Author: Paul

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Save Lilliebridge Depot

The following resolution will be discussed at the next LUEngineering Branch Meeting: Save Lilliebridge

Ballot of All RMT Members in Lillie Bridge Depot

 Lillie Bridge Depot Closure and Breach of LU Company Council Agreement

 Talks at LU Company Council aimed at averting a dispute were successful and ended in an agreement that the Beaumont Ave end of the depot would be opened up to allow works traffic in and out during the Lillie Rd development, and that LU/TfL would consult the RMT in good time as and when the TfL/Capco development plans progressed to affect the depot again.

Beginning this year notice has been given to our departments TDU, MIS TMD, MM, District Line Trains and Fleet, Plant Services at Lillie Bridge Depot that we are required to vacate the depot by 2019.

The time scales are very tight:

The Feasibility Study for the move to Acton Depot has to be done by May 2016 (1 month) the concept approval for what happens to all of us based in the depot is due to be completed in June 2016 (2 months)

We have had little only one consultation meeting despite raising the urgency of the situation at both the last LU Track & Signal Functional Council and LU Company Council, and no real progress has been made.

At this consultation meeting on 8th March 2016; it was agreed to hold a further consultation meeting before Easter 2016.

This has not happened and my reminders to LU in the intervening period were first ignored and then the consultation meeting refused despite my advice this would lead to a “failure to agree”.

RMT reps and members and this branch will not be satisfied until we have:

  1. An agreement signed off at the highest LU/TfL level setting out an acceptable location for us all to move to.
  2. An agreement signed off at the highest LU/TfL level that all the finances needed to fund the move plus any building etc at the new location is agreed to be made available

Ballot

Because LU are breaching the previous LU Company Council agreement to consult adequately in good time; and due to the extremely tight timescales we are now in dispute.

RMT LU Engineering Branch requires a ballot for both strike action and action short of a strike of all affected RMT members in members in TDU, MIS TMD, MM, District Line Trains and Fleet, Plant Services (TLL).

The livelihood and continued work of all affected RMT members is under a most severe threat due to London Mayor Boris Johnsons wish to wrap up the Capco/TfL luxury housing development deal for the super rich between Earls Crt, West Kensington and West Brompton ahead of the Mayoral election  at the expense of local tenants, residents and the jobs of our RMT members affected by the accompanying demolition of Lillie Bridge Depot.

The RMT has spent years successfully defending our members at Lillie Bridge Depot which is one of if not the most solid RMT depot on London Underground.

We will resist this blatant attack with all forms of action necessary!

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Junior Doctors Strike

Transport union RMT pledges it’s continuing full support for junior doctors’ industrial action.

RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said:

“RMT stands in full support of our junior doctors as once again they are forced to take industrial action in defence of the basic principle of decent working conditions for NHS staff who work round the clock saving lives.

“RMT members are urged to join the picket lines at their local hospital  to show solidarity with the junior doctors at this crucial point in their fight for justice. A delegation from RMT’S executive will be standing alongside our NHS colleagues at UCH this lunchtime.

“The NHS is the cornerstone of the post-war welfare state and it falls to the entire trade union movement to line up alongside those prepared to take action to defend it.”

 

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Trade Union Bill – TUCG demonstration – 16 March

Trade Union Bill – TUCG demonstration – 16 March

 

The Report Stage of the Trade Union Bill will be taking place on Wednesday 16th March in the House of Lords.

The Trade Union Coordinating Group will host another ‘after work’ demo to ensure the Bill does not pass without protest. This will take place at Old Palace Yard at 18.00.

RMT Senior Assistant General Secretary, Steve Hedley will be speaking along with representatives of other TUCG unions.

Please make every effort to attend this important demonstration and encourage others to participate.

 

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Black List Support Group Statement

Blacklisting is human rights abuse on an industrial scale. The secret conspiracy that ruined the lives of thousands of hard working men and women was orchestrated by the directors of multinational construction firms. Seven years ago they denied everything and refused to pay a penny. The recent press reports that companies have now paid out around £20 million to settle a small number of High Court claims demonstrates the success of the campaign to expose the blacklist.

