RMT UK Newsletter

Dear members, please find below the latest copy of the RMT UK newsletter:

RMT welcomes Welsh Government decision to take Transport for Wales rail services into public ownership

Wales’s largest rail union RMT today welcomed the announcement by the Welsh Government that it is to take Transport for Wales rail services into public ownership next year.

The Welsh government have made the announcement as a result of their decision to terminate the contract with private consortium KeolisAmey, who had operated Transport for Wales rail services.

The Welsh government has used its powers to appoint a public “operator of last resort” to run rail services as a result of KeolisAmey’s failure to meet it contractual obligations due to the massive drop in passenger numbers caused by Covid – 19.

However, as powers over rail passenger services are not fully devolved, UK law currently prevents the Welsh government from permanently retaining the service in public ownership. RMT is demanding the UK government to bring forward legislation to give the Welsh government powers to permanently retain the service in the public sector.

RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said;

“RMT welcomes this decision by the Welsh government and believes this is the best way to protect rail services in Wales. We will also be seeking urgent assurances that railway workers jobs and conditions will be fully protected and the railway will be properly funded.

“RMT is also seeking reassurance that rail infrastructure maintenance will also continue to be provided by the public sector as it was under Network Rail.

“There is huge public support for public ownership because privatisation and profiteering has never been an efficient way to provide value for money, and this is even more the case when extra funding has been needed during the Coronavirus pandemic.

“So as well as supporting this decision we are calling on the UK government to give the Welsh Government the necessary powers and support to ensure the railways in Wales have a safe, secure and sustainable future in public ownership.”