National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers
National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers | |
NSSN,ETF | |
| Website | rmt.org.uk |
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The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (commonly known as the RMT) is a British trade union covering the transport sector. Its current President is Alex Gordon and its current General Secretary is Mick Lynch.[4][5]
The RMT is one of Britain's fastest growing trade unions. Membership rose under and following the leadership of Bob Crow, increasing from 57,000 in 2002[6] to almost 81,500 in 2019.[1][7]
History
The RMT was formed in 1990 through a merger of the National Union of Railwaymen (NUR) and the National Union of Seamen (NUS) to create a single transport industry trade union.
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Certification Office[1] Political activityThe predecessor unions to the National Union of Railwaymen and the National Union of Seamen were founding members of the original which?][8]
The RMT announced in 2009 that it would be standing a slate of candidates in the alter-globalisation coalition which aimed to offer an alternative to the pro-business policies of the UK Independence Party.[9] The RMT then became a founding member of the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC), a left wing political party which has contested the 2010 and 2015 general elections.
The RMT was in favour of Electoral Commission choosing Leave.EU, Vote Leave or Grassroots Out as the official group advocating for British withdrawal in the referendum, saying that:
In July 2015, the RMT endorsed Labour Party leadership election.[11]
London UndergroundThe RMT represents most London Underground staff, as well as many other workers in the London public transport network. The RMT has had a number of disputes with Transport for London and private sector contractors Metronet and Tube Lines[a][12] over pay, safety, pensions and job security on the Underground. These disputes have often resulted in industrial action, leading to periods of travel disruption in the capital over the last decade.[clarification needed][13][14][15] 2022 strikeIn May 2022, the union began balloting 40,000 members on a strike action that might be joined by the Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA). Both managers and operators would be affected. Rail insiders have accused the union leaders of balloting prematurely without negotiation.[16] Of primary concern to the unions were the upcoming job cuts at Network Rail and a demand for pay rises to offset the cost of living.[16] Coming out of the pandemic, fewer passengers are currently using railways, however. Rail minister Wendy Morton and rail companies have emphasised the need to modernise the sector and reduce its cost base.[16] Union members backed industrial action overwhelmingly, and 24-hour strikes were scheduled for 21, 23 and 25 June.[17][18] Both the RMT and the TSSA warned of a level of disruption not experienced since the 1926 general strike.[16] Rail companies began drawing up plans to prioritise freight delivery over passenger services in order to keep supermarkets stocked.[17] AffiliationsThe RMT is affiliated to a number of political organisations and trade union confederations. In the United Kingdom and Ireland the RMT is affiliated with the International Transport Workers Federation,[19] as well as the World Federation of Trade Unions.[21]
Politically the RMT is affiliated with the left wing political party, the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC),[22] which it co-founded and encourages members to participate in.[23] The RMT is also affiliated to the Labour Representation Committee,[24] a pressure group which aims to promote traditional socialist principles within the Labour Party. The RMT has provided 23,000 trade union cases to the Railway Work, Life and Death Project. This data includes information on accidents and disabilities on thousands of members, from the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants and National Union of Railwaymen during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.[25] RMT Credit UnionRMT Credit Union Limited is a savings and loans co-operative established by the trade union for its members in 2004.[26] It is a member of UKCreditUnions Limited, a national trade association representing smaller credit unions, steering groups and support organisations.[27] The credit union is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the PRA. Ultimately, like the banks and building societies, members' savings are protected against business failure by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.[28]
LeadershipGeneral Secretaries2011 anti-cuts protest in London
Senior Assistant General Secretaries
Presidents
See alsoNotes
References
External links
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