Economic crisis / fighting public service cuts

RAIL UNION RMT today reaffirmed its total opposition to “workfare” schemes on the railways, where claimants are forced to work for benefits, after suggestions emerged that Southern may be engaging in such a scheme.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:

“RMT is investigating reports from our branches that Southern may be in the process of rolling out a “workfare” scheme and we are demanding assurances from the company that any such plan would be dropped immediately.

MARITIME AND TRANSPORT UNION RMT confirmed today that members on the Royal Fleet Auxiliary will strike alongside public sector colleagues on the 10th May.

President of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) selected to lead new trade unionist and socialist electoral challenge for Greater London Assembly Elections in May 2012

The Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) has selected Alex Gordon President of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) to lead its list for the London Assembly elections due to take place on 3 May 2012.

To coincide with the 2012 budget, RMT called a nationwide day of action against changes proposed in the McNulty Report and the governments Rail Command Paper.

RMTv caught up with events at Waterloo station, a terminal for South West Trains who will be running an experimental operation to run both track maintenance and passenger train services.

You can view lots more videos like this at RMTV

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said: “This is a budget of the rich for the rich. The tax changes mean that a banker on half a million pounds gets a kick back from George Osborne of £17,500, money robbed from our public services and the neediest in our divided society."

RMT Warns Of Social Breakdown And Further Riots As Government Plans Budget Cuts To Top Tax While Hammering Public Services

TRANSPORT UNION RMT today warned of social breakdown and further riots as the ConDem coalition Government of public school-educated millionaires prepares to widen the gap between rich and poor by handing out tax cuts to the rich while hammering jobs, wages and services in the country’s public sector.

RMT Council of Executives decision:

We note the domestic violence policy on file from ‘One’. While it is positive that this company has a policy on this issue, and it has some good content, a model policy would include several improvements. In particular, a model policy would include specific commitments that:

• there will be no action under MFA/Attendance policies against staff absent due to domestic violence
• special leave for escaping domestic violence should be paid
  

Responding to news that unemployment has risen by 128,000 to 2.638 million in the three months to October, RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:

“These latest shocking figures show that all the Governments promises on jobs and apprenticeships are as hollow as a chocolate Father Christmas."

RAIL UNION RMT today slammed news that private train operator Stagecoach is to receive £90 million a year in state aid to prop up its East Midlands franchise.

The RMT Young Members Advisory Committee held on the 14th November 2011 put the following request to the Council of Executives:

That following visits by RMT Young members to the anti-capitalist protest camp located near St Pauls the committee unanimously agreed to ask for the following -

1. That the RMT make public its principled support for those engaged in the protest situated at St Pauls
2. That the RMT promote the ‘message’ of the protest across the union and wider trade union and Labour movement