Author: Paul

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Section 15: Why the strike was suspended

Section 15: Why the strike was suspended

Following extensive talks at Acas, the demands from your representatives were very clear and very basic, WE DO NOT WANT TO BE KILLED AT WORK

The Management Teams from LUL were left in no doubt how seriously we took this and that we firmly believe that Section 15 is the culmination of a casualisation of Track Access Safety to a point whereby our members remain in serious and imminent danger.

We left both companies with a stark choice, in our opinion, that was to either remove the possessions themselves or risk the RMT members doing it for them. We demanded that the Possessions were stopped and we agreed a safe system of work for our members.

After lengthy talks LUL agreed the following

  • LU will suspend the operation of Section 15 for a two week period commencing on Friday 12 February.
  • This will allow for a period of concentrated joint working to address the issues raised in relation to the introduction and application of Section 15.
  • In accordance with the attached Terms of Reference, there will be two separate workstreams focussing on Track and Signals and Service Control respectively.
  • ACAS facilitated progress sessions will take place on 19 and 25 February to ensure that the discussions are proceeding productively and to provide any necessary assistance and guidance.
  • In consideration of the above RMT agrees to suspend any notified industrial action in relation to Section 15 scheduled to take place prior to 27 February, and undertakes not to institute any operationally disruptive industrial action during this period.

The Engineering Terms of Reference are below:

To review and revise as appropriate:

  1. A Safe System of Work for access and working in Section 15 and other possessions (any relevant conclusions from the FIR to be incorporated).
  2. OSN 122 (Section 15).
  3. Working in Possessions guidance document.

We will now work very hard over the next two week to make sure our members are safe at work. If agreement is not reached then we will name strike action again.

ENGINEERING UNITY IS STRENGTH

 

LUL Letter Section 15 Suspension

 

Section 15 Dispute LEAFLET

 

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LU suspend the training and assessment of Cleshars T001

LUL Track Patrolling: Strike Suspended

Following talks at and after Acas, your representatives made it clear that a line in the sand had been drawn and that as far as we was concerned that the training of Cleshars staff to undertake track patrolling was uneconomic, unnecessary and would not be tolerated by our members.

Whilst LUL reiterated their mantra that this was just a small number of staff and was only to fill in the gaps in staffing levels due to a particular roster issue once Night Tube was implemented, we did not accept that premise.

The reality is that these staff have been trained several months ago despite no date set for the introduction of Night Tube. We believe this is a strike breaking army being set up to undermine legal Industrial action and allow the last area of PWAY work to be opened up to external companies. Our mandate is clear and this situation cannot be tolerated.

However, in an effort to resolve this dispute, your representatives decided to put LUL under the microscope. If this is purely about a small roster issue, let’s resolve that, the Cleshar’s T001 staff can then be used to fill the vacancies across LUL.

To that end, we have agreed to further and more detailed roster talks regarding BCV to see if an acceptable solution can be negotiated whereby our members stay on the roster they wish and the outsourcing threat is removed. LUL also agreed to ‘suspend the training and assessment of non-permanent employees for track patrolling purposes for a period of two weeks’

If this fails then we will not hesitate to put on more strike action. In the meantime the action short of NO mentoring or assessing of Cleshars T001 staff remain lives from 06:30 Saturday 13th February

 

LUL Track Patrolling Dispute LEAFLET

 

LUL offer

 

 

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LUL Tubelines: STRIKE SUSPENDED

SECTION 15 POSSESSIONS

Further to Head Office Circular NP/032/16, 28th January 2016, a report from the Regional Organiser and a letter from management with a proposal to resolve the dispute has been considered by the National Executive Committee. The NEC have adopted the following Decision:

Further to our Decision No.NWW of 28th January, we note the report from the Regional Organiser, and the letter from LUL on behalf of both LUL and Tubelines.

We accept the proposals from the management that they will suspend all Section 15 Possessions and return to the safe system of work from this Friday for two weeks. We note that further talks are planned.

 We therefore suspend our instruction to members not to book on for shifts between 06:30 Friday 12th February 2016 and 06:29 on Saturday 13th February 2016.

 We maintain our instruction to these members to take action short of a strike by doing no working of any kind in a section 15 Possession, and by taking meal breaks as per agreements.

 We continue with the ballot for action of our Service Control Grades over the imposition of Section 15 Protection.

 London Transport Regional Council and Branches to be advised. Members to be advised by text and e-mail.

 I am acting on these instructions.

