20 February 2025
RMT Press Office:
The RMT Young Members Conference in Canterbury will launch the union's Apprentice Charter, a ground-breaking initiative aimed at improving wages, working conditions, and training standards for transport apprentices across the UK, on Friday.
With over 50,000 rail workers set to retire in the next five years, the Charter lays out bold demands to ensure apprenticeships are no longer treated as low-paid, insecure, and substandard roles, but as a respected and vital investment in the future of the transport industry.
Speaking ahead of the launch, RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch said: “Apprenticeships should be a gateway to highly skilled, secure jobs, but instead, too many young workers are trapped in low pay, poor training, and dead-end contracts.
"Our Apprentice Charter sets out a clear plan to fix this broken system, with better pay, guaranteed jobs, and high-quality, in-house training.
"The government and employers must step up and invest in the next generation of transport workers to help grow the economy and provide secure skilled employment for the long term.”
Key demands of the Charter include:
- Fair Pay & Conditions – Apprentices must be paid above the National Living Wage and covered by national collective bargaining agreements.
- Secure Jobs – An end to fixed-term contracts and a guarantee of permanent employment for apprentices who complete training.
- High-Quality Training – Apprenticeships must be brought back in-house, ending low-quality outsourced training.
- More Skilled Apprenticeships – At least 5,000 new railway apprentices per year are needed to fill the UK’s transport skills gap.
- Government Action – A fully funded national apprenticeship strategy must be introduced under Great British Railways (GBR) to ensure apprentices receive proper training and career progression opportunities.
RMT Senior Assistant General Secretary Eddie Dempsey and national officer responsible for young members said:
“We cannot allow apprentices to be treated as disposable, low-paid labour by unscrupulous employers.
"The RMT Apprentice Charter is a demand for respect, proper wages, and the quality training that young workers deserve.
"The industry is at a tipping point—either we invest in the next generation now, or we face a catastrophic skills shortage in the years ahead on the railway.”
And Sarah Cundy, RMT Young Members Chair, said the charter was a turning point for young workers:
She added: “Too many young workers are being left behind in a broken system.
"This charter is about dignity, fairness, and the right to a secure job.
"If you're an apprentice in transport, it's time to get involved and fight for your rights.”
END
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