Tag: Press Release

PRESS RELEASE : RMT seeks urgent meeting over Avanti crisis

The press release issued by the RMT on 8 August 2022.

RMT seeks urgent meeting with Transport Secretary over Avanti crisis.

Avanti West Coast have drastically reduced their timetable including temporarily suspending ticket sales and only running four trains an hour from London Euston, one to each of Glasgow, Liverpool, Manchester and Birmingham.

The company has also made unsubstantiated allegations of unofficial strike action by staff, something that RMT and other unions strongly deny.

In a letter to Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said:

“Avanti are falsely and shamefully making allegations that this decision is due to unofficial industrial action when the reality is this decision arises from poor management, cutting staffing to the bare minimum and rock bottom staff morale.

“I am presuming that you sanctioned this decision, and I would therefore be grateful for an urgent meeting to discuss the crisis, including clarification of the following points:

“Confirmation that your permission was required for Avanti to implement a reduced timetable.

“Is Avanti in breach of their contract with the Department of Transport and what sanctions will you be taking against Avanti?

“Has public ownership of the contract been considered?

“Does the DfT have an Operator of Last Resort it can mobilize should Avanti no longer be able to operate the franchise? How long would the OLR take to mobilize?

“What steps will you be taking to resolve the situation and whether your announcement that you will ban rail staff from working overtime in the future will make a bad situation even worse?

“The government cannot continue to take the side of corporations against passengers and workers, and I look forward to your agreement to an urgent meeting to discuss this crisis.”

August 20, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : RMT Marks Two Years Since Carmont Tragedy

The press release issued by the RMT on 12 August 2022.

On the two year anniversary of the Carmont rail tragedy, Network Rail is “dragging its feet dangerously” on key safety recommendations, the country’s largest rail union RMT has warned today.

Despite the Rail Accident Investigation Branch making 20 recommendations in March earlier this year to improve safety when it reported into the causes of the tragedy, they have not been implemented.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said:

“We are extremely concerned that Network Rail is dragging its feet dangerously on key safety recommendations following the Carmont Rail Tragedy.

“In fact, instead of focusing on improving rail safety, it is proposing to make matters even worse by cutting thousands of safety critical jobs across the network.

“Our railways do not need safety cuts which will make it more likely tragedies like Carmont will happen again.

“Network Rail needs to act on safety recommendations and swiftly reverse its safety critical jobs cull.”

August 20, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : RMT Demands Government Stops Blocking Settlement

The press release issued by the RMT on 18 August 2022.

RMT has written to Secretary of State for Transport Grant Shapps to demand that the government ends its deliberate policy of prolonging rail disputes for political reasons.

The union insisted that by refusing to meet with RMT while dictating how the train companies conduct the negotiations through a ‘shameful and irresponsible use of taxpayers’ money’.

“Your government has made the decision to use taxpayer’s money to bailout private train companies from being liable for revenue lost because of industrial action on the condition the same companies comply with government instructions to hold down pay, cut thousands of safety critical rail jobs, introduce Driver Only Trains and close ticket offices across the network,” the letter said.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said that the union had calculated that, including the previous and forthcoming action, over £120 million of taxpayer’s money had been used to bail out private train companies to date.

“Using taxpayers’ money to satisfy the anti-union agenda of the Tory party and seek to break the trade unions is shameful and means the dispute will be prolonged indefinitely as the train companies don’t lose a penny as a result of the industrial action and therefore have no incentive to settle the disputes.

“Instead of waging an ideological war against rail workers millions of voters would rather that the government allow for a fair negotiated settlement,” he said.

To Secretary of State for Transport Grant Shapps

“I am writing to you as to the Secretary of State for Transport to express my concern at your continued insistence on prolonging the rail disputes for political reasons by refusing to meet the RMT while at the same time dictating how the train companies conduct the negotiations through a shameful and irresponsible use of taxpayers’ money.

Your government has made the decision to use taxpayer money to bailout private train companies from being liable for revenue lost because of industrial action[i] on the condition the same companies comply with government instructions to hold down pay, cut thousands of safety critical rail jobs, introduce Driver Only Trains and close ticket offices across the network.

RMT calculates that, including the previous and forthcoming action, over £120m of taxpayer’s money will have to be used to bail out private train companies to date.[ii]

What’s even more shocking is as the majority of the Train Operating Companies involved in the dispute are fully or partly foreign state owned, this bail out is worth over £100m to companies in full or part foreign state ownership.

Using taxpayers’ money to satisfy the anti-union agenda of the Tory party and seek to break the trade unions is shameful and also means the dispute will be prolonged indefinitely as the train companies don’t lose a penny as a result of the industrial action and therefore have no incentive to settle the disputes.

My union has met representatives of both the Scottish and Welsh governments and have had constructive discussions about the rail services they are responsible for that are not involved in this dispute, but in contrast your government refuses to engage.

