The Branch is moving to the upstairs function room at the Savoy Tup, the Strand. Directions
We are also changing the day, so in future we will meet on a Wednesday at 17:00
Category: Branch
LUL Night Tube
LUL have decided to go to war with the Trade Unions by trying to impose Night Tube rather than carry on talking. Quite out of the blue, Unity House was sent the below letters detailing how LUL intended to start local discussions on ‘implementing’ revised rosters. The surprising aspect of this action is that talks had been progressing nicely at Functional Level until LUL decided, and again out of the blue, to refer the matter to company council and link the issue to pay, stopping all talks. Now after stopping discussions they want to move to imposition (a similar letter has gone to unity house regarding Train Drivers). This can only be seen as a challenge to the Unions right to negotiate on behalf of its members and must surely be linked to the new Government and the recent election result.
LUL re NIGHT TUBE CONSULTATION (Track Signals)
The reality is that this is a totally unnecessary act by LUL which is as provocative as it is counter productive. The instant result was the below resolution being passed unanimously by the LUEngineering Branch and a Track and Signals Reps meeting
“This branch notes that LUL are trying to impose Night Tube talks on Track and Signals at local level. All representatives have been instructed to refuse talks unless Unity House authorize them. This branch believe that this is a direct attack on our machinery of negotiation and agreements based on rosters and Monday to Friday working that was won following strike action. We cannot let this issue go unchallenged. We therefore call on the GGC to ballot all members in our sphere of influence for strike and action short of strike. Furthermore there must be no worsening of terms and conditions”
The truth is this matter could easily have been negotiated. The truth is many of our members are Monday to Friday and wish to stay that way or be adequately rewarded for amending their contract. The bitter truth is that we cannot allow LUL or any other company, to dictate how, when and in what manner they rip up our agreements and tell us that they are imposing anything on our members.
Do not forget we have already been on strike over rosters and Monday to Friday working, reaching the below agreement with Management.
We won this through action and it may take action to defend it.
For the time being the RMT are refusing to attend any local meetings about imposing rosters on our members and all matters are being dealt with at the highest level in our union. We therefore also ask ALL our members to NOT volunteer to change any shifts and allow your union to negotiate your terms and conditions of employment and refuse to allow LUL to rip up our agreements
Picketing Guidelines
Dear Colleagues
- Picketing Guidelines
- The Right to Demonstrate Guidelines
- Picket Armbands
- Picket Posters
- Leaflets and Stickers
With the up-coming Network Rail strike imminent I thought it would send Branches, Regional Offices and Regional Councils a copy of the Picketing Guidelines and The Right to Demonstrate Guidelines and these are attached. I would be obliged if these could be printed off and distributed as necessary.
The communications department are in the process of sending Branches with Network Rail members a number of picket armbands, picket posters together with leaflets and stickers that can be handed out to the public. Should you require any addition armbands, posters, etc., please contact your Regional Office.
Yours sincerely,
Mick Cash
National RMT TUSC Meeting
LGBT PRIDE EVENTS 2015
My ref: EO/16
29th April 2015
Circular No. NP/77/15
TO: THE SECRETARY
ALL BRANCHES & REGIONAL COUNCILS
Dear Colleague,
LGBT PRIDE EVENTS 2015
This year we wish to increase our presence at LGBT Pride events around the country. Not only are Pride marches a time of celebration for our LGBT community, but are an opportunity to promote the union and our campaigns. This year we will be taking the campaign for the nationalisation of the railways to the following Pride events:
Birmingham 23rd May
London 27th June
Brighton 1st August
Plymouth 8th August
Cardiff 15th August
Glasgow 22nd August
Pride marches are family friendly events and all members, whatever sexuality or gender are welcome to join in. I encourage branches and regions to take their banners and support our LGBT members.
Please do use the attached poster to advertise these events. For any queries or to say you wish to take part, contact our Equal Opportunities Officer (j.webb@rmt.org.uk).
Yours sincerely,
Young Person's AGM Course
ED/16/15
Circular No. NP/31/145
23RD February 2015
To: All Branches & Regional Councils, Regional Organisers.
Dear Colleague
Young Members’ Annual General Meeting Education Course 2015
In recent years the Union has organised a Young Members Education Course to run in parallel with the Unions ‘Parliament’ the Annual General Meeting which has proved highly successful. This year the Annual General Meeting takes place in Newcastle, and a similar education course for any of our young members to attend will be organised. To attend you should be a member of the RMT and aged 30 or less on the 20th June 2015, and not attended this event before.
