Rail unions

Rail, Maritime and Tranposrt Union (RMT); Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen (ASLEF); Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA)

Debate: RMT and the politics of "Poppy Day"

This article was written by an RMT rep, in a spirit of debate and discussion. We welcome further contributions, including ones arguing opposed and alternative views.


Like its previous decision to suspend strikes following the death of the Queen, the RMT's decision to suspend strikes for the Royal...

Local strikes spread as national disputes expand and accelerate

One of the markers of the significance of the current strike wave is that it includes, alongside national strikes in nationwide industries such as the rail and post, a proliferation of local disputes. That indicates not only the general conditions of mounting inequality and worsening wages and conditions, but an increasing confidence of workers to fight back. In Aintree, near Liverpool, nearly 700 workers in the GMB union at the Jacob’s Bakery factory have held a rolling strike since 26 September, striking for 12 hours at a time, for a total of 14 strikes so far. They are fighting for an...

One-day, indefinite and other strikes

The current wave of strikes has seen the reappearance of a trade union tactic once standard, and stronger than series of one-day or few-day strikes: the indefinite strike. Three indefinite strikes have been called in the current wave so far — criminal barristers, Arriva bus drivers in garages in north and east London, and housing maintenance workers for Barnet council (strike only just started). The barristers’ strike lasted just over a month, and secured a 15 per cent increase. Unite called off the Arriva strike a week before it was due to take place, after the employer offered 10-11 percent...

London Underground workers will strike again

London Underground workers in the RMT union will strike again on 3 November, as they continue their fight against job cuts and attacks on conditions, including pensions. The decision to call another strike, the first since 19 August, follows Transport for London’s (TfL’s) publication of a further report on pension reform, identifying possible options for reforming the scheme. These including introducing a career-average element into the scheme, which is currently final-salary. For the majority of workers, a final salary calculation will be higher than career average, as most workers retire on...

Who supports the rail strikes?

A new poll from YouGov about support for the rail strikes this week makes interesting reading. YouGov’s question was “Do you support or oppose the train drivers and rail workers transport strikes taking place this week?” It seems likely that the prominent inclusion of train drivers – why are other sub-categories of rail worker not specified? – lowered support, because drivers are widely thought of as over-paid. YouGov finds overall support at 45%, up 8% since June; and opposition at 42%, down 3%. (Other polls have found a higher level of support.) While the RMT needs to escalate its action...

Diary of a Crossrail worker: Pressure increases

As the news broke of the Queen’s death, there was one question on everybody’s lips: “Do we get any time off?” Naturally the railway does not stop during national mourning, especially not the Elizabeth Line! Management were quick to pay tribute on behalf of all staff, though a quick straw poll of staff would not show unanimous support for the monarch. Regardless, we had to step up and provide extra services for the state funeral. It’s strange being part of a union leading a nationwide strike wave, though not being able to participate in it. Our pay deal was settled in April, but with inflation...

Outsourced workers win staff travel passes

5,000 outsourced cleaners, caterers, and security workers on London Underground will get staff travel passes from April 2023, the new financial year, after Mayor of London Sadiq Khan finally conceded to years of RMT campaigning. Khan has also said he will review sick pay arrangements, and the...

Timing next Tube strikes

There is ongoing discussion - in reps' meetings, union branch meetings, and most importantly in workplaces - about if and when RMT should launch further strikes in the dispute over pensions, job cuts, and conditions.

Since our last strike on 19 August, we've seen a funding settlement agreed that...

Vote Daniel Randall for RMT NEC

Solidarity contributor Daniel Randall is seeking nominations for the London Transport seat on the National Executive Committee of the rail union RMT. The ballot will run 31 October to 4 December. Daniel has worked on the Tube as a Customer Service Assistant at Oxford Circus since 2014, has held several union positions, and is co-organiser of the Free Our Unions campaign . In his letter seeking nomination Daniel says he will work for “RMT’s culture of rank-and-file democracy [to be] deepened and extended, with as much power as possible in the hands of members, in the workplace”. He commits...

Get the strikes going again!

The decisions by the CWU, RMT, Aslef, and TSSA unions to call off strikes following the death of the Queen are a setback for those specific disputes, and for class struggle in general. Not one from which it will be impossible, or even necessarily difficult, to recover, but a setback nonetheless. Calling off strikes, especially without naming new dates in their place, saps momentum from disputes. CWU already had further action named on Royal Mail on 30 September and 1 October, which is still due to take place. Even with suspending their strikes (15 September for Aslef, 15/17 September for RMT...

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