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RMT President 2010-12

Alex Gordon elected RMT President

TRAIN DRIVER Alex Gordon has been elected to serve as the President of RMT, Britain’s biggest specialist transport union, for the coming three years... (more here)

European Conference of Rail Trade Unionists

Tolpuddle 2008

Tolpuddle Martyrs' Festival - Sunday, 20th July 2008
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The Tolpuddle Martyrs Festival on Sunday 20 July 2008 saw more trade unionists attending than ever. See pictures of the banners, read the report, click here.

Tolpuddle 2007

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We shall never forget what we owe them
Tolpuddle Martyrs' Festival 15 July 2007 report here

FGW Train Services

First Great Western Train services FirstGroup's rip-off railway:
* sky-high profits for Fat Cats;
* rocketing fare increases and;
* looming service cuts.

Stroud MP, David Drew is calling for First Great Western Train Services to be run in the public sector. Read Early Day Motion 1447 here and Early Day Motion 546here. Call on the Government to bring First Great Western back into public ownership. Contact your MP here and ask them to sign.

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Free Osanloo!

Take Action Today!
FREE OSANLOO - Support Workers' Rights in Iran! free_osanloo.jpg
International Transport Workers' Federation - ITF Global Action Day, 6 March 2008 - see photos here - to express solidarity with Iranian workers. Iranian bus workers' leader, Mansour Osanloo, is in prison on trumped-up charges of criticising the Iranian regime - in reality because he is a member of an independent trade union. We want Mansour Osanloo released safely, immediately and unconditionally.
* "Free Osanloo !"
* Wear the badge
* Find out more.

Resources

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Campaign News

No Beeching By Stealth!
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Protest At Train Services Cuts!
45 MPs have now signed EDM 311 - Updates here

Stop Lib Dem Cuts - Defend the Severn Beach railway line read more here.

LabourStart - union news around the world

Global Health & Safety news from Hazards and LabourStart

Act Now - online global union solidarity

March 09, 2010

Transnet President approaches Thai govt over railway workers’ rights

ITF: 25 February 2010

Alexander Kirchner, President of Germany’s Transnet union and ITF Executive Board member, has protested to the Thai government over its treatment of the State Railway Workers’ Union of Thailand (SRUT).

In a letter to Thailand’s Ambassador to Germany he registered his concern over the way the SRUT is being sidelined and its pleas for the reinstatement of sacked members ignored.

Continue reading "Transnet President approaches Thai govt over railway workers’ rights" »

Britain poised for first national rail strike in 16 years

The Times Online March 9, 2010

Bob Crow said he wasn't Mystic Meg but he wouldn't book rail travel for Easter
Philip Pank, Transport Correspondent

Easter rail travel is under threat from three industrial disputes which could halt trains in the first national rail strike for 16 years.
Signalers, maintenance staff and supervisors are all poised to strike in disputes over job losses, pay and changes to working practices.

Continue reading "Britain poised for first national rail strike in 16 years" »

March 05, 2010

Rostering, Compliance with PTR&R and Delivery of T3 Possessions

RMT: March 1 2010
Letter to RMT Members

Dear Colleague,
Further to previous correspondence I write to advise members that we have given Network Rail notice of our intention to ballot all signalling and associated supervisory grade members for strike action and action short of a strike. The dispute centres on the following issues:-

Continue reading "Rostering, Compliance with PTR&R and Delivery of T3 Possessions" »

Arriva calls off talks over French merger

Times Online: March 5, 2010
Robert Lea Industrial Editor

Shares in Arriva, the train and bus group, went into reverse today, down 14.5p to 555.5p, after talks over a merger with Keolis, the French group, were called off.

Continue reading "Arriva calls off talks over French merger" »

RMT calls for immediate halt to rail maintenance job cuts as regulator raises fears over safety

RMT: March 3 2010

RAIL UNION RMT today demanded an immediate halt to plans to axe up to 1500 safety-critical rail maintenance jobs as the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) issued a damning report highlighting four major areas of concern over the plans and calling for a suspension of their implementation.

Continue reading "RMT calls for immediate halt to rail maintenance job cuts as regulator raises fears over safety" »

Rail watchdog raises safety fears over maintenance plans

The Guardian: 4 March 2010
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Office of Rail Regulation criticises Network Rail's recent performance, saying too many passengers were left in the dark about services during the prolonged cold snap in January

Continue reading "Rail watchdog raises safety fears over maintenance plans" »

Reorganisation of Network Rail

RMT: March 2, 2010
Personal Letter to RMT Members at Network Rail

Dear Colleague,
I have received disturbing reports from a number of members that Network Rail is cancelling annual leave over March and April 2010. I have written to Network Rail expressing my disgust at this policy and asking that annual leave be reinstated over this period.

Continue reading "Reorganisation of Network Rail" »

February 28, 2010

Build Our Trains At Home, Say Rail Workers

New Zealand Rail And Maritime Transport Union: 28 February 2010

The Rail and Maritime Transport Union (RMTU) is using an open day at Hutt Rail workshops today to urge KiwiRail to back the New Zealand workforce and ‘buy kiwi made’ in its upcoming locomotive and wagon procurement.

Continue reading "Build Our Trains At Home, Say Rail Workers" »

February 07, 2010

ITF signals further breakdown on Thai Railways

ITF: 5 February 2010

The head of a delegation that investigated problems for workers’ on Thailand’s state railways has reacted angrily to news that conditions and morale have deteriorated further

Continue reading "ITF signals further breakdown on Thai Railways" »

January 16, 2010

HR boss put tracking device on workers' cars, court told

Irish Independent: January 16 2010
By Tim Healy

Irish Rail claimed yesterday its human resources director was a "law unto himself" amid new claims he had placed tracking devices on employees' cars to see where they went.

