ONE WEEK TO GO! Rail Cuts Cost Lives Campaign – Parliamentary Rallies and Lobbies of MPs and MSPs

Head Office Circular No. NP/50/24

 

To all Branches and Regional Councils

 

21^st February 2024

 

Dear Colleagues

 

ONE WEEK TO GO! Rail Cuts Cost Lives Campaign – Parliamentary Rallies and Lobbies of MPs and MSPs

 

I would like to remind branches, regional councils and members that on Wednesday 28^thFebruary and Thursday 29^th February RMT members will be holding two Parliamentary Rallies and lobbies of MPs and MSPs in both London and Edinburgh as part of our ‘Rail Cuts Cost Lives’ campaign calling on both the UK and Scottish Governments to ensure our railway has the funding it needs to run safely and effectively. 

 

Rally and Lobby of MPs in London

 

The Westminster Rally will take place on Wednesday 28^th February at 1pm at Old Palace Yard, SW1P 3JY which is opposite Parliament. We will then lobby our MPs following the rally.

 

How to lobby your MP – Six easy steps

• If you want to book a meeting with your MP then please go to https://members.parliament.uk/FindYourMP  and enter your postcode to find your MPs contact details. 
• Write a quick email to your MP making sure to include your name and addressasking them for a meeting on Wednesday 28^th February as part of the RMT’s Rail Cuts Cost Lives Campaign. 
• Alternatively on the day you can do what’s called a ‘Green Card Lobby’ where you turn up to the House of Commons reception and ask to see your MP (who may or may not be available) but will likely agree to meet you in your constituency.
• You can find a detailed lobby briefing for members here https://www.rmt.org.uk/news/public-document-library/february-2024-rail-cuts-cost210224/
• Please let our National Policy Officer Martin Abrams know if you contact your MP and get a meeting m.abrams@rmt.org.uk
• Turn up, meet your MP, ask questions and raise key points. Ask them to write to the Transport Secretary.

 

Rally and Lobby of MSPs in Edinburgh

 

The Scottish Rally will take place on Thursday 29^th February at 10:45am outside the Scottish Parliament at the main visitor’s entrance. We will then lobby our MSPs following the rally.

 

How to lobby your MSP – Five easy steps

• If you want to book a meeting with your MSPs then please go to https://www.parliament.scot/msps and enter your postcode to find your MSPs contact details. 
• Email your MSPs making sure to include your name and address letting them know you will be attending the Rally on 29th February as part of the RMT’s Rail Cuts Cost Lives Campaign and ask them to come out and meet you. 
• Please let Ann Henderson know if you contact your MSP and get a meeting A.Henderson@rmt.org.uk
• You can find a detailed lobby briefing on our website here https://www.rmt.org.uk/news/public-document-library/february-2024-rail-cuts-cost-lives210224/
• Turn up, meet your MSP, ask questions and raise key points. Ask them to write to the Cabinet Secretary for Transport – Fiona Hyslop MSP

 

If you have any questions about any of this then please do not hesitate to contact our National Policy Team on m.abrams@rmt.org.uk or 0207 529 8309

 

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