Author: Paul

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Jan 31st RMT Circular

 

 

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

Further to my previous Circular (IR/22/17, 18th January 2017), our RMT Station Reps recently attended a meeting with the National Executive Committee, Lead Officer and negotiating team at RMT Head Office to discuss this dispute and report feedback received from members. Having considered the views from this meeting, the National Executive Committee has taken the decision to call further strike action and instruct ALL LUL STATION & REVENUE members NOT TO BOOK ON for any shifts that commence between:-

  • 18:00 hours on Sunday 5th February 2017 and 09:59 hours on Monday 6th February 2017 
  • 10:00 hours on Tuesday 7th February 2017 and 00:59 hours on Wednesday 8th February 2017

NB: To comply with legal advice the industrial action short of a strike consisting of the overtime and rest day working ban, non-familiarisation and non-rostering  of overtime, is suspended for the duration of the strikes but will commence again immediately after each strike ends and continuously from 01:00 hours on Wednesday 8th February 2017.

Further strike dates to be taken in March will be announced once they are determined and agreed. I will of course keep Branches advised of all further developments.

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

Further to my previous Circular (IR/317/16, 26th October 2016), working party discussions over a draft proposed ETO Re-Grading Initiative continued up until last week when talks unfortunately collapsed at the final hurdle. Despite the best efforts of our negotiating team, management seem intent on multi-skilling the ETO Grade rather than accepting any alternative solutions proposed by RMT which would still meet needs of the business without undermining any other grades.

The National Executive Committee has considered a report from the Lead Officer and taken the decision to call on members to take strike action by NOT BOOKING ON FOR ANY SHIFTS that commence between:- 

  • 05:59 hours on Friday 3rd February until 05:59 hours on Sunday 5th February 2017
  • 05:59 hours on Friday 10th March until 05:59 hours on Sunday 12th March 2017

 Members are also instructed to take ACTION SHORT OF A STRIKE between:-

  • 06:00 hours on Sunday 5th February and 05:50 hours on Friday 10th March 2017
  • 06:00 hours on Sunday 12th March 2017 until further notice.

This action consists of:-

  • Taking meal breaks as per existing agreements and law
  • Not exceeding maximum driving times
  • Not volunteering for additional B2F Trains
  • Not working overtime through extending shifts
  • Not training non-driving or Assist Grades to drive
  • Not driving trains, except on lines, depots and sidings unless you have a full working knowledge of the area concerned, understand the meaning of all signals and are competent and appropriately licensed

I am also making the necessary preparations to ballot our Operational Managers with an ETO License as management has failed to give the guarantee that these members will also be included in the pay parity agreement. I will keep Branches advised of al further developments.

BREAKDOWN IN INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS – LONDON UNDERGROUND (FLEET GRADES) (LUL/14/2)

Further to my previous Circular (IR/22/17, 18th January 2017), London Underground has been advised of the dispute situation due to breaches of agreements by Fleet management. I can now advise that the ballot papers will be posted to members on Tuesday 7th February and the closing date for this ballot is Tuesday 21st February 2017. If any Fleet Grades member does not receive their ballot paper, please ask them to call the Freephone helpline number on 0800 376 3706.

I will keep Branches advised of all further developments.

 Yours sincerely

Mick Cash

General Secretary

 

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4th March National Demonstration to defend the NHS

4th March National Demonstration to defend the NHS  

Health Campaigns Together (a national network of over thirty NHS campaigning organisations and unions working together to co-ordinate action to defend the NHS) have called a national demonstration in London on 4th March. RMT has agreed to support and widely publicise this demonstration starting at 12.00 noon from Tavistock Square, London, WC1H 0 and marching to Parliament.

The calling letter, signed by Mike Forster of Hands off HRI campaign in Huddersfield and Dr Louise Irvine of the Save Lewisham Hospital Campaign states: “We believe the time has come to demonstrate the breadth and depth of support for the NHS and anger and opposition to the destructiveness of Tory policies.”

The organisers are aiming for maximum support so that the wider public will become more aware of the threats we face: “The NHS crisis will intensify this winter and there will be no let-up in the following months as drastic cost cutting Sustainability and Transformation Plans (STP) are rolled out across the country, leading to more cuts and closures.”

The timing also means that the demonstration can be linked to strengthening vital campaigns in each locality. “By March the “winter crisis” will not be over, and the full reality of the STP plans will have become clearer to many more people. “We believe this could be a massive demonstration, bringing together the growing number of community campaigns with the trade union movement.”

