Category: Economy

New Inflation rates for year to October 2022

To all Branches and Regional Councils

 

16th November 2022

 

Dear Colleagues

 

New Inflation rates for year to October 2022

 

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has published1 inflation rates for the year to October 2022. The Retail Prices Index (RPI) increased to 14.2%, a 1.6% increase from 12.6% for the year to September 2022.

 

The alternative measures of CPI and CPIH increased to 11.1% (up 1% from September) and 9.6% (up 0.8% from August) respectively.

 

Your union’s policy is to use the RPI rate in all pay negotiations. Should an employer attempt to use alternative inflation measures during pay talks, please inform the National Policy department as soon as possible.

 

I would be grateful if you could bring the content of this circular to the attention of all members in your Branch.

 

Yours sincerely

 

Michael Lynch

General Secretary

New Inflation rates for year to July 2021

New Inflation rates for year to July 2021

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has published inflation rates for the year to July 2021The Retail Prices Index (RPI) increased to 3.8% for the year to July 2021, a fall of 0.1% from 3.9% for the year to June 2021.

 

The alternative measures of CPI and CPIH rose by 2.0% (down from 2.5% to June) and 2.1% (down from 2.4% to June) respectively.

Your union’s policy is to use the RPI rate in all pay negotiations. Should an employer attempt to use alternative inflation measures during pay talks, please inform the National Policy department as soon as possible.

I would be grateful if you could bring the content of this circular to the attention of all members in your Branch.

New Inflation rates for year to October 2020

New Inflation rates for year to October 2020
 
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) have published inflation rates for the year to October 2020. The Retail Prices Index (RPI) has risen to 1.3%, which is 0.2% up on the year to September 2020. The alternative measures of CPI and CPIH were 0.7% (up 0.2%) and 0.9% (up 0.2%) respectively.
 
Your union’s policy is to use the RPI rate for all pay negotiations. Should an employer attempt to use alternative inflation measures during pay talks, please inform the National Policy department as soon as possible.
 
I would be grateful if you could bring the content of this circular to the attention of all members in your Branch.

Coalition of Londoners calls for an end to ‘appalling attack’ on the Capital’s transport

Coalition of Londoners calls for an end to ‘appalling attack’ on the Capital’s transport
 
 
A coalition of organisations have today joined together in a letter to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, calling on him to end his government’s attack on the capital’s transport system, 48 hours before negotiations between the government and TfL over a new funding deal are due to end.
 
The letter, signed by 13 organisations representing London’s transport workers, passenger groups, children, young people, students, pensioners, disabled people and anti-poverty campaigners, condemns the government for imposing what is in effect ‘a new round of austerity cuts that will throw more families into poverty and increase hardship for ordinary working people and small businesses across the capital.’
 
The signatories condemn the government’s ‘offer’ – reported to be £1 billion over 6 months, conditional on TfL imposing driverless trains, attacks on pensions in retirement, fare and tax rises and cuts to concessions for children, young people and pensioners – saying:
 
“This package of cuts is punitive, cruel and unnecessary. It’s an open attack on the livelihoods of 9 million Londoners who are being punished because, unlike other major cities our capital’s transport system has been forced to become overly dependent on fare revenue, leaving it exposed to the shocks of the pandemic”.
 
The letter says,
 
“We call on the Prime Minister to abandon this appalling attack on the livelihoods of London’s people and its transport workers and immediately agree a proper funding package that fully supports public transport in our capital during the current crisis and also reinstates government grant to a level that allows for the retention and expansion of safe, sustainable and affordable public transport for the future.”
The signatories to the letter are:  ASLEF, RMT, TSSA, Unite the Union, National Union of Students, London, East and South East TUC, London Region National Pensioners Convention, Child Poverty Action Group, Age UK London, Disabled People Against the Cuts, We Own It, the Association of British Commuters and Bring Back British Rail.

The full letter, send to the Prime Minister today, can be read below:
 
 29th October, 2020
 
Dear Prime Minister,
 
Listen to London: Stop the austerity attack and properly fund London Transport
 
As we move into a hard winter and a second wave of Covid-19 infections, Londoners who have done everything asked of them during this crisis, including transport keyworkers who have put their lives on the line to keep the capital moving, are facing a new round of austerity cuts that will throw more families into poverty and increase hardship for ordinary working people and small businesses across the capital.
 
