17th August 2018 Circular No: IR/372/18
Dear Colleague,
REMOVAL OF DETRAINMENT STAFF, WATERLOO, WATERLOO & CITY LINE – LONDON UNDERGROUND (LUL/14/10)
Further to my previous Circular (IR/340/18, 27th July 2018), the ballot closed with the following result:-
Question: Are you prepared to take industrial action short of a strike?
Number of individuals who were entitled to vote in the ballot: 67
Number of votes cast in the ballot: 53
Number of individuals answering “Yes” to the question: 53
Number of individuals answering “No” to the question: 0
Number of spoiled or otherwise invalid voting papers returned: 0
This matter has been considered by the National Executive Committee, which has congratulated members on the magnificent 100% yes vote to take industrial action.
The NEC has taken the decision to instruct all Train Operator and Instructor Operator members at Leytonstone Traincrew Depot to take industrial action and not to enter the sidings to reverse until the train has been physically checked and doors closed on porter buttons from 00:01 hours on Sunday 9th September 2018, until further notice.
While we remain available for talks to resolve this dispute, we cannot accept the Company’s dangerous cost-cutting plans to remove detrainment staff from the Waterloo and City Line at Waterloo Station. I will keep Branches advised of all further developments.
CANTEEN CLOSURE, HARROW, METROPOLITAN LINE – LONDON UNDERGROUND (LUL/8/13)
Further to my previous Circular (IR/355/18, 9th August 2018), I wrote to the Company giving two options, either to reinstate the canteen at Harrow or make arrangements for members to take booked meal breaks in other staff canteen location on the Metropolitan Line. The Company has now replied and refused to meet either of these options or provide any alternative solution.
The National Executive Committee has considered this matter and finds the company position sets an unacceptable precedent for members across the network. The NEC has taken the decision to arrange a meeting of our H&S and IR Reps from the Metropolitan Line, Neasden Branch Officers, Trains Safety Council and the Lead Officer. I will keep Branches advised of all further developments.
TFL TRANSFORMATION (TFL/15/4)
Further to my previous Circular (IR/277/18, 20th June 2018), the following resolution has been received from our LU Fleet Branch:-
“In regard to the removal of Fleet Materials members to Network, Planning and Services under Transformation; our brothers and sisters within Fleet Materials have been summarily removed from Fleet and placed into Network, Planning and Services without any notice or consultation, despite assurances given that Fleet members would not be affected by Transformation.
Having been told in mitigation that the machinery will remain unchanged, it takes little more than a desultory review to clearly see multiple scenarios which would now see them divided from their Fleet comrades during disputes.
We view this action as an attack on all Fleet members in an attempt to mollify future actions and we must not stand by and allow our Fleet brothers and sisters to be moved to a business area under attack from cuts due to austerity without any consultation or agreement. What is to say this is the extent of the vision in order to circumvent previous assurances?
This divisive action serves only to undermine our members’ position, having stood firmly with their Fleet comrades through any number of hard fought disputes and the time has now come for all Fleet grades to reciprocate that support.
We demand that all materials members who have been removed from Fleet be immediately returned to their pre-Transformation status of Fleet staff. Any further consultation upon their status will only be undertaken upon this action and with their full consent”.
This matter has been considered by the National Executive Committee, which has taken the decision to seek an urgent meeting with the company to raise our concerns and objections with the aim of full reintegration of our Fleet Materials Stores members back into the Fleet family. I am acting in accordance with this decision and will keep Branches advised of all further developments.
VENDOR MANAGED INVENTORY SYSTEM, FLEET MATERIALS – LUL (LUL/15/9)
The following resolution has been received from our LU Fleet Branch:-
“In regard to the removal of Vendor Managed Inventory from Fleet Materials; approximately one year ago, our brothers and sisters within Fleet Materials were asked to trial a system called Vendor Managed Inventory. This system involved outside suppliers taking over management of stock control on items such as nuts and bolts held within the Stores. Despite clear reservations of their core work being outsourced to private companies, they were persuaded to get on board with this system in the promise that other (more technical) work was being created as part of their role.
Roll on one year later and the entire scope of VMI has completely changed. It would appear that any and every avenue for items to be contracted out is being exhausted, which in turn is completely eroding the role of a storeman; even the (more technical) work which was promised has failed to materialise!
It has become abundantly clear that privatisation by stealth is being employed in a furtive attempt to remove the necessity of Materials members to manage their own inventory. Furthermore, having also been summarily removed from Fleet into Network, Planning and Services; a business area under attack from cuts due to austerity without any consultation or agreement, the true proposed future for our Fleet Materials members is beginning to reveal itself. What is to say this is the extent of the division within Fleet, in order to circumvent previous agreements and assurances?
This management stream’s deceitful action in order to gain members confidence has resulted in an atmosphere of suspicion, distrust and mistrust. This surreptitious attack on our brothers and sister in Fleet Materials will not and must not be tolerated.
We demand an immediate end to all VMI and associated outsourcing of core Materials work to external contractors”.
This matter has been considered by the National Executive Committee, which has taken the decision to seek an urgent meeting with the company to raise our concerns and objections with the view of an immediate end to all VMI and associated outsourcing of core Materials work to external contractors. I am acting in accordance with this decision and will keep Branches advised of all further developments.
RATES OF PAY & CONDITIONS OF SERVICE 2018 – EXTERION MEDIA (LUL/0001/EM)
In line with union policy, a pay claim for an increase in pay and improved terms and conditions was submitted to the company. The Regional Organiser has met with them and the following offer has been tabled:-
- A 2% increase, backdated to 1st April 2018
- A 2% increase, from 1st April 2019
Following a consultation of affected members, the Lead Officer submitted a report to the National Executive Committee, which noted the unacceptable below inflation pay offer. The NEC has taken the decision to inform the Company of our rejection of their derisory offer and that a dispute situation now exists between our organisations.
I am currently acting in accordance with this decision and in the meantime, would be grateful for all Branches to ensure members’ job details and postal addresses are correct in preparation for a ballot for industrial action.
Yours sincerely
Mick Cash
General Secretary