CROSSRAIL CRISIS GROWS

5 R MT has pledged an all-out fight to protect jobs, pensions and working conditions as the government line up savage cuts to Transport for London (TfL) funding next March. After a long, drawn out battle between the London Mayor and the government, Transport for London secured a bailout from the government worth about £1.8 billion in November. The funding has been agreed until the end of March, but it fell short of London Mayor Sadiq Khan’s demand for a £4.9 billion settlement for the next 18 months to keep tube and bus services going after revenues and passenger numbers collapsed because of the Covid pandemic. The six-month deal will mean fresh negotiations next spring and another opportunity for the government to attack pensions, pay and conditions of hardworking transport workers in London. RMT general secretary Mick Cash said that it was appalling that the government had been targeting staff pensions amongst a range of other savage measures. “RMT is putting them on notice that any attempt to hack away at our members’ pension rights will be met by an all-out campaign of political and industrial resistance. "These are difficult times for the staff who have kept London moving since the COVID pandemic and it is a disgrace that they are now being set up for a battering in these cuts measures. “TfL staff are essential workers who have performed heroically and RMT will fight off any attempt to hack back on jobs, pay, pensions and working conditions,” he said. C rossrail, London's long- delayed £19 billion east- to-west rail link, faces being "mothballed" without the release of urgent new government funding. Andy Byford, the London transport commissioner, has written to the permanent secretary at the Department for Transport (DfT), seeking £80 million of immediate support to keep the project on track. Mr Byford, who took on the role in May and has spent much of the last six months battling to secure funds to keep London's bus and Tube network running during the COVID-19 crisis said that without the additional funding being provided, he could relinquish responsibility for it. RMT has demanded that the government stop using TfL and its workers as a political football. RMT general secretary Mick Cash said that what was happening between the government and TFL was nothing short of a disgrace. “As we approach next year's London Mayoral election it's clear the government is using TfL and our members as a political football and rather than stick to their pledge of "Building Back Better" they're starving TfL of vital funds and playing games with worker's livelihoods. "London transport and its workforce are vital to the economic recovery from Covid- 19 and RMT will not be afraid to do whatever is necessary to protect our member's jobs and livelihoods,” he said. Crossrail - officially known as the Elizabeth Line - has been plagued by delays and cost overruns, and is already more than three years late. rossrail, London's long- delayed £19 billion east- Mr Byford, who took on the role in May and has spent RMT general secretary Mick Cash said that what was livelihoods. "London transport and its CROSSRAIL CRISIS GROWS MOTHBALLED?:one of the platforms for the new Elizabeth Line at Woolwich station in east London as the latest developments in the Crossrail project continue to progress. The beleaguered Crossrail project reportedly risks being "mothballed" if further financial support is not provided soon by the Government. RMT TO FIGHT TFL FUNDING CUTS RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: november/december 2020 :: RMTnews