OFFICIAL CIRCULAR
TO ALL BRANCHES AND REPRESENTATIVES
ALL UNDERGROUND AND FORMER LT EMPLOYERS
12th September 2018 Circular No: IR/403/18
Dear Colleague,
BREAKDOWN IN INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS, TRAIN OPERATORS, PICCADILLY LINE – LONDON UNDERGROUND (LUL/14/2)
Further to my previous Circular (IR/314/18, 16th July 2018) when the previous strike action dates were suspended, Branches will recall that further work was necessary towards the implementation of the promises that the Company gave in the Offer of Agreement.
We were of course hopeful that these talks would go smoothly and the dispute would be fully resolved but regrettably, management are up to their old tricks again and have not come good on the assurances related to this dispute concerning Driver Numbers; Pressure on Drivers from Service Control Management; Release of Reps for TU Duties and Application of the Attendance and Disciplinary Policies.
The National Executive Committee has therefore considered this matter again and taken the decision to call on all Piccadilly Line Driver members to take strike action by not booking on for any shifts that commence between:-
- 12:00 hours on Wednesday 26th September 2018 and 12:00 hours on Friday 28th September 2018
- 20:30 hours on Friday 28th September 2018 and 01:30 hours on Saturday 29th September 2018
It is unacceptable for members to be treated in the same manner which led to this dispute in the first place and for agreements made in trust and good faith by our Reps to be totally disregarded by management. I will keep Branches advised of all further developments.
BREAKDOWN IN INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS, TRAIN OPERATORS, CENTRAL LINE – LONDON UNDERGROUND (LUL/14/2)
Industrial relations on the Central Line have been deteriorating now for some time, a situation which is exacerbated by Senior Line Management acting in a hostile manner and obstructing our Reps in their efforts to seek a resolution and improve conditions for all Drivers on the Central Line. Despite several meetings with the Company having taken place, there has been no progress made and the consensus from affected members is that this situation now represents a breakdown in industrial relations and cannot continue any longer.
The issues which form this dispute are: breaches of our local agreements; undue pressure on Drivers from Service Control management who routinely treat Driver members with contempt for adhering to the framework agreements – a review of communications and service recovery was promised two years ago but has never materlialised; obstruction of our representatives’ trade union duties by refusing release requests and meeting requests; misuse of the attendance at work policy with reports of management harassing members who are fit and at work and raising historic issues; inadequate welfare facilities, especially for Night Tube Drivers.
The National Executive Committee has taken the decision to ballot all Central Line Train Operators, Night Tube Train Operators and Instructor Operators over this issue and I am currently making the necessary preparations for the ballot to commence. I will keep Branches advised of all further developments.
DISMISSAL, P. BAILEY – LONDON UNDERGROUND (LUL/4/1)
Further to my previous Circular (IR/277/18, 20th June 2018), Branches will recall that RMT member and Union Learning Rep Paul Bailey has been dismissed from his position as a Train Operator at Leytonstone Traincrew Depot in a manner which calls into question the integrity of the entire drugs and alcohol policy and testing regime.
Throughout this case there have been numerous failings by the Company in the application of the disciplinary procedure and it is clear to the Union that the facts of this case have been grossly misinterpreted by the Company and evidence provided has been ignored. The appeal hearing officer was not impartial having previously investigated and conducted grievances raised by Paul over the same disciplinary process leading to his dismissal. Also the ‘factual’ findings in the appeal outcome letter only serve to further confuse the situation. The appeal hearing resulted in the dismissal being upheld and the Company has so far refused any further review into this case.
Remember, if management are allowed to get away with this kind of behaviour and sack members at will, by making up the facts and procedures as they go along to suit themselves, it leaves all members at risk of being the next victim.
The National Executive Committee has taken the decision to ballot all Central Line Train Operators, Night Tube Train Operators and Instructor Operators over this issue and I am currently making the necessary preparations for the ballot to commence. I will keep Branches advised of all further developments.
Yours sincerely
Mick Cash
General Secretary