The cuts being proposed will:
 
Increase child and pensioner poverty in London by cutting access to free travel concessions; Increase hardship for London’s working families and small businesses through fare rises and council tax supplements; Unfairly target the 55,000 keyworkers who have worked heroically throughout the crisis by attacking their jobs, wages, conditions of employment and their pension provision for old age; Damage passenger safety and confidence in public transport through the loss of jobs that are vital to clean, safe and orderly travel; Lead to a degradation of our transport system which will reduce accessibility for disabled people, prevent us from meeting our decarbonisation goals and improving air quality and public health in the capital drive London’s economy further into recession.
 
This package of cuts is punitive, cruel and unnecessary. It’s an open attack on the livelihoods of 9 million Londoners who are being punished because, unlike other major cities our capital’s transport system has been forced to become overly dependent on fare revenue, leaving it exposed to the shocks of the pandemic. This is a broken funding model, but instead of working to fix it, your government appears to be using it to inflict yet more austerity on people who have done what they have been asked to do and endured great hardship in the process.
 
We call on your government to abandon this appalling attack on the livelihoods of London’s people and its transport workers and immediately agree a proper funding package that fully supports public transport in our capital during the current crisis and also reinstates government grant to a level that allows for the retention and expansion of safe, sustainable and affordable public transport for the future.
 
Yours sincerely,
 
Mick Cash, General Secretary, RMT
 
Mick Whelan, General Secretary, ASLEF
 
Manuel Cortes, General Secretary, TSSA
 
Len McCluskey, General Secretary, Unite the Union
 
Larissa Kennedy, President, NUS
 
Sam Gurney, Regional Secretary, London, East and South East TUC
 
Cat Hobbs, Director, We Own It
 
Abigail Wood, Chief Executive, Age UK London
 
Alison Garnham, Chief Executive, Child Poverty Action Group
 
Barry Todman, London Region, National Pensioners Convention
 
Paula Peters, National Steering Group Member, Disabled People Against the Cuts
 
Emily Yates, Co-Founder, Association of British Commuters
 
Ellie Harrison, Founder, Bring Back British Rail

July 2020 Inflation Rates

New Inflation rates for year to July 2020
 
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) have published inflation rates for the year to July 2020. The Retail Prices Index (RPI) has increased to 1.6% , which is 0.5% up on the year to June 2020. The alternative measures of CPI and CPIH were 1% (up 0.4%) and 1.1% (up 0.3%) respectively.
 
The RPI figure for July (1.6%) is the rate Government will use to increase regulated rail passenger fares from 1 January 2021.
 
Your union’s policy is to use the RPI rate for all pay negotiations. Should an employer attempt to use alternative inflation measures during pay talks, please inform the National Policy department as soon as possible.
 

RMT on today’s transport use statistics from the DfT

RMT on today’s transport use statistics from the DfT

TRANSPORT UNION RMT called on the Government to ensure the COVID19 recovery does not make climate crisis worse in response to the transport use statistics released today by the Department for Transport today that show car use continuing to rise rapidly towards pre-COVID19 crisis levels.

Statistics show last week (week beginning 22nd June) saw the fastest rise in car use and ‘all vehicle use’, that includes light goods vehicles and heavy goods vehicles, since lockdown began on 23rd March.

Senior Assistant General Secretary Mick Lynch said:

“The Government needs to get a grip of this as quickly as possible as these figures show the coronavirus crisis risks accelerating the climate change crisis.

“The government needs to start planning now for a rapid transformation to green transport through massively expanding public transport operating subsidies, capital investment and capacity to deliver publicly owned bus, metro, rail and ferry services which are more frequent, affordable, attractive and safer to use.”

March 2020 Inflation Rates

New Inflation rates for year to March 2020
 
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) have published inflation rates for the year to March 2020. The Retail Prices Index (RPI) has increased to 2.6%, which is 0.1% up on the year to February 2020. The alternative measures of CPI and CPIH were 1.5% (down 0.2%) and 1.5% (down 0.2%) respectively.
 
Your union’s policy is to use the RPI rate for all pay negotiations. Should an employer attempt to use alternative inflation measures during pay talks, please inform the National Policy department as soon as possible.
 