Continue reading "HR boss put tracking device on workers' cars, court told" »

January 13, 2010

DB Schenker Rail takes majority stake in NordCargo

IFW: 13-01-2010
By Damian Brett

DB Schenker Rail has acquired a majority stake in Italian rail freight operator NordCargo.

Continue reading "DB Schenker Rail takes majority stake in NordCargo" »

December 31, 2009

Alex Gordon is elected as RMT President

RMT NEWS RELEASE: December 21, 2009

TRAIN DRIVER Alex Gordon has been elected to serve as the President of RMT, Britain’s biggest specialist transport union, for the coming three years.

Continue reading "Alex Gordon is elected as RMT President" »

'Rip-off ' rail firms accused of hiding 15% fare increases

Daily Mail: 31st December 2009
By Ray Massey

'Highway robbery': Train fares are to increase by 15 per cent

Continue reading "'Rip-off ' rail firms accused of hiding 15% fare increases" »

Adonis commissions private consultants KPMG to work out how to save UK govt's rail franchising system

The Financial Times reports ('Review ordered into rail franchising', December 29 2009) that UK Transport Secretary, Lord Adonis has commissioned private consultants KPMG as part of a wider review into rail franchising by next summer when competition for rail contracts begins.

Continue reading "Adonis commissions private consultants KPMG to work out how to save UK govt's rail franchising system" »

December 29, 2009

Signals out in south Wales as workers plan more strikes

Morning Star: 23 December 2009
by John Millington

Rail signallers in south Wales will stage six more days of strike action next month, followed by an overtime ban, over the imposition of roster changes by Network Rail.

Continue reading "Signals out in south Wales as workers plan more strikes" »

December 17, 2009

Arriva reports rail revival

Press Association: 17 December 2009

The operator of the CrossCountry rail franchise has said that there had been a "substantial improvement" in passenger revenues in recent weeks.

Continue reading "Arriva reports rail revival" »

December 16, 2009

EARLY DAY MOTION 482 IN NAME OF PAUL FLYNN, MP BACKS RMT SOUTH WALES SIGNALLERS STRIKE

RMT: 16 December 2009
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Paul Flynn, Member of Parliament for Newport West and a member of RMT's Parliamentary Group of MPs has put down an Early Day Motion EDM 482 in the House of Commons in support of RMT Signalworkers who are on strike against Network Rail's assault on their terms and conditions. An Early Day Motion is a petition MPs sign to highlight issues of concern to their constituents. So far 5 MPs have signed EDM 482 (Paul Flynn, Katy Clark, Colin Burgon, Jeremy Corbyn and RMT Parliamentary group convenor, John McDonnell). If your MP has not yet signed EDM 482 please ask them to do so by writing, faxing or emailing their office. You can contact them automatically by clicking the link: Write to them.com. Don't delay - Do it today!

Continue reading "EARLY DAY MOTION 482 IN NAME OF PAUL FLYNN, MP BACKS RMT SOUTH WALES SIGNALLERS STRIKE" »

December 15, 2009

Go-Ahead rail arm under pressure

ShareCast: 15 December 2009

LONDON - Bus and train group Go-Ahead expects interim profits from its rail business to halve though its bus business is doing better.

Continue reading "Go-Ahead rail arm under pressure" »

December 14, 2009

Six days of strike action

Rail-news: December 11, 2009

RAIL UNION RMT today confirmed solid support for six days of strike action by a group of signalling staff in the Wales and the Marches Operations area – starting first thing Monday morning – over the imposition of rosters at the new South Wales Control Centre due to open in January 2010.
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South Wales Control Centre: one of Network Rail's new 'Signalling Factories'

Continue reading "Six days of strike action" »

Head of Railroad Union Arrested

The Korea Times: 12-13-2009

Kim Ki-tae, head of Korean Railway Workers' Union, has been arrested for leading an illegal strike waged by Korean Railroad (Korail)'s labor union.

Continue reading "Head of Railroad Union Arrested" »

December 08, 2009

Rail cuts cost lives

RMT BRISTOL RAIL - Fighting Network Rail Job Cuts

CALLING NOTICE: Day of Action
Thursday, 17th December 2009 from 07.00-09.30am

• BRISTOL TEMPLE MEADS
• BRISTOL PARKWAY

Continue reading "Rail cuts cost lives" »

DIY train buffs go loco

Ananova:

Train buffs are facing jail after building their own ramshackle locomotive and taking it on the public rail network.
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Ramshackle loco /Europicss

Continue reading "DIY train buffs go loco" »

December 07, 2009

Network Rail Wales & Marches, Signallers’ Dispute - Public Meeting

RMT SW&W Regional Council has called a STRIKE SUPPORT MEETING

WHEN: Thursday, 10th December 2009
WHERE: Cardiff Transport Club - 59-61 Tudor Street, Cardiff
SPEAKERS: RMT Executive Committee, Alex Gordon
Commencing at 18.30hrs

Continue reading "Network Rail Wales & Marches, Signallers’ Dispute - Public Meeting" »

Finch joins National Express sinking ship

The Financial Times reports (December 7 2009) that National Express is to appoint Dean Finch, boss of London Underground maintenance company Tube Lines and former chief operating officer of rival bus and rail operator FirstGroup as its chief executive.

Continue reading "Finch joins National Express sinking ship" »

Extinction looms for the private operator

International Freighting Weekly: 7th December 2009
Tony Berkeley

European Rail Freight Association president Tony (Lord) Berkeley sees liberalisation of European rail freight as a political issue - one that the 'liberalisers' are losing as EU rail directives lead to the consolidation of major freight operators and the emergence of an oligopoly - "a market dominated by a few large suppliers".

Continue reading "Extinction looms for the private operator" »

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