I would urge you once again to allow for a fair negotiated settlement instead of waging ideological war against rail workers.”

August 20, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : RMT Strikes on the Tube and Overground

The press release issued by the RMT on 18 August 2022.

RMT workers on London Overground and London Underground will go ahead tomorrow (Friday) against jobs cuts, attacks on pensions, low pay and the imposition of working practices.

RMT members on London Overground voted overwhelmingly for strike action after rejecting a below inflation pay offer and negotiations with Tube employers have failed to make any progress on cuts imposed by the government.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said that London Overground and Underground workers were determined to protect their pensions, secure a decent pay rise, job security and good working conditions.

“Tube bosses are having secret negotiations with the government about slashing jobs and undermining working conditions and pensions all in the name of removing subsidies.

“This government-led assault on staff will be disastrous as no other comparable urban transport system in the world operates without financial support from central government to ensure good and reliable services.

“The government needs to stop trying to get services on the cheap by slashing jobs and wages and invest in what should be a world class transport network” he said.

August 20, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Shapps Threatens to Fire and Re-Hire

The press release issued by the RMT on 19 August 2022.

RAIL UNION RMT has slammed plans announced by Secretary of State for Transport Grant Shapps to impose new contracts on railway workers, effectively ‘fire and re-hire’ on worse conditions, unless RMT calls off strike action.

The Tory minister told Sky News that if the dispute cannot be settled “we will have to move to what’s called a Section 188, it’s a process of actually requiring these changes to go into place”.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said that Mr Shapps had no authority to issue Section 188 notifications as he was not the legal employer but now seems intent on forcing through fire and re-hire on rail workers despite previously claiming that he had nothing to do with negotiations between the employers and the unions.

“Despite his denials Mr Shapps has clearly been dictating how the train companies should conduct negotiations with RMT and now he’s ordering them to fire and re-hire workers.

“The minister also appears to be increasingly desperate and out-of-touch making wild claims about train services between London and Manchester without having a clue what is actually happening.

“Instead of threatening to cut thousands of safety-critical jobs, introducing driver-only trains, closing ticket offices, bailing out the private rail companies as well as bringing in more anti-union laws the government and the employers should enter meaningful negotiations with RMT,” he said.

August 20, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Brussels rebukes booming Ireland (2001)

The press release issued by the Conservative Party on 13 February 2001.

Brussels rebukes booming Ireland

Irish rebuke by the European Commission gives valuable ammunition to British opponents of the euro

OPPONENTS of British membership of the euro were given valuable ammunition yesterday when Ireland was “reprimanded” by the European Commission for not doing enough to control inflation and Gordon Brown was ticked off for allowing the British economy to move into the deficit.

The Chancellor made plain that he would take no notice of the Commission’s strictures and continue to increase public investment, while the Irish Finance Minister, Charlie McCreevy, voiced anger at being told to change his plans for the booming Irish economy to prevent it overheating.

Mr Brown called for a “sensible interpretation” of the growth and stability pact that lays down the rules for eurozone countries to keep their budgets broadly in balance.

Countries inside the euro face sanctions if they allow their budget deficits to go beyond 3 per cent of GDP. Those outside can be mildly rebuked.

Francis Maude, the Shadow Foreign Secretary, said the more that was learnt about the euro, the more the reasons to keep the pound mounted up. The Commission should not have the right to tell the Britain what levels of borrowing it should undertake, he said.

August 20, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Byers – UK Fine Without Euro (2001)

The press release issued by the Conservative Party on 19 February 2001.

BYERS: UK FINE WITHOUT EURO

Cabinet member concedes that Britain is thriving outside the single currency

TRADE supremo Stephen Byers yesterday performed an incredible U-turn on the single currency.

Mr Byers – the Cabinet’s euro cheerleader – admitted it will be virtually impossible to persuade voters to ditch the Pound because it would jeopardise the economy.

And for the first time, the Trade Secretary declared there is no end in sight to the record number of foreign firms rushing to set up shop in Britain.

His change of heart shows the massive doubts at the highest level of government over the crucial issue of signing up to the euro.

And it is a bitter blow to pro-euro campaigners but a clear sign Tony Blair wants to kill off discussion about the Pound’s future in the run-up to the election.

Mr Byers had warned that £51billion-a-year of foreign investment in Britain would dry up and millions of jobs would be at risk unless we scrapped the Pound.

But yesterday Mr Byers said: “It is a great irony that in terms of convincing the British people to join the single currency, one of the problems is the success of our economy.

“Because people will say we are the fourth biggest economy in the world, inflation is down at 1.8 per cent, interest rates are coming down, unemployment is down to the lowest it has been for 25 years. And people will say, ‘Are you going to put all that at risk by joining the single currency?’”

