Author: Paul

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Meet the General Secretary Candidates: Steve Hedley

Dear colleagues,

 

I am standing for the position of General Secretary and would ask that your branch considers supporting my nomination.

I am the current Senior Assistant General Secretary of our great union and have done this job for 6 years.Before that I was a
assistant  General Secretary for over two years a regional organiser for four years ,a regional council and branch secretary, a tier two and local rep. All in all I’ve spent 32 years  in the service of our members in the RMT/NUR and have represented all grades in  some capacity in that time.

 

In Standing for RMT General Secretary I wish to make it clear from the outset that I will be fighting my campaign on policies not personalities.

 

I will not attack my opponents and would ask all my supporters to refrain from destructive personal attacks.

 

When this is all over we need to rebuild unity with everyone in our great union to fight the massive attacks coming our way .

 

 

I’m standing for a members led union where as General Secretary (servant of the members)I will work closely with the NEC, officers and reps to defend jobs, safety, terms and conditions and pay.

 

I want the RMT leading the trade union movement industrially and politically.

 

I want our union free from influences in the TUC and Labour Party who want to stifle action and instead promote partnership with the very bosses who are attacking us. The Covid crisis has provided the government with a smokescreen to attack us and the whole union movement,we must build the largest possible coalition of unions ,trades councils, community, disabled and passenger groups to defend ourselves against this.

 

I know the right wing establishment hate me and I see this as a badge of honour. I also know they fear me as someone who will fight to the end to defend our members and our class.I am expecting them to attack and slander me during the General Secretary campaign and whilst this won’t be pleasant with your support we will prevail.

 

Since becoming Senior Assistant General Secretary I have not taken a pay rise but have  donated around £15,000 pounds a year to our RMT fighting fund instead.If elected General Secretary I again  will not take a pay rise and will keep donating to our strike fund .In my opinion if a Union leader takes a huge pay cheque they forget what it’s like for our members and this is why I don’t now and never will do that .

 

We as workers are in an unprecedented situation we need a clear militant industrial strategy to beat off  the forthcoming government attacks .We need to call on all forces friendly to the workers movement to fight by our side .Most of all we need unity in our own union and someone able to inspire our members and make them believe they can win.

 

I have a track record of 32 years union activity always at the forefront of the struggle.The bosses will fear me as General Secretary as they know I cannot be bought or intimidated.

 

I am not motivated by money or ego but by love of the working class and a burning desire to better the lives of all our members. For these reasons I humbly ask that you support me in the General Secretary’s election.

 

Yours sincerely

 

Steve Hedley
Senior Assistant General Secretary

 

 

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RMT CONTRIBUTION RATES 2021

RMT CONTRIBUTION RATES 2021
As you know, the cost of providing members with the benefits of RMT membership increases every year and contribution rates increase in line with inflation to help us to maintain and improve those benefits and services.
With effect from the 1st January 2021 members whose basic salary or equivalent earnings are above £23,200 per annum will pay £5.30 per week
Members whose basic salary or equivalent earnings are below £23,200 per annum will pay £2.28 per week
The new contribution rates effective from 1st January 2021 will be:
      
Period
Full Rate
Low Rate
Weekly
£ 5.30
 £ 2.28
4 Weekly
£ 21.20
 £ 9.12
Monthly
£ 22.97
 £ 9.88
                                         
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Spycops public inquiry finally starts

After a five and a half year delay, the public inquiry into the abuses carried out by the UK’s undercover political police has finally started. 
The Blacklist Support Group plus the three unions in the inquiry; UNITE, FBU and NUM will be making their opening statements on Friday 6th November. Watch all the union strand opening statements via this link: https://www.ucpi.org.uk/hearing/opening-statements-5/
10:00 AM
James Scobie QC (Core Participants represented by Paul Heron)
12:15 PM
Ruth Brander (Non-Police, Non-State Core Participant Group)
2:00 PM
Lord Hendy QC (Fire Brigades Union and Unite [Category E Core Participants])
3:45 PM
Gareth Pierce (National Union of Mineworkers [Category E Core Participant])
4:15 PM
Dave Smith (Blacklist Support Group [Category E Core Participant])
Some of the press coverage so far:
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RMT General Secretary Announces his early retirement

LUEngineering Branch is saddened to hear that Mick Cash has decided to retire early.

