Rail fares rip-off and a threat to thousands of safety-critical jobs – transport under attack 100 days in to ConDem government

Submitted by Peter on 19 August, 2010 - 16:37

As the ConDem Government marks its first 100 days in office this week transport union RMT warned that jobs, quality and safety have been lined up for an all-out assault this autumn with the travelling public expected to take a massive hit on fares to use battered and under-resourced services.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said "We know that transport is being lined up for further, massive cuts this autumn that threaten jobs, infra-structure projects, safety and the quality of service to the travelling public. It will take co-ordinated trade union and community action on a scale unseen since the Poll Tax resistance to stop the ConDem’s cuts juggernaut."

'RMT London Calling' August 2010

Submitted by Janine on 19 August, 2010 - 11:33

The new issue of our 'RMT London Calling' newsletter asks how it is that TfL/LUL 'can't afford' frontline jobs and regular maintenance, but can afford massive salaries for directors. It also reports on the Alstom pay dispute, Euston escalator fire, Northern line runaway train and other issues, and replies in detail to last week's London Underground management bulletin about our industrial action ballot result.

Click '1 attachment' / file name to download it.

Second rail union votes for strike action

Submitted by Admin on 18 August, 2010 - 18:00

TSSA News Release 18 August 2010

A second rail union has to voted for strike action in the battle over plans to axe 800 jobs at London Underground ticket offices.

The TSSA white collar union said its members had voted 3 to 1 in a secret ballot for strike action and 6 to 1 for action short of a strike.

Leader Gerry Doherty will meet RMT leader Bob Crow next week to plan a campaign of industrial action which will probably begin in September unless London Mayor Boris Johnson abandons his planned cut backs.

Scottish trade unionist and socialist, Jimmy Reid dies August 10th 2010

Submitted by Joffe on 17 August, 2010 - 13:42

Jimmy Reid, one of the leaders of the Upper Clyde Shipbuilders (UCS) "work-in" in 1971-72 died August 10th 2010, aged 78. When the Heath government proposed closing down all 5 of the shipyards in Glasgow the workers fought back by organising a 'work in', a political campaign to stop the closures which would have blighted thousands of lives and the city of Glasgow itself.

When he stood as a candidate to be the Rector of Glasgow University the New York Times printed his speech in its entirety and said it was the most important speech since Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. Click on the link to read it in full: http://www.gla.ac.uk/media/media_167194_en.pdf

RMT Stratford No.1 Recruitment Plan

Submitted by Peter on 17 August, 2010 - 02:15


Stratford No.1 branch have devised a recruitment plan. It details how the branch have agreed to monitor and increase membership numbers. The Regional Councils recruitment plan for 2010 urges and supports branches to outline a plan to both monitor membership numbers and organise recruitment.

Click 'read more' to see Stratford No.1's plan, or download the attachment if you want a copy for you or your branch to use.

TfL/LUL Pays Directors Handsomely While Cutting Frontline Staff

Submitted by Admin on 16 August, 2010 - 15:21

Click '1 attachment' / file name to read details of TfL / London Underground directors' pay.

A few examples of how much some of our bosses were paid in 2009/10:

  • Peter Hendy, Commissioner of Transport: £393,551
  • David Brown, TfL Managing Director Surface Transport: £316,655
  • Steve Allen, TfL Managing Director Finance: £310,601
  • Vernon Everitt, TfL Managing Director Group Marketing and Communications: £283,919
  • Phil Hufton, LU Chief Maintenance Officer: £267,891
  • Howard Carter, TfL General Counsel: £268,556