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LUL Track Patrolling Strike SUSPENDED

TRACK PATROLLING, CLESHAR STAFF – LONDON UNDERGROUND

This matter has been considered by the National Executive Committee, which has taken the following decision:-

“Further to our Decision No. NWW of 4/2/16, we note the report from the Regional Organiser and the letter from LUL.

We accept the proposals in the letter from LUL as a way forward on this issue, and note that further meetings will be held. LUL have offered to suspend the training and assessment of non-permanent employees for track patrolling for two weeks.

 We therefore suspend the strike action planned for Friday 12th February, and instruct members to book on as normal.

 The action short of a strike, from 06:30 on Saturday 13th February, by not taking part in any mentoring or assessing activity with Cleshars T001 Trainees, stays in place.

 London Transport Regional Council and LU Engineering Branch to be informed.

 Members to be informed by text and e-mail”.

I am currently acting in accordance with the above decision and will keep you advised of all further developments.

Yours sincerely

Mick Cash

General Secretary

 

 

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LUL Track Patrolling Dispute

LONDON UNDERGROUND TRACK PATROL STAFF TO STRIKE FOR 24 HOURS FROM FRIDAY MORNING

Tube union RMT confirmed today that nearly 500 London Underground track patrol staff are to strike for 24 hours from 0630hrs on Friday morning – 12th February – in a dispute over the use of private contractors to casualise and undermine their jobs.

LU are trying to bulldoze through, without agreement, the training of staff working for contractors, Cleshar, to undertake track patrolling duties in a direct attack on the job security of RMT’s track patrol members.

RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said:

“This dispute is over an outrageous attempt to casualise and undermine the jobs of our London Underground track patrol members through an extension of the use of private contractors. The plan must be halted.

“RMT will continue to fight all attempts to undermine and casualise jobs across London Underground as the company looks to cut corners to meet Government austerity targets. This union will not accept the undermining of jobs, conditions and safety or the creeping privatisation of functions.

“The union remains available for talks.”

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Section 15 Strike: Acas Update

The issue of Section 15 Possessions and this Friday’s strike was today discussed at Acas. The RMT stated that they was concerned that LUL were turning track access into a death trap and wanted Section 15 Possessions suspended whilst a safe system of work was agreed.

LUL made the following commitment ‘to suspend AP (Maintenance) staff working in Section 15 Possessions from 9th February for two weeks to continue talks. This would not apply to CPD (Project) areas’

The RMT asked six questions:

  1. How would this be safe for CPD staff if AP staff needed to be withdrawn?
  2. Who exactly would be working in these possessions?
  3. Would Maintenance work take priority?
  4. How would CPD work as Service Control were in dispute too?
  5. We represent all staff and their health and safety and project staff live’s mattered to?
  6. Why can’t you just suspend Section 15 and use orthodox means of protection?

Following an adjournment LUL gave the following disappointing replies.

  • They felt Section 15 had positive benefits for safety
  • They felt CPD staff were more experienced for track access
  • That Service Control staff were adequately trained
  • Only one work group would work in a CPD Section 15 Possession
  • That they did not want to lose the momentum and experience they felt that they was gaining

We considered their answers wholly inadequate. We firmly believe that there have been enough incidents and lack of certainty over the process that someone will be hurt or killed. There is no reason LUL cannot suspend the use of Section 15, which is a process they already admit was flawed and rush in too fast.

The reality is a life of a track worker is not worth risking by a rushed implementation of a process that casualises track access to the level of the keystone cops. Therefore LUL have been informed that the strikes and action short will remain in place and that we will protect our members in all ways possible.

LUL have been told, that this action is not for any gain and is purely regarding Health and Safety and our right to go home safely.

We are returning to ACAS tomorrow

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TRACK PATROLLING, CLESHAR STAFF – LUL

TRACK PATROLLING, CLESHAR STAFF – LONDON UNDERGROUND

 

Further to previous correspondence regarding the above, this matter has been considered by the National Executive Committee, which has taken the following decision:-

 

“Further to our Decision No. NWW of 3rd February 2016, we instruct our members to take strike action by not booking on for any shifts between 06:30 Friday 12th February 2016 and 06:29 on Saturday 13th February 2016.

 

We also instruct our members to take action short of a strike from 06:30 Saturday 13th February, by not taking part in any mentoring or assessing activity with Cleshars T001 Trainees.

 

This matter to be placed back before the NEC to consider any futher developments and further action.

 

London Transport Regional Council and LU Engineering Branch to be informed.

