Welcome

Next Branch Meeting

Wednesday 28th July 2010

This meeting will be held in the skittle alley at The Ship Inn, behind St Mary Redcliffe Church starting at 7pm. Full details of this location can be found at www.theshipinn.info Please come along, support your branch and join in.

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

Banners Bright

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

July 25, 2010

RMT sees through new plans for rail privateers

Morning Star: 22nd July 2010 by Louise Nousratpour

Rail union RMT has branded the Con-Dem government's plans for longer rail franchises a "one-way ticket to the bank" for failed private train operators.

Continue reading "RMT sees through new plans for rail privateers" »

July 14, 2010

Furious fight for wages

Morning Star; 13 July 2010by Paul Haste

Furious rail workers have begun legal action to fight for millions of pounds in unpaid wages. The money is owed to more than 1,000 engineering workers sacked after an engineering firm collapsed.

Continue reading "Furious fight for wages" »

Miners' champion Skinner joins TUC outcry

Morning Star: 13 July 2010 by Roger Bagley

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Miners' MP Dennis Skinner bitterly condemned the "outrageous" invitation to Prime Minister David Cameron to speak at September's TUC Congress.

Continue reading "Miners' champion Skinner joins TUC outcry" »

It beggars belief the council is ignoring rail

BEP: July 13, 2010

At a recent meeting, Bristol City Council went ahead with a £48 million bendy bus scheme despite Government warnings that the money may not be there. You could understand if the money was for the reopening of the Portishead rail line to passengers. But a bendy bus? It is not worth taking the risk.

Continue reading "It beggars belief the council is ignoring rail" »

July 11, 2010

Unions accuse Government of 'declaring war' over strikes

The Telegraph: 05 Jul 2010

Trade Unions have accused the Government of ''declaring war'' by considering tightening up laws on strike ballots.

Continue reading "Unions accuse Government of 'declaring war' over strikes" »

Victory for low paid UK transport workers

ITF: 8 July 2010

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Low paid workers in the UK working on London’s underground network have won fairer pay thanks to a long campaign by an ITF-affiliated union.

Continue reading "Victory for low paid UK transport workers" »

£30million passenger rail link between Bristol and Portishead hit by spending cuts

BEP: 9th July 2010

A £30 MILLION passenger rail link between Portishead and Bristol has been put back years because of public spending cuts.

Continue reading "£30million passenger rail link between Bristol and Portishead hit by spending cuts" »

July 04, 2010

Rail Fat Cat Hits The Buffers

Private Eye: 4 July 2010
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Fabulously wealthy rail boss Iain Coucher, who has come to the end of the line at Network Rail
SO. Farewell then, Iain Michael Coucher. He jumped before he was pushed from his "licence to print money" job as chief executive of Network Rail, and retired to his estate in the Scottish Highlands. (Google "Iainland" and you will see his pictures of the land your taxes bought him.)

Continue reading "Rail Fat Cat Hits The Buffers" »

June 24, 2010

Hammond condemns Network Rail bonuses

The Telegraph: 24 Jun 2010 By David Millward

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Philip Hammond, the Transport Secretary, has condemned the decision by Network Rail to pay its six top directors £2.25 million in bonuses.

Continue reading "Hammond condemns Network Rail bonuses" »

'Work until you drop': Union fury as ministers scrap retirement age of 65

Daily Mail: 24th June 2010 By Jason Groves

The Government was accused today of making people 'work until they drop' under plans to increase the pension age.

Continue reading "'Work until you drop': Union fury as ministers scrap retirement age of 65" »

D.Bahn in talks on access to UK high-speed railway

Reuters: Jun 23, 2010

German state rail operator Deutsche Bahn AG is in talks with Britain about running its trains on the country's only high-speed railway, in a move that could break rival Eurostar's monopoly.

Continue reading "D.Bahn in talks on access to UK high-speed railway" »

June 22, 2010

RMT slams “Budget for the Rich” and warns of widespread public and industrial resistance to ConDem cuts agenda

RMT: June 22 2010

TRANSPORT UNION RMT today slammed what it described as “the ConDem’s budget for the rich” – warning of widespread community and industrial resistance once people realise the full scale of the impact of the Government’s cuts plans for public services and the true cost for jobs and standards of living.

Continue reading "RMT slams “Budget for the Rich” and warns of widespread public and industrial resistance to ConDem cuts agenda" »

Rail passengers 'more satisfied'

BBC: 22 June 2010

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Rail passengers are growing more satisfied with train travel, according to a national passenger survey by rail customer watchdog Passenger Focus.

