Network Rail to get back around the table to negotiate a settlement to this dispute."

Ref : Redundancies at AmeyColas

2009-12-05T18:22:00.001Z

Below is the complete text of a letter sent to me by a colleague, I assume it's the letter that AmeyColas are sending out to affected staff in the current wave of redundancies. From reading it, it gives the impression that AmeyColas have a clear idea of the specific staff they want rid of and are writing only to them to enquire as to their interest in taking voluntary redundancy.

Dear

From 2010 our Client is proposing to give us a fixed price for completing our contracts, whereas at the moment our Client underwrites all of our costs, including the costs of directly employing our workforce. More than ever this will mean that the future of our AmeyColas LNW business is dependent on us managing costs more effectively than our competitors.

AmeyColas' preference is to maintain a workforce which is directly employed, but to achieve this we must look at solutions to maintain our cost competitiveness, not least to ensure we are able to bid and win new work.

We are writing to all of our 19 LNW track worker employees that live geographically remote from where we perform the majority of our work. Due to safety limitations on travelling time and the cost of lodging away the company has a concern about the cost viability of continuing to utilise this group of 19 LNW track workers.

Consequently, the company will ask these 19 track workers whether they would be interested in voluntary redundancy (VR).

Therefore the reason for this letter is to ask you whether you would wish to receive a VR quote. Should you wish to receive a quote please complete and return the slip at the bottom of this letter by 10am on Monday 7^th December 2009:

^{E-mail: Cheryl.smith@ameycolas.co.uk

or

Post: Tracy Fitchett, Amey HR One Gateway, Winchester House, Oxford Science Park, Oxford. OX4 4GE.

Please be assured that by asking for a quote you will not be obligating yourself in any way to accepting VR. Please also be aware that the company will retain the right to reject any VR applications.

Should you wish to receive a quote this will be sent to you in the week commencing 7^th December 2009, together with instructions as to what you would need to do next should you wish to accept this quote.

Should you have any questions in the meantime please don't hesitate to discuss these with your line manager or HR representative.

Yours sincerely,

Steve West
Track Director, AmeyColas LNW

By returning this slip I am requesting a voluntary redundancy quote:

Name:________________________________________

Signature:_____________________________________

Employee number:______________________________

Date:_________________________________________

Depot:________________________________________

I would like this quote sent to (please tick one or both):

□ My home address

□ My email address, which is: ______________________________________}

RMT to ballot for industrial action on London Midland over pay & Sunday working

2009-12-03T13:44:00.000Z

RAIL UNION RMT confirmed today that it has begun balloting members for action on London Midland in two separate disputes over pay and conditions of service and Sunday working.

The pay ballot, which will cover all RMT members, follows a rejection of a series of complex staged pay offers for the current financial year and through to April 2011;

· A 1% increase effective 1^st April 2009 and a further 1% effective 1^st November 2009 or an increase of £350 to salary effective from 1^st April 2009.

· An increase of 1.5% or RPI (Feb 2010) whichever is greater, effective 1^st April 2010 and a further 0.5% effective 1^st November 2010 or an increase of £350 (indexed to February 2010 RPI), effective 1^st April 2010.

The ballot for action in a long-standing dispute over Sunday working enhancements on London Midland, for staff excluding conductors and drivers, is being run in parallel following a delay after the company used the full force of the anti-trade union laws to wreck an earlier voting schedule. Voting in both ballots concludes on 17^th December 2009.

Bob Crow, RMT General Secretary, said today:

"RMT reps have worked hard to try and negotiate a fair deal for our members from London Midland on pay but the final offer from the company falls well short of what is required to reach an agreement.

"We know that London Midland have been put under special measures by the government for their failure to deliver a service and we cannot tolerate a situation where the staff are expected to take a hit on their wages and working conditions because of crisis management right at the top.

"RMT remains available for talks aimed at resolving the two disputes on pay and conditions and Sunday working.

