Author: Paul

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Agreement reached with Engineering Train Drivers

Following months of talks between the RMT, Aslef and Tube Lines, a final offer has now been received that is acceptable to our members. This shows what unity in workforce can achieve especially when a dispute is driven by the rank and file members whose determination and strength, whether RMT or Aslef, deserves to be saluted.

This offer will now go before the RMT National Executive with a recommendation to accept

Full wording

Following our recent discussions I am writing to confirm the basis of our agreement;

1.    All current industrial action will be suspended and no further industrial action will be taken unless there is a failure to reach agreement in relation to all of the items set out below.

2.  An initial salary increase of 3.15% will be made to the relevant employees on the first available pay date following the completion        of items (3) and (4) below. This increase will be cost neutral and will be funded by the  completion of item (3) below.

3.    The following elements of the Draft ETO Regrading Initiative will be implemented with immediate effect:

·         Section 3: Crewing of Trains

·         Section 4: Assistant Train Operators (Assists)

·         Section 6: Plant Link

·         Section 8: Drinks Machine

4.     A local level Working Group will examine the practice of how meal breaks are taken and the reciprocal arrangement for staff leaving at the end of their shift. An agreed process mirroring existing methods of working will be drafted and implemented by the end of February 2017. In the event that this is not achieved then an Officer Level Meeting will take place at the first mutually agreeable date.

5.    A further salary increase of 3.15% will be paid on the first available pay date following the successful implementation of the following efficiencies as set out in the Draft ETO Regrading Initiative. This is anticipated to be by the end of May 2017 and will not be unreasonably delayed by either party .

– Section 7: Completion of Utilisation of Paid Hours work by April 2017

– Section 2: Rosters and their Implementation Dates to be agreed as per the 2010 Roster Agreement for Day and Night Link Driver by May 2017. The number of required positions will be decided following the Transplant Reorganisation and following 6.1.1.of the Main Framework Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt payments under this section will not be backdated.

3.    The review of the individual managers salary  for ‘pay compression’ will be completed by May 2017, and any recommendations implemented.

4.    Following successful implementation of the above, both ASLEF and RMT will confirm that this dispute is resolved and undertake not to raise any further dispute in relation to the pay or working arrangements for Transplant employees during the course of the current pay deal.
Transplant – Proposed ETO Regrading Initiative – updated Proposal 23 1 17 – Final for submission

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February 15th RMT Circular

FULL-TIME TRAIN OPERATORS POSITIONS, CONTRACTED HOURS AND OVERTIME RATE – NIGHT TUBE DRIVERS – LONDON UNDERGROUND (LUL/14/2)

 

The following resolution was recently received from the London Transport Regional Council:-

“This Union deplores the decision of LUL to prevent NT Drivers (TO23) from moving to full-time (TO21) positions for a period of at least 18 months. TO21 jobs are currently being advertised internally, all other staff including part-time NT Station Staff are eligible to apply, but NT Drivers are not.

 The 18 month tie in period is a direct result of the ASLEF Boxing Day agreement, which the RMT did not sign up to.

 This Union also deplores LUL’s decision not to pay NT Drivers the overtime rate for work until they exceed 35 hours, they’re contracted at 16 hours at the moment so it is unlikely they will ever achieve an OT rate. Drivers cannot do voluntary OT, so the only payments they receive are for finishing late due to service disruption, it is discriminatory for FT Drivers to get the OT rate each they finish late, but NT Drivers to never get it.

 This Region asks the NEC to declare a dispute over these discriminatory practices and to prepare a matrix to ballot all NT Drivers on these matters”.

This matter has been considered by the National Executive Committee, which has taken the decision to advice London Underground that we are in dispute over these discriminatory practices and to ballot our Night Tube Train Operator members for strike action and action short of a strike. I am currently acting in accordance with this decision and will keep Branches advised of all further developments.

 

DISPLACEMENT, TRAIN OPERATORS, CENTRAL LINE – LONDON UNDERGROUND (LUL/16/4)

Further to my previous Circular (IR/22/17, 18th January 2017) the National Executive Committee has consulted with Local Reps and the RMT Central Line East Branch and has taken the decision to call on all affected members at Hainault, Leytonstone and Loughton Traincrew Depots NOT TO BOOK ON for any shifts that commence between:-

  • 21:00 hours on Tuesday 21st February 2017 and 20:59 hours on Wednesday 22nd February 2017.

 

I urge all members to stand firm together against these unacceptable enforced displacements. This is the thin end of the wedge and London Underground must be under no illusion that Train Operators will fight against unnecessary and unfair displacements to plug gaps left by staffing shortages. I will keep Braches advised of all further developments.

