FIGHTING FOR YOU

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: october 2020 :: RMTnews 4 The Coronavirus pandemic has exposed the importance of every worker in key services like public transport. It has also exposed the folly of attempting to run critical public services like commercial enterprises, the bankruptcy of privatisation and the outdated dogma of outsourcing. Yet under the cover of the pandemic and with the support of government, employers across the industry are once again attacking jobs. RMT is committed to fighting for jobs and against redundancies as employers are looking to impose a new round of austerity on working people. The union will also be supporting and linking up with the campaigns and struggles of other unions, workers and communities who are seeking to protect and improve their jobs and communities. The economy and the workers need secure, well paid employment with good terms and conditions This economic crisis is in no way the responsibility of workers, many of whom have continued to work through it. RMT will campaign on the following demands: 1. Workers must not pay for the economic crisis. We say no to redundancies, pay cuts and attacks on conditions and agreements. 2. Job Security Agreements in companies across our sectors that defend all jobs and maintain our pay, conditions and agreements. 3. Commitments to no redundancies and no pay cuts must be a condition placed upon any company receiving any public subsidy or financial support. The government should act immediately to impose this condition. 4. Any company providing rail, bus, maritime or other public transport services that claims to be unable to maintain jobs and pay rates should be immediately nationalised. 5. Bring all public transport services into a new public transport authority under public ownership with democratic control. Develop a national integrated plan for public transport that guarantees jobs and conditions, service levels and reduces fares to passengers. 6. A commitment from government and employers to retain and train UK ratings in the maritime sector. 7. Development and enhancement of our member’s skills to enable the “just transition” of the offshore energy industry. 8. End to out-sourcing and casualisation of jobs and services in the transport sector with all transport jobs brought in-house. We will promote this policy throughout our union so that every member is aware of it. RMT calls on the TUC to demand of the government any public funding across the UK economy is dependent on a guarantee of No redundancies and No pay cuts. Where firms claim to be unable to maintain jobs and pay rates then the company books must be opened for scrutiny. Where a company is unable to maintain jobs then it should be nationalised under democratic control. The union also calls on the TUC to organise a series of regional days of action to support these demands including socially distanced demos and rallies. These events should be coordinated with any strike action that is taking place against job cuts and attacks on conditions. R MT has named and shamed the multinational giant Siemens as one of the bad bosses continuing to operate on Britain's railways, as the company continues to deny recognition despite the majority of staff on the Govia Thameslink Railway’s train maintenance contract showing clearly that they want to be represented by RMT. In meetings with Siemens Mobility the company has openly admitted that it is opposed to recognising RMT on UK rail operations and is hell bent on carrying on its union-busting strategy. RMT general  secretary Mick Cash said that Siemens boasts of its multinational credentials and is a principle rail contractor in receipt of numerous lucrative public contracts and yet it treats British workers as second rate employees operating a no- union policy in Britain while bargaining with German workers at home. “That is a disgrace and an insult. “The company initiated a reward scheme to encourage workers to ramp up productivity during the height of the covid pandemic and are now seeking to claw the money back since they determine the worst has passed. “Siemens met us after a voluntary request for recognition with their own ‘union representative’ from the employers’ federation to tell us they won’t entertain trade union recognition under any circumstances for their staff. “Now they’re attempting to foist an employee committee talking shop on our members to give the illusion of collective consultation but our members have rejected this in overwhelming numbers  and have demanded that the company deals with their trade union – RMT. “We have also raised their behaviour with host franchise operator GTR and have a meeting coming up to where we will be seeking to determine whether GTR awarded Siemens the contract knowing they operate a union busting policy. “RMT will continue to expose this outfit for what they are and will fight for recognition for our members,” he said. FIGHTING FOR YOU RMT statement on how it is fighting for the future of work in public transport and the maritime and offshore sectors SIEMENS - THE BAD BOSSES ON BRITAIN'S RAILWAYS