RMT slams TfL & Tube Lines, latest cuts hit escalator safety inspections etc.

2009-12-03T10:21:00.000Z

TUBE UNION RMT today accused TfL and Tube Lines of slashing safety standards to dangerous levels as it emerged that twice weekly inspection of escalators will be cut to just once a week and the 12 week frequency of signal maintenance on the Jubilee Line will be cut to a 16 week cycle.

The latest safety and maintenance cuts on the Tube Lines section of the Underground have come just two weeks after RMT exposed moves to hack back the frequency of track inspections on the Jubilee Line extension.

RMT reps will be raising the issues at a meeting of the Health and Safety forum today – Thursday 3^rd December – with a demand that the cuts be reversed as a matter of urgency.

RMT have pointed out that one of the causes of the Kings Cross fire was a lack of regular escalator inspections. The union are also challenging the failure to consult with health and safety reps before the cuts were implemented, making a mockery of the agreed procedures.

Bob Crow, RMT General Secretary, said today:

"We are demanding the intervention of TfL Chair Boris Johnson to reverse the safety and maintenance cuts programme which is leaking out in dribs and drabs from Tube Lines.

"The Mayor told Londoners that the cuts on London transport would not hit passengers and front line services. These latest cuts, bulldozed through by Tube Lines without consultation, make a nonsense of those assurances. These are dangerous reductions in key maintenance and safety frequencies that will set alarm bells ringing for staff and passengers alike.

"There is a growing suspicion that the Tube Lines cuts are tied in closely with the financial turmoil facing the company and the massive gap between them and TfL on the value of the next phase of their contract. With the chaotic overruns on the Jubilee Line upgrade the time has come for TfL to pull the plugs on Tube Lines before we end up plunged into a re-run of the Metronet privatisation disaster."

RMT officially launches campaign against Driver Only Operation on Scotrail

2009-12-03T09:33:00.000Z

RAIL UNION RMT will be formally launching the "Keep The Guard On My Train" campaign, in response to First Scotrail's plans for Driver Only Operation on the new Glasgow/Edinburgh via Airdrie to Bathgate route, at Edinburgh's Waverley Station tomorrow – December 3rd:

Official launch of RMT's Scotrail "Keep The Guard On My Train" campaign

Thursday 3^rd December 2009 – 3.30pm

Edinburgh Waverley Station – Main Entrance – top of Waverley Bridge ramp

With Elaine Smith MSP and Phil McGarry RMT Scottish Regional Organiser

The campaign, aimed at mobilising public opposition to the extension of driver only train operation in Scotland, will focus on the increased safety risks of removing guards which were highlighted in the Cullen Inquiry following the Ladbroke Grove rail crash. Guards are fully trained in operational safety and emergency procedures including dealing with derailments.

Elaine Smith MSP has tabled a motion in the Scottish Parliament backing the RMT's arguments and seconded by former First Minister Jack McConnell and Transport Minister Sarah Boyack.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:

"The launch of our "Keep The Guard On My Train" campaign in Scotland will give the public a real chance to find out what Driver Only Operation on the new Scotrail service, and across the rest of the network, really means for passenger safety and security.

"We cannot have a situation where travellers are left vulnerable because corners are being cut on staffing levels in order to maximise profits. RMT will be mobilising public and political support with the objective of making sure that passengers have the reassurance of having a trained guard close at hand when they are using Scotrail's new service."

Scottish Parliament motion tabled by Elaine Smith MSP

"That the Parliament welcomes the new rail service between Glasgow and Edinburgh via the Airdrie to Bathgate route and the continued electrification of the railway in Scotland; is alarmed, however, that proposals to remove the guards from this service and introduce driver only operation (DOO) are coupled with the reopening of this route; is deeply concerned that this will increase safety risks because passengers will not benefit from the protection of having a guard responsible for the safe running of the train, including controlling the doors and emergencies such as driver incapacity, failure of train safety systems and derailments; further shares the view of the STUC Women's Conference that the proposed introduction of DOO on the service demonstrates that the safety concerns of women passengers have not been adequately addressed; is further concerned that this decision breaches previous assurances to the trade unions that there would be no extension of DOO in Scotland and believes that this could be the thin end of the wedge leading to the removal of guards on other routes; considers that retaining the guards would cost less than the salary of First ScotRail's highest-paid director and less than 5% of the company's most recent post-tax profits, and therefore urges the Scottish Government and First ScotRail to put safety and passengers before profit and keep guards on these services."

