STOP TUBE CUTS!

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: may 2023 :: RMTnews 7 Spending cuts, job losses and growing attacks on pensions must end, RMT has told the London Mayor. The union wrote to Sadiq Khan emphasising the importance of station staff to the safe running of London Underground and the need for the mayor to resist Tory budget cuts. In the letter, RMT general secretary Mick Lynch wrote: "Stations were closed on 2,115 occasions last year, compared with a pre-pandemic high of 649. Of course, this is only a figure for closures. More often, stations will have been left open with no staff. "We both know that the cause of this rise in station closures is a package of cost savings that includes holding vacancies and cutting 600 station jobs, demanded by the Tory government. "The rank hypocrisy of Tories attacking you for the consequences of delivering their cuts is deplorable but predictable. Yet, I’m sure that you share my concern about the strain that is being placed on London Underground by these cuts. "This situation cannot go on. I urge you to refuse to make further spending cuts on London Underground. The roll out of 600 job cuts on tube stations must stop. Pension attacks must be ruled out. Current plans for reductions in jobs and changes to working conditions, across train crew and engineering functions must stop. "My members are delivering on productivity daily. TfL has forecast a £75m surplus on budget this year. Passenger numbers are rising faster than forecast. It is time to say enough is enough. I call on you to reject government demands for cuts and to campaign alongside your staff and RMT for a fair funding arrangement for London’s public transport system and to defend the jobs, pensions and agreements of London Underground workers,” he said. DEFEND YOUR PENSION TfL and the government have signed an agreement to seek pension cuts by transferring your pension into the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS). As a result, RMT members could lose up to 32 per cent of your pension if you retire at 60. Pension contributions could also increase from five per cent to up to 12.5 per cent. Risk is also transferred to you so that a fall in financial markets could leave you with a further reduction in benefits or increased contributions. There is no guarantee that accrued benefits would be fully protected. TfL estimates it would save £60 million by transferring the TfL pension into the LGPS. This is because you would pay more and get less. TfL’s savings would be at your expense if we do not fight back. The current TfL pension scheme is in good financial health and TfL is making a surplus again on operations and the pension trustees have not called for any changes to the TfL scheme. There is no justification for attacking the TfL pension. The union fully agrees with the London mayor’s comments, reported in the Evening Standard, that tube staff, who worked throughout he pandemic to maintain a reliable service, do not deserve the “sword of Damocles” hanging over them in the form of attacks on their pensions. RMT members face changes to their pensions that could double their contributions and cut their pensions by a third which is unacceptable to RMT.   STOP TUBE CUTS! RMT urges London Mayor to end threat of job cuts and pension attacks