RMT Credit Union during the lockdown

The RMT Credit Union Office is closed for the foreseeable future due to the COVID-19 however it remains open for business and home working has been introduced

 

The main thing that needs to be changed and will be helpful is that any withdrawals or loans PLEASE DO NOT send forms via the post.

 

Please send them by email for the time being until we return back to the office.

 

We will be picking up emails from home and processing payments from there so the Credit Union will still function as usual as best as possible.

 

Your assistance is appreciated at this time. Thank you all and please stay safe. We will get through this.

 

Please note the new date for Monthly Cycle collection of Direct Debits will be on the 15th of every month.

FURLOUGH ARRANGEMENTS

FURLOUGH ARRANGEMENTS
 
Your National Executive Committee has adopted the following policy:
 
“Employers across the transport and maritime sectors are introducing Furlough Arrangements to make use of the scheme from government to pay workers.  The union is receiving proposals for such arrangements from employers with whom we have collective bargaining agreements, or where an employer seeks to engage RMT in consultation or negotiation. The NEC has determined that the following guidance shall be issued to ensure we provide the maximum and best possible protection for our members
 
In all circumstances Furlough Arrangements shall be placed before the NEC prior, wherever possible, before going ahead for consideration to ensure that consistency and best practice is maintained.
 
Should it be unavoidable for an officer or representatives to allow a furlough to go ahead before the NEC has discussed it, this matter must be put before the NEC at the first opportunity.
 
The rules and constitution of our union continue to govern these matters. When discussing Furlough Arrangements RMT officials shall seek to ensure:-
 
1.    Wages are paid at 100% meaning the employer tops up the government paid 80%
2.    Employers top up wages above £2500pm (the government schemes cap) so that employees continue to receive their full wages)
3.    No impact on pensions or leave
4.    No changes to terms and conditions
5.    That the Furlough Arrangement are time limited and shall not be extended beyond the period of the Covid-19 health crisis.
6.    The union shall, if the circumstances dictate, utilise pro-formas to provide added protection and guidance for members.”
 

RMT says London Mayor’s coronavirus transport cleaning announcement is completely inadequate

RMT says London Mayor’s coronavirus transport cleaning announcement is completely inadequate

 

TUBE UNION RMT says that the London Mayor’s coronavirus transport cleaning announcement today is completely inadequate and calls into question the decision to privatise tube cleaning.

 

Responding to Mayor Sadiq Khan’s statement, RMT General Mick Cash said:

 

“The New York subway, where cleaning is done by directly employed staff in the public sector, will be deep-cleaned every three days, according to a recent announcement.

 

“In contrast, what the Mayor of London has announced looks significantly less than that and our worry is that he’s being limited in what he can do because London Underground’s cleaning is outsourced.

 

“That’s why RMT has written to the Mayor seeking assurances that the decision to privatise tube cleaning is not compromising passenger safety.

 

“It would also be completely unacceptable if the privatised tube cleaning company ABM were to profit out of this crisis and this whole episode confirms once again that like New York, Tube cleaning in London needs to be taking into public ownership.”

 

New Inflation rates for year to December 2019

New Inflation rates for year to December 2019
 
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) have published inflation rates for the year to December 2019. The Retail Prices Index (RPI) was 2.2%, unchanged on the year from November 2019. The alternative measure of CPI was down from 1.5% to 1.3% while CPIH was down from 1.5% to 1.4%.
 
Your union’s policy is to use the RPI rate for all pay negotiations. Should an employer attempt to use alternative inflation measures during pay talks, please inform the National Policy department as soon as possible.
 
I would be grateful if you could bring the content of this circular to the attention of all members in your Branch.

New Inflation rates for year to October 2019

New Inflation rates for year to October 2019
 
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) have published inflation rates for the year to October 2019. The Retail Prices Index (RPI) was 2.1%, down 0.3% on the year to September 2019. The alternative measures of CPI and CPIH were 1.5% (down 0.2%) and 1.5% (down 0.2%) respectively.
 
Your union’s policy is to use the RPI rate for all pay negotiations. Should an employer attempt to use alternative inflation measures during pay talks, please inform the National Policy department as soon as possible.
 
I would be grateful if you could bring the content of this circular to the attention of all members in your Branch.
 
Yours sincerely
 
 
Mick Cash
General Secretary

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