NR bosses book a five star hotel while 1500 safety maintenance staff face sack!

2009-12-01T17:09:00.001Z

RAIL UNION RMT today blasted senior Network Rail chiefs as it emerged that they are holding meetings in the five star opulence of London's Langham Hotel while multi-billion pound cuts have left 1500 essential safety maintenance staff facing the sack.

The Network Rail board will be meeting at the Langham Hotel on Wednesday – 2^nd December – with the job cuts package expected to be one of the items under discussion.

On the hotels website it describes itself as "…a sublime choice among London luxury hotels…." and…. "impeccable 5-star luxury accommodation…" stating that …."this luxury London hotel is the epitome of elegance and poise".

Bob Crow, RMT general secretary, said

"While 1500 emergency track maintenance staff face the prospect of being slung on the dole this Christmas, their Network Rail bosses are strutting around in the five star luxury of the Langham Hotel.

"The top bosses at Network Rail are making multi-billion cuts to the rail infrastructure with the maintenance jobs of RMT members in the firing line. At the same time they are paying out wads of cash to enjoy the opulence of the Langham Hotel. Our members are furious and will not take this insult without a real fight."

RMT confirms ballot for strike action on Southern rail franchise over Christmas

2009-12-01T17:00:00.001Z

RAIL UNION RMT confirmed today that they will be balloting members on the Southern rail franchise for strike action after the company refused to offer any extra payments or additional leave for working on the 28th December – a recognised bank holiday across the whole of the UK.

Southern have told RMT that they do not recognise Monday 28^th December as a bank holiday and their stubborn refusal to engage in any meaningful talks with the union on the issue has forced RMT to initiate a strike ballot.

The ballot will close on Monday 21^st December and RMT are calling for a massive yes vote for strike action.

Bob Crow, RMT general secretary, said today:

"It is our clear view that our members on Southern should be properly rewarded for having to work on a public holiday in line with agreements in place across the rest of the rail network.

"Southern should be recognising the hard work and dedication of their staff over the year by offering a gesture of goodwill over the festive season. Instead, they are playing the role of Scrooge and demanding Christmas bank holiday working for flat rate pay.

"That is an insult to our members and that is why we are balloting for strike action."

RMT turns up pressure over pay exploitation on UK ferry services

2009-11-30T10:57:00.001Z

MARITIME UNION RMT today turned up the heat on the government over a loophole that allows ferry operators between UK ports to ignore minimum wage legislation and pay non-UK seafarers as little as £2 an hour.

With the Equality Bill reaching its final report stage this Tuesday (1st December), the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has deliberately blocked an amendment which would have closed the loophole using spurious legal arguments that have already been demolished by specialist maritime legal opinion.

An Early Day Motion has been tabled by Labour MP Gwyn Prosser today backing the RMT campaign and RMT officials and members of the RMT parliamentary group will be meeting ministers on Tuesday to press the case for allowing amendments that bring seafarers into line with the UK National Minimum Wage, and the full repeal of the discriminatory provisions against seafarers in the 1976 Race Relations Act.

Bob Crow, RMT General Secretary said:

"David Miliband and the Labour Government are presiding over a policy that openly allows the exploitation of seafarers on British ships. Their obstruction to the National Minimum Wage amendment to the Equality Bill that would help close this shameful loophole is a disgrace. RMT will be stepping up our campaign this week to mobilise support for an end to pay exploitation on UK ferry services."

