National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers (RMT)

RMT Network Rail maintenance vote overwhelmingly for action over 1500 safety-critical job cuts

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:56:16 +0000

RMT: March 11 2010

RAIL UNION RMT confirmed today that members on Network Rail maintenance have voted by 77% for strike action and by 89% for action short of a strike over plans by the company to axe up to 1500 safety-critical jobs and to rip up national agreements on working practices.

Transnet President approaches Thai govt over railway workers’ rights

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:23:16 +0000

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.

Britain poised for first national rail strike in 16 years

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:01:44 +0000

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.

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

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 23:31:50 +0000

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:-

Arriva calls off talks over French merger

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 17:01:34 +0000

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.

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

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 16:44:54 +0000

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.

Rail watchdog raises safety fears over maintenance plans

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 15:31:24 +0000

The Guardian: 4 March 2010

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

Reorganisation of Network Rail

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 15:14:41 +0000

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.

Build Our Trains At Home, Say Rail Workers

Sun, 28 Feb 2010 10:36:26 +0000

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.

ITF signals further breakdown on Thai Railways

Sun, 07 Feb 2010 10:31:20 +0000

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

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

Sat, 16 Jan 2010 15:34:45 +0000

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.

DB Schenker Rail takes majority stake in NordCargo

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 13:56:28 +0000

IFW: 13-01-2010
By Damian Brett

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

Alex Gordon is elected as RMT President

Thu, 31 Dec 2009 09:43:40 +0000

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.

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

Thu, 31 Dec 2009 01:42:05 +0000

Daily Mail: 31st December 2009
By Ray Massey

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

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

Thu, 31 Dec 2009 00:56:02 +0000

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.