RMT announces new strike dates on Southern Rail August 23, 2016 The RMT has announced that further strikes will take place on 7 and 8 September as part of their long-running dispute with Southern Rail. General secretary of the RMT Mick Cash said: This action has been forced on us by the arrogance and inaction of the Govia Thameslink and the government who have made it clear that [...]
The Night Tube is nigh – but Sadiq Khan has raised some potential “teething problems” August 19, 2016 You'd be hard pushed to find anyone who's sour about the Night Tube finally coming into service tonigh We've already identified some key benefits – and most Londoners, retail groups and even the RMT seem to be excited about it. Naturally, the mayor of London is pretty smitten too. But with great power comes great responsibility and Sadiq Khan has [...]
Southern Rail could be hit by yet another strike as union members hold ballot over ticket office closures August 19, 2016 And so it continues. Ticket office and platform staff at Southern Rail's parent company, Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), are voting again on whether to go on strike. This time the ballot is around a dispute over ticket office closures and job losses, the TSSA rail union said today. Read more: Talks between Southern Rail and RMT break down [...]
Night Tube will support thousands of workers, says Sadiq Khan ahead of tonight’s launch August 19, 2016 The mayor of London has formally hailed the start of Night Tube, saying it will support thousands of workers and help get Londoners around more quickly, safely and affordably. Sadiq Khan applauded the commencement of the 24 hour weekend services, which launch on the Central and Victoria lines tonight. “The launch of the Night Tube this evening [...]
Night Tube finally arrives today: Here’s everything we know August 19, 2016 After months of umming and ahh-ing, London’s long-awaited Night Tube launches today (hurrah). Transport for London (TfL) first unveiled plans for a 24-hour Tube service in September 2014 – the bright idea of then-Mayor of London Boris Johnson. But the service has been delayed by a year, due to conflicts over pay and conditions with the RMT Union. TFL [...]
All aboard: Here are four ways London will benefit from the Night Tube August 18, 2016 London will join a handful of cities and make history when it finally launches its long overdue night tube services tomorrow. The service has been delayed by a year, thanks to conflicts over pay and conditions with the RMT Union. Over half a million people use the Tube after 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays – [...]
RMT union backs Night Tube – and its members – after having striked on pay August 18, 2016 The RMT has remarkably now decided to support the beginning of services on the Night Tube, claiming its workers deserve the "praise and the credit". The union, which has disputed the implementation of the Night Tube and voted for strike action, has now changed tact and started to back the commencement of services, with the caveat that staff [...]
Economists blast “anachronistic system” system of setting rail fares as ticket prices set to rise August 17, 2016 More misery was piled on to beleaguered commuters yesterday as a hike in rail fares was unveiled. Fares will rise by an average of 1.9 per cent next year following the release of July’s retail price index (RPI), against which fare increases are pegged. RPI rose from 1.6 per cent. The jump in fares comes as rail [...]
Blame Jeremy Corbyn for the increasing number of public sector strikes August 16, 2016 The total number of working days lost through labour disputes last year was, at just 170,000, the second lowest annual total since records began in 1891. What a difference a year can make. Southern Rail commuters have endured months of misery due to the prolonged series of strikes called by the RMT. Union members on Eurostar [...]
RMT vote in favour of station staff strikes on Govia network following planned ticket office closure August 16, 2016 The Rail, Maritime and Transport Union (RMT) announced 70 per cent of members had voted in favour of further strike action on the Govia Thameslink (GTR) network. The total number of people balloted was 407 of which 120 voted against the action with a further six spoilt votes – a sizeable increase in the "no" vote compared to recent votes on industrial action. [...]