Coronavirus

Read the latest information from the RMT about our response and organising during the Coronavirus crisis.

RMT response to IFS study on post lockdown commuting

TRANSPORT UNION RMT is calling for a ‘new deal for public transport’ in response to an analysis of post lockdown commuting published by the Institute for Fiscal Studies.

RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said;

"This government is hell bent on rushing people back to work without a proper plan for public transport.

“The government should be using analysis like this and the expertise of transport unions to launch a rapid and comprehensive ‘new deal for public transport’.

London Transport austerity could lead to Tube strike

RMT warns of strike action if necessary to fight London Transport Austerity imposed by government.

Responding to the government announcement today that it is imposing austerity cuts and direct control over transport in London as part of its conditions for funding as a result of the Covid-19 crisis RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said,

“London Transport workers have been vital to fighting Covid-19 and any attacks on their pay, jobs and conditions arising from this imposed settlement will be a complete betrayal.

RMT seeks absolute guarantee on member's jobs as TfL negotiates emergency loan with government

RMT Regional Organiser John Leach has written to London Underground Managing Director Andy Lord to seek an 'absolute guarantee' that the jobs of members at TfL / LUL will not be affected by any emergency budget settlement reached with the government. 

 

The letter

Subject: TfL Finances impact on Employees, Jobs and conditions of employment

Dear Andy

RMT warns of chaos on transport services

RMT warns of chaos on transport services in the morning as Government urges return to work.

RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said today;

"The Governments "return to work" policy from Wednesday morning risks unleashing total chaos on a transport network which has not been told to prepare for a rise in numbers until next Monday. This is a ridiculous and dangerous way to treat both staff and passengers alike and will have potentially lethal consequences. 

Coronavirus: Urgent tube safety advice regarding services from 11th May

10th May 2020

To: All RMT Rail and London Underground members.

Dear Colleague

COVID - 19 URGENT RMT SAFETY ADVICE REGARDING RAIL AND TUBE SERVICES FROM 11th MAY

Over the weekend I have been contacted by Network Rail who say they are planning for a possible surge in passenger usage on the national railway system on Monday 11th May as a side-effect of the Prime Minister's statement scheduled for 19:00 hours, 10th May in respect of COVID -19. These measures may obviously also impact on other rail services and London Underground.

RMT issues fresh advice to members not to work in unsafe COVID-19 conditions

TRANSPORT UNION RMT today issued fresh guidance to members across rail and tube to refuse to work where safety is compromised due to the potentially lethal consequences of the Governments confused and contradictory messaging over the COVID-19 lockdown.

The union warning has come as it has become clear that the Government is shifting away from the stay at home message, unleashing a surge in passengers on rail and tube from tomorrow, breaching social distancing measures with potentially lethal consequences for both staff and th‎e public.

RMT continues to demand assurances on social distancing

Dear RMT members (London Transport Region)

 As you will see below in our press release, the RMT has concerns re next Monday 11th May being the start of government led mobilisation across Britain’s railways.

Accordingly I immediately wrote to LUL, the Managing Director, specifically in relation to all TfL. The MD confirmed explicitly that this is not the case for TfL and their services, that their planning date (which is not fixed 100%) is still the 18th of May.

Headlong dash to lift lockdown fraught with danger

Commenting on the dash to jack up transport service from 18th May, General Secretary Mick Cash said;

"There is a headlong dash to lift the lockdown on our transport services for the 18th May and it is fraught with danger for both passengers and staff alike.

"To maintain the Governments own social distancing guidance would mean huge logistical and staffing input to ‎manage passenger flows onto trains and it is imperative that all staff involved in this process are properly protected.