Author: Paul

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LUL Furlough & Company Council Report

Today we had the joint LUL & Tube Lines Company Council attended by the RMT.

 

Furlough: LUL announced that they are dealing with an unprecedented loss of income, with train journey’s over Easter, lower than at any time for nearly 100 years.

 

They currently had over 18% of their staff off with Covid related issues along with the normal levels of staff absence.

 

Therefore they had decided to use the Government Job Retention Scheme, also known as Furlough to add funding.

 

This scheme states that the Government will fund up to 80% (capped at £2,500) to support companies for a limitted time with staff that have no work currently.  This period must last for a minimum of 3 weeks and staff must not be undertake any work for LUL during this period.

 

NOTE LUL HAVE GUARENTEED TO PAY 100% OF EMPLOYEES WAGES

 

 

Full details of the Government Job Retention Scheme

 

 

LUL have stated that they intend to use this scheme starting on the 27th April and would spend next week trying to ascertain which staff that they was currently able to furlough. Examples that was given were those at home but unable to work, those being shielded etc. LUL also stated that they expected this to be mainly non-operational.

 

They confirmed that this would be on 100% of their pay and their terms and conditions would remain intact.

 

RMT Regional Organiser, John Leach, insisted that this must be put into writing and that the RMT would not accept anything less than FULL terms and conditions remaining the same and full involvement in the process of discussion who would be furloughed.

 

Non-essential work: 

 

LUL confirmed that they had been examining how much and what types of non-essential work that they should stop doing. They stated that they had produced a list of items for each function and they would share with the RMT asap.

 

Our view remains the same, we will fully support members that are unsure if the tasks that they have been given is either safe or essential to the safe running of the railway. If in doubt, always say no and raise with your reps and managers. Put your health and your safety first as it it better to query and ask why, than risk doing something that is wrong.

 

Face Masks:

 

LUL reported that station staff would be given face masks from next week to deal with emergency situations and that they was reviewing exactly where else these masks were needed.

 

The RMT position remains clear:

  • If the Mayor is telling passengers to wear masks then passenger facing staff should remain protected.
  • PPE is a last resort and LUL agreed that the use of masks was NOT to enable more work to be undertaken
  • The principles of social distancing and hand washing remains the most effective way to combat the spread of Covid 19

LUL Pay Deal:

 

LUL confirmed that this would be paid in July

 

Contractors:

 

The RMT have continually demanded that LUL and TfL take ownership of the issues regarding our sub-contractors and self employed staff and pay them.

 

The RMT today stated that they would work with Management to produce safe working practices to enable the restart of various project works such as in R&E that would enable this workers to be back earning money, but being kept safe by their union.

 

There is a real danger that these staff with be lost to the Railway and they have been denoted as Key Staff. People such as Protection Masters with Morsons and Cleshars, Track Staff employed by VGC and engineers in Engie etc are all core to the safe running of the Railway and all these core functions need to be done in house.

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Basic Rules to keeping safe

Below is the basics of keeping and working safe.

 

  • Keep at least 2m social distancing
  • Use the correct PPE and be careful
  • Do not rush
  • If you have doubts about your work or work methods then contact your rep
  • If you have enough doubts to contact your REP then you probably have enough doubts to refuse to work on the grounds of Health and Safety
  • Speak to your managers and tell them why you don’t feel safe

We control our safety. Do not take chances.

 

Staying safe is our right

 

Keeping trains running for key workers is our role.

 

We cannot do that if we all catch the illness

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TfL Staff deaths due to Covid 19

Engineering Reps on a conference call with London Underground were today told that 30 TFL workers have now died.

 

 

This means it is likely that the deaths of transport workers has now surpassed NHS workers in London.

 

We stand side by side with our brothers and sisters in the NHS and we are doing all we can to get all essential workers to work.

 

 

What our employers must URGENTLY do, is supply us with full and adequate P.P.E in order to do so.

 

 

Our lives depend on it.

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Thales Furlough Scheme

At this time we have significant concerns regarding the Thales Furlough scheme that affects some 112 staff and mainly members:

*   Thales have so far not agreed to include shift allowance in their scheme as per the government advice ref normal rates of pay
*   We are unclear how the pay back scheme will work and we believe that this should not be applied
*   It appears that work is still being given to external sources that our members can do and there are currently many contractors being given work to do at home (we believe)

Furthermore we have stated that they cannot do this contractually without consent and also our position is for 100% pay.

 

We are still meeting with Thales and are awaiting a reply regarding shift uplift

Therefore at this time we cannot recommend the NEC agree to the Thales Furlough terms

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Balfour Beatty (LU Contract) Furlough

Balfour Beatty have started/ in the process of demobilising most aspects of your work at Ruislip for the LUL Contract.

 

They are now proposing/ have started to furlough a large proportion of their work force and are proposing to the RMT the below furlough scheme:

 

    • Basic pay: 80% of average earnings (based on average monthly earnings in the tax year 2019/20 but excluding any travel and subsistence expenses) for earnings up to the UK Government threshold of £37,500 plus 80% of basic pay above the £37,500 threshold.
    • Balfour Beatty will also adopt a bar for low earning employees of £22,000 below which point salary will not be reduced.
    • Pension contributions for employees on Furlough Leave: all pension contributions for the Furlough Leave period will be based on actual pay during that period
    • Travel payments for employees on Furlough Leave: all payments related to travel will stop
    • Subsistence payments for employees on Furlough Leave: these will continue to be paid if employees have committed lease arrangements or an ongoing financial commitment to short term accommodation.  This will need to be evidenced and immediately escalated to your local HR team

The RMT have asked Balfour to look at 100% pay and also whether there are alternatives, however, the above proposal is now the final position and the matter is referred to our members and the National executive.