We hope so and I urge everyone to do all you can to build for this important demonstration.

Bring colleagues, friends and family. The NHS is the single greatest achievement of working class people in Britain. We cannot allow it to be undermined and ultimately destroyed. We echo Nye Bevan’s words, sending a clear statement to this government; “The NHS will last as long as there are folk with the faith to fight for it.”

Thanking you in anticipation

Yours sincerely,

Mick Cash

General Secretary

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Tube drivers action on Central, Waterloo and City Lines

Tube drivers action on Central, Waterloo and City Lines solid in all depots this morning

Mick Cash, RMT General Secretary, said:

“Pickets are out in force this morning, picket lines are being respected and the support for the action is absolutely solid in all depots. This action has been provoked by a pointless and aggressive approach by London Underground that is entirely cash led and which was always going to spark an angry backlash and this exactly what has happened. Despite repeated warnings from the union management have ploughed on 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 prepared to stand up and be counted the company would be wise to recognise that. RMT remains available for serious talks.”

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LUL Network Command Reorganisation

LUL are starting discussions today regarding a reorganisation with the Network Command and Response Team.

This proposal includes a changes in some areas such as the DOME team, Asset Performance Control Centre, Duty Network Operation Manager and  the Incident Response Team (Incident and C&I TO’s).

The reality is that management always like to rearrange their teams, that is their role. They are also looking at their budgets and their headcount. That is what they do too

Our role is to make sure that it is done in the right way and that our members are catered for and that any impacts that they reject are fully opposed in the usual way. That is what we do

Once we have met management today then the full details will be set out for our members and full discussions will take place.

It is important to stress though that because of our industrial strength in this area, that the talks will be meaningful and our members are safe in the knowledge that our unity is our strength will see us succeed

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Metropolitan Line Signals Annual Leave Agreement

The RMT have net with management over the last week following problems covering last Christmas Day on call.

To this end we have tried to address some of the issue regarding being on call and how cover is arranged and will vary the agreement with the below proposal that is agreed in principle.

“Christmas Day cover (assuming NO train service) will be as per previous custom and practice arrangements: 1 x TO (12 hr Days) + 1 x TO (12hr Nights) on call.

Staff covering on call on Christmas day will only be expected to attend site if a report is made that may be expected to affect the start up of train services on Boxing Day. This will be a decision made by the Incident Manager and be justifiable to the Line Incident Manager (LIM).

Annual leave period, as per the framework will be assessed by fourteen days after the end of February date for the main submission of annual leave (3.2.1 Signals Framework).

If no cover for Christmas day is forthcoming then a level 1 meeting will take place to address this matter prior to leave over the Christmas period being granted.

Any other requests to work Christmas Day period will be dealt in an individual manner and work will be found for any person wishing to work. All other staff are expected to book annual leave.”

The aim of these words are to describe the type of fault a person will be called to attend on Christmas Day i.e. Service Affecting and that we will monitor the situation for the next few months to see if there are any volunteers. In the event that there is not then we will meet with management to review a way forward

 

Proposal

 

The longer term view will be to negotiate a stand alone agreement for all Incident Technical Officers/ DSIMs and how the Christmas Period will be covered in a consistent and unified way

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LATEST TORY ATTEMPT TO BAN TRANSPORT STRIKES

RMT RESPONSE TO LATEST TORY ATTEMPT TO BAN TRANSPORT STRIKES

Mick Cash, RMT General Secretary, said:

“These Tories would ban trade unions full stop if they could get away with it. Their objective is to turn the railways into a money-raking racket for their mates in the private train companies where safety counts for nothing. The Tories behind this Ten Minute Rule Bill won’t be happy until companies like Southern Rail have a free pass to run riot with no opposition whatsoever.

“The workforce, supported by the public, are the front line of defence against this union-baiting, bandit-capitalism which has more in common with a right-wing dictatorship than it does a modern, safe railway.”

 

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Engineering Train Operator Talks Collapse

Following months of intensive talks with Tube Lines Management that have been productive and have nearly reached a conclusion, the main sticking point has been that they wish Engineering Train Operators (ETOs) to carry out shunting duties. It is our position that we will not undermine the conditions of these group of workers and have refused this proposal.

However, during talks, we have offered compromises that include increasing numbers on the Shunters roster so that there are the correct staff available when required to shunt trains. We have also stated that ETOs will work as instructed by shunters and move trains on various roads in the depot outside of the workshops.

