The environment

Please click here to add your name to RMT's petition to the government to introduce a scrappage scheme for London taxis.

The Mayor has recently imposed a 15-year age limit on London taxis, but without a scrappage scheme (similar to that introduced by the last government for private cars), many drivers will not be able to afford to replace aged vehicles with newer, less polluting ones. A scrappage scheme will benefit London's air quality and London's taxi drivers, many of whom are RMT members.

RMT General Grades Committee decision:

RMT General Grades Committee decision:

We note the correspondence from the London Taxi Branch regarding the 15 year vehicle age limit to be imposed on the London Taxi trade as part of proposals to reduce vehicle. We note that there is a conversion kit available for buses that allow them to become compliant with EURO 4 emissions regulations and have been made aware that such a conversion kit could be made available for the older black cabs.

RMT TfL No.1 Branch will be highlighting Climate Week by holding a competition for both ‘New’ members joining in this week and ‘Existing’ members who are already signed up.

If ‘Existing’ members go online to
https://membership.rmt.org.uk/services/p_wwv_rmt_logon and correct, or update their contact and work details they will be entered into a Prize Draw to win a Solar MP3/Phone Charger.

Any staff members who sign up to RMT will also be entered into a separate Prize Draw to win another Solar MP3/Phone Charger.

RMT General Grades Committee decision:

That we note the resolution received from our London Taxis branch.

That we believe that measures should be taken to reduce pollution and improve air quality in London and elsewhere, but that these should if possible avoid penalising working people. We share the concerns of our branch about the Mayor of London’s proposed 15-year age limit on taxis; we believe that there may be better ways of reducing pollution from taxis eg. the scrappage scheme suggested by our branch; and we are appalled at the lack of consultation with our members.

Below is a letter from RMT London Taxis branch to Mayor Boris Johnson, and attached is the Mayor's response.

Dear Boris Johnson,

Speakers include Alex Gordon (RMT), Tony Kearns (CWU), Manuel Cortes (TSSA), Chris Baugh (PCS), Prof. Barbara Harriss-White, Phil Thornhill (CaCC), Jonathan Neale (Million Green Jobs Commission), John Stewart (HACAN), Graham Petersen (UCU), Larry Lohman (Cornerhouse), Ian Terry (former Vestas worker)

Admission £10 (£5 concessions) South Camden Community School, Charrington St, London NW1 1RG Phone: 079 585 35231 Email: climatetradeunion@googlemail.com campaign against climate change trade union group Third Trade Union Conference www.campaigncc.org cacctu.wordpress.com

HARINGEY AND ENFIELD PUBLIC MEETING Organised by the Sustainable Haringey network and the Campaign against Climate Change

CLIMATE ACTION NOW! What can we do to stop climate change, and to make the transition to a fair and sustainable society?

Tuesday November 24th 8pm - Wood Green Library High Road, N22 - Just south of Wood Green tube

Film: 'Countdown To Copenhagen' (newly made by Haringey documentary team, Reel News) Speakers: including a windturbine factory worker from Vestas who was recently involved in occupying the plant to prevent its closure + Discussion

Venue: Bread and Roses Pub, 68 Clapham Manor Street, SW4 6DZ (about ten minutes walk from Clapham Common tube)

It is now clear that there will be no binding agreement at Copenhagen to stop runaway climate change.

Countdown to Copenhagen film night will provide a chance to discuss the issues around the Copenhagen talks, how to get to Copenhagen for the mass mobilisations and what we can do locally.

Films:

Save Vestas

‘Fight for 1 million Green Jobs’

The Campaign Against Climate Change has called demonstrations in London and Edinburgh on Saturday 5th December to fight for one million green jobs and publicity flyers are attached. The RMT is affiliated to the Campaign and I would urge all members to participate in these demonstrations. Assembly at the larger London event will be from 12pm in Hyde Park.