But justice for blacklisted workers will not be served if the employers are able to buy themselves out of a High Court trial altogether. Those that actively participated in the systematic victimisation of union members over decades need to be held to account. The full force of the law must be brought to bear upon these captains of industry and the companies that profited from their illegal actions.

Blacklisted workers richly deserve compensation but many of us are concerned that the British legal system may allow big business to escape any kind of legal sanction. We have been fighting this scandal for many years: a few thousand pounds cobbled together by lawyers behind closed doors is not good enough. No blacklisted worker should be forced to accept compensation if they want to proceed to the full trial. Justice demands that the guilty parties are exposed to the spotlight of legal scrutiny at the High Court trial in May. Justice demands that the voices of those that suffered be heard. Blacklisted workers will not be silenced.

Even if every blacklisted worker receives compensation, if the companies escape any legal judgement, the blacklisting scandal will remain unfinished business. And we will never give up our struggle.

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International Women's Day

LUEngineering Branch would like to send solidarity to all women in the world.

The fight for Equality and Justice is a fight for us all

“The worker is the slave of capitalist society, the female worker is the slave of that slave.” James Connolly

“I ask no favors for my sex…. All I ask of our brethren is that they will take their feet from off our necks.” Sarah Moore Grimké

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LUL Tendering Tube Lines Work

The RMT have caught LUL red-handed as they try to hive off work currently done internally by Tube Lines staff to outside companies. At a time when the RMT are pushing for an end to privatisation and race to the bottom, we was shocked to find out that whilst our members have been working hard and are extremely successful and productive, that LUL are trying to hive off some elements of escalator maintenance to the lowest bidder. This slap in the face to internal staff will not go unchallenged and we are demanding talks at the highest level to put an end to this madness. Even insiders on Tube Lines have told us that they was unaware of this tendering process which if true would show the present arrangement to be a complete farce.

It is time to fully integrate Tube Lines back into the LUL umbrella and end the waste of tax payers money by subsidising external companies profits and enriching their shareholders

 

future-contract-opportunities-over-500k

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RATES OF PAY & CONDITIONS OF SERVICE, NIGHT RUNNING AND PENSIONS TUBE LINES

RATES OF PAY & CONDITIONS OF SERVICE, NIGHT RUNNING AND PENSIONS TUBE LINES AP JNP (LUL/0001/TL)

Further to my previous Circular (IR/029/16, 5th February 2016) the meeting with Tube Lines Reps, the Senior Assistant General Secretary, National Executive Committee and Lead Officer took place at Unity House on Tuesday 23rd February to discuss Pay, Night Tube and Pensions.

Pay & Night Tube

Following a recent referendum of LUL members, the offer from London Underground in respect of Pay & Night Tube was accepted and the Company has been informed accordingly however, the offer from Tube Lines AP JNP in respect of Night Tube has been REJECTED. Although the offer from each Company is very similar, there are some important differences in the Tube Lines offer which are unacceptable to RMT.

Firstly, the wording in the LUL offer refers to an “all-night passenger service operation on a Friday and Saturday night”, whereas the Tube Lines offer refers to “a 24-hour passenger service operation”. We sought clarification on this point and management admitted that acceptance would mean agreeing to the principle of 24-hour running any night – this could mean running more than 2 nights at Bank Holidays or Special Events.

Secondly, LUL has recruited more staff where additional resources are needed (e.g. additional Night Tube CSAs and new ‘part time’ Train Operators). The position from Tube Lines is that all staff have to work on Night Tube and all rosters will be changed to reflect this: “Full implementation of the Sunday to Thursday rosters to support Night Tube Operations”. The response from RMT is that Tube Lines members should also be given the same opportunities as BCV and LUL workers and allowed to opt out and if necessary move to SSL Lines.

Pensions

As you will recall, since Tube Lines came under the umbrella of TfL in 2011 our representatives have been demanding that former Tube Lines employees are given the same pension and travel rights as other LUL employees. In respect of the latter this has been concluded but due to managements’ stance, pensions are yet to be resolved.

