RAIL UNION RMT today demanded a parliamentary probe into plans passed to the union which would see the publicly-owned Network Rail forced to buy-back rail freight yards gifted to private rail freight companies as part of the privatisation carve-up of railway assets.
TRANSPORT UNION RMT will put the issue of a referendum on British membership of the EU, alongside a call for British withdrawal, on the agenda at the TUC Congress which gets underway in Brighton on Sunday (9th September).
In her final act of betrayal of the UK rail industry before heading to Northern Ireland, rail minister Theresa Villiers confirmed that the Thameslink fleet contract, now delayed for over 15 months, has been booted into the long grass again with only another vague statement that it may be signed off in the autumn.
The latest blow to British train building came as it emerged that Siemens, the preferred Thameslink bidder over Bombardier in Derby, have had to pay the Greek Government £262 million in settlement of bribery allegation around the Athens Olympics in 2004.
THE SAFE evacuation of the Northern Rail train derailed near St Bees in Cumbria yesterday underlines the importance of safety-trained train and infrastructure crew who are under threat thanks to “wrong-headed” government policy, Britain’s biggest rail union said today.
As the media reported praise for the train crew’s calm and orderly evacuation of around 100 passengers, RMT condemned the government’s plan to abolish guards under the notorious McNulty report, which aims to sack up to 20,000 rail staff to protect private operators’ profits.
RMT general secretary Bob Crow said:
LOW-PAID CLEANERS on the prestigious East Coast mainline working for ISS are to strike for 24 hours on September 10 after voting by a huge 98 per cent margin for action against an employer that has offered no pay rise for three years.
They will be joined on strike by cleaners working for the same scrooge sub-contractor on London Midland, where a 24-hour stoppage has already been held at depots in Bletchley, Northampton and King’s Heath.
In both disputes ISS has failed to respond to calls for a living wage for workers who play a key role in maintaining rail services.
Rail unions, transport campaigners and passenger groups are holding a national day of action today (Tuesday) to protest against massive hikes in rail fares and cuts to railway staff and services.
UK rail passengers pay among the highest fares in Europe for train travel. Following last year’s inflation-busting fare rises, the government has announced that train operating companies (TOCs) will be able to increase rail fares by three per cent more than RPI inflation. This could mean price hikes on most rush hour travel, season tickets and off-peak fares on the majority of intercity journeys.
Transport union RMT said today that it has joined forces with web campaigners and union resource Labour Start to launch a global “cyber picket” of London Mayor Boris Johnson in the fight for Olympics pay justice for tube cleaners working for ISS and Initial.
The cleaners began a 48 hours strike at 05:30 hours on Thursday 9th August 2012 and the action runs until 05:29 hours on Saturday 11th August 2012.
Pickets were out in force at Stratford and other London locations yesterday and there will be another protest at Stratford at twelve noon today.
Transport union RMT said today that tube cleaners working for Initial and ISS will strike again this week in their fight for fair pay and Olympics recognition and reward.
Following rock-solid action around the opening weekend of the Games members are now instructed not to book on for any shifts that commence between:-
05:30 hours on Thursday 9th August 2012 and 05:29 hours on Saturday 11th August 2012.
RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said;
A plan of public campaigning and a high-profile presence at Pride events were the keynote decisions at RMT’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender conference – the biggest in its history.
A contagious mood of activity and growth permeated the gathering, which pledged solidarity with working people fighting for LGBT rights at home and abroad. Conference chair noted that the LGBT committee had gained 12 new members, was planning a major presence at Pride in London on July 7 and at Tolpuddle, and had been involved in Pride events at Bristol and Blackpool.
RAIL UNION RMT confirmed today that it is preparing to ballot cleaning, facilities and asset management and mechanical engineering staff on Heathrow Express for both strike action and action short of a strike in a dispute over pay.
The staff are employed by contractors Amey Rail, BAA, who own Heathrow Express and Amey, are all part of Ferrovial.