Our members have a growing belief that local Transplant Managers are trying to sabotage any agreement by talking down any alternative solution. They have been given what they want, albeit in a different way, yet it is still never enough.

We therefore see no alternative but to ask our NEC to put on more action over this issue and refer the matter to Acas

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Emergency Public Rally in support of Tube workers

Emergency Public Rally in support of Tube workers

 Wednesday 1 February, 18:30pm

Indian YMCA, 41 Fitzroy Square, London, W1T 6AQ

Tube journeys are up by 23% in the last six years.

Even Tube management have conceded that the 838 job cuts imposed by the previous Mayor, have had a devastating impact on passenger safety.

The cuts have also left station control rooms – which are the “eyes and ears” of the network – unstaffed. This has led to a serious threat to passengers at a time of heightened safety and security alerts. Last year’s incidents at Canning Town and North Greenwich, exposed just how serious those threats are. Those safety warnings have been reinforced by daily reports of intolerable overcrowding and pressures on stations and services right across all routes.

With the constant overcrowding on stations and platforms, it is only a matter of time before there is a major tragedy.

RMT has confirmed a new phase of action from 6 February, as part of Tube workers’ campaign for safe staffing levels.

I enclose a leaflet advertising the event. Please share this widely including on social media and with your workmates, family and friends.

Yours sincerely,

 

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Dec 2016 Inflation Rate

New Inflation Rates

 

The Office for National Statistics has published inflation figures for the twelve months to December 2016.

The Retail Prices Index (RPI) stood at 2.5% for the year to December 2016, up 0.3% from the year to November 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 (1.6% for the year to December 2016, up 0.4% from the year to November 2016) or CPIH (1.7% for the year to December 2016, up 0.3% from the year to November 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

Posted on

LUL Circular 18th January

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

 Further to my previous Circular (IR/395/16, 19th December 2016), the ballot concluded with members voting as follows:-

Are you prepared to take strike action?

 Total Votes Cast               90

Number Voting ‘Yes’          82

Number Voting ‘No’           8

Spoilt Papers                    0

 Are you prepared to take industrial action short of a strike?

 Total Votes Cast               90

Number Voting ‘Yes’          86

Number Voting ‘No’           2

Spoilt Papers                    2

The National Executive Committee has noted the result strongly in favour of taking strike action and action short of a strike 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 Wednesday 25th January 2017 and 20:59 hours on Thursday 26th January 2017.

RMT met with the Company on 3rd and 13th January in an effort to reach an acceptable solution to this dispute but LUL has now written to us stating that it will be proceeding with the displacements. This has left us with no option but to take strike action to demand that management return to talks and halt any forced and unacceptable displacements until agreement is reached. I am sure all members will support our Central Line Train Operators and I will keep Branches advised of all further developments.

BREAKDOWN IN INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS – LONDON UNDERGROUND (FLEET GRADES) (LUL/14/2)

 The following resolution was recently received from LU Fleet Branch:-

“Due to a breakdown in industrial relations with management and the ongoing attacks at various levels, this Branch calls on the General Secretary to advise LU we are in dispute and request the NEC to ballot all LU Fleet members for strike action and action short of a strike. This action has been called due to management breaching the agreed machineries, our main agreement and local agreements, namely:- 

  • Not consulting or negotiating with this Union about reducing staff numbers within Fleet
  • Breaching our agreement on Night Tube and their failure to recruit the additional staff to cover this job
  • Actively attacking our Reps for carrying out their duties
  • Not following the correct process when seeking to change rosters
  • Removing a very long and established practice of ‘phone in days’ throughout Fleet without full and meaningful consultation”.

This matter has been considered by the National Executive Committee, which has taken the decision to inform London Underground we are in dispute and to conduct a ballot of LU Fleet members for strike action and action short of a strike. The Company has been advised accordingly and I am currently making the necessary preparations to conduct a ballot for industrial action. I will keep Branches advised of all further developments.

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

Further to my previous Circular (IR/1/17, 3rd January 2017), the National Executive Committee congratulated all members for the tremendous strike action on Sunday 8th and Monday 9th January 2017. Now the Company has until Monday 6th February to come up with a genuine proposal which meets our reasonable demands over station staffing and safety. If nothing is forthcoming, the NEC has resolved to call further, escalated strike action as the current situation is a disaster waiting to happen and cannot be allowed to continue.

