PRESIDENT’S COLUMN

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: jan/feb 2026 :: RMTnews 27 The Employment Rights Act 2025 became law in December, and its passage represents one of the most significant advances for working people in a generation. For RMT members across transport, logistics and associated industries, this Act is not an abstract piece of legislation but a practical step towards fairer, safer and more secure workplaces. It is a hard-won victory, secured through years of campaigning by trade unions, workers and allies in Parliament — and it is one we must now defend with vigilance. At its core, the Act strengthens protections that many employers had spent years attempting to dilute or bypass. It delivers clearer rights from day one of employment, stronger protections against unfair dismissal, enhanced safeguards for those trapped in insecure and precarious work, and improved enforcement mechanisms to ensure that rights exist not just on paper. For too long, working people were told that so-called ‘flexibility’ had to come at the cost of security, dignity and fairness. This Act decisively challenges that narrative and begins to rebalance the employment relationship in favour of working people. RMT has consistently argued that decent work is the foundation of safe, reliable and productive industries. Whether on the railways, at sea, or across the wider transport infrastructure, our members know from lived experience that insecure, tired or fearful workers do not deliver safe services for passengers. Stable employment, proper rest, fair treatment and respect at work are not optional extras — they are essential. By promoting greater security and fairness, the Employment Rights Act 2025 raises standards across our sectors and delivers tangible improvements for working people. While this legislation strengthens the baseline of employment rights, it does not mark the end of our campaigning. RMT will continue to organise, negotiate and fight for the best possible pay, terms and conditions for our members in every sector we represent. This legislation did not emerge without fierce opposition. Many within industry actively sought to defeat, delay or water down its provisions with intense lobbying, exaggerated claims about costs and familiar warnings that stronger employment rights would somehow undermine competitiveness or investment. In truth, good employers — those who already value their workforce, invest in skills and operate responsibly — will benefit from this Act. It is right to place on record our appreciation for those MPs and members of the House of Lords who stood firm in support of the Act and understood that employment rights are not a burden on the economy but a cornerstone of a modern, productive and fair society. Their willingness to listen to trade unions, to challenge vested interests and to resist scaremongering played a decisive role in securing this legislation. However, legislation alone does not guarantee progress. The Employment Rights Act 2025 will only deliver its full promise if it is properly implemented, robustly enforced and actively defended. Voices on the political right have already made clear their hostility to these reforms. Calls to repeal or roll back the Act are dressed up in familiar language about deregulation and ‘cutting red tape’, but the reality would be a return to insecurity, imbalance and exploitation at work. RMT will not be complacent and has learned, time and again, that rights won can be rights lost if we fail to organise, mobilise and remain politically engaged. This Employment Rights Act is a landmark achievement, but it is not the end of the journey. It provides a stronger foundation on which to build safer workplaces, better jobs and conditions. As trade unionists, our task now is to ensure that the law is respected, that members know and exercise their rights, and that any attempt to undermine these gains is met with collective resistance. George Welch President’s Column FOR WORKERS’ RIGHTS compensation. Thompsons were forced to begin court proceedings, standing firm on behalf of the member. Just one week before the court date, the insurer finally backed down, making a reasonable offer that allowed the matter to settle. CYCLING An RMT member has received more than £8,800 in compensation after a reckless driver knocked him off his bicycle during his morning commute. The cyclist was heading to work when a vehicle dangerously undertook him at high speed, sending him crashing to the ground. The injured rider turned to Thompsons Solicitors with RMT support. The driver’s insurers admitted fault early, allowing lawyers to focus on building a strong case to secure full compensation. The member sustained injuries to his neck, shoulder, knee, and ankle, and also suffered significant psychological trauma. Once a keen cyclist, he was unable to get back on his bike for 18 months. To aid his recovery, Thompsons arranged funding for extensive physiotherapy and cognitive behavioural therapy. Thanks to determined negotiations, the claim was settled out of court. This case was another reminder of the vital protection trade union membership can provide, both on and off the job. True to RMT’s legal promise, these members also received 100 per cent of the compensation, with no deductions or legal fees. This case is a powerful reminder of the importance of union-backed legal support in protecting workers’ rights, even in the most unexpected of circumstances.