Why trade unions support Crossrail
As with business, the trade union movement recognises the vital role Crossrail will play in the economic development and regeneration of London and the wider national economy. Trade unions are also fully aware of the business opportunities for manufacturing, construction and related sectors that will in turn support, secure and create skilled jobs in the national economy.
Brendan Barber, General Secretary
TUC
The TUC recognises the integral role Crossrail can play in the economic development and regeneration in London. Crossrail will provide an essential communication and transport network for business and industry in the region and potentially provides business opportunities for manufacturing, construction and related sectors supporting jobs growth across the region.
Keith Norman, General Secretary
ASLEF
As the union representing the UK's train drivers, ASLEF is always delighted to see an expanded rail network. As a union with environmental awareness, we are always pleased to see alternatives to wasteful road traffic in jammed city streets. As an organisation with many of our members based in the capital we welcome all initiatives to ensure speedy, safe and clean ways of helping passengers across London. The concept of Crossrail meets all our criteria and we wish the project well.
Tony Woodley, General Secretary
T&G Section of Unite - the Union
Everyone who lives and works in London knows that our transport infrastructure is a generation behind what is needed. Crossrail would be a huge step towards redressing that situation - it would ease Central London congestion while boosting east London regeneration.
Bob Crow, General Secretary
RMT
Crossrail makes sense from every angle. It will help ease overcrowding on other routes, get more people off the roads and onto public transport and give the capital a massive economic boost. But we need to learn the lessons from a decade of rail and Tube privatisation and ensure that Crossrail is a public project in every sense, publicly run and publicly accountable, and with rolling stock built in Britain to help rescue our skilled train-making industry. A modern, high-capacity and affordable rail network is not a luxury, it is essential for the economy and the environment, and we hope the government will use the momentum to work quickly towards a new high-speed north-south link as well.
Derek Simpson, General Secretary, Amicus Section of Unite - the Union
Crossrail is a vital national infrastructure project that will allow all Londoners to share in the capital's regeneration and development. It will also support UK industry and help create jobs in construction and engineering. We are looking to all parties to come to the table as soon as possible and hammer out a funding package to prevent any stalling of this project.
Jennie Bremner, Amicus' Assistant General Secretary & Regional Secretary for London & South East England
London needs Crossrail. Without it, those Londoners that most need the employment opportunities that the eastward expansion and the Olympics will bring, will not be able to benefit from them. Crossrail must be delivered if the jobs, investment and development potential of the capital are to be realised.
Jim McAuslan, General Secretary, British Airline Pilots' Association (BALPA)
Our own systems need serious updating and the Aviation White Paper was a major step ahead. But transport doesn't stop when passengers disembark and being well connected to a nation's ground transport system is a must in this day and age, especially if that nation is to be at a competitive advantage. Crossrail is a vital national infrastructure project. It would almost half the journey from Heathrow to Canary Wharf, from around 70 minutes on the tube or 90 minutes in a taxi now to 43 minutes on Crossrail. And it will ensure jobs do not go abroad.
Paul Kenny, General Secretary, GMB
Crossrail is a very exciting project. The benefits it will bring to the economy will be felt across Britain, delivering more jobs and investment in infrastructure. It will also provide a fast link across the capital linking East to West London; speeding up journey times and increasing the public transport network.
Jeremy Dear, General Secretary, NUJ
Crossrail is a vital national infrastructure project. It will help regenerate deprived parts of London like Whitechapel.
Steve Kemp, National Secretary, NUM
Crossrail is a vital national infrastructure project. It is needed to safeguard jobs by ensuring they do not go abroad. It will also regenerate some of the most deprived parts of the UK like Whitechapel.
Gerry Doherty, General Secretary, The Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA)
The TSSA has long campaigned for improvements in public transport in general and rail links in particular. We support Crossrail because it will make a major contribution towards the delivery of the improvements needed for travel into and across the centre of London. We therefore congratulate both the Government and TfL for their efforts to deliver Crossrail as an integral part of a transport system capable of meeting the future needs of the capital and supporting the future growth of London.
Alan Ritchie, General Secretary, UCATT
Crossrail will underpin thousands of construction jobs in the UK, not just because of the scale of the project - but even more so - because of the amount of regeneration and development it enables along the route. This will be good for the construction industry but it will also create jobs and homes for people who need them most, breaking down the barriers that perpetuate poverty. UCATT is campaigning for Crossrail to be built as soon as possible and to the highest standards of Health & Safety and terms and conditions for the construction workers on the project.
Dave Prentis, General Secretary, UNISON
If the Government is serious about tackling climate change it must invest in projects like Crossrail. The scheme has the added advantage of helping to regenerate one of the poorest areas in the country and at the same time boosting jobs and competitiveness.
John Hannett, General Secretary, USDAW
Crossrail is a vital national infrastructure project. It is needed to safeguard jobs by ensuring they do not go abroad. It will also regenerate some of the most deprived parts of the UK like Whitechapel.