 

We have asked him to take some time and reconsider his position but ultimately, it is a decision that he has made and we therefore have to accept his wishes.

 

Our branch has told Mick that he is always welcome to attend our meetings and we hope he comes to our branch socials in future and happier times.

 

We wish him all the best for the future

 

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LUL Circular 3rd November 2020

WORKING CONDITIONS, HAMMERSMITH SERVICE CONTROL CENTRE – LONDON UNDERGROUND – (LUL/14/2)
 
Further to my previous (Circular IR/391/20, 1st  October 2020) and following the recent vote in favour of taking industrial action in this dispute the Lead Officer and Representatives held further dispute resolution talks with LUL but a number of key issues and questions that were raised were not addressed. These included a failure to provide the necessary detail and assurances regarding members’ working conditions and as a result the Lead Officer and Reps had planned to call for Industrial Action.
 
On Saturday 24th October the Lead Officer received correspondence from LUL that point by point answered the demands that RMT had put to them as necessary following the outcome of our earlier dispute meeting. The dispute from the very beginning has been over LUL’s refusal to act and address the varied and serious facility issues and management of Health and Safety at Hammersmith Service Control Centre. Nothing less than LUL’s complete commitment to rectifying these issues would be acceptable and the measures LUL have now agreed to take will be subject to our Representatives’ full consultation and oversight.
 
The outcome we now have, our demands met in full and with the requisite detail and Union oversight, has been achieved through our members’ voice and the mandate they gave in the ballot for Industrial Action. Without members voicing their commitment for the right to a safe and dignified workplace this victory would not have been possible.
 
Our National Executive Committee has met to consider two reports from the Lead Officer. The NEC has congratulated the members involved on their determination to ensure a safe workplace. RMT remains in dispute with LUL and with a mandate for Industrial Action, the NEC have instructed that a meeting is convened of LUL Service Control L2/T2 Reps, NEC and myself in attendance to discuss the progress made in this dispute.
 
I have been instructed to begin the process of engagement offered by LUL to ensure that our demands are met in full and by the dates provided. The Lead Officer will be making the necessary arrangements for this important work to begin and ensure the outcome members want.
 
As I have mentioned above, the position we are in now is down to members and the mandate they gave their Representatives in voting to take Industrial Action. The Representatives will remain engaged in this dispute and in ensuring that LUL meet the commitments they were given so that members at Hammersmith Service Control Centre have the safe and dignified workplace they are entitled to.
 
I trust this keeps you fully advised and I will provide updates on all future developments.
 
REORGANISATION AND JOB CUTS – SODEXO (TFL CONTRACT) (LUL/15/4)
 
Further to my previous Circular (IR/383/20, 24th September 2020), Sodexo has now given formal notice that it will make 30 redundancies out of its total workforce of 108 with the process concluding the week prior to Christmas, while it will also continue with its reorganisation plans.
 
It is a disgraceful way to treat a workforce, some of whom have worked for Sodexo for over 20 years, while the company makes millions of pounds of profits every year. And, despite the best efforts of our RMT representatives and Regional Organiser, Sodexo has refused to even delay the redundancy and reorganisation process to allow for further discussions to take place on the matter.
 
The National Executive Committee has considered this matter again and instructed me to inform Sodexo that an industrial dispute now exists between our organisations, and to commence with a ballot for strike action of Sodexo members.
 
The ballot will commence shortly and I would be grateful for Branches to ensure that all Sodexo members’ details including job title, workplace, home and e-mail address are correct. I will keep Branches advised of all further developments.
 
WORKING TIMETABLE 44/45 (WT44), TRAIN OPERATORS, BAKERLOO LINE
LONDON UNDERGROUND (LUL/14/2)
 
Further to my previous Circular (IR/474/19, 22nd November 2019), the National Executive Committee recently considered an update report from the Lead Officer and noted that these matters are no longer in dispute and were overtaken by the introduction of Covid working. The National Executive Committee also commended our Train Operator members and Reps for their refusal to accept the imposition of WT44/45.
 
