The attached newsletter, from stations level 2 Industrial and Tier 2 Healrh and Safety reps contains information and advice on safety at work during the Coronavirus crisis.
- Please download and display in your station.
Don’t put yourself in danger to meet government targets
Tube staf could soon exposed to thousands of people every day. The failure to protect London Bus drivers from close contact with the public contributed to a terrible Covid 19 death-toll amongst these workers - 16 times higher than the rate of Covid deaths of NHS staf. TfL may be refusing to learn from their failure to close the front doors but RMT will not stand by and allow members on LUL/TFL to be exposed to unacceptable risk.
No plan,
No risk assessments in key areas,
No way to limit passenger numbers
No plan to protect bame staff who are 4 times more likely to die after contracting covid 19
Download and distribute the bulletin below
TRANSPORT UNION RMT is calling for a ‘new deal for public transport’ in response to an analysis of post lockdown commuting published by the Institute for Fiscal Studies.
RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said;
"This government is hell bent on rushing people back to work without a proper plan for public transport.
“The government should be using analysis like this and the expertise of transport unions to launch a rapid and comprehensive ‘new deal for public transport’.
RMT warns of strike action if necessary to fight London Transport Austerity imposed by government.
Responding to the government announcement today that it is imposing austerity cuts and direct control over transport in London as part of its conditions for funding as a result of the Covid-19 crisis RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said,
“London Transport workers have been vital to fighting Covid-19 and any attacks on their pay, jobs and conditions arising from this imposed settlement will be a complete betrayal.
RMT Regional Organiser John Leach has written to London Underground Managing Director Andy Lord to seek an 'absolute guarantee' that the jobs of members at TfL / LUL will not be affected by any emergency budget settlement reached with the government.
The letter
Subject: TfL Finances impact on Employees, Jobs and conditions of employment
Dear Andy
RMT on today’s Office of National Statistic figures revealing bus and taxi drivers have raised risk of COVID-19 death
TRANSPORT UNION RMT is demanding that the Government take urgent action in the wake of figures published today by the ONS which show that male bus and taxi drivers were amongst the occupations with a raised rate of death involving COVID-19.
RMT warns of chaos on transport services in the morning as Government urges return to work.
RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said today;
"The Governments "return to work" policy from Wednesday morning risks unleashing total chaos on a transport network which has not been told to prepare for a rise in numbers until next Monday. This is a ridiculous and dangerous way to treat both staff and passengers alike and will have potentially lethal consequences.
10th May 2020
To: All RMT Rail and London Underground members.
Dear Colleague
COVID - 19 URGENT RMT SAFETY ADVICE REGARDING RAIL AND TUBE SERVICES FROM 11th MAY
Over the weekend I have been contacted by Network Rail who say they are planning for a possible surge in passenger usage on the national railway system on Monday 11th May as a side-effect of the Prime Minister's statement scheduled for 19:00 hours, 10th May in respect of COVID -19. These measures may obviously also impact on other rail services and London Underground.
TRANSPORT UNION RMT today issued fresh guidance to members across rail and tube to refuse to work where safety is compromised due to the potentially lethal consequences of the Governments confused and contradictory messaging over the COVID-19 lockdown.
The union warning has come as it has become clear that the Government is shifting away from the stay at home message, unleashing a surge in passengers on rail and tube from tomorrow, breaching social distancing measures with potentially lethal consequences for both staff and the public.