FOR FAIR PAY AT TRAIN OPERATING COMPANIES

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: march/april 2026 :: RMTnews 7 R MT Tube drivers have voted by over 90 per cent in favour of strike action to oppose the introduction of a four-day week. RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey said that it was a fantastic ballot result, and it was now up to TfL to take RMT members seriously. “Our members will not accept Transport for London’s plan to condense the working week for tube drivers where shift patterns will become unpredictable leading to fatigue and increased safety risks. “Most tube drivers when asked have rejected these proposals and our members are prepared to take industrial action if there is no change in course by TfL,” he said. R MT representatives from across the train operating companies meeting in London recently vowed to take industrial action if they were not awarded a no strings attached RPI pay rise in this round of pay negotiations. Following contributions from general secretary Eddie Dempsey, RMT president George Welch and representatives from all of the 15 train operating companies under the control of the Department for Transport, there was an impromptu show of hands declaring willingness to take industrial action if no acceptable pay offer was forthcoming. Despite different train operating companies being varying stages of readiness, there was a general feeling that members would be prepared to back a strike mandate if it was necessary. Eddie Dempsey opened proceedings laying out all the unions key demands, including: • An RPI no strings attached deal • Minimum flat rate increase, to underpin the agreed percentage increase and benefit those on the lowest salaries • The guarantee of no compulsory redundancies • Reductions in the working week without loss of pay, improving work life balance • Annual leave improve- ments He pointed out that the deals done on Transport for London and Network Rail had set the blueprint for the government to do the right thing on the train operating companies. But he acknowledged that the union had to be organised and ready if ministers tried to push through productivity changes as a condition on any pay offer. Speaking to RMT News after the successful event, Mr Dempsey said that it was great to see such a strong turnout from our reps who are the backbone of our union. “It is vital for any successful pay campaign to have our members engaged and directly feeding into the strategy of the union. “We want a negotiated settlement which reflects the role our members play on the train operating companies and for employers and the government to recognise that we will not accept productivity strings to any pay offer, “he said. TUBE DRIVERS VOTE FOR ACTION FOR FAIR PAY AT TRAIN OPERATING COMPANIES