HANDS OFF TfL PENSIONS

4 RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: september 2021 :: RMTnews R MT has launched a campaign to defend the Transport for London pension scheme in the wake of revelations of how the company intends to process and conduct their pension fund review. Instead of a pension review, RMT is calling for an investigation, with the full involvement of all recognised trade unions, into the systemic transfer of TfL funds to the private sector. Huge sums of money are being siphoned out of the transport system and into the pockets of privateers. In 2020/21 over £60 million was paid to a private cleaning contractor, over £106 million was paid to privatised track maintenance contractors, over £30 million was paid to external fleet maintenance contractors and a staggering £2 billion was paid to privatised bus operators. RMT is also calling for a review of the level of government support for TfL, which is far less than the support provided to comparable transport systems such as the New York metro or Paris subway. RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said that the union would fight any attempt to impose detrimental terms onto members. “We will resist any attempt to make members work longer, increase pension contributions of workers – just a pay cut in disguise – reduce pension payments or undermine the fund in the long-term by closing it off to future staff. “Our members in TfL kept transport services running throughout the pandemic and were hailed as heroes. Now their reward is the threat of poverty in retirement. “We have absolutely no confidence in the review process set out, which is no more than a smoke screen for a massive attack on RMT members driven by the government and London Mayor’s agreement to make huge financial cuts on TfL and LUL. “We reissue our call for all regular TfL work to be immediately brought in-house and for an end to the gravy train of easy profits and dividends to the shareholders of the private sector. “RMT is demanding that the pension scheme remains unchanged. Any other course of action will be met head on by the union, using every option available to us, including a determined campaign of strike action,” he said. HANDS OFF TfL PENSIONS RMT launches campaign to defend TfL pension scheme and declares no confidence in review process