London Underground needs to end damaging cuts

ENDING DAMAGING staff cuts, bringing all of London’s Tube back into the public sector and getting the network’s upgrade back on track are more important than the name on the managing director’s door, London Underground’s biggest union said today.

Responding to news that LUL chief Tim O’Toole was stepping down, RMT said that the damaging policies being imposed on the network needed to be reversed.

“A transport chief is only as good as the policies he or she is implementing, and Transport for London has launched an assault on jobs that can only harm service provision, ,” RMT general secretary Bob Crow said today.

“More important than who succeeds Tim O’Toole is the need to scrap attacks on jobs, get rid of what’s what is left of the PPP and get the Tube’s upgrade back on track in time for 2012.

“London Underground is a key public service in a key world city and it is no place for failed private-sector experiments, short-sighted cuts or the petty bully-boy management our members increasingly complain of,” Bob Crow said.

> RMT National News

Saturday, 20th September
Bus workers at First South West in Somerset and Cornwall will be balloted for strike action after the company refused to improve a penny-pinching pay offer.
Thursday, 18th September
Rail union, RMT has called a 48-hour strike by members working for Carlisle Support Services on the Northern trains’ revenue and gateline contract.
Tuesday, 16th September
Rail union, RMT will hold a demonstration on Wednesday against the Home Office’s reckless changes to work visa rules which threaten the jobs and futures of hundreds of rail staff including on London Underground.
Tuesday, 16th September
Maritime union, RMT confirmed today that it is in dispute with cross-Solent ferry operator Wightlink after the company announced proposals which would put 160 jobs at risk.
Monday, 15th September
SEAFARERS Union RMT has attacked a new report by the Chamber of Shipping which writes UK seafarers off as ‘uncompetitive’ whilst demanding easier access to cheap foreign labour on ferry and offshore energy routes.