NO SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY CUTS

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: january 2022 :: RMTnews 9 More industrial action could be called at any point after RMT members backed additional stoppages in the latest ballot, which is required every six months during a dispute. RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said that the London demonstration sent a clear message to multinational corporation Serco that it cannot continue to deny these key worker’s pay justice. "These workers have kept vital rail links running throughout the pandemic and they deserve a pay award that recognises their commitment and the soaring cost of living. "Serco recently announced its first interim dividend since 2014 and boasted of ‘stronger than expected recent trading’. "The Caledonian Sleeper franchise continues to be fully funded by the Scottish government under its emergency measures agreement, which also permits the payment of fees to Serco. "Serco could easily fund a proper pay rise for these front- line workers, but instead it has preferred to line the pockets of its private shareholders. "Enough is enough. RMT is demanding pay justice for Caledonian Sleeper workers,” he said. CALEDONIAN SLEEPER SERCO PROTEST Union demonstrates outside London headquarters of Serco for Caledonian Sleeper pay justice W idespread political opposition to ‘swingeing’ cuts to South Western Railway services is growing following protests outside Parliament to mark twelve months before the government axes hundreds of peak and off-peak rail services across the South Western Railway network. Over 265 local councillors and MPs from across every single political party in the South West of England have signed RMT’s statement totally rejecting the cuts proposals as “regressive” and “entirely short-sighted”.  250 local Councillors In the in the region from across the political spectrum have signed RMT’s statement opposing the cuts to South Western Railway services including 95 Lib Dems, 59 Labour, 28 Conservatives, 26 Greens, and 32 Independents. 17 MPs including Conservatives, Labour and Lib Dems have either signed an Early Day Motion, statements opposing the cuts or have raised their concerns directly with Government and the train operator RMT was joined by transport workers and MPs outside Parliament to protest these cuts and send a clear message to the government and privatised rail industry to stop the cuts to our rail services. RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said that the scale of the political opposition to the cuts showed just how unpopular they are. “It simply beggars belief that just weeks after this government hosts vital global climate change negotiations they are taking the axe to public transport across the UK. “The very same public transport that needs massive investment if we are going to get anywhere near to achieving our climate goals. “What we’re seeing on South Western Railway and across the railways in the UK is the same old Tory austerity and a drive to make workers and passengers pay for the Covid-19 crisis. “My message to the government and privatised rail industry is clear; our union will simply not tolerate this wholesale attack on rail services, jobs and pay and we will fight tooth and nail against them,” he said. NO SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY CUTS