The fight for rail continues [updated]
27 February 2023
The government’s attempts to end railway pay disputes are meeting continued resistance.
Rail
Rail
No answers on govt rail failure [print version]
Mark Harper, prime minister Rishi Sunak’s new Secretary of State for Transport, failed to give any real indication to those working in rail or to passengers that he will in any way adequately address the industry’s current problems.
No answers on government rail failure
22 February 2023
The new transport minister has no new ideas on the future of the railways. His promises of reform are set to repeat past failures.
On the right track
The railway industry and its workforce enter 2023 with uncertain futures. So far rail workers have shown they are prepared to stand and fight for their interests, together with those of the industry…
Government sabotages rail deal [print version]
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch has slammed the government for scuppering a deal which could have prevented rail strikes in the run-up to Christmas.
Government sabotages potential rail deal
9 December 2022
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch has slammed the government for scuppering a deal which could have prevented rail strikes in the run-up to Christmas.
Rail strikes resume as government blocks settlement
27 November 2022
Striking train drivers in 11 passenger rail companies brought most of England’s rail services to a standstill again on Saturday 26 November 2022.
RMT fight on
17 November 2022
Rail workers, members of RMT, have voted overwhelmingly to continue industrial action to defend their living standards, jobs and working conditions.
RMT digs in for long battle [print version]
The rail disputes are now nearly six months old, and railway workers and their unions – led by RMT – are now resigned to a long-drawn-out campaign...
RMT prepares for long battle
23 October 2022
The rail disputes are now nearly six months old, and railway workers and their unions – led by RMT – are now resigned to a long-drawn-out campaign as they fight for the future of their jobs and their industry.
Strikes erupt on the railways as inflation rockets
12 June 2022
RMT has announced strikes in Network Rail and most of the passenger train companies which will effectively close the national rail network for a week in June.
Scotrail shambles condemned
Train drivers’ union Aslef has condemned the decision by newly nationalised ScotRail to severely cut services.
Massive vote for action on railways
25 May 2022
RMT members have voted overwhelmingly for strike action on pay, jobs and safety.
Oppose the government attack on rail unions
24 May 2022
The government plans laws to make rail strikes illegal unless minimum staff levels are maintained. This aims to make industrial action ineffective – and will not stop with rail workers.
The Elizabeth Line: a British working class achievement [updated]
23 May 2022
The opening of the Elizabeth Line this week is a great achievement, to be celebrated despite delays.
The future of the rail industry
The future of the rail industry
Tuesday 7 June 2022 19:00
The government is driving an agenda of service cuts even as passenger numbers recover from the Covid-19 slump. How will rail workers and rail users defend services?
For an invitation, email info@cpbml.org.uk.
British steel betrayed by government
Transport minister Andrew Stephenson has admitted that HS2, Europe’s largest construction project and funded by public money, has no target for the use of British steel.
In the balance - progress or decline for rail?
Investment in rail could make life better in Britain as well as help the country meet its carbon emission targets. But the government seems obsessed with taking on the rail unions and driving down pay and conditions for staff…
HS2 – The Great Northern Train Robbery
24 November 2021
Boris Johnson’s decision to scrap vital parts of HS2 and other key rail investment in the north of England met with angry criticism from trade unions and many others.
Just six months left to save ScotRail, say unions
23 September 2021
Four trade unions came together on 22 September to demonstrate in Edinburgh on Wednesday. Their message: that there are just six months left to save ScotRail.
ScotRail: SNP bluster
11 September 2021
The rail union RMT is defending rail services and attacks on its members in Scotland from the train operating company and the hostile SNP government.
Battle ahead for the future of Britain's rail system
Never waste the opportunity of a good crisis. So runs the capitalist mantra. Now the government and private operators have seized on the pandemic as an ideal time to cut down on costs and boost profits. A huge battle beckons…
ScotRail services face axe [print version]
Not to be outdone by the headlong rush across Britain to cut back rail services, Scotland has joined the fray announcing proposals to permanently slash its train services
Long-running pay fight engulfs ScotRail
21 August 2021
Scotland is currently hosting the longest pay dispute on the railways so far, with ScotRail guards striking every Sunday since 28 March.
ScotRail plans new wave of cuts
21 August 2021
Not to be outdone by the headlong rush across Britain to cut back rail services, Scotland has joined the fray announcing proposals to permanently slash its train services.
Rail: at heart, no change [print version]
The Williams–Shapps Plan for Rail – a government White Paper – has finally been published. And like too many of Britain’s trains, it arrived very late and was truly underwhelming.
Scotland: Abellio fight continues
Further strikes have been taking place in the long-running dispute between ticket examiners and conductors in Scotland and their employer, Abellio Scotrail.
Rail: underneath the changes, fundamentally the same
21 May 2021
The Williams–Shapps Plan for Rail – a government White Paper – has finally been published. And like too many of Britain’s trains, it arrived very late and was truly underwhelming.
Full backing for rail strikes
Four separate days of strike action have been solidly supported by RMT members who work as conductors and ticket examiners for ScotRail...