Transport - Janine Booth

Station Road

I live in a village with a Station Road.
It has houses with low walls
the village hall, community library
no shops, a couple of bus stops
the Parish Council office
and a Station Drive coming off it.

Neurodiversity in Rail conference 2024

Janine will be a keynote speaker at this year’s Neurodiversity in Rail conference. Here is some information from the organisers of the Neurodiversity in Rail conference, the Birmingham Centre for Railway Research and Excellence … About the Neurodiversity in Rail … Read More

Hush on the Bus

You can’t say that on the 333 Believe you me The inspector will check and kick you off the upper deck I heard some dude once said it and he had his card well marked for all to see He … Read More

Please, No!

There was I, a few minutes ago, minding my own business, awaiting the announcement of my platform at King’s Cross, when over the PA came the voice of Michael Portillo wishing the station a happy birthday. So, might I just … Read More

Clerihew: Andrew Haines

Andrew Haines carefully explains That his £593,000 pay is not a perk – He really is worth twenty of the people who do the actual work — *Chief Executive Officer of Network Rail

Clerihew: Jeremy Westlake

Jeremy Westlake has the second best take He’s in charge of the cash and makes sure he gets a big stash

Poetry & Opposition

Pompous & Opulent Prosperous & Ostentatious Profiteering & On-the-take Parsimonious & Obstinate Penny-pinching & ‘Orrible Private & Obscene Perfidious & Odious Poisonous & Objectionable Punishing & Oppressive Petition & Organise Protest & Outrage Picket & Occupy Public & Ownership.

TUC Disabled Workers Condemn P&O Sackings

The TUC’s Disabled Members’ Committee has made this statement: Accessible public transport is essential for disabled people to participate in society on an equal and independent basis. To be genuinely accessible, public transport must be adequately staffed by workers with … Read More

Women Working Shifts

At this year’s TUC Women’s Conference, one of the motions we debated was about working shifts, particularly women’s safety on late shifts. This was my contribution to the debate. You can watch the video of this speech here. I’m Janine … Read More

Night Tube Needs Better Staffing

Published in Solidarity 610, 20 October 2021. The Night Tube in London will resume on two lines from 27 November, in a move promoted as ensuring safety for women. However, the reality is more complex, and women’s safety … Read More

Speaking about Violence against Women to European Transport Trade Unionists

Janine will speak about trade union campaigns against violence against women on London Underground at a two-day conference (hybrid: in Brussels and online) organised by the European Transport workers’ Federation’s women’s committee.

Asking Sadiq Khan to improve cleaners’ pay and conditions

At Labour party conference, I spoke in the debate about local government, shortly after London Mayor Sadiq Khan had spoken. This is the second part of what I said. “I’ve worked on London Underground stations for nearly 25 years, and … Read More

Poeting for Locomotion no.1

Watch this online event on Facebook here. Locomotion No. 1 Fundraiser – Bring it home… for good! Performing at the event: 6.00pm (BST) -6.05 – Tony Stowers (introduction about the benefit) 6.05-6.20 – Nazim Khan 6.20-6.40 – Singer of the … Read More

Safety, Equality, Solidarity!

Janine is among the speakers as RMT’s London Transport Region hosts a panel focusing on women’s health and safety in the workplace, for International Workers Memorial Day. Broadcasting live on RMT London Transport Region’s channel — specific meeting details for … Read More

Disabled workers and Covid

This is the text of my contribution to the debate at TUC Disabled Workers’ Conference on 10 March 2019. Hi. I’m Janine Booth, representing RMT. Our members work in the rail, road transport, shipping and offshore energy industries. I want to … Read More

Bristol’s Brilliant Bus Boycott (1963)

Back before barring blacks became banned Bristol buses blocked brown-skinned blokes becoming buscrew But better Bristolians batted back bit the bullet and boycotted the buses Bent-backed, booted bipeds bicycled, as bitter brushes blazed between bile and benevolence Bands of brave, … Read More

How Transport Workers Beat the Colour Bar

A version of this was published in Solidarity 568: This story of colour bars in the UK railway and bus industries begins after the Second World War, when Britain had a labour shortage and people moved to Britain in increasing numbers … Read More

Going Home by Numbers

Three Bridges Seven a.m. Half moon Five platforms No trains Two queues Ten replacement buses Seven leaden workers Four going in Three going home Two more hours Until forty winks

Speaking on the Fight against Job Cuts

Janine speaks to an online audience of rail workers about the fight against job cuts. Fellow RMT activist John Pencott also speaks.

Speaking on ‘colour bars’ on the railway

Log in via Zoom here Facebook event here In 1966, Asquith Xavier became the first black guard at Euston station, overturning a “colour bar” which prevented black workers from being employed in certain grades. His struggle was not the first … Read More