 

PAY PARITY, TRANSPLANT ENGINEER TRAIN DRIVERS – TUBE LINES AP JNP (LUL/10/2)

Further to my previous Circular (IR/39/17, 31st January 2017), the Company has been advised that a dispute situation also exists due to management’s failure to guarantee that Operational Managers with an ETO licence will be included in the pay parity agreement.

I can now advise that the ballot papers will be posted to these members on Tuesday 14th February and the closing date for this ballot is Tuesday 28th February 2017. I am currently acting in accordance with this decision and will keep Branches advised of all further developments.

 Yours sincerely

Mick Cash

General Secretary

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Tube drivers to strike again on Central Line East

Tube drivers to strike again on Central Line East over cuts-led forced displacement of staff 

Following last month’s rock solid strike action against the forced displacement of Central Line Train Operators, and having consulted with local reps , RMT’s National Executive Committee has taken the decision to call on all affected members at Hainault, Leytonstone and Loughton Traincrew Depots NOT TO BOOK ON for any shifts that commence between:-‎

21:00 hours on Tuesday 21st February 2017 and 20:59 hours on Wednesday 22nd February 2017

 

RMT met with the Company on 3rd and 13th January in an effort to reach an acceptable solution to this dispute but despite the best efforts of our negotiating team, LUL has now written to RMT stating that it will be proceeding with the displacements. RMT therefore has no option but to put on further strike action to reinforce the demand that management return to talks and halt the forced and unacceptable displacements until agreement is reached.

 Mick Cash, RMT General Secretary, said:

“RMT negotiators have made strenuous efforts through the ACAS machinery to resolve this dispute but the door has been slammed in our faces. To up the ante, LUL have now written to us confirming that they will be bulldozing through the displacements regardless.

“Let us be in no doubt, if LU are allowed to get away with this move on the Central Line they will start shunting drivers around the combine at the drop of a hat regardless of the consequences. Our members will be sent out from pillar to post to plug gaps that are solely down to staffing shortages. With massive budget cuts in the pipeline at LU this is a straw in the wind as to how the company expects to operate in the future.

“Staff across London Underground are angry and the company would be wise to recognise that. This latest phase of action is on and RMT remains available for serious talks.”

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Southern make a mockery of dispute talk

General Secretary Mick Cash said;

“RMT entered today’s talks in good faith but it soon became clear that the only thing Southern were interested in was bulldozing through driver only operation further and faster with safety and access to services not even on their agenda. That pig-headed attitude has today wrecked the talks process.

“Not only have Southern refused point blank to give a guarantee on a second safety critical member of staff but the company have also made it clear that the deal set up by the TUC in the drivers’ dispute is even worse than we first expected and gives Southern a free run to kick the legs from under our members who have fought for nearly a year on the principles of safety and access.

“RMT’s negotiating team is furious at the way this union and its members have been treated. This is dire news not just for staff but for passengers who rightly demand a safe, reliable and accessible service.  I will now take a full report back to the unions exectutive. “

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Jan Inflation Rate

New Inflation Rates

 

The Office for National Statistics has published inflation figures for the twelve months to January 2017.

 

The Retail Prices Index (RPI) stood at 2.6% for the year to January 2017, up 0.1% from the year to December 2016.

 

Some private and public sector employers are attempting to sideline RPI as the measure for pay negotiations and are pushing other measures – such as CPI (1.8% for the year to January 2017, up 0.2% from the year to December 2016) or CPIH (2% for the year to January 2017, up 0.3% from the year to December 2016). These alternative inflation measures are not appropriate for pay negotiations as they are an inaccurate measure of workers’ average costs over the year.

 

Any attempts by an employer to link pay awards to CPI or CPIH must be opposed and logged with the National Policy Department.

 

Further information will follow in the Pay Bulletin and I would be grateful if you could bring this Circular to the attention of all Branch members.

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

Mick Cash

General Secretary

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Unions demand action from spycops inquiry following Met Police shredding of evidence

Joint Union Statement 

We the undersigned are outraged at the news that despite court orders to the contrary, the Metropolitan Police Service has destroyed evidence required for use in the Undercover Policing Public Inquiry. State spying on trade unions and political campaigns is a human rights scandal that affects millions of British citizens.

Despite continued reassurances, the Pitchford Inquiry has failed to secure the documents that will be central to the investigation. Trade union core participants are beginning to question whether the Inquiry team has the ability to stop the police from obstructing the pursuit of justice. Lord Justice Pitchford needs to act now to restore our faith.

We are calling on Lord Justice Pitchford to announce an urgent Inquiry hearing to examine the destruction of evidence by the police. The Commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe should be forced to give evidence under oath to explain why, how and under whose authority documents have been destroyed.