Continue reading "Rail passengers 'more satisfied'" »

Queensland Rail fined the maximum amount over workplace breaches

News.com.au: June 22, 2010

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QUEENSLAND Rail has been fined the maximum penalty of $660,000 for breaching federal workplace laws in its push towards privatisation.

Continue reading "Queensland Rail fined the maximum amount over workplace breaches " »

June 21, 2010

High-speed London to Folkestone rail link up for sale

BBC: 21 June 2010

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The 68-mile (109km) London to Folkestone high speed rail link has been put up for sale by the government.

Continue reading "High-speed London to Folkestone rail link up for sale" »

Network Rail's contract at risk after High Speed One route is sold off

The Guardian: 21 June 2010

Network Rail's monopoly over maintenance work on the British rail network could be ended by the new owners of the High Speed One route, which was put up for sale by the government, in the hope of raising £1.5bn.

Continue reading "Network Rail's contract at risk after High Speed One route is sold off" »

Union chiefs planning strike mayhem

Daily Mail: 21st June 2010 By James Chapman

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Business leaders want a dramatic tightening of strike law as unions threaten a 1970s-style wave of militancy.

Continue reading "Union chiefs planning strike mayhem " »

Network Rail chief executive Coucher quits unexpectedly

The Independant: 18 June 2010 By Alistair Dawber

The chief executive of Network Rail resigned unexpectedly yesterday, saying he could not commit to the Government-owned company during its next round of financing talks.

Continue reading "Network Rail chief executive Coucher quits unexpectedly" »

June 16, 2010

Network Rail is 30%-50% less efficient than rivals says new review

Daily Mail: 14th June 2010 By Karl West

Network Rail is 30pc-50pc less efficient in spending on maintenance and track renewal than its European rivals, according to a regulatory review. Research conducted by industry watchdog, the office of rail regulation, said civil engineering costs in the UK are typically up to double those in Europe.

Continue reading "Network Rail is 30%-50% less efficient than rivals says new review " »

Train boss in talks with new Government over electric bid

BEP: 16 June 2010
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THE boss of First Great Western has admitted that there are major doubts surrounding the £1 billion plans to electrify the main rail route between London and Bristol.

Continue reading "Train boss in talks with new Government over electric bid" »

June 09, 2010

RMT reissues demand that Scotrail scrap plans to axe Guards as it emerges that another train derailed at Falls of Cruachan 13 years ago with same Guard ensuring passenger safety!

RMT: June 8 2010

RAIL UNION RMT today reissued its demand that Scotrail call an immediate halt to plans to extend Driver Only Operation on its services as it emerged that another train derailed on the Oban-Glasgow line at Falls of Cruachan 13 years ago due to a landslip. Incredibly, the same Guard, Angus MacColl, was on board both trains and was praised back in 1997 for his professional and calm response as he implemented emergency procedures.

Continue reading "RMT reissues demand that Scotrail scrap plans to axe Guards as it emerges that another train derailed at Falls of Cruachan 13 years ago with same Guard ensuring passenger safety!" »

Africa's first high-speed rail link awaits World Cup fans

The Telegraph: 08 Jun 2010 By Aislinn Laing

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Fans travelling to South Africa for the World Cup will be able to make use of Africa's first high-speed rail link from the airport to Johannesburg.

Continue reading "Africa's first high-speed rail link awaits World Cup fans " »

Channel Tunnel Rail Link to be Auctioned

CAR: June 8th, 2010 by Martin Fellowes

The UK government is set to begin the sale of assets of the 108km Channel Tunnel Rail Link from London to Kent. The Department of Transport and London & Continental Railways, the owner of the rail link, will aim to distribute a sales document to potential bidders before the emergency budget on June 22. It’s believed that the sale could auction for up to £2 billion.

Continue reading "Channel Tunnel Rail Link to be Auctioned" »

June 08, 2010

Government slammed for ring-fencing profits and subsidies for private train operators while infra-structure and safety are run into the ground

RMT: June 4 2010

RAIL UNION RMT today accused the government of moving towards a “slash and burn” attack on transport budgets as a barrage of announcements this week confirmed that the profits and subsidies of the private train operating companies are being ring-fenced while key modernisation, maintenance and upgrade works are being ditched in an all-out dash for cuts:

Continue reading "Government slammed for ring-fencing profits and subsidies for private train operators while infra-structure and safety are run into the ground" »

Train driver saw rocks on line before derailment

The Guardian: 7th June 2010
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Fallen boulders suspected of causing derailment of Glasgow to Oban train, injuring eight people

Continue reading "Train driver saw rocks on line before derailment " »

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