DISMISSAL, K. LAWLOR, DRIVER, ARNOS GROVE – LONDON UNDERGROUND (LUL/4/1)
 
Further to my previous Circular (IR/023/20, 15th January 2020), Brother Ken Lawlor has now been reinstated to his substantive role as a Train Operator and this issue is now resolved. The National Executive Committee extends its congratulations to the Lead Officer, our LUL Train Reps and Bro. Lawlor for achieving this outcome.
 
TEMPORARY SALARY REDUCTION, COVID-19 – MACE (TFL CONTRACT) (LUL/9/17)
 
Further to my previous Circular (IR/143/20, 22nd April 2020), the National Executive Committee has considered a report from the Lead Officer that the proposed pay cut from MACE only applied to senior management and does not affect our members.
 
FURLOUGH ARRANGEMENTS, CORONAVIRUS – WILSON JAMES (EAL CABLE CAR SECURITY CONTRACT) – TFL (TFL/14/3)
 
Further to my previous Circular (IR/159/20, 1st May 2020), the National Executive Committee noted a report from the Lead Officer that only one manager was furloughed, and thanked the Lead Officer for his conclusion of this matter.
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LONDON UNDERGROUND COVID-19 CHARTER

LONDON UNDERGROUND COVID-19 CHARTER

At its meeting on 11th June 2020, your NEC noted and adoped the following report::

That we note and adopt the demands of the charter contained in the lead officer’s report. The file, “Imposition of Covid-19 Roster – London Underground (LUL8/2), is to be linked to this file.

The NEC applauds the LUL functional and safety council reps, lead officer and all involved in drawing up these demands and commits to providing all possible assistance to the reps and members on TFL/LUL in fighting to maintain a safe workplace during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Members, branches and LTRC to be informed.

I reproduce below the Covid-19 Charter:

RMT members have demonstrated our commitment to keeping the tube and other TfL services running throughout the Covid 19 crisis. We want to provide the best possible service to workers in London but we reject workers being forced on to the tube without the necessary safety planning and before conditions are right.

In every sector of the economy workers and their trade unions should be involved in risk assessing all types of work in each workplace before they are required to return to work. Workplaces should only be re-opened when the workforce agrees it is safe to do so. London Underground and TfL must be able to assure us that different phases of lifting lockdown can be achieved without forcing usage above 13% of capacity, which is the maximum we can carry while maintaining social distancing.

The level of services provided and number of passengers using the tube must be kept under constant review in light of any moves in the levels of Covid 19 infections and the R number. The ability of passengers as well as staff to socially distance must be part of this process, which must include trade union safety reps as well as management.

In addition to the principles outlined above we call on TFL/LUL to agree the following:

• All individual tasks must be risk assessed involving RMT safety reps.
• Risks to BAME members must be assessed for their specific role and location and acted on.
• All staff at additional risk should continue to be accommodated away from the workplace. No-one in this category should be forced to work.
• 2m social distancing must be maintained. Face coverings are no mitigation for 2m social distancing.
• 2m social distancing must apply when travelling to/from work. No-one should be forced to use a crowded bus or train.
• Exemption from Congestion/emissions charges for TFL staff and contractors
• PE must to a standard agreed by safety reps. In public areas a clear visor and FFP2/N95 mask should be made available to any member of staff who wants them.
• Workers using LUL/TfL road vehicles must be able to socially distance.
• Social distancing rosters and reduced staffing levels should be implemented as widely as possible and be regularly reviewed by reps. Any changes to staffing levels should be by agreement. Where reps agree it is safe and necessary to do so, temporary staffing levels should be increased where the service level demands it.
• Plans to increase engineering work and train preparation should be driven by what can be achieved safely and while maintaining social distancing and not by demands to run a full service from government.
• Station staff must be able to maintain social distancing in all stations including in public areas.
• Station staff should remain behind glass as far as possible.
• Train operator duties must be re-designed with input from RMT safety reps to ensure social distancing, minimise risk and address the various concerns of train operators.
• Pay must be restored to all who refused to work because of fears for safety. The proper refusal to work process must be followed.
• All workers on TFL/LUL must continue to receive their full pay throughout this crisis. Whether employed by a contractor like cleaners and many engineers or self-employed like many protection staff – All workers who work directly or indirectly for TFL must be treated fairly. TFL should underwrite the pay of all when furloughed, laid-off, sick or isolating.