After lengthy discussions on cost efficiencies to pay for pensions for all Tube Lines members an agreement and time scale was agreed between the RMT, Tube Lines, LUL & TFL in 2015. However management demanded that a no strike clause be added to the agreement.

Although we were in discussions with TFL/LUL/TLL, talks were halted when LUL started pay negotiations and since then they have refused to talk to the RMT about your pensions. Tube Lines management are now demanding that the pay offer is accepted and Night Tube is launched and running successfully before they will reopen discussions on pensions.

The National Executive Committee has considered this matter and taken the decision to declare a new dispute situation and ballot all Tube Lines members over Pensions, Pay & Night Tube. Previous recent ballots no longer apply and due to previous challenges from the Company over the validity of our notice of ballot in respect of members’ job details it is necessary for us to carry out further checks. I would therefore ask all Branches to ensure that we have the correct membership details for all Tube Lines members. 

I will keep you advised of all further developments.

 

WITHDRAWAL OF REST DAYS, TRACK & CIVILS STAFF – TUBE LINES AP JNP (LUL/8/6)

Further to my previous Circular (IR/299/15, 4th December 2015), the ballot concluded with members’ voting as follows:-

Are you prepared to take strike action?

Total Votes Cast                37

Number Voting ‘Yes’           34

Number Voting ‘No’            3

Spoilt Papers                     0

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

Total Votes Cast                37

Number Voting ‘Yes’           37

Number Voting ‘No’            0

Spoilt Papers                     0

This matter was discussed at a meeting with all Tube Lines Reps on Tuesday 23rd February and having considered the correspondence on file, the National Executive Committee has taken the decision that we remain in dispute with Tube Lines over this issue but, in line with the recommendation of the Lead Officer and Reps, we take no further action at this time in view of the other dispute with Tube Lines.

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RATES OF PAY & CONDITIONS OF SERVICE & NIGHT RUNNING – LUL

RATES OF PAY & CONDITIONS OF SERVICE & NIGHT RUNNING – LONDON UNDERGROUND (LUL/0001)

Further to my previous Circular (IR/0037/16, 18th February 2016), the referendum has concluded and the result is as follows:-

Question: Are you prepared to accept the Company’s offer?

Total Votes Cast…              3414

Number Voting ‘Yes’…         2879

Number Voting ‘No’…          532

Spoilt Papers…                   3

This matter has been considered by the National Executive Committee and I have now informed the Company that their offer has been accepted by RMT members. I have asked that the pay increase, along with backdated monies, is paid to members at the earliest opportunity.

In line with the above, the long-running dispute situation with LUL over this matter is also now resolved and I wish to thank and congratulate all RMT members for the support and solidarity shown throughout. I will of course keep you advised of any further developments.

 

EVERY JOB MATTERS – DEFENDING JOBS ON LONDON UNDERGROUND (LUL/14/5)

 Further to my previous Circular (IR/029/16, 5th February 2016), the new operating model in respect of Fit for the Future – Stations commenced on 7th February 2016 and I have received a resolution from our Central Line East Branch regarding this matter, which is as follows:-

“We note the following problems on the ‘vanguard groups’ (ie. those on which Fit for the Future – Stations has already been implemented) in our Branch’s area: 

  1. Cash handling devices (CHDs) not functioning properly
  2. Insufficient training for staff on CHDs, Fire Panels, etc.
  3. Insufficient ‘live learning’ for staff taking up new grades
  4. Lengthy queues for ticket machines
  5. Lack of places of safety on the unpaid side of the ticket barrier
  6. iPads not working; staff not properly trained to use them; apps not fully developed or not working
  7. Outstanding individual appeals and grievances
  8. Insufficient notice of duties
  9. Rosters that do not allow regular refamiliarisation
  10. Staff allocated duties at stations that they are not licensed to work at

 

