Received from: RMT
Merged into composite 13
Congress pays tribute to the key workers of the coronavirus pandemic who, in protecting our lives and livelihoods risked and sadly lost their lives.
Ministers described transport and offshore energy workers, together with other key workers, as “heroes.” Yet already government is attacking our heroes with the PM making driverless trains a condition of London transport funding and reports that rail funding will be linked to staff cuts.
Congress will campaign for workplaces fit for heroes, including:
i. no transport austerity: protect and improve rail, tube, bus, maritime, transport and offshore jobs, pay and conditions
ii. stronger safety standards and stronger powers for safety reps
iii. all key workers to benefit from the coronavirus compensation scheme
iv. an end to outsourcing, which is unfair and unsafe: Sadiq Khan should lead by ending the privatisation of Tube cleaning
v. scrapping planned new anti-union legislation against rail workers.
Congress is concerned the pandemic has increased car use at public transport’s expense, which will be disastrous for our climate and health, as raised carbon emissions increase vulnerability to diseases, with evidence air pollution is a factor in higher rates of coronavirus deaths.
Congress agrees that to stop the coronavirus crisis accelerating the climate crisis we need to massively expand transport operating subsidy, capital investment and capacity to make bus, metro and rail passenger and freight services more frequent, affordable, attractive and safer to use. This to be paid for by borrowing at record low interest rates and making public transport publicly owned and integrated – saving billions through ending the inefficiency and profiteering of privatisation.
National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers