14th June 2017 Circular No: IR/247/17
Dear Colleagues,
FIXED TERM CONTRACTS, WORKSHOP STAFF, PICCADILLY LINE – TUBE LINES (LUL/13/2)
Further to my previous Circular (IR/215/17, 24th May 2017), members will recall the dispute situation over Tube Lines’ intention to recruit 35 new staff to work in workshops on the Piccadilly Line on a 2 year fixed term contract. The Union is opposed to this introduction of a two-tier workforce as it will impact upon job security and represents a casualisation of current members’ work. The Union’s position is that all new staff within the Company should be directly employed permanent staff.
The ballot papers will be posted to affected Tube Lines members at Northfields Depot and Cockfosters Depot today and the closing date for the ballot is Tuesday 4th July 2017. If any member does not receive their ballot paper, please ask them to call the Freephone helpline on 0800 376 3706, the switchboard on 0207 387 4771 or e-mail info@rmt.org.uk to request a replacement.
DISCIPLINARY, L. CORNELL, S. SOUISSI & D. SHARP – LONDON BRIDGE – LONDON UNDERGROUND (LUL/4/4)
Further to my previous Circular (IR/204/17, 17th May 2017), the ballot has concluded and the results are as follows:-
The result for strike action is as follows:-
Number of members balloted… 3,743
Total Votes Cast… 1,290 (34.4% turnout)
Number Voting ‘Yes’… 1,039 (80% but only 28% of members balloted)
Number Voting ‘No’… 249
Spoilt Papers 2
The 40% and 50% thresholds were both not met.
The result for action short of strike is as follows:-
Number of members balloted… 3,743
Total Votes Cast… 1,290 (34.4% turnout)
Number Voting ‘Yes’… 1,112 (86.7% but only 30% of members balloted)
Number Voting ‘No’… 171
Spoilt Papers 7
The 40% and 50% thresholds were both not met.
As you will see from the above, the ballot returned a definite ‘yes’ vote in favour of taking industrial action but the result does not meet the new legal thresholds for turnouts where 50% of members balloted must cast their vote and 40% of members balloted must vote ‘yes’. This means that regrettably, we do not have a mandate to call members to take any industrial action.
It is now more important than ever that EVERY MEMBER RETURNS THEIR VOTING PAPER to make sure that we are not prevented from acting on members’ wishes by the draconian anti-trade union laws.
This matter has been considered by the National Executive Committee and I am currently acting in accordance with its decision to seek release and arrange a meeting of all LU Stations IR and H&S Reps. I will keep Branches advised of all further developments.
PROPOSED TRANSFER OF ENGINEERING, MAJOR PROJECTS, PMO AND CHANGE DELIVERY ACTIVITY FROM LONDON UNDERGROUND LIMITED (LUL) TO TRANSPORT FOR LONDON (TFL) (TFL/15/10)
Further to my previous Circular (IR/156/17, 5th April 2017), further discussions have taken place with the Company and this matter was referred to ACAS last month but the National Executive Committee has noted reports that there are issues which are still not rectified. As a result, the NEC has taken the decision to prepare a ballot matrix of all affected London Underground members in both APD & CPD, advise the Company that we are now in dispute over the issues and proceed to a ballot for industrial action if no resolution to this unsatisfactory situation is agreed.
I am currently acting in accordance with this decision and will keep Branches advised of all further developments.
Yours sincerely