RMT Makes International Women's Day Commitment to Tackling Sexism and Inequality

Submitted by Janine on 8 March, 2012 - 16:38

On International Women's Day, rail, maritime and transport union RMT is reaffirming its commitment to tackling sexism and inequality, and warning that the Government's plans for the railways could spell disaster for women passengers and workers.

International Women's Day began in 1911, as a day of protests in support of rights for working-class women. This year, it coincides with the Government's publication of its response to the McNulty report.

RMT Organises Lift Maintenance Workers on Tube Lines Contract

Submitted by Janine on 8 March, 2012 - 15:48

RMT General Grades Committee decision:

We note the resolution from our LU Engineering branch, and welcome the many new members who work on maintaining the lifts on Tube Lines.

These members have been under attack from a fierce and anti-RMT management and company called Accord, and have responded by joining RMT and organising through the branch into a fighting unit to hit back at these attacks, and holding a mass meeting last week.

Accord's response to this meeting has been to state that it now intends to recognise Unite from 4 April.

RMT Pursues Free Travel for all London's Transport Workers

Submitted by Janine on 8 March, 2012 - 15:38

RMT General Grades Committee decision:

We note the correspondence on file. We are very disappointed by the failure of TfL management to respond to our repeated requests for discussion on this issue. We instruct the General Secretary to write again to TfL in the precise terms set out in the request from our Regional Organiser.

London Transport Regional Council and branches to be advised.

RMT Pursues Representation on APD Reorganisation

Submitted by Janine on 8 March, 2012 - 15:35

RMT General Grades Committee decision:

We note the correspondence from London Underground and the feedback from our branch secretary, which can be found on file.

We note that Sister Darby has requested a personal meeting with the Employee Relations Director of London Underground about this issue, and instruct the General Secretary to obtain a report on this meeting, following which we will consider options for representation in negotiations on this issue.

We further instruct the General Secretary to pursue the other parts of our previous decision of 24 January.

RMT Challenges Poor Treatment of Workers on Telent/Quinns LU Contract

Submitted by Janine on 8 March, 2012 - 15:34

RMT General Grades Committee decision:

We note the resolution from our LU Engineering branch. We fully support its view that the union needs to challenge the dire treatment of our members on the Telent/Quinns partnership working on LUL Contracts, who have received no pay rise for years and who feel that they are generally treated with contempt.

The branch reports that members are asking for industrial action in defence of their pay and conditions, especially as Olympic preparations are being put in place that ignore their rights and working practices.

RMT Warns Of “Return Of Railtrack” As Government Prepares To Unleash Railways Plan

Submitted by Peter on 7 March, 2012 - 21:56

ON THE EVE of the expected publication of a Government Command Paper on their future plans for rail, RMT has warned that Ministers are preparing to wind back the clock to the days of the Hatfield and Potters Bar disasters and bring in private ownership of rail infrastructure for the first time since the collapse of Railtrack.

Justice Meeting

The RMT has organised a meeting to discuss 'racism, the state and the police.'

Please print and distribute the flyer amongst your colleagues and friends.

This special meeting aims to secure your solidarity. The meeting will cover the case of Sean Rigg and Christopher Alder. Sean, a young and talented musician died shortly after being detained by Brixton polive in 2008. Why he died remains unanswered.

Christopher Alder died in police custody in 1998. An inquest in 2001 recorded his death as unlawful killing. A year later, a court cleared the five police officers of manslaughter and misconduct.

Publish Secret Blacklisting “RMT File”

Submitted by Peter on 6 March, 2012 - 15:10

RMT demands publication of the secret “RMT File” from blacklisting organisation as officials confirm police and security service involvement

RAIL UNION RMT today demanded full disclosure of the secret "RMT FILE" held by blacklisting organisation the Consulting Association as evidence mounts of police and security services involvement in the targeting of union activists in the construction and railway industries.

RMT Membership Form – Disclosure Option Of Sexual Orientation

Submitted by Peter on 6 March, 2012 - 14:43

The RMT have written to other unions to find out whether they ask for disclosure of members sexuality on membership forms. This follows a motion which passed through the LGBT conference in 2011 asking that a voluntary question be added.

Of 54 unions asked, 27 responded. 11% ask the question on the membership form with a further 11% asking members in other ways such as through an equalities questionnaire.