We therefore ask the Union to:- 

  1. Provide advice and support to members on the ‘vanguard groups’ (Central Line East, Leytonstone, King’s Cross) to refuse to carry out duties for which they are not trained, or which are unsafe or otherwise unsuitable
  2. Ballot members on these groups for industrial action short of strike, so that they may take appropriate action over these and similar issues, to be followed by a similar ballot of all station staff after consultations with their Branches and Reps”

 

RMT is committed to remaining vigilant to the consequences and any adverse impact that the implementation of Fit for the Future – Stations may have on members. The above resolution was sent for the attention of your RMT Lead Officer and the concerns raised by the Central Line East Branch are receiving attention. The National Executive Committee has noted that there are on-going negotiations at Company Council Sub-Group Level, that local station reps have been released to pass on information and that there is also a dedicated Stations Functional Council Rep who is giving specific support to the three vanguard groups.

 

 

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RMT CONTRIBUTION RATES 2016

MOM/MEM/ACR
Circular No MF/133/15
12th November 2015
TO ALL BRANCHES AND
REGIONAL COUNCILS

Dear Colleague,

RMT CONTRIBUTION RATES 2016

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 2016 new members joining whose basic salary or equivalent earnings are above £20,700 per annum will pay £4.68 per week

​New members whose basic salary or equivalent earnings are below £20,700 per annum will pay £2.02 per week

​The transitional rates of £1.50 and £2.90 will remain at the same level until otherwise advised.

The new contribution rates effective from 1 January 2016 will be:

​Period​Full Rate​Low Rate

​Weekly​£4.68​£2.02​ ​
​
​4 Weekly​£18.72​£8.08​

​Monthly ​ ​£20.28​£8.75
​ ​

Members will be notified of the increases through the next edition of RMT News to be delivered before the end of the year.

Yours sincerely,

M. Cash
General Secretary

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Blacklisting Campaign

Construction firms attempt to ban a number of blacklisted workers from giving evidence in the blacklisting super-trial was thrown out by the High Court on Friday (26 Feb). Edmund Nourse QC representing the blacklisting firms; Balfour Beatty, Carillion, Costain, Kier, Laing O’Rourke, Sir Robert McAlpine, Skanska and Vinci asked for the court to restrict the number of witness statements to 17 ‘lead cases’ and rule out a number of blacklisted workers from giving evidence. The firms specifically tried to ban the witness statements from electrician Billy Spiers and bricklayer John Bryan. But Lord Justice Supperstone ruled against the companies attempt to silence workers who have been victimised over decades.

After the ruling Billy Spiers, chairman of the UNITE national construction committee commented:

“I had a real bad time getting work on the cards after being put on the blacklist. I was sacked and apart from T5 and Isle of Grain where the union fought for me to be employed, I struggled, sometimes being out of work for a full year at a time. Along with a lot of my workmates who have been Shop Stewards or Health and Safety Representatives, its been difficult.

These blacklisters are still not showing any remorse. Trying to stop witness statements from blacklisted workers at yesterday’s High Court hearing just demonstrates their attitude: shame on them”

John Bryan, blacklisted bricklayer from Bermondsey commented:

“After waiting since the 1980s for some kind of justice, I cannot just walk away and leave our struggle without taking it as far as I can. I will support my mates in this fight. Blacklisted workers will not be silenced”.

Additional information from the High Court hearing on Friday:

  1. A total of 240 cases have now settled.

367 cases are still live.

Plus another 75 new claimants joined the litigation last week alone.

Final deadline for claimants to join the group litigation was extended by 7 days til Friday 4th March. It is excepted that the total number of claimants going to the full trial will reach over 450.

 

  1. The full trial is scheduled to start on 7th May and finish on 31st July. 16 witness statements have been submitted by the comanies including directors of multinantuonal companies who held the role of chairman and vice chairman of the notorious Consulting Association

 

  1. After being instructed by the court to go back and search again. The firms now claim to have found the computer servers where emails from Cullum McAlpine & Gerry Harvey were stored. They still haven’t actually handed them over yet.

