Thales DTS have finally agreed to sign off the below recognition deal with the RMT. Please see the final agreement below
Author: Paul
Government Cuts
DESPITE GOVERNMENT RAMMING TRANSPORT FOR LONDON BILL THROUGH COMMONS LAST NIGHT, RMT PLEDGES TO CONTINUE FIGHT
The Transport for London Bill passed through its latest stage in the Commons last night after a hard-line Tory whipping operation and will now go to the report stage with transport union RMT pledging to continue to work with Labour MPs to oppose it as it heads towards its third reading. The bill is designed to help TfL fill the funding gap arising from impending cuts in the grant it receives from central government, by allowing it to use offshore companies to develop its property.
Leaks show that, from the turn of the decade, the government will cut £700 million a year from its contribution to TfL’s budget. In return for accepting this reduction without a fuss, last night the government lined up its pet MPs to ram the bill through Parliament.
With its property development focused “Transport for London Bill”, TfL is trying to jump head first into the worst kind of corporate structures – “Limited Partnerships”. That is development orchestrated via opaque offshore investment vehicles that pay little tax and are magnets for crooks from around the world engaged in stealing money from their own public purses.
TfL is pinning all its hopes on filling the gap created by government cuts to its budget by leasing out land to offshore companies. It should not have been put in this position by government – TfL is struggling to run a transport network, let alone a property portfolio.
Their press office spins this as TfL’s contribution to tackling the housing crisis but RMT says it is nothing of the kind.
Even if Transport for London were to allow the building of giant residential towers above every one of its stations, the cost of housing in the capital will remain unaffordable.
While the provision of vital services such as housing continues to be dominated by corporate interests, the chief winners will remain the financiers. With ordinary working people left competing against each other to see how much money they can borrow for ever more miniscule and remote dwellings.
RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said:
“The Transport for London Bill may well have been whipped through the Commons last night but the fight is far from over.”
“TfL needs to be saved from itself and from a government indifferent to the growing financial crisis facing services in the Capital city as we saw from the transport department funding settlement agreed last week.
“Speculative property gambles benefit global finance capital and open the door to a barrage of dirty money and the warehousing of residential units that turn whole areas into ghost towns. TfL should have no part of that.
“TfL needs to be properly funded by government and not encouraged to gamble its financial future and the safe provision of transport services on shadey property deals straight out of The Long Good Friday.”
New Inflation Rates
New Inflation Rates
The Office for National Statistics has published inflation figures for the twelve months to October 2015.
The Retail Prices Index (RPI) stood at 0.7% for the year to October 2015, down 0.1% on the figure for the year to September 2015.
The Consumer Prices Index (CPI) remained at -0.1% for the year to October 2015, the same figure for the year to September 2015.
I would be grateful if you could bring this Circular to the attention of all Branch members and further information will follow in the Pay Bulletin presently.
Scroogeonomics Xmas Party
Head Office Circular No. NP/227/15/BO
To the Secretary all Branches,
Council of Executive members,
Regional Councils and Regional Offices
Friday 13th November 2015
Dear Colleagues,
RMT in association with Philosophy Football presents a Scroogeonomics Xmas Party
We are proud to present in association with Philosophy Football a seasonal night out against austerity, Scroogeonomics on Saturday 19 December at Rich Mix 35-47 Bethnal Green Road E1 6LA. A great Xmas party, with a purpose, for RMT members, families and friends. Tickets are on sale at £9.95.
The evening will feature the stand-up comedy of Bridget Christie, spoken word from poet Salena Godden and music from the legendary Thee Faction ‘Singing down the government one song at a time’ and in hot musical pursuit Ska legends The Meow Meows. If this array of talent does not get you laughing and dancing all we can say is, bah humbug!
The night won’t be short of ideas either. Opened by the renowned writer on inequality Danny Dorling there will be an international discussion on austerity and its discontents with Marina Prentoulis of Syriza joined by Sirio Canos Donnay of Podemos and Shelly Asquith NUS Vice-President Education & Welfare.
Plus new work has been commissioned especially for the night inspired by the message of The Christmas Carol by poet Matt Abbott and musician Nia.
Filling the dancefloor with an upbeat indie set will be the Melstars Music sound system.
BOOKING now from https://www.philosophyfootball.com/scroogeonomics.html or call to book 01273 472 721
Please bring this circular to member’s attention and make every effort to attend.
Yours sincerely,
Mick Cash
General Secretary
TRACK PATROLLING, CLESHAR STAFF – LONDON UNDERGROUND
Our Ref: LUL/14/1
10th November 2015
Dear Paul,
TRACK PATROLLING, CLESHAR STAFF – LONDON UNDERGROUND
Thank you for submitting your Branch Resolution regarding the above. This matter has been considered by the General Grades Committee, which has taken the following decision:-
“We note the report of the Lead Officer and we also note the views of the Branch and Representatives and we therefore instruct the General Secretary to prepare a ballot matrix and to ballot all members that are operational permanent way track staff for strike action and action short of strike action.
Relevant Branch and London Transport Regional Council to be informed”.
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
RALLY AGAINST AUSTERITY: 21st November
RALLY – BUILD THE FIGHT AGAINST AUSTERITY
SATURDAY 21 NOVEMBER, CENTRAL HALL, WESTMINSTER, LONDON
In advance of the government’s Autumn Statement, the Trade Union Co-ordinating Group has organised a major event in the campaign against austerity. The rally will take place on Saturday 21st November 2015 from 1.30pm to 4.30pm at the Methodist Central Hall, Westminster, London. Speakers include Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell MP, Yanis Varoufakis, former Greek finance minister, and senior representatives of unions and campaign organisations.