Lord Justice Pitchford needs to take immediate measures to secure all documentation held by the police, in order to prevent future destruction and avoid the entire inquiry descending into a hugely expensive cover-up on the part of the Metropolitan Police.

SIGNED:

Len McCluskey (General Secretary) and Gail Cartmail (Acting General Secretary) UNITE the Union, incorporating UCATT 

Matt Wrack (General Secretary) Fire Brigades Union

Chris Kitchen (General Secretary) National Union of Mineworkers

Tim Roache (General Secretary) GMB union 

Mick Cash (General Secretary) Rail Maritime and Transport union 

Michelle Stanistreet (General Secretary) National Union of Journalists 

Dave Smith and Roy Bentham (joint secretaries) Blacklist Support Group

 

Blacklist Support Group

book: http://newint.org/books/politics/blacklisted-secret-war/

video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNcgrNs6pB8

facebook: http://www.facebook.com/groups/blacklistSG/

blog: www.hazards.org/blacklistblog

 

 

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ROLE OF THE GUARD & EXTENSION OF DOO – SOUTHERN (GTR)

ROLE OF THE GUARD & EXTENSION OF DOO – SOUTHERN (GTR)

I write further to my Circular (IR/26/17) dated 20th January 2017 and to my Circular dated 4th February 2017, in which I informed you of the shocking and historical betrayal of our conductor members at the hands of the TUC, ASLE&F and Southern management.

Firstly, I would like to thank and congratulate our members for their continued determination in opposing DOO and defending the safety critical role of the guard. Additionally, I would like to express thanks to all those who took industrial action on the 23rd January 2017 and to all those who voiced their opinions and attended the meeting of representatives and members held at three bridges on Sunday 29th January 2017.

I can confirm that we have been in contact with Southern and once the deal with ASLE&F had been announced we requested a copy of the proposals from the company, who unacceptably did not reply or provide a copy of the document until Monday 6th February, three days later. Over the weekend it was proposed by Southern that talks should take place under the auspices of Acas and the union should meet with the company on Tuesday or Wednesday this week. However, I was deeply surprised and concerned to be told by Acas officials that Southern are not available for any talks until Next Monday (13th February). I was then informed yesterday, that they are unavailable for talks until Tuesday 14th February 2017.  Nevertheless, I have informed them that as always we are prepared to meet and will be doing so on Tuesday 14th February at Acas.

I am appalled at the company’s evasive behaviour and blatant attempts at stalling meaningful talks, particularly, at such an important and sensitive time. It is without doubt that Southern are more concerned with pushing through and ensuring a deal with the drivers is concluded before our union gets the opportunity to get round the table and focus on a deal for our members who have been at the centre of this dispute.

It has been publicly declared by certain parties to the deal which was tabled and agreed at the TUC talks that it secures a second safety critical member of staff on “every train” and “…guarantees a second person on Southern Trains”. Therefore, I have challenged the company to confirm that this is their full interpretation of the same agreement. Additionally, we have requested that our Reps be released to meet with the National Executive Committee and National Officers to discuss the dispute.

I would be most grateful if you could bring the contents of this Circular to the attention of your members.

Yours sincerely

Mick Cash

General Secretary

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February 3rd RMT Circular

STATION STAFFING & SAFETY ARRANGEMENTS, POST-IMPLEMENTATION OF FIT FOR THE FUTURE – LONDON UNDERGROUND (LUL/14/5)

 ALL ACTION IS SUSPENDED – MEMBERS TO WORK AS NORMAL

Further to my previous Circular (IR/39/17, 31st January 2017), our RMT negotiating team has been in intensive talks with LUL at ACAS to try to reach an agreement in respect of Station Staffing since Fit for the Future was implemented last year. A proposal has now been received from the Company and the details can be found on our website.

This has been considered by the National Executive Committee, which has congratulated our negotiating team for the outstanding progress made and taken the decision to inform the Company that ALL INDUSTRIAL ACTION IS SUSPENDED, subject to the satisfactory implementation of the commitments contained in the letter. All RMT Stations & Revenue members should therefore report for work and undertake all duties as normal.

It has only been possible to reach this position as a result of the 100% support we have received from Stations & Revenue members throughout this dispute. The overtime and rest day working ban had a massive impact and clearly demonstrated the need for more staff across the network and the strike action on the 9th and 10th January showed tremendous solidarity from all members.

RMT will of course remain vigilant and our Reps will be closely monitoring the implementation of the agreement. I will keep Branches advised of any further developments.