He added: “I think it will be a hard campaign – if there is a campaign – when the tests are met, to persuade people joining the single currency is going to be in the long-term interests of our country.

“I genuinely can’t see any sign of inward investment dropping off because of Britain not being in the euro. How long that will last for, I don’t know.”

August 20, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : 56,000 WEIGH IN WITH `KEEP THE POUND’ CALL (2000)

The press release issued by the Conservative Party on 24 November 2000.

56,000 WEIGH IN WITH `KEEP THE POUND’ CALL

Conservative MP Richard Shepherd today presented a Keep the Pound petition signed by a massive 56,286 people to the Commons

The petition, carried into the chamber in boxes marked Keep the Pound, urges the Government to listen to the people and retain Britain’s currency.

We the people are being led into a federal state which we do not wish to be part of. We wish to remain an independent sovereign state with the economy run for the benefit of our own citizens,” the petition said.

Mr Shepherd (Aldridge Brownhills) said: “The petition has been gathered and signed by people supporting all the political parties and those supporting none.

It is a genuine expression from across the West Midlands of deep concern for democracy and our control over the economy. It expresses a sense of country.”

August 20, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Eddie George warns of dropping £ (2000)

The press release issued by the Conservative Party on 29 November 2000.

Eddie George warns of dropping £.

The euro would mean a return to the dark days of the 70s, warns Bank of England boss Sir Eddie George.

Workers face being thrown back to the dark days of the ’70s if Tony Blair dumps the Pound, Britain’s leading moneyman suggested yesterday.

Bank of England boss Sir Eddie George warned there could be tough rules on wage rises and higher taxes as the Government battled the inflation caused by a switch to the euro.

Experts said it would be just like the depressed ’70s when Britain was the sick man of Europe.

Then, the Government had to introduce rules to keep WAGES down as inflation soared to 26 per cent.

There was a year-long waiting list for MORTGAGES and HOLIDAYMAKERS were only allowed to take £50 out of the country.

Even getting a LOAN for a car, like the popular Ford Capri, became a problem due to restraints.

Unemployment rose to more than a million for the first time since the 1940s.

The crisis was fuelled by outrageous pay demands from hardline union bosses.

Britain ended up on a three-day week, there were picket lines and power cuts.

Then in 1976, Labour Chancellor Denis Healey went cap in hand for a loan of $2.3billion to the IMF to avoid bankruptcy.

Sir Eddie, giving evidence to the Treasury Select Committee, said that once Britain joined the euro “the techniques for influencing domestic inflation would have to look more to fiscal rather than monetary policy.”

He said that would bring about a “need to control inflation.”

His remarks are the clearest sign yet that he believes the euro zone’s one-size-fits-all economy – where interest rates are set for 11 countries by bankers in Frankfurt – would be a disaster for Britain.

Andrew Haldenby, of Business for Sterling, said: “In a few crisp sentences Eddie George has summed up the entire case against joining the euro.

“Giving up control of interest rates, the central lever of economic management, would take us back to 1970s-style tax rates and pay policies.

“If we had joined at the start, Britain would now be suffering a job-destroying inflationary boom.”

And Shadow Chancellor Michael Portillo said: “If we joined the euro, Britain would be forced into adopting these failed policies that produced boom and bust in the 1970s.”

Ireland has already been forced to strike a three-year wage restraint deal with unions after joining the euro. The country has seen its inflation rocket to a 15-year high of 6.8 per cent since it signed up.

Sir Eddie recently blew a hole in the PM’s drive to ditch sterling when he insisted Britain MUST keep the Pound. He told world bankers the UK is thriving and the Pound’s future is a purely political issue.

Mr Blair says the decision to join the euro will only be based on economics. This week a poll showed a record 71 per cent of Britons want to keep sterling.

August 20, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Foreign Firms Flocking to Britain (2000)

The press release issued by the Conservative Party on 30 November 2000.

Foreign Firms Flocking to Britain

New report shows Britain is no.1 for overseas investment – proving we can thrive outside the euro.

The latest research from leading business information group Dun and Bradstreet concludes that 28,777 foreign-owned companies are doing business in Britain compared to 23,300 in 1998. The report knocks Tony Blair’s warnings that we risk our economy unless we ditch the £.

The number of French firms doing business in Britain rocketed by a third and Dutch business rose by a quarter.

Investment in Britain from Holland, France and Germany has shot up since they joined the euro 18 months ago as high taxes and red tape cripple businesses. American firms make up the biggest slice of foreign input, followed by Holland, France, Germany, Japan, Switzerland, Ireland, Sweden, Australia and Canada.

This report comes only 2 days after Honda decided to double car production at Swindon. Last year outside companies ploughed £252.2 billion into Britain – up from £204 billion in 1998.

This trend is echoed by finance experts who predict that Denmark’s economy will be boosted by a No vote in next month’s euro referendum.

August 20, 2022