Entrance is only by advance ticket. Register online at http://tucg.eventbrite.co.uk Questions to John McDonnell MP and Yanis Varoufakis can also be emailed in advance to tucg2015@gmail.com
Please bring the contents of this circular to the attention of all relevant members.
Yours sincerely
Mick Cash
General Secretary
RMT on transport cuts announcement expected today
“This is just more of the same from this Government – ring-fencing the profits of the private companies while hitting jobs, services and safety and RMT will continue to fight the cuts assault in every corner of the transport sector.
“With soaring passenger demand it is ludicrous to be hammering down on transport budgets while services are already struggling to cope and are running right on the knife edge of public safety.
“If this rotten Government was serious about efficiency it would kick out the profiteering private operators and bring our transport services back under public ownership and control.”
EX-UKPN
FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT FOR THE POWER DISTRIBUTION GROUP – LONDON UNDERGROUND (LUL/0005)
Following many months of talks with LUL, it has now tabled a new Framework Agreement for the Power Distribution Group which will be applicable to all new staff and for existing staff that choose to take a new grade or accept the new contract. Existing staff can remain on their existing terms and conditions if they wish.
Having considered a report received from the Lead Officer and LU Engineering Branch Secretary, the General Grades Committee has noted the views of affected members and taken the decision to inform the Company of our acceptance of this new Framework Agreement.
RMT say NO to Cleshar's undertaking track patrolling on LUL
The following resolution was carried unanimously at our branch last night
“This branch notes that LUL have decided to train Cleshar’s staff to undertake track patrolling. This is a clear breach of agreements and a direct attack on the internal staff’s job security and direct casualisation. We therefore ask the General Grades Committee to ballot all operational permanent way track staff for Industrial Action and action short of staff”.
There is a time to reflect and there is a time to act. Now it is time to act and we will not standby and watch our work disappear
Section 15 Possessions Resolution
The LUEngineering Branch has asked the General Grades Committee to accept the below resolution.
Emergency Resolution: Section 15 Possessions
“This branch notes that LUL are imposing new possession arrangements under Section 15 of the Rule Book. This branch believes that they are dangerous and that people are liable to be killed. Below is a list of issues associated with this imposition:
- Consultation with H&S reps and in particular Track and Signals has not finished.
- There are no banners to define possession limits.
- There is no protection in place to protect the possession.
- There is potential for confusion regarding Engineering or traffic hours working as section 15 blurs the lines.
- There have been eIRFs raised by other trial sites.
- There is no formal staff training on section 15 possessions.
- There are no management briefings prior to the section 15 possession trail.
- There is genuine potential for confusion regarding train movements in the worksite/ within possession limits.
- There is confusion on 5 minute call back time compared to existing practice and may cause people to rush giving up protection to avoid train delays.
- Working Risk Assessment is historical and not generic to the new working practices.
- Potential confusion between TAC and Controller.
- Success criteria in the DRACCT has not been meet, so trial is already unsuccessful.
We ask the General Grades Committee to Ballot all members that access the track on LUL and Tube Lines for strike action and action short of strike, unless full discussions have taken place with our Health and Safety Reps on both companies and they are satisfied it is safe.
We cannot allow a cost cutting agenda to place the lives and safety of our members in danger.”
Our members are truly worried by this development and we demand one thing, that our members can work safely. So we call on LUL to listen to us. This is not safe
RMT to ballot LUL Pway Staff
The LUEngineering Branch will be discussing whether to ballot all Permanent Way staff over management’s decision to start to mentor Cleshar’s staff to undertake T001 Patrolling at tonight’s branch meeting. In what can only be seen as a pointless exercise and a total waste of tax payer’s money, LUL have waited months since they trained these staff to now, all of a sudden, start to mentor them.
Originally, management had hoped to use these people to help break any strike action over Night Tube. Now it can only be seen as an obvious attempt to undermine the job security, promotional prospects and the ability of staff to work overtime. Furthermore, this is a fundamental breach of our agreements reached at functional council over the use of non-Line based patrol staff.
Questions have already been raised as to why LUL would decide to use these provocative steps at a time when they are stating they are looking to recruit. We believe our members will see this as an act of treachery and we again call on LUL to drawer back from this futile gesture and sit down with the RMT and agree a sensible approach to patrolling and how staff are rostered to be available
RMT/IWCE RESIDENTIAL EDUCATION WEEKEND
Dear Colleague
RMT/IWCE RESIDENTIAL EDUCATION WEEKEND.
In conjunction with the ‘Independent Working Class Education’ (IWCE) organisation the RMT is hosting at the Bob Crow National Education Centre a residential education weekend entitled:
“A World to Win – Learning from the past; Making the Future”
You are invited to come and join RMT activists in Doncaster to explore key moments in the working class history – and make connections with the issues we face today.
This year we celebrate 100 years of women playing a part in rail and transport unions, but of course, the weekend would hugely benefit from experience and contributions of ALL RMT members on the events in history that shaped our union and our class and how they might be relevant and informative to the struggles of today.
The weekend takes place on Friday 20th November (14.00hrs) until Sunday 22nd November (13.00hrs) 2015.
Your reasonable travel expenses will be met by the Union and free accommodation is available at the Bob Crow National Education Centre if required. If you wish to attend please complete the attached application form.
For further details please contact the National Education Officer at a.gilchrist@rmt.org.uk
Yours sincerely