Yours sincerely

Mick Cash

General Secretary

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GENERAL SECRETARY’S STATEMENT TO THE PRESS ON THE BETRAYAL OF OUR CONDUCTOR MEMBERS

GENERAL SECRETARY’S STATEMENT TO THE PRESS ON THE BETRAYAL OF OUR CONDUCTOR MEMBERS IN THE TUC LED AGREEMENT

ROLE OF THE GUARD & EXTENSION OF DOO – SOUTHERN (GTR)

 I have today put out a Press statement condemning the agreement reached in the TUC led discussions by the TUC itself, ASLE&F and Southern management, an agreement that will allow the company to run trains under DOO mode. The statement is as follows:-

“This so-called agreement is a shocking and historical betrayal presided over by the TUC of not only the conductor grade and drivers, but also passengers, including disabled passengers, who have lost the guarantee of a second member of staff on their trains.

This abysmal document lists a whole host of areas where a train can leave without a second member of staff that will leave both the driver and passengers exposed and vulnerable and which also represents a thin end of the wedge that will lead to the de-staffing of trains.

Loyal and dedicated conductors, who have fought for safety for over a year have had the legs kicked from under them by those who are supposed to be on their side. Passengers and staff alike have been sold out by a stitch up cooked up in Congress House by the TUC and the bosses whilst Southern, one of the most anti-union and hated companies of recent times, is laughing all the way to the bank and have been given a free run to rip up the safety rule book in the name of profits.

This is not a deal it is a disgrace and the RMT dispute remains on and we will fight this shocking betrayal with every tool at our disposal.

We remain available for talks”

I will keep you advised of developments as they happen.

Mick Cash

General Secretary.

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LUL Track & Signals Sunday to Thursday

Last year the union negotiated a deal whereby staff got a one off payment of £500 for the implementation of Night Tube. That has now happened.

The deal was based on people staying on existing rosters and allowed for time off from work being accrued.

During this period, the one off payment was reduced from £750 to £500. This was partly because the impact was reduced

Now we see the company on SSL where there is no planned start date for Night Tube, looking for people to volunteer. We have rightly therefore asked for an incentive as the company rightly agreed that our members can stay on ‘existing rosters and also allowed for time off from work to be accrued’.

However what we now find is that they want it for FREE and they want volunteers.

The reality is that track staff on Infraco JNP get four extra days off per year and we have said to the company there should at least have parity with those fellow workers.

So let’s be honest, they cut the money offered to us and then try to sneak Sunday to Thursday in through the back door. Thats not acceptable and we will be bringing this to a head in the next two months.

If they want a change then they are going to have to offer something to make it worth considering. Therefore if any of you are asked to volunteer, please refer them to you rep

 

UNITY IS STRENGTH

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RMT on "‎rail fares overhaul"

RMT on “‎rail fares overhaul”

General Secretary Mick Cash said;

“This is an open admission by Britain’s private train companies and the Government that they have been ripping off the travelling public for over two decades.

“If we want a fair deal on fares then that means keeping ticket offices open, keeping staff on the stations and platforms and nationalising our railways into one publicly owned body with one pricing structure.

“The proposals from the train companies today are just pure window dressing from the same old racketeers who have been plundering our railways since privatisation.”

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Engineering Train Operator Dispute

Yesterday the RMT attended Acas with our sister union, Aslef.

The intention was to finalise the agreement that we have been working on since May 2016 and there was very little outstanding to resolve. Unfortunately the talks have completely collapsed as LUL have now stated that they wish to discuss job losses and our previously worked proposals were now invalid.

 

Transplant – Proposed ETO Regrading Initiative – updated Proposal 23 1 17 – Final for submission

 

Original Acas Proposal

 

At the meeting the RMT and Aslef stated:

  • That the RMT and trade union position was that they would not allow a situation whereby people were made redundant to fund a payrise. This was completely rejected.
  • That the company was again deliberately moving the goal posts and that they needed to be honest, they either wanted to ‘do a deal’ or they didn’t. This was also perceived as an attempt to further delay talks by introducing a proposal that would take months to discuss
  • The RMT and Aslef proposal had given them every productivity that they had asked for.
  • That basically the company are ripping up the previous proposals and saying ‘screw you’
  • We continually asked them, that on the basis of a company proposal to link job redundancies to a payrise was completely unacceptable, and given that we was at a dispute resolution meeting, how did they intend to solve this issue. They could not answer
  • We informed them that our members would therefore answer for them with their action over the next few weeks and months and we will then see how the company feel
  • There are no further meetings planned on this dispute.

The company stated that they are going to table these job losses at the Tube Lines Company Council which we believe the first available time slot is approximately March 2017.

Our response will be from our members starting this Friday when their Industrial Action will commence. We expect there to be serious impacts and we are dismayed that our members have been forced into this position when there was a deal there ready to be signed off.

We will remain available to talk should there be a change of heart from the company

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