Workers' Liberty

The new issue of Tubeworker assesses the contest between Boris Johnson and Ken Livingstone for London Mayor.

Unions have slowed London Underground’s drive to casualise its workforce -but by avoiding mistakes, they could have stopped it.

RMT members learned with great sadness of the untimely death on Sunday 6 April 2008 of Greg Tucker, secretary of RMT’s Waterloo branch since 1993 and of the union’s National Conference of Train Cr

Young members of the RMT met in London on Saturday 5th April for their annual conference.

The new issue of Tubeworker - Workers' Liberty's bulletin by and for London Underground workers - assesses the unions' now-paused fight against casualisation, concluding that it has slowed, but

RMT members learned with great sadness of the untimely death on Sunday 6 April 2008 of Greg Tucker, secretary of RMT’s Waterloo branch since 1993 and of the union’s National Conference of Train Cr

Well over 100 RMT reps discussed the casualisation dispute on Thursday, the majority view being that the union should follow TSSA and call off the planned strikes.

Tubeworker has published a special issue for train drivers in the run-up to the strike action against casualisation that starts on 6 April. With management using divide-and-rule tactics to some effect, Tubeworker explains in detail how the issues affect drivers and why all grades must stick together against the company's attacks.

Click on the file name below to view, download and/or print it. Click here to read Tubeworker's blog.

Following a big majority for strike action in RMT's ballot, RMT and TSSA have jointly announced a 72-hour strike. The two unions' joint press release is copied below. LUL management's attack on our staffing levels and job security is very serious - and we must all now pull together to ensure a serious response: the best possible turnout for the strike days.

Driving examiners strike
 

The new issue of Tubeworker celebrates the reinstatement of Mukesh Mahatma, warns Tube workers about Boris Johnson, and urges the strongest possible Yes vote in RMT's strike ballot following the 81% yes vote in TSSA's. It also assesses the attacks that come with the latest service control restructuring, and carries the usual variety of workplace reports.

Click the file name below to view, download and/or print it. Click here to read Tubeworker's blog.

Tory candidate for mayor of London Boris Johnson unveiled his transport policy on March 3, including a promise to obtain a no-strike agreement on London Underground as well as the capital’s train services. This policy, echoing an earlier UK Independence Party manifesto pledge, further demonstrates the utterly reactionary agenda of the ex-public schoolboy Henley MP, who appears to have a serious chance of winning the election against Ken Livingstone.

Solidarity spoke to Steve Hedley, the newly elected Secretary of the RMT union’s London Transport Regional Council. The union is currently gearing up for a number of important fights.

Thursday 6 March was a day of action for Iranian trade unionists facing political repression, jail and torture. The Rail, Maritime and Transport Union organised leafletting at stations in London, Edinburgh, Bristol Cardiff and Liverpool for the jailed Iranian trade unionists Mansoor Ossanloo and Mahmoud Salehi.

This AGM notes the decision of Labour Party affiliated TUs and CLPs to disenfranchise themselves at the Bournemouth conference, the failure of John McDonnell to get on the ballot paper for Labour Party leader and the collapse of the SSP. We believe that this has brought our class to a position of crisis regarding political representation.

In an effort unusual for British unions, the rail union RMT and the TGWU mobilised members on Thursday 6 March to leaflet at several rail stations in support of the jailed Iranian trade unionists Mansour Ossanloo and Mahmoud Salehi.

AWL tubeworkers have been arguing for some time that the unions should get on with action against casualisation and destaffing. So we are pleased that RMT and TSSA have said they will ballot.

Before Christmas, Ken Livingstone promised to pay the “‘London Living Wage” of £7.20 an hour to Underground cleaners when he took over Metronet. Unsurprisingly, he has not delivered.

That this AGM condemns the continuing Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories and denials of Palestinians' human and national rights.

Network Rail operational workers are gearing up for a fight on pay – and on other issues.

As we reported in the last OTR, the process of ‘harmonisation’ of pay and conditions in Network Rail maintenance has dragged on for years.

New bosses, same bad attitude

Network Rail has sacked long-standing RMT activist Albert Lingard in an act of blatant victimisation.

The Railway Pensions Commission has published its final report. While ATOC and Network Rail have welcomed it, issuing similarly-worded press releases, the unions have not.

First Great Western, First Capital Connect, First TransPennine Express, First ScotRail, Hull Trains, FTR, First Bus, First Student UK, ...

Following the massive strike movement of last Autumn which ended in stalemate, French rail workers are preparing for the next round.

Women in rail and transport work in a male-dominated industry. The higher grades especially are dominated by men.

Private companies’ drive to make profit has attacked our pay and conditions. With more use of agency and temporary staff, our jobs are becoming more casual.

London Underground workers are gearing up for strike action against a raft of management attacks.

Across the rail industry, station staff are being cut and casualised.