NO MANDATE FOR CUTS

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: june 2017 :: RMTnews 4 Significant Tory losses in the snap election are down to the long running dispute on Southern Railway over the axing of guards and the impact on safe, accessible and reliable services, RMT has said. The Conservatives lost seats in Croydon, Eastbourne and Brighton, while a number of others have become marginals, including Hastings where Home Secretary Amber Rudd came close to defeat. RMT general secretary Mick Cash said that the results proved that the toxic Southern Rail franchise was a game changer in key seats along the routes served. “RMT is demanding that the axing of the guards is reversed and the union will harass Theresa May and the transport ministers in her minority government every step of the way as we step up the fight to put safety and access to services before private profit and greed,” he said. The Tories were hit by the fact that they buried the Gibb report into Southern/GTR for the duration of the election campaign in a desperate attempt to hide the truth about the failing franchise. RMT has said that it will ramp up the campaign for public ownership of the railways as the minority government collapses into chaos and recrimination. This includes looking at the next steps in rail safety disputes on Southern, Northern and Merseyrail to force train companies to ditch the threat to guards. The union has also called for urgent talks with re-appointed transport secretary Chris Grayling over the axing of guards by train companies, the impact of budget cuts at Transport for London and the threat to safety by major cuts at Network Rail. "Everyone knows that government ministers have been calling the shots on the axing of the guards on rail franchises like Southern, Northern and Merseyrail. “With no parliamentary majority to hide behind Chris Grayling should be called to account for his actions over the guards threat, along with the safety-critical cuts at TfL and Network Rail. "RMT is sick and tired of ministers ignoring their transport staff and treating the unions like dirt. “They have connived to prop up greedy, failing rail companies, doling out austerity cuts that threaten public safety while protecting private profit. “Chris Grayling has not lifted a finger to help resolve the guards' disputes to date,” he said. Mick Cash also called for top level talks on the future of Britain's maritime industry. "RMT also wants an urgent meeting over the state of our maritime industry which has been hung out to dry by successive governments. That has got to stop and RMT's plan for quality jobs and conditions, and an end to social dumping and the Ships of Shame, should be treated with the seriousness it deserves rather than the contempt of the past," he said. NO MANDATE FOR CUTS Tory electoral losses mean that plans for Driver-Only Operation and social dumping in the maritime sector have no mandate