RMT press releases

Underground outsourcing company doubles its profits while cutting safety-critical cleaners jobs in midst of COVID crisis.

TUBE UNION RMT today called on the Mayor of London to take back control of the Underground cleaning and put an end to the outdated dogma of outsourcing, after it emerged that the outsourcing company ABM has doubled its profits in the last financial year while cutting the number of cleaners working to keep Londoners safe on the tube.

SPECIALIST TRANSPORT UNION RMT will lead the fightback against any attempt to impose austerity cuts in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a motion to the TUC today  which will be moved by senior assistant General ,Secretary Steve Hedley RMT sets out the programme for that campaigning fightback:

"Congress pays tribute to the key workers of the Coronavirus pandemic who, in protecting our lives and livelihoods risked and sadly lost their lives. 

Responding to comments made widely by Conservative MP for Westminster and Cities of London Nickie Aiken that public transport workers should be conducting temperature checks on commuters travelling into London hubs RMT Assistant General Secretary Mick Lynch said:

Dear colleague

RMT PUBLISHES ‘A FUTURE FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORT IN LONDON’, CALLING FOR MORE JOBS AND PROPER FUNDING AT TFL

TUBE UNION RMT has demanded action from tube bosses over rising levels of violent assaults after another horrific incident at Warren Street Station on Friday ‎‎afternoon.  

The incident, which included severe levels  of physical violence and the suspect forcing his way into the control room and continuing his assault, is the latest in a line of similar violent acts against tube workers . 

On the 54th anniversary of the union defeating the colour bar at Euston station rail union RMT said today that the campaign against racism remains an absolute priority. ‎

On August 15 1966 the colour bar at Euston station was finally defeated when West Indian guard Asquith Xavier was allowed to start work after initially being refused a job.

British Railways had announced, after negotiations with local leaders of the National Union of Railwaymen, that no grade would in future be closed on racial grounds anywhere in the London division.

RMT ramps up campaign to halt privatisation and driverless trains as Government coup takes over Transport for London

TUBE UNION RMT today wrote to Secretary of State for Transport Grant Shapps demanding that the government come clean on plans to privatise London Underground as part of its takeover of Transport for London.

Yesterday, the Secretary of State announced the names of the two government appointees who will report on TfL’s finances and also set out the terms of reference for a wide-ranging review that puts it in effective control of London’s transport system.

RMT warns of mother of all battles against government’s plans for tube privatisation and driverless trains

TUBE UNION RMT today responded to the government terms of the review into Transport for London which say there will be a:

“review of the current operating model and whether there are any opportunities that alternative operating models could bring over the longer term, including consideration of structures and governance.”

And also,

RMT Senior Assistant General Secretary Mick Lynch said;

"It is outrageous for Boris Johnson to wheel out the dangerous nonsense of driverless trains as a condition of the emergency Covid-19 funding of Transport for London. This is the sort of cheap political stunt that was a hallmark of his time as Mayor and we would have hoped he would have grown up by now.

RMT says new Transport for London Commissioner must give Underground cleaners the same free travel pass he is entitled to

On the day that new Transport for London Commissioner Andy Byford starts work [Monday 29 June], RMT called on him to put a stop to a shameful injustice by giving London’s heroic Underground cleaners the same TfL travel pass that he and the Mayor are entitled to.