 

Members to be informed by text and e-mail”.

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TUC SURVEY – LGBT DISCRIMINATION

TUC SURVEY – LGBT DISCRIMINATION

 

The TUC is carrying out a survey to identify the obstacles that prevent or deter Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans workers from using the law to challenge discrimination.  They wish to receive responses from anyone who did not exercise their legal rights under the Equality Act 2010.

 

Confidentiality is guaranteed.  No respondent will be personally identified in the report unless they explicitly consent to being named.

 

Please find attached a copy of the survey.  Completed surveys should be sent directly to Peter Purton at the TUC, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3LS by 31 March 2016.

 

TUC LGBT Discrimination Survey 2016

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Tube Liines Pay Talks Report

On the 5th February had an ad-hoc company council meeting with Tube Lines and for once unite and tssa turned up.

On the agenda was the following;

2015 Pay

RMT Ballot RRD’s and Driving, Track & Civil’s Section 15 Possessions

We requested that Pensions was also included on the agenda.

We started talking about Pensions and the fact that we have are still waiting for TFL pensions for all after reaching agreement on the savings and costs. Also that we pointed out when 2015 Pay was raised and management tied Night Tube to it we said we could not agree to Night Tube without Pensions.

Management refused to talk about Pensions until we agreed Pay and Night Tube and after that is all agreed they would then set up a meeting to talk about Pensions.

We of course again told them that as far as the RMT are concerned Night Tube and Pensions are linked and that Pensions have been on the table since 2012 and have had an agreement with the RMT to secure since 2015 left only to be ratified by the TFL Board. We even suggested Parallel talks which was rejected.

When management went on to talk about pay they did not have anything prepared although this was supposed to be the full and final offer which would mirror the LUL offer. We had to wait 20 minutes while management when and got a 1 page of paper to read off explains what the offer was.

We started questioning the offer and how it related to the LUL offer and it soon become clear that Tube Lines were not going to give the same offer as LUL regarding 4 day week, better rostering and movement of staff including leave. The RMT also raised the question regarding those Tube Line Staff on PRP. We were told that they are not part of the agreement but after a while it was agreed that all those in operations would receive the £500 lump sum consolidated. We also requested that the PRP Pay Bands were raised and that the 2% also be used as the figure for the PRP pay deal. They replied that they would consider this but it was not part of the Pay Negotiations.

As the talks continued it became clear that the offer did not mirror the LUL offer and was that bad and management so evasive that aslef said that they rejected the offer and that it was linked to the Pensions. Unite also supported our position.

Management then walked out refusing to continue talking and even refused to talk about important safety issues such as the Section 15 Possessions which were part of the agenda.

We requested that all industrial and health & safety reps are released on Tuesday 23 Feb for a meeting at Unity House for a full report back.

 

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Young Members Survey

Young Members Survey

 

Young Members Survey

 

We surveyed all young members in our branch of 25 and below and asked them the below questions

  1. Have you ever attended a union meeting?
  2. Have you ever need representation?
  3. Do you feel the union is relevant to you?
  4. Do you use any of the branch media?
  5. Do you have any comments?

A reasonable amount of people replied and below are there answers

Attended Events Needed Representation Found the Union Relevant to them
Yes 19% 25% 81%
No 81% 75% 19%

 

We also asked if they used any of the union media

Media
WEBSITE 25%
FACEBOOK/ TWITTER 13%
APP 6%
NONE 56%

Conclusion:

  • We need to improve participation to encourage and make more events for members to attend
  • Whilst most members have never used the union on an individual basis, most still believed that the union was relevant to them
  • There are a small group that do not feel this relevance, we therefore need to reach out more to these people and in some cases do a better job. For example one comment was with regards to negotiations that involved ex-UKPN members. We will revisit their concerns and if necessary take those matters forwards.
  • Most young members do not use our media. This is a shame because it provides fast information about what is going on in many companies that work on London Underground

Other information

www.luengineeringrmt.co.uk

https://www.facebook.com/luengineering.rmt

To get the Branch App for Android

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=co.uk.luengineering.app&hl=en

 

 

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Section 15: Frequently asked Questions

LUL have sent out a Bulletin regarding Section 15 Possessions and the Keystone Cop approach to safety. Here is our reply

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

 

 

 NOT Frequently Asked Questions – Section 15 Possession Protection

 

To:          RMT Members ONLY

Date:      2nd February  2016

I know nothing about Section 15. What is it?

