RMT press releases

RMT budget response - invest in public services

6 March 2024

Responding to Chancellor Jeremy Hunt's budget statement, RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said:

"This is a budget of tax cuts and gimmicks designed to thinly disguise a Tory government only interested in propping up the super rich.

"The only way you get real growth that benefits working people is by investment in publicly owned public services, transport infrastructure and a general wage rise to increase spending power in the economy.

Final, final pay rise agreed following RMT industrial determination

Tube union, RMT secured a pay rise on LU following threats of mass strike action.

Representing around 10,000 members on the network, the lowest paid will see their wages rise by between 8-10%.

Other workers will see a 5% rise with consolidated payments of £1000.

Those members on less than £40,000 will get an additional consolidated payment.

RMT also secured progress towards enhanced travel facilities on national rail services.

RMT calls for unconditional Tube strike talks with mayor and LU bosses

TUBE UNION RMT today called on the London Mayor and Transport for London (TfL) to enter unconditional talks hosted by the conciliation service ACAS to avert strike action scheduled for later this week.

The union had been invited to talks with TfL earlier this week after London Underground workers backed rolling strike action by over 90 per cent against a below inflation pay offer.

The union also wants to see full staff travel facilities for all tube workers restored to prevent to the creation of a two-tier workforce.

New Tory anti-strike laws attack basic human rights, says RMT

RMT members march, holding a banner that states "Do you know what a picket line is" alongside a photo of RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch

TRANSPORT UNION RMT slammed the Tory government’s Minimum Service Levels legislation announced tonight (Monday, November 6) attacking the right of essential workers to take strike action as ‘an assault on the fundamental freedoms of working people’.

Minimum service level legislation for rail workers, ambulance staff and border security staff will be laid in parliament tomorrow (Tuesday, November 7).

Tube strike action suspended following significant progress made by RMT

Strike action on London Underground has been suspended following significant progress made by RMT negotiators and London Underground Limited (LUL) representatives.

Planned strike action by over 3,000 members on LU stations on Wednesday 4 and Friday 6 will now not go ahead.

Following talks at ACAS, RMT has managed to save key jobs, prevent detrimental changes to rosters and secure protection of earnings around grading changes.

Tory anti-union minimum service laws will worsen industrial relations

RAIL UNION RMT warned today (Friday September 22, 2023) that the Tory anti-union minimum service laws would if used worsen industrial relations, prolong disputes and lead even more days or strikes and new novel forms of action.

The union was responding to a new Transport Committee report released today challenging the government’s ‘minimum service levels’ regulations for railway strikes. 

Tube union, RMT will take strike action on London Underground on October 4 and 6 over job losses and safety concerns

strike flag

Tube union, RMT will take strike action on London Underground on October 4 and 6 over job losses and safety concerns.

The union has been locked in a long running dispute over 600 station staff cuts and detrimental working conditions since last year.

Safety concerns have also been raised regarding fewer staff facing higher workloads, more lone working and increased fatigue.

The job losses planned will affect every aspect of the tube including stations and maintenance, leading to the likelihood of more unstaffed stations and a lowering of safety standards.

Tube workers facing threats of violence after more than 100 hundred station closures in two months

RMT called on TfL to end its cuts programme, which is forcing repeated station closures across the network, opening staff up to abuse from frustrated passengers.

TfL has had its funding from central government dramatically cut but instead of standing up to ministers, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan is cutting 600 staff and implementing a new rostering system that does not work.

Tube Spending cuts, job losses and pension attacks must end

Spending cuts, job losses and pension attacks must end, RMT has told the London Mayor today.

The tube union wrote to Sadiq Khan today, emphasising the importance of station staff to the safe running of London Underground and the need for the mayor to resist Tory budget cuts. 

In the letter, RMT general secretary Mick Lynch wrote: "Stations were closed on 2115 occasions last year, compared with a pre-pandemic high of 649. Of course, this is only a figure for closures. More often, stations will have been left open with no staff.

Protect the right to strike - national day of action

Protect the right to strike! What we do next - TUC Organising Call and date for National Day of Action

On Monday thousands of trade unionists and workers descended on the UK Parliament to protest the Conservative Government's draconian new anti-strike Bill and send a clear message to the Government that we will relentlessly fight this fundamental attack on our democratic and human rights to withdraw our labour.

I would like to thank each and every one of you that turned out for the Emergency Demo and for the continued support of those that couldn't make it.