RMT press releases

RMT General Secretary warns of major battles ahead over cuts, jobs and privatisation as union conference enters first full day in Newcastle.

The General Secretary of the transport union RMT will warn delegates at the first full day of the union's AGM in Newcastle today that the entire Labour Movement will need to stand united in the face of massive threats to services, jobs and union rights from the newly elected Tory Government.

RMT slams Mayor for ignoring union warnings as TFL confirms today that sex offences have risen by 35% in a year
General Secretary Mick Cash said.

"RMT warned right from the off that cash led cuts to station staffing would turn London Underground into a criminals paradise and those who ignored those warnings, and in particular Mayor Boris Johnson, should be hanging their heads in shame today, apologising to Londoners and reversing their lethal cuts programme.

RMT confirms new strike dates in Network Rail dispute
The largest rail union, RMT, today confirmed that members will be taking 24 hours of strike action from 5pm Thursday 4th June through to 4.59pm on Friday 5th June in the current dispute over pay and jobs at Network Rail with a further 48 hours of action from 5pm On Tuesday 9th June to 4.59pm on Thursday 11th June. In addition there will be action short of a strike from 00.01 Saturday 6th June to 23.59 on Friday 12th June.
The RMT executive decision is:

RAIL UNION RMT today called on rail chiefs to come clean after speculation emerged over the weekend that 30 year old tube trains withdrawn from service on London Underground, currently undergoing refitting to diesel operation, could be dumped on railways across Wales as a cheapskate, rolling stock lash-up that raises both serious safety fears and a threat to the role of the guard.

The news exposes as complete fiction public statements from Government ministers dating back to earlier this year that there were no plans to use the aging, decommissioned underground trains on the main railway.

Docklands Light Railway Interserve staff to strike for 48 hours from tomorrow over an assault on pay and working conditions

After a vote of over 80% for action, transport union RMT has confirmed that staff working for notorious anti-union facilities company Interserve on Docklands Light Railway will strike from tomorrow for 48 hours in a dispute over an assault on pay and working conditions.

RMT declares dispute over tube night running and derisory pay offer and prepares to ballot for action

TUBE UNION RMT confirmed today that it has declared a formal dispute with London Underground over an outrageous attempt to drive a coach and horses through existing procedures by attempting to impose new rosters on staff in the run up to the scheduled date for the introduction of night tube operation – 12th September 2015. The rosters would pin staff into a regime of anti-social hours and appalling working conditions.

RMT on BTP conference on violence on transport services:

General Secretary Mick Cash said.

"‎The public should be under no illusions. The whole object of policy on our transport services at the moment is to axe staff and that gives a green light to thugs, drunks and racists to indulge in their violent, abusive and anti-social behaviour.

"From chopping guards off the trains, to closing ticket offices on London Underground to cutting staff on stations and platforms the whole austerity and profit driven agenda is turning our transport system into a thugs and criminals paradise.

Transport union RMT said today that it is step up the independent monitoring of crowding and safety on both rail and tube after a child fell between a train and the platform at Baker Street yesterday afternoon in the latest shocking incident that raises serious questions about the safety of passengers while top transport bosses repeatedly ignore union warnings.

Yesterday's incident at Baker Street follows the horrific events at Clapham South last week when a woman was dragged under a train, the continuing chaos at London Bridge and major incidents at Oxford CIrcus and Brixton.

Rail union RMT today listed a catalogue of faults left behind by contractors working on the £500 million redevelopment of London Bridge which have been the catalyst to the continuing chaos and overcrowding at the station in recent weeks.

Senior RMT officials have identified the following issues:

• New track and signalling layout poorly installed
• Incorrect procedures followed
• Corners cut on quality of new points
• Network Rail engineers left to correct contractor faults
• Some installation mistakes potentially dangerous
• Concerns raised by union members ignored