Section 15 is one several possession protection methods in the various LU Rule Book 15’s. The difference with this protection method is that it is aimed at undermining the need to book out with the Track Access Controllers by booking on with god knows who on the night and remove the need for professional Protection Masters directly looking after you and your track access.

How does the Possession Master find out that the last train has gone and traction current has been switched off?

The Service Controllers (SC) are being balloted over this very issue. The awareness of last trains is clearly defined in Protection Master training and everyone knows what to do if they miss the last one. The Protection Master is therefore certain that it is safe to allow staff onto the track. It is about trying to save money and nothing to do with safety.

Does Section 15 change engineering staff access to possession worksites?

The amazing thing is that LUL seem to be claiming that it is NOT only Section 15 Possessions that are dangerous, they ALL are. Let us be clear, Section 15 Possessions are aimed at undermining our safe system of work that we would currently do with a Protection Master and  Booking out with a Track Access Controller

Isn’t Section 15 just another way of adding ad hoc work into engineering hours?

Yes, of course it is. Section 15 fundamentally changes the way we access the track. We book on with a Lead SPC, or his mate or whoever eventually answers the various phone numbers that we are given. It is not a safety critical role and these possessions are being used to cover large track areas for general and unplanned work. These are instead of the Track Access Controllers with a Safe System of Work and therefore not an enhancement to access but a step backwards

It seems like Section 15 was rushed into use without proper consideration or testing.

Section 15 was indeed rushed in. Yes, it went through the same LUL processes that allowed a Rail Grinder to work on  the Northern Line without a proper breaking system. The talks with the RMT were a sham and LUL imposed the procedure half way through them. Any incident within a Section 15 Possession is always declared as ‘not their fault’ and there was many recorded incidents. LUL could not even say whether staff had the correct certification because they failed to audit or control the process. It was not a trial, it was an imposition

Isn’t Section 15 just about increasing efficiency?

Yes, it’s purely about saving money. They save money by ending the tried and tested role of the Track Access Controller. They save money by removing Protection Masters from each gang. YES that will hit you in the pocket, no £10 per shift on LUL and wave goodbye to the £1000 a year on Tube Lines. This is about working to the limit without training and without control.

 

I’ve heard that Section 15 is safer for protection staff accessing the track. Why?

OMG does anyone really believe this is a real question and not a made up one from LUL employment relations team? Removal of the safety critical role of the Protection Master and replacing it with an adhoc and poorly or untrained Lead Site Person in Charge is not progress. The whole problem with Section 15 is that it introduces human error into a safe sytem that was compueterised and well understood. We rely on memory, we rely on someone telling us the train is moving, that we are safe, that we are even there. There has been several slips where people could have died. The truth is, we do not ballot lightly, we are not asking for any gain, we are only asking to come to work, do our jobs and go home ALIVE

 

 

Can the current be recharged after the published time?

YES, if the Service manager makes a mistake, and we all do when we are tired, then the only way to contact you is through a faceless Possession Master with many groups to control.

 

Haven’t there been recent safety incidents with Section 15?

Yes, there has. There has been many. Every incident is either covered up or described as a ‘nothing to do with Section 15’. When LUL have been asked, would this have happened if we had booked out through the track access controllers, we are met with silence

 

What was the cause of the incident in December?

There was a major incident where staff were incorrectly authorised and nearly accessed the track as a train was coming into the section. The confusion came because there was more than one Section 15 Possession and the Lead SPC from the wrong area gave permission to access the track. LUL argued that this was not a near hit because they did not access the track! Again there was no use for this Section 15 Possession and this incident would NEVER have happened if normal Track Access Arrangements had been in place. There have been briefings, very poor ones leaving people none the wiser at the end of them! Why not just properly TRAIN people. LUL say that if you would like more information please contact your manager. We say do that too because most of them do NOT have a clue either because they have not been trained either.

 

If I want more information about Section 15 where can I find it?

LUL have produced a propaganda film so please watch it. It is available on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElpkR5c3uig and would be funny if it was not such a serious issue.

 

Every journey matters and so does the lives of every track worker

 

UNITY IS LIFE

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Cleshars Outsourcing: Massive Vote

LUL Track Workers have sent a resounding YES for action and a NO to LUL over the training of Cleshars staff to undertake Track Patrols

Those voting YES for strike 141 to 9

Those voting YES to action short 151 to 8

We now call on LUL to enter into talks with the RMT and make the sensible choice and enter into talks with the RMT. Members are advised to come to the next LU Engineering Branch and share their views on the action to take place.

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