RMT press releases

RMT announces week of action on tube over pay, conditions and broken agreements

21 August 2025

Tube union RMT, today announced rolling strike action across the network beginning on Friday 5th September for seven days, with different grades taking industrial action at differing times.

The strikes come after management refused to engage seriously with union demands on pay, fatigue management, extreme shift patterns and a reduction in the working week, as well as failing to honour previous agreements made with staff.   

RMT Warns Against Pension Age Hike

Transport union, RMT has warned the Labour government that any attempt to drastically raise the state pension age beyond 68 would be met with strong resistance, including coordinated protests and direct action from across the trade union movement.

Currently the state pension age is 66 for men and women. It is due to rise to 67 between 2026 and 2027, and to 68 in 2044.

RMT Backs Call For Restoration Of Blue Light Status For Emergency Response Unit

RMT has today backed the call from the London Assembly Transport Committee for Transport for London (TfL) to publish the review which led to the removal of blue light status from Emergency Response Unit (ERU) vehicles, and is calling for the reinstatement of this vital emergency capability.

Blue light status was granted to ERU vehicles in 2012 following a recommendation from the London Assembly’s 7 July Review Committee in response to the 7/7 bombings.

Tube pay strike details announced

RMT members on London Underground will take strike action after rejecting a pay offer deemed wholly inadequate.

While some progress was made in negotiations, the current proposal leaves a large number of staff excluded from collective bargaining, which remains a core issue for the union.

Huge rise of violent crimes against women on public transport

RAIL UNION RMT today slammed the huge rise of violent crimes against women by more than 50 per cent on Britain’s trains as totally unacceptable.

Commenting on the latest British Transport Police statistics for the past two years, RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said that the union had longstanding concerns about the prevalence of violence on the public transport network. 

“RMT’s own research has also found that 40 per cent of women public transport workers have been sexually harassed.

RMT welcomes government's intention to repeal Minimum Service Levels legislation

Rail union, RMT today welcomed the Labour government's intention to repeal Minimum Service Levels legislation.

The formal repeal of this draconian law will be part of the upcoming Employment Rights Bill.

In the meantime, Ministers are asking departments and employers not to use the legislation and to seek dialogue with trade unions on current disputes.

Labour plan for publicly owned rail network 'in best interest for rail workers and passengers'

Labour have announced that they plan to 'bring train operators under public ownership and control'.

Mick Lynch, RMT general secretary said:

"Labour's commitment to bring the train operating companies into a new unified and publicly owned rail network is in the best interests of railway workers, passengers and the taxpayer.

"We strongly welcome these bold steps to fix 14 years of Tory mismanagement of our privatised railways and Labour's promise to complete a transition to public ownership within its first term in office.

RMT budget response - invest in public services

6 March 2024

Responding to Chancellor Jeremy Hunt's budget statement, RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said:

"This is a budget of tax cuts and gimmicks designed to thinly disguise a Tory government only interested in propping up the super rich.

"The only way you get real growth that benefits working people is by investment in publicly owned public services, transport infrastructure and a general wage rise to increase spending power in the economy.

Final, final pay rise agreed following RMT industrial determination

Tube union, RMT secured a pay rise on LU following threats of mass strike action.

Representing around 10,000 members on the network, the lowest paid will see their wages rise by between 8-10%.

Other workers will see a 5% rise with consolidated payments of £1000.

Those members on less than £40,000 will get an additional consolidated payment.

RMT also secured progress towards enhanced travel facilities on national rail services.