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 on today’s Office of National Statistic figures revealing bus and taxi drivers have raised risk of COVID-19 death
TRANSPORT UNION RMT is demanding that the Government take urgent action in the wake of figures published today by the ONS which show that male bus and taxi drivers were amongst the occupations with a raised rate of death involving COVID-19.
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.
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.
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.
Dear RMT members( London Transport Region)
As you will see below in our Press release, RMT has concerns re next Monday 11th May being 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 M. D confirmed explicitly that this is not the case for TfL and their services ,that their planning date ( which is not fixed 100% ) is still 18th May.
Download new NEC bulletin below
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.
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.
TUBE UNION RMT has today called on London Mayor Sadiq Khan to personally meet, via video conferencing, a delegation of tube cleaners to discuss their employment concerns as a new survey shows a majority of cleaners believe their employer, cleaning contractor ABM, is putting profit before safety during coronavirus crisis.