On eve of savage cuts to transport budget RMT exposes massive increase in top salaries at private operating companies

Submitted by Peter on 19 October, 2010 - 15:07

On the eve of the government’s expected announcement of savage cuts to the transport budget, specialist transport union RMT has produced new figures showing that at a time when passengers are being warned to expect fare increases of up to 40% over the next four years it’s bonanza time in the boardrooms of Britain’s main private transport operators.

London Underground Fleet Maintenance Staff Announce Action Over Safety-Critical Cuts

Submitted by Peter on 19 October, 2010 - 15:05

TUBE UNION RMT confirmed this morning that following a massive vote for action London Underground fleet maintenance staff members have been instructed to work only to process instructions (vehicle maintenance instructions), not to carry out higher grade working and not to cooperate with staff movements away from home locations. This action will commence from 00.01 hours on Tuesday 26th October 2010 and will have a major impact.

ACAS Talks Resume Today

Submitted by Janine on 19 October, 2010 - 09:37

RMT negotiators will today attend ACAS to continue talks about our ongoing dispute with London Underground about job cuts. As talks ended last Tuesday, your union's position was as follows:

RMT accepts the invitation of ACAS to participate in the proposed review, beginning on Monday 18 October for two weeks.

Our industrial action remains on, but we will review it dependant on progress in these talks.

Minutes: Regional Council meeting, 30 September 2010

Submitted by Admin on 18 October, 2010 - 14:36

ATTENDANCE

  • Bakerloo branch – Malcolm Taylor, Jim McDaid
  • Camden No.3 branch – Geoff Palmer, Pat O'Brien
  • Central Line West branch – Vaughan Thomas (meeting chair)
  • DLR –
  • East Ham – Gary Lazell, Clare Reilly, Chris Baillie, Unjum Mirza
  • Finsbury Park branch – Peter Hartshorn, Dave Rayfield, Dean O'Hanlon, John Noonan, Frank Curtis, Chris Matthews
  • Hammersmith & City branch – Dave O'Hare
  • Jubilee South & East London Line branch –
  • London Taxis branch – Dave Vigeon

Young report ‘a hatchet job’ on health and safety, says RMT

Submitted by Peter on 15 October, 2010 - 19:17

LORD YOUNG’S report on health and safety is a hatchet-job based on prejudice that will do nothing to reduce workplace injuries, deaths and industrial disease, transport union RMT says today.

Under cover of simplifying the regime, freeing businesses from ‘unnecessary bureaucratic burdens’ and ending a ‘compensation culture’ that does not exist, the real aim of the report is to pave the way for a slashing of health and safety budgets, the union says.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:

Worn Brake Blocks Show Folly of Maintenance Cuts

Submitted by Janine on 15 October, 2010 - 17:31

These photo is of brake blocks on the District Line that had worn away before train maintainers found them on a scheduled inspection after 14 days. London Underground wants to extend the period between maintenance checks to 28 days so that they can get rid of fleet staff. Trains with brake blocks worn like this could remain in service for a further 14 days, which will almost certainly lead to a serious accident.

RMT has released this picture to the press.

Massive Vote For Action By London Underground Fleet Maintenance Staff Over Safety-Critical Cuts

Submitted by Peter on 14 October, 2010 - 13:39

TUBE UNION RMT confirmed this morning that London Underground fleet maintenance staff have voted by 88% in favour of industrial action short of a strike over safety-critical cuts that have ripped up tube maintenance schedules leaving brakes and other equipment in a lethal state of disrepair.

RMT Rep - Eamonn Lynch - sacked!

Submitted by Joffe on 14 October, 2010 - 08:07

RMT health and safety rep, Eamonn Lynch was sacked by London Underground yesterday 13th of October.

Eamonn was sacked for making an error while driving a train on Network Rail. But Eamonn's error was to follow instructions from the Network Rail signaller and the Bakerloo Line Control room. Indeed, the sacking panel said he should have refused those instruction. So Eamonn was sacked for not refusing to work on the grounds of health and safety! Despite his representative, Regional Organiser Brian Whitehead ripping the charges to shreds, Eamonn was summarily dismissed.