I wish to add my gratitude to the LUL functional and safety council reps, lead officer and all involved in drawing up these demands and I give my commitment to providing all possible assistance to the reps and members on TFL/LUL in fighting to maintain a safe workplace during the Covid-19 pandemic.

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RMT research reveals high productivity levels of TFL staff

RMT research reveals high productivity levels of TFL staff as Government threaten savage cuts and attacks on workforce as part of finance deal
 
 
TRANSPORT UNION RMT has revealed today that the Government proposes savage cuts on London Underground and Overground in spite of the high productivity levels of its workers.
 
The proposed cuts are part of an austerity package being demanded by the Government in exchange for a 6 month period of ‘workplace reform’ including a return to the idea of ‘driverless trains’ and an attack on workers’ pension schemes.
 
However, RMT’s research shows that the amount of passenger revenue generated per member of staff has grown significantly across London Underground and Overground and that London’s Transport workers have delivered significant productivity growth in the last 10 years. Far from being a cost to be managed, staff should be at the heart of ‘building back better’ and the real financial problem at TfL is its growing debt burden.
 
The report shows that on both London Underground and Overground the amount of passenger revenue generated per member of staff has grown significantly:
 
•             Over the last 10 years, staff costs as a percentage of both income and passenger revenue (often called ‘labour’s share’) have fallen on London Underground and Overground networks.
•             On London Underground, which accounts for 52% of TfL’s income, labour’s share of income has fallen by 23% and its share of passenger revenue by 24%. The amount of passenger revenue generated per member of staff has grown by 56%.
•             On London Overground, labour’s share of income has fallen by 14% and its share of passenger revenue fell by 37%. The amount of passenger revenue generated per member of staff grew by 130% up to 2016/17.
 
The research also reveals that London’s Transport workers have delivered significant productivity growth in the last 10 years:
 
•             London Underground workers have delivered a 45% growth in productivity in the last 10 years
•             London Overground workers’ productivity has grown by 77% in the same time
 
RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said;
 
“We’re hearing a lot of nonsense about staff costs in TfL at the moment, but the truth is that however you cut it our members have consistently delivered more bang for the public’s buck, year on year.
 
“Our members on the Underground have delivered a 45% growth in productivity in the last 10 years, while the amount of passenger revenue generated per member of staff has grown by 56% .
 
“This is a workforce that’s delivered during the times of growth, put their lives on the line in the crisis and now they’re being targeted by a government that’s addicted to driving down the living standards of ordinary people.”
 
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COVID 19 – RMT STRATEGY FOR DEFENDING JOBS, PAY AND CONDITIONS

COVID 19 – RMT STRATEGY FOR DEFENDING JOBS, PAY AND
CONDITIONS

 

RMT is fighting for the future of work in public transport and the maritime and offshore sectors. The Coronavirus pandemic has exposed the importance of every worker in key services like public transport. It’s exposed the folly of attempting to run critical public services like commercial enterprises, the bankruptcy of privatisation and the outdated dogma of outsourcing.

 

Yet under the cover of the pandemic and with the support of government, employers across our industry are once again attacking jobs.

 

RMT is committed to fighting for jobs. We will fight redundancies using every tactic at our disposal, as we’ve always done. But we also know we’re not alone.

 

Across the UK employers are looking to impose a new round of austerity on working people. We must also support and link up with the campaigns and struggles of other unions, workers and communities who are seeking to protect and improve their jobs and communities. We will seek to build a united campaign that fights for a new deal for public transport and our members.

 

At the September statutory meeting the NEC gave further consideration this matter and adopted a “NEC policy statement” report and “a policy report” with the following decision: “That we note and adopt the documents on file titles, “NEC Policy Statement” and “Policy report”.

 

The NEC is alarmed by media reports this morning that UK firms have already started consultation on 300K redundancies. This threat faces many RMT members at this time and will affect more in the coming months. It is crucial that our union stands together to defend jobs and conditions.

 

The General secretary is therefore instructed to:

 

Distribute this decision and the NEC Policy Statement to all branches and regions and to inform all members of the statement by email and text.

 

Instruct all branches and regional councils to hold a meeting (in line with current NEC advice on meetings) to launch the policy as soon as possible.

 

To promote the policy in any way possible at the forthcoming TUC congress.