In the meantime, the overtime and rest day working ban, non-familiarisation and non-rostering of overtime remains on as a clear demonstration that it is not possible to run a decent service without sufficient, experienced, safety-critical staff.

The following resolution has also been received from Bakerloo Branch:-

“This Branch calls on the NEC to name a programme of further strikes in the station staffing dispute. These strikes should:- 

  • Be longer than 48 hours
  • Seek to maximise disruption, for example by taking place on a Monday, Wednesday and Friday
  • Involve Night Tube staff, with at least one strike day starting or finishing at 23:01 on a Friday
  • Be announced as part of an ongoing programme of action, also involving demos, rallies etc., similar the approach RMT has pursued in the dispute on Southern
  • Coordinate as much as possible with other disputes, including the Central Line Drivers’ dispute and the Southern dispute”.

This National Executive Committee has now referred this matter to the Southern Sub-Committee and I will keep Branches advised of all further developments.

 DISMISSAL, D. STOREY, TRAIN OPERATOR, WEST RUISLIP – LONDON UNDERGROUND (LUL/4/1)

 Further to my previous Circular (IR/1/17, 3rd January 2017), London Underground agreed to conduct a Director’s Review into Brother Storey’s case and to allow this review to take place, the National Executive Committee took the decision to cancel the strike action which was due to commence on Monday 9th Janurary 2017. The outcome of the Director’s Review which took place on Thursday 12th January is awaited and I will keep Branches advised of all further developments.

 

Yours sincerely

Mick Cash

General Secretary

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RMT demand action over downtime

The RMT have held talks with senior managers at  CPD Signals over the concerns our members have over the lack of work and downtime (no available work) where we have seen up to 40 people with no work on occasion.

The reality is that in the Project Area there has been a move to the work being down in weekend BTRs and night tube has affected the work being done on that night. Couple that with our members tending to work Monday to Friday Nights and a general down turn in normal work being done then it is obvious to foresee a situation where downtime increases. This obviously impacts job security in the longer term but also personal dignity and ability to maintain licensing

To the end, the RMT are demanding:

  • The company looks to prioritise internal Signalling work to these staff. It is a ludicrous situation where certain jobs are given to companies such as Kelly Rail (among others) and not our own staff.
  • That the way the ‘internal charging’ is done so that staff are just sent as staff rather than with an overhead
  • End of silo thinking. We understand people looking at their own budgets, however, if some work costs LUL as a whole more, then it is the economy of the madhouse to not give that work to internal LUL workers that have no work that night
  • Look to compete for other work. We see a massive investment in the SSL Signals upgrade and therefore fully utilising CPD Signals would seem an obvious choice. In the past, this organisation has even won contracts abroad to do re-signalling projects in countries such as Australia and Hong Kong
  • Invest in training staff on new technology so that they have the skills to work on all available assets
  • Look for volunteers to work rosters on agreed rostered rates of pay to have the staff available when the work is. This is a very contentious issue as staff on Nights have always fought and won the right for Monday to Friday Working. However, it would be wrong of us not to explore every eventuality to ensure our members job security.
  • LUL to stop the cuts in this area and do the work that the railway needs to be done

Our reps will be going to workplaces as soon as possible to speak to our members on this matter.

However, we also need to be clear that we will not be accepting a slow death of any of our areas and intend to fight to make sure our members have job security and a job that is worth having.

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MAKE SOME NOISE DEMO 13th MARCH

MAKE SOME NOISE DEMO 13th MARCH

In the light of Home Secretary Amber Rudd’s shocking decision in October not to grant an inquiry into “The Battle of Orgreave”, the Truth and Justice Campaign are planning their biggest and noisiest demonstration to date. Having sent our own letter to Teresa May, when she was Home Secretary, calling for a review RMT is fully supporting this action and urges everyone who can to support it.

The campaign has chosen Monday March 13th at 2pm to 4pm to demonstrate at the Home office address below:

Home Office, 2 Marsham Street, London SW1P 4DF

Publicity is available via their website http://otjc.org.uk/home-office-noise-demo/

or you can order hard copies of the materials by emailing orgreavejustice@hotmail.com

OTJC want to show how angry the movement feels about the decision so have billed the event as a “Noise Protest”.  Please circulate details and make every effort to attend with banners, join in and loudly tell this Government the campaign will never be silenced!

I look forward to seeing you all on the day.

Thanking you in anticipation

Yours sincerely,

Mick Cash

General Secretary

 

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