RMT press releases

TRANSPORT UNION RMT confirmed today that in a ballot of staff running the London “Boris Bike’s” scheme, members have voted 100% for strike action over a range of grievances:
• The imposition of a 2% pay increase for 2013
• The imposition of shift change patterns
• The continuous bullying and harassment of members
• The company’s refusal to reach a formal agreement on travelling time or on travel allowances.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:

Tube union RMT today pledged to step up the fight to stop the carve up of the Lillie Bridge tube maintenance depot as Mayor Boris Johnson sneaked out an announcement late last night that gives the green light to the demolition of Earls Court and the surrounding area and its conversion into a yuppies playground by Tory Councillors hell bent on the social cleansing of whole swathes of West London.

RAIL UNION RMT released new research at their AGM in Brighton this morning showing that Britain's main private train operating companies are paying out twice as much in dividends than they are in tax.

Figures for the top five train operators showed that they paid just over 13% in tax on operating profits of nearly a billion pounds at a time when the basic rate of corporation tax is 23% and the standard personal tax rate is 20%.

RAIL UNION RMT revealed today that the long, drawn out stitch-up leading to the appointment of German outfit Siemens to build the new fleet of trains for the Thameslink service has cost the British taxpayer over £8 million in consultancy fees.

RAIL UNION RMT revealed today that National Express, the company that threw back the keys as their contract on the East Coast Mainline collapsed into chaos four years ago, have been cleared to bid for the route again as the Government speed up plans to reprivatise the service that is currently being successfully run in the public sector.

In a show of solidarity with Uganda’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, delegates to this year’s RMT LGBT Member’s Conference (Blackpool, May 18th) linked up via Skype video with one of the most prominent and courageous advocates for LGBT rights in Uganda, Frank Mugisha.

TUBE UNION RMT warned today London Assembly members risk unleashing the biggest wave of industrial action on London Underground in 30 years after City Hall politicians lined up this morning to attack basic tube workers’ rights including pensions and passes.

RMT believes that this morning’s attack is part of a coordinated, political action designed to kick off the process of stripping away hard-won working conditions and workplace rights across the Underground network.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:

TRANSPORT UNION RMT today called for British withdrawal from the EU and attacked the media for only using right-wing voices from the anti-EU side of the debate when in fact it is the working class that are suffering most across Europe as a result of the bankers and business-led austerity measures.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:

“RMT’s position is clear, not only should there be an early in/out referendum but also we are calling unequivocally for British withdrawal.

TRANSPORT UNION RMT confirmed today that security and safety staff employed by STM Security Group on the London Overground contract will be taking industrial action this week in a dispute over bullying and harassment and an attempt to impose workplace changes without agreement.

Strike action ballots return strong yes votes from ISS cleaners, drivers on the Piccadilly and sub surface depots, and maintenance workers on TfL contract with Mitie

RMT today confirmed a ballot for strike action of Train Operators and Instructor Operators on the Piccadilly Line, in response to London Underground riding roughshod over agreements and abusing a range of agreed policies and procedures, has shown a massive nine to one vote in favour.