 

  1. There will be another case management hearing some time in first week of April.

 

  1. German TV cameras filmed blacklisted workers outside the High Court.

 

  1. Print quality photographs available from Guy Smallman (NUJ) guy.smallman@btopenworld.com

Blacklist Support Group

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

video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlCa8yQmZ70

blog: www.hazards.org/blacklistblog

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

 

 

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Section 15 Acas Talks

SECTION 15 POSSESSIONS – LUL

Further to Head Office Circular NP/066/16, 17th February 2016 your National Executive Committee has once again considered a report of the Regional Organiser on talks with the company which are continuing. Management have taken account of RMT’s concerns and have agreed to our representatives’ suggestions for a safe system of accessing and exiting the track. Our representatives are now waiting on final documentation from the company and will be submitting a further report to the NEC.

In light of the positive nature of the discussions and as with their previous Decision the NEC have suspended industrial action planned for March 2016 and therefore members are instructed to book on as normal for shifts commencing between 06:30 and 18:29 on Sunday 6th March 2016, 06:30 Friday 25th March 2016 to 06:29 Saturday 26th March 2016 and 06:30 Sunday 27th March 2016 and 06:29 Monday 28th March 2016.

Industrial action called for the month of April, May and June will remain on.

In addition the instruction to take action short of a strike by doing no work of any kind in section 15 possessions and to take meal breaks as per the agreement has also been suspended.

I will keep you advised of all further developments.

BY STANDING FIRM TOGETHER YOU AND YOUR UNION HAVE MADE THE WORKPLACE SAFER

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Tube Lines Reps Meeting Pay & Pensions

Tube Lines Reps Meeting Report
The Tube Lines Pay Offer was put to all our Tube Lines reps at a meeting at Unity House on 23 Feb.

The discussions also included Pensions and Night Tube were discussed with all making a contribution.

The debate was focused again on how Tube Lines are again wanting something else before they will even talk about Pensions. This is despite talking about Pensions since 2012 and in 2015 agreed with all the efficiency savings and time scale to implement them yet they now want Night Tube Operating before they will talk to us again.
There were other items of concern at the meeting which are listed below;

PAY & NIGHT TUBE

  1. Same as LUL!! NO: Tube Lines have constantly ignored any negotiation and kept repeating the Mantra ” you will receive whatever is agreed with LUL “

Well this is now well and truly over as the two offers are very different in 2 important aspects.


At the meeting with Tube Lines we questioned the wording of “24 hour running” rather than Friday & Saturday night running. After some discussion with Tube Lines the LUL Employee Relations Manager admitted that as far as they were concerned if we agree to this then it means agreeing to the principle of 24 hour running any night and when pushed agreed that it means running more than Friday and Saturday. He did not disagree when questioned could that mean running more than 2 nights at Bank Holidays or Special Events. The LUL offer talks about Friday and Saturday running before mentioning 24 hour running. A very big difference !

  1. Extra Employment and Rostering: The second point with the Pay and Night Tube was the fact the LUL offer talks about those not wishing to work night tube can move to other lines or do other work with LUL committed to employing hundreds more staff to enable this to happen. They have GUARANTEED people can stay on their existing roster. Whereas Tube Lines have said that all staff have to work on Night Tube and that all rosters will change to reflect this. We did say to Tube Lines that our members should be given the same opportunities as BCV and LUL workers and allowed to opt out and if necessary move to SSL Lines, THIS WAS REFUSED OUT OF HAND.

At the reps meeting all this was fully and frankly discussed and taken together with Managements letter attached saying all this must not only be agreed but up and running before they would talk about Pensions it was completely rejected. We had a discussion on what was needed and about making sure we could deliver a big yes vote for industrial action and every rep was asked for their views on a ballot and if we could deliver. There were 32 reps present from all sections of tube lines and it was agreed UNANIMOUSLY to ballot for industrial action on Pensions, Pay and Night Tube.

It was also agreed that Pensions have to be at the front of this dispute and work has to be done on getting the Matrix up to date and a personal letter should go out to all members giving a history of the Pension dispute and reasons it is linked to pay and night tube together with our objections and why we also reject the Pay and Night Tube offer.

UNITY IS STRENGTH

Tube Lines Reps Meeting Report

 

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