 

To promote the policy throughout the trade union movement wherever and however possible

 

To conduct a press campaign to launch the policy

 

To carry an article on the policy in the next edition of RMT News

 

The progress of this policy is to be monitored at regular meetings of the relevant special subcommittee, which will report to the NEC.”

 

I can advise you that our policies were pursued at the TUC and continue to be so in the wider movement and with the press and politicians and there will be further press work and campaigning to promote the policy.

 

As set out above, the NEC has instructed me to circulate the NEC policy statement and I encourage all branches to read, promote it among your members in their workplaces and more widely. This can be found here:

NEC POLICY STATEMENT

 

 

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Coalition of Londoners calls for an end to ‘appalling attack’ on the Capital’s transport

Coalition of Londoners calls for an end to ‘appalling attack’ on the Capital’s transport
 
 
A coalition of organisations have today joined together in a letter to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, calling on him to end his government’s attack on the capital’s transport system, 48 hours before negotiations between the government and TfL over a new funding deal are due to end.
 
The letter, signed by 13 organisations representing London’s transport workers, passenger groups, children, young people, students, pensioners, disabled people and anti-poverty campaigners, condemns the government for imposing what is in effect ‘a new round of austerity cuts that will throw more families into poverty and increase hardship for ordinary working people and small businesses across the capital.’
 
The signatories condemn the government’s ‘offer’ – reported to be £1 billion over 6 months, conditional on TfL imposing driverless trains, attacks on pensions in retirement, fare and tax rises and cuts to concessions for children, young people and pensioners – saying:
 
“This package of cuts is punitive, cruel and unnecessary. It’s an open attack on the livelihoods of 9 million Londoners who are being punished because, unlike other major cities our capital’s transport system has been forced to become overly dependent on fare revenue, leaving it exposed to the shocks of the pandemic”.
 
The letter says,
 
“We call on the Prime Minister to abandon this appalling attack on the livelihoods of London’s people and its transport workers and immediately agree a proper funding package that fully supports public transport in our capital during the current crisis and also reinstates government grant to a level that allows for the retention and expansion of safe, sustainable and affordable public transport for the future.”
The signatories to the letter are:  ASLEF, RMT, TSSA, Unite the Union, National Union of Students, London, East and South East TUC, London Region National Pensioners Convention, Child Poverty Action Group, Age UK London, Disabled People Against the Cuts, We Own It, the Association of British Commuters and Bring Back British Rail.
The full letter, send to the Prime Minister today, can be read below:
 
 29th October, 2020
 
Dear Prime Minister,
 
Listen to London: Stop the austerity attack and properly fund London Transport
 
As we move into a hard winter and a second wave of Covid-19 infections, Londoners who have done everything asked of them during this crisis, including transport keyworkers who have put their lives on the line to keep the capital moving, are facing a new round of austerity cuts that will throw more families into poverty and increase hardship for ordinary working people and small businesses across the capital.
 
The cuts being proposed will:
 
Increase child and pensioner poverty in London by cutting access to free travel concessions; Increase hardship for London’s working families and small businesses through fare rises and council tax supplements; Unfairly target the 55,000 keyworkers who have worked heroically throughout the crisis by attacking their jobs, wages, conditions of employment and their pension provision for old age; Damage passenger safety and confidence in public transport through the loss of jobs that are vital to clean, safe and orderly travel; Lead to a degradation of our transport system which will reduce accessibility for disabled people, prevent us from meeting our decarbonisation goals and improving air quality and public health in the capital drive London’s economy further into recession.
 
This package of cuts is punitive, cruel and unnecessary. It’s an open attack on the livelihoods of 9 million Londoners who are being punished because, unlike other major cities our capital’s transport system has been forced to become overly dependent on fare revenue, leaving it exposed to the shocks of the pandemic. This is a broken funding model, but instead of working to fix it, your government appears to be using it to inflict yet more austerity on people who have done what they have been asked to do and endured great hardship in the process.
 
We call on your government to abandon this appalling attack on the livelihoods of London’s people and its transport workers and immediately agree a proper funding package that fully supports public transport in our capital during the current crisis and also reinstates government grant to a level that allows for the retention and expansion of safe, sustainable and affordable public transport for the future.
 
