Train strikes hit London July 30, 2009 RAIL strikes caused havoc for commuters travelling on the National Express East Anglia train services yesterday, as members of the Rail Maritime and Transport (RMT) and Aslef unions took industrial action over a pay dispute. The 48-hour walk-out had “crippled” services, the unions said. Many commuters stayed at home as a limited peak-time service failed [...]
Commuter chaos in the City as RMT takes industrial action over salaries July 29, 2009 THOUSANDS of London commuters face travel chaos today and tomorrow, as workers on the National Express East Anglia franchise go on strike for 48 hours over pay. Services to Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex will be affected and the action will disrupt many lines in and out of London, including trains for Stansted Airport, Southend [...]
Wind turbine staff slam Mandy July 28, 2009 The UK’s only wind turbine factory, Vestas, yesterday criticised business secretary Peter Mandelson for “rank hypocrisy” after seeking to evict workers, while announcing £150m worth of funding to invest in the UK’s low-carbon industrial future. Energy union RMT said yesterday: “If the government are serious about proving their green industrial credentials they should save Vestas.”
MPs slam railway franchise structure July 27, 2009 THE Transport Select Committee branded the railway franchise system “a mess” yesterday, calling for massive reforms on the lines, and for the nationalisation of the troubled East Coast mainline. The cross-party group of MPs said it wants the East Coast mainline – which is set to taken away from operator National Express later this year [...]
Strike threat as tube staff are balloted July 7, 2009 THOUSANDS of London commuters face further disruption this summer, as 600 staff at London Underground (LU) prepare to be balloted on industrial action, after union leaders rejected a final pay offer. Unite union said LU’s offer of 1.5 per cent in the first year and retail prices index (RPI) plus 0.5 per cent in the [...]
Boris plans RMT talks June 17, 2009 TALKS between warring London Underground (LU) and the Rail and Maritime (RMT) union will resume tomorrow, London mayor Boris Johnson said yesterday, as fears of further tube strikes grow in the capital. Discussions between the two parties collapsed last week, leading to a 48 hour strike London’s 3.5m commuters, and a slanging match between both [...]
Tube strikes are a blot on our global reputation June 14, 2009 MY HEART sank when the International Herald Tribune splashed a large photograph of London commuters struggling to get to work on its front cover. Although the article rightly complimented Londoners on their determination to keep businesses going in the face of crippling tube strikes, it made me angry. This is not the image of London [...]
City set for summer of discontent June 11, 2009 RMT boss Bob Crow threatened further industrial action last night, if London Underground (LU) refuses to meet union demands, as the City prepares itself for a summer of discontent. The City hit out at the union, saying further action would be a threat to the recession-hit capital. “The last thing the business community wants to [...]
HOW HAVE THE STRIKES HIT LONDON? June 10, 2009 COLIN STANBRIDGE LONDON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE“This strike is the last thing the London economy needs during a recession. Two-thirds of companies in the capital have frozen staff pay this year, yet the RMT is demanding more money for less work. Their position is unrealistic and untenable. Ending the strike 24 hours early will halve the [...]
City braced for further disruption June 10, 2009 LONDON is set for another round of travel chaos today, as London Underground (LU) and the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union refused to budge on a dispute over pay. LU said last night they were “almost waiting at the table” for RMT to enter talks, while the union said it was the employer who [...]