 

We are confident that LUL are likely to restart some of the work in the relatively near future and we would very much support this if it is essential work and it is done safely.

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Social Media Comments by Senior Assistant General Secretary

Social Media Comments by Senior Assistant General Secretary
 
The Senior Assistant General Secretary made a number of controversial comments on social media this week in relation to the public health crisis and the government.
 
Once I became aware of the matter, it was necessary for the President and I to issue a statement which stated: “Steve Hedley’s comments do not represent the views of this trade union and are wholly unacceptable.” I also wrote to the Senior Assistant General Secretary but have yet to receive a reply.
         
However, the comments have attracted widespread negative media coverage which has led to an extraordinarily large volume of complaints, from both RMT members and the public, through social media and also directly to the Union and our staff with unprecedented levels of hostility.
 
This matter was placed before a Special meeting of the National Executive Committee today. The NEC has taken the following Decision:
 
“We note the report from the General Secretary and instruct him to suspend the Senior Assistant General Secretary with immediate effect, pending a formal investigation.”
Mick Cash, RMT General Secretary
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RMT Credit Union during the lockdown

The RMT Credit Union Office is closed for the foreseeable future due to the COVID-19 however it remains open for business and home working has been introduced

 

The main thing that needs to be changed and will be helpful is that any withdrawals or loans PLEASE DO NOT send forms via the post.

 

Please send them by email for the time being until we return back to the office.

 

We will be picking up emails from home and processing payments from there so the Credit Union will still function as usual as best as possible.

 

Your assistance is appreciated at this time. Thank you all and please stay safe. We will get through this.

 

Please note the new date for Monthly Cycle collection of Direct Debits will be on the 15th of every month.

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Union Fees & Furlough/ Laid off members

Your Union National Executive is currently at ways that we can help our members that have been placed onto furlough and how to apply the Rules with regards to members RMT subscriptions.

 

We are hoping that there will be new policy on this in the next few days.

 

In the meantime please contact the RMT membership department and let them know your current position and they will be able to advise and help your further.

 

Call: 0207 529 8837 or email membership@rmt.org.uk

 

Furthermore, we have asked our National Executive to look into whether the RMT has a hardship fund that can be used

 

 

For more details see RMT Rule 2 as well

 

 

Click Here

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Refusal Work on the Grounds of Health & Safety COVID 19

RMT issues advice to rail and bus members that they should stop work on safety grounds if employers do not provide adequate protection from COVID-19
 
TRANSPORT UNION RMT has issued advice to tens of thousands of workers in the rail and bus sector throughout the UK today saying its members should stop work on safety grounds if employers do not provide protection from COVID-19.
 
The message to members follows escalating concerns that many employers are not taking steps to protect transport workers despite rail and bus staff playing a key role in keeping people and goods moving in the fight against COVID-19.
 
The advice says rail and bus workers should stop work and invoke the “safe work procedure if employers do not follow key protection measures” including:
 
•         Employers to only conduct activities and tasks that are necessary for running the essential services for key workers and movement of freight during the emergency. Staff to only be deployed to tasks that are deemed as essential.
 
•         Avoid large and small gatherings to maintain two metres of separation between workers; and with the public, including when travelling in vehicles and trains; meaning that employers have to provide for single occupancy in work vehicles and for passenger vehicles, an isolation zone including zoning-off seats; and screens around drivers and crew.
 
•         Maintain two metres of separation between all individuals when on task. Where the task is essential to the safe operation of the service, and cannot be performed with two metres of separation, then personal protective equipment such as gloves, eye defenders and masks to be utilized by all workers in close proximity to provide mutual assurance and the time spent within two metres must be minimized and only for the purpose of the task. If full appropriate PPE is not available then work should not commence.
 
•         Members who have an underlying condition who are exercising “particularly stringent social distancing”, as advised by the NHS, should observe the two metres distance at all times and should decline any task where the two metres distance could be breached.
 
•         As a temporary measure – minimise cash transactions when working, wherever possible.
 
•         All companies in the rail and bus sectors need to ensure that toilet and washing facilities are open and readily available for transport workers at all locations so that they can comply in full with government advice.
 
RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said:
 
“Today we have issued advice to our members in the rail and bus sectors that they should stop work on safety grounds if employers do not provide protection from COVID-19.
 
“That means that if they are not provided with PPE, including masks, eye defenders and gloves where necessary they should not be working.
 
“Our members are increasingly concerned that many employers are not taking steps to protect transport workers despite rail and bus staff playing a key role in keeping people and goods moving in the fight against COVID-19.”
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RMT ADVICE TO MEMBERS EMPLOYED IN THE RAIL AND BUS INDUSTRIES

RMT ADVICE TO MEMBERS EMPLOYED IN THE RAIL AND BUS INDUSTRIES
 
Please find below links to two documents containing the RMT’s advice to members employed in the rail and bus industries during the ongoing Coronavirus – COVID-19 pandemic:
 
For Railway (including London Underground) workers:  https://bit.ly/3eey8Ui  
For Bus workers:  https://bit.ly/2Xl48jE
 
The RMT has recently received a barrage of queries from both individual members and from our elected Representatives on what to expect from their employers with regard to the Coronavirus – COVID-19 pandemic, what protections are being put in place and how their health and safety is to be protected by employers.
 
These documents have been sent to all RMT members employed in the rail and bus industries.
 
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LUEngineering Branch Meetings go online

Your Branch and indeed the RMT are now conducting all critical trade union business online.

 

What that means is that things such as our branch meetings etc are now being conducted by Zoom video conferencing meetings

 

If you wish to ‘attend’ a branch meeting please just email the branch secretary for an invite:

 

LUEngineering@rmt.org.uk

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