Yours sincerely,
 
Mick Cash, General Secretary, RMT
 
Mick Whelan, General Secretary, ASLEF
 
Manuel Cortes, General Secretary, TSSA
 
Len McCluskey, General Secretary, Unite the Union
 
Larissa Kennedy, President, NUS
 
Sam Gurney, Regional Secretary, London, East and South East TUC
 
Cat Hobbs, Director, We Own It
 
Abigail Wood, Chief Executive, Age UK London
 
Alison Garnham, Chief Executive, Child Poverty Action Group
 
Barry Todman, London Region, National Pensioners Convention
 
Paula Peters, National Steering Group Member, Disabled People Against the Cuts
 
Emily Yates, Co-Founder, Association of British Commuters
 
Ellie Harrison, Founder, Bring Back British Rail
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How the Union Works

The RMT is a member led union (RMT Rule 1). You can directly influence our policies, actions and who our officers are.

 

Any member (RMT Rule 2) is allowed to attend a branch or regional council meeting to hear updates and take part in your democratic processes

 

Branches (RMT Rule 10): The main role of a branch is to organise workers in its sphere and will discuss and vote on many different issues. If the issue is an industrial matter, then it can be sent directly to the National Executive. If it is other matters then it is sent to the Regional Council.

 

Regional Councils (RMT Rule 11): Any member can attend, but usually a branch will nominate a delegate (with their voting rights). A Regional Council’s primary role is recruitment and
organisation of members in their sphere and campaigning in support of union objectives. They may have reports from their regional organisers and NEC Member and will debate items that have been sent to them by Branches. Successful items are sent to the National Executive.

 

National Executive (NEC) (RMT Rule 4): Is the ruling body of your union. It oversees the general administration and is the government of the RMT in between annual or special general
meetings. They have complete policy and decision making powers and may interpret the RMT Rule Book or issues where it is silent. There are 16 (12 General Grades and 4 Shipping) of them and they are elected by the members in their Region to act for us.

 

President (RMT Rule 5): The President oversees meetings of the National Executive, they are, in effect, the chairperson of the meeting. They are the custodian of the Rule Book and the
heartbeat of the RMT. They have the right to speak but not vote. There is only one and is elected by all members in the RMT.

 

General Secretary (GS) (RMT Rule 6): The GS obeys the instructions of the National Executive and is responsible for the general correspondence of the RMT, signs the documents and is your face. They can address but not vote at NEC Meetings. They oversee the work of Regional Organisers and the AGS’s/ National Secretary. They are elected by all members.

 

Asst General Secretary (AGS) (RMT Rule 7): Work under the direction of the General Secretary. There are two of them, with the one that has been in position longest becoming the
Senior AGS. That person undertakes the role of the GS in their absence. They are elected by all general grades members

 

National Secretary and Asst National Secretary (RMT Rule 8): Work under the direction of the GS and oversee matters in the Offshore and Shipping Industry. They are elected by shipping
grades.

 

 

HOW THE RMT UNION WORKS

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Undercover Police Public Inquiry starts Monday 2nd November

After a five and a half year delay, the public inquiry into the systematic human rights abuse carried out by undercover political police finally starts on Monday 2nd November. The union strard of the public inquiry consists of the Blacklist Support Group, eight individual blacklisted workers, UNITE, Fire Brigades Union and National Union of Mineworkers, who have all been granted core participant status – as the state has already admitted spying on us. After nearly a decade of campaigning, we will finally hear evidence from the undercover police and their senior managers who spied on unions, MPs, anti-racist campaigners, the families of murder victims, environmental and political activists.

 

The inquiry starts with Opening Statements from the police & those targeted by the UK’s political policing units. Dave Smith speaking on behalf of the Blacklist Support Group, John Hendy representing UNITE & FBU and Gareth Pierce representing NUM speak on Fri 6th Nov. There is still a legal argument taking place over whether the public will be allowed to see the evidence live streamed or only view transcripts afterwards.

 

We do not expect the state investigating itself to provide ‘justice’. Our participation is based on exposing at least some evidence of the institutional racism, institutional sexism and anti-union bias of the police & security services to public scrutiny. To follow the public inquiry via social media search for the hashtags: #SpyCops #SpyCopsInquiry

 

Blacklist Support Group thanks everyone who has helped us get to this stage and sends solidarity to all non-state core participants

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