The RMTunion has announced plans to lobby the Scottish Parliament with a 'Rail Cuts Cost Lives' rally at Holyrood on Thursday, highlighting concerns over a 13% reduction in total renewals expenditure for Scotland in the next five years, amounting to £315 million less than the previous funding period. This move comes amid broader criticisms from MPs and union members, including Eddie Dempsey, regarding Network Rail's planned £1.2 billion cuts to its maintenance and infrastructure budget over the next five years, deemed unsafe by senior union representatives. MPs, including Ian Mearns and Paula Barker, have expressed support for the campaign, emphasizing the potential safety risks associated with the cuts to passenger safety. The campaign has also seen support from outside Parliament, with members gathering for a protest to voice their opposition to the funding reductions. Additionally, calls for rail services to be brought into public ownership have been made, citing the government's managed decline of the rail system. The union aims to meet as many MSPs as possible at the Scottish Parliament (@ScotParl) at 10.45, with Mick Lynch among the union members lobbying MPs.
Tomorrow, we will be at the Scottish Parliament @ScotParl 10.45 and hope to meet as many MSPs as possible. We need investment in Scotland's rail infrastructure #RailCutsCostLives https://t.co/DhCgyEbpf5
We need to bring railways across Britain back into public ownership, as we have in Wales. Today I met with Mick Lynch and @RMTunion members lobbying MPs about £1.2bn maintenance spending cuts and outsourcing which risks making rail less safe. #NoMoreRailCuts #RailCutsCostLives https://t.co/TyjwP8Sxl0
Members of the @RMTunion gathered for campaign ‘rail cuts cost lives’ outside Parliament to protest against Network Rail's intentions to reduce funding. https://t.co/KEVnFIBdsq
We should invest in our railways & bring them into public ownership, but instead the government is overseeing their managed decline. That's seen in Network Rail's £1.2 billion cut to its maintenance & infrastructure budget. So today I joined @RMTunion to say: No more rail cuts! https://t.co/ZGh7pyas1Q
Eddie Dempsey setting out with absolute clarity why we must fight the cuts to our rail services. @RMTunion https://t.co/7ojf30mIu6
Rail Cuts Cost Lives! Cuts can lead to cracks, cracks to fractures, fractures to disasters. Which is why I stand firmly against Network Rail's planned cuts of £1.2 billion over the next 5 years to renewals expenditure. https://t.co/A51XVcz7Ho
📹 "It's quite clear that this is a no brainer campaign from my perspective... "All power to the RMT on this magnificent campaign." @IanMearnsMP gives his wholehearted support to the @RMTunion 'Rail Cuts Cost Lives' campaign. https://t.co/dGgkc35FlA
Always great to be visited by Hull @RMTunion members Steph, Katy & @GazJacksonRMT to speak to me about Network Rail's planned cuts of £1.2 billion and the impact on passenger safety. https://t.co/WiXUv1vkTg
Senior Assistant General Secretary Eddie Dempsey spelling out to MP's exactly why @RMTunion members believe Network Rail's £1.2 billion of planned cuts is unsafe. https://t.co/s0vSTBmEWb
Join us on Thursday @ScotParl Speak up for investment in the railway infrastructure. @RMTunion #RailCutsCostLives https://t.co/IEhVDR9fBc
Major reform of our railways is urgently needed, yet the government continues to kick plans into the long grass. Labour won’t make the same mistakes. My comments in @theipaper today👇🏻 https://t.co/MLaeOc7MxV
Railway workers to lobby Scottish Parliament over railway cuts: @RMTunion will hold a 'Rail Cuts Cost Lives' rally at Holyrood on Thursday. Total renewals expenditure for Scotland for next 5 years is £315m or 13% lower than in the previous funding period. https://t.co/n1yquBn0KH