ENDS

EARLY DAY MOTION – GWYN PROSSER MP (tabled Monday 30th November)

SEAFARERS' POVERTY PAY AND THE FOREIGN OFFICE
That this House notes that for a number of years discussions have been taking place in both Houses with government and with the TUC to seek to resolve the horrendous situation whereby ferry company owners and others, whose vessels regularly trade on fixed routes between UK ports are allowed to pay poverty wages substantially below the minimum wage to non-UK seafarers including rates as little as £2.00 per hour; welcomes the fact that a number of members have supported amendments to the Equality Bill which would close this loophole; is therefore dismayed that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is blocking these amendments by claiming that applying the minimum wage on ferries that trade solely between UK ports could mean the UK is in breach of United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea; further notes the FCO have adopted this position despite independent legal advice to the contrary provided to the RMT union and also the advice of the International Transport Workers Federation; is appalled that in the 21st Century the Foreign Office is effectively allowing the continuation of poverty wages to continue in UK waters; and calls on the Foreign Secretary to immediately publish the legal advice on which their blocking action is based and allow the advice to be subject to urgent independent scrutiny.

Amey LNW update

2009-11-27T12:41:00.002Z

At a meeting yesterday, some details on events in the immediately future were discussed. Not being present, I have only the barest of details on what was discussed.

High output was agenda item which was discussed at length, with the basics of the T&C's that new starters would be recruited to operate the machines. A lot of work is required in this area.

Apparently Amey are looking for around nineteen redundancies on the LNW at Bletchley, looks like any VR package would be applied equally across the board. But in a compulsory situation I couldnt say, things could well revert to ones T&C's.

A common set of T&C's, rates of pay etc for all staff was a desired objective too.

It was the first meeting I'm aware of on these subjects, and there will be more. Futher details will come with further meetings, at the present it's early days.

Virgin West Coast train cleaners to begin strike action from tonight

2009-11-27T12:00:00.000Z

Cleaners servicing Virgin trains for Alstom West Coast Traincare Carlisle Group contract will begin the first of two 24 hour strikes at 8pm this evening (27 November) in a fight over pay and conditions of service. A second 24 hour strike will begin at 8pm on Sunday (30 November).

The strike action will affect trains along the West Coast Main Line route throughout the weekend and in to early next week.

Bob Crow, RMT General Secretary, said:

"This strike is all about the fight against poverty pay and for dignity and respect at work for the cleaners who toil through the night to maintain the Virgin trains on the prestigious West Coast route.

"Carlisle Group have offered these workers nothing this year despite the fact that the company is highly profitable and that there's plenty of cash in the coffers for the directors and shareholders.

"This is a fight for justice and this brave group of workers deserve the full support of the travelling public in their battle for a living wage."

RMT demands end to privatisation chaos as Nat Express are thrown off the tracks.

2009-11-26T14:49:00.001Z

RAIL UNION RMT today demanded an end to the "chaos, instability and waste" of rail privatisation following the government's announcement this morning that National Express will have their East Anglia franchise terminated in 2011.

RMT are calling on the government to strip National Express of their remaining C2C contract and to make it clear that the company are being kicked off the UK rail tracks for good following the shambolic collapse of their East Coast Main Line operation.

Bob Crow, RMT General Secretary, said:

"The rail franchise system has degenerated into the worst soap opera you can imagine, lurching from one chaotic episode to another and with the government staggering around like crack addicts desperate to hand over another fat wodge of taxpayers cash for their next privatisation fix.

"The time has come to call a halt to the rail privatisation disaster. The long slow death of National Express as a UK rail operator should trigger a policy shift back to public ownership which would bring the politicians into line with the wishes of over 70% of the British people in a recent poll.

"Passengers and staff alike are sick and tired of the waste, inefficiency and crisis management of rail privatisation that is at the heart of the National Express fiasco. This is taxpayer-sponsored rail chaos and RMT will be stepping up the campaign to bring it to an end and return to the principles of a publicly owned railway run as a public service."