The course will be begin with an informal Introductory Social gathering on the evening of Saturday 20th June 2015 so those attending should make their travel plans accordingly. The Course will begin in earnest in the early afternoon of Sunday 21st June to coincide with the opening of the Annual General Meeting which the ultimate decision is making body of the Union. Throughout the week the programme will look to help all the Young Members attending to understand both how this meeting works and how they can have an input in the coming years to help determine the policies and direction of our union. During the week there will be opportunities to meet face to face senior officials and Officers of the RMT, including the General Secretary and President as well as international guests of the Union. Also in the week ideas and practical plans will be discussed as to how we can help build an even bigger and stronger RMT for the future. Of course throughout the week there will be plenty of opportunity to enjoy the location and mix socially with those attending. The course will close early on the morning of Friday 26th June 2015 to enable those attending to travel home.
*A special request is also being made for those who may wish to seek selection for the General Secretary’s Football team due to play on the afternoon of Saturday 20th June 2015. If you are interested please indicate on your application form and if necessary accommodation will be provided for the night of the 19th June.
Your accommodation will be provided at the SleepZ, 15 Westgate Road, Newcastle, NE1 1SE, cost met by your union.
If you wish to attend this Annual General Meeting Education Course in Newcastle you should complete the attached application form and return to the National Education Officer at, RMT Education, 47-49 Thorne Road, Doncaster, South Yorks, DN1 2EX. The Union will meet the reasonable travel costs of those attending to and from Newcastle as well as all accommodation costs. If you are unable to secure Paid Time Off from your employer then the Union will meet this up to the agreed maximum rate. All applicants will receive guidance on the education expenses procedure with their application acknowledgement letter.
If you wish any further details of this course please contact the National Education Officer at: a.gilchrist@rmt.org.uk
Yours sincerely
Mick Cash
General Secretary
Branch Meeting 7th and 21st April
The next two branch meetings are at:
2014 Branch Accounts
Tube Lines Passes, Pensions and TUPE
Dear ALL,
We met with LUL/ Tubelines today ref APD job losses & TLL Passes+Pensions. LUL have demanded a no strike deal which is a massive u turn by them on the previous accepted agreement discussed at the reps meeting
This is rejected
We have now demanded NR Point to Point travel for TLL & withdrawal of no strike wording which they will respond asap
Further talks planned in 2 weeks. More details at the next branch meeting on 7th April
Mike Lynch wins AGS Election
Mick Lynch has won by a large majority the election for the Assistant General Secretary of the RMT. The branch warmly welcomes him to the role and looks forward to moving the union forward in unity
A tribute to Bob Crow
In tribute to the late Bob Crow. Thinking of his family on the anniversary of his sad death
Campaign for Trade Union Freedom
CTUF Regional Tour on Labour Law and Trade Union Freedoms under Attack
First Stop…. LIVERPOOL
Defeating the Politics of Austerity and attacks on Trade Union Rights organised and supported by IER, CLASS, CTUF, People’s Assembly, Morning Star
25th March 2015
6pm – 8pm, Free Rally
Adelphi Hotel
Liverpool
Speakers include Lynn Collins (NWTUC), John Hendy QC (IER/CTUF), Carolyn Jones (IER), Len McCluskey (UNITE), Tim Roach (CLASS), Matt Wrack (FBU),
plus a short You Tube Clip of John Hendy and Keith Ewing on the role of collective bargaining in ending austerity’s inequality,
which can be found here http://www.ier.org.uk/news/new-you-tube-clip-ewing-hendy
SCOTLAND
Defeating the Politics of Austerity and attacks on Trade Union Rights, organised and supported by People’s Assembly, Morning Star, Scottish Left Review, CTUF, IER, UNITE Scotland, RMT
OTLAND
STUC 118th Annual Congress
20th–22nd April 2015
Congress Fringe Meeting 2015
Tuesday 21st April, 12.30pm – 2pm
Ayr Race Course, Venue: Red Rum Roomf
e thics of Austerity /acks on our Trade Union Rights
Speakers: Mark Serwotka – General Secretary, PCS/CTUF Lilian Macer – Convenor, UNISON (Scotland)Rozanne Foyer – Regional Organiser, Unite (Scotland) Ben Chacko – Editor, Morning Star Chair: Phil McGarry (RMT) – Chair, People’s Assembly
* MORE REGIONAL MEETINGS TO FOLLOW………
SUPPORT THE RIGHT TO STRIKE
18 February 2015 was Global Day of Action for the Right to Strike – a right which is not enshrined in UK law.
The European Committee of Social Rights has stated that the UK is not in conformity with the Articles of the European Social Charter 1961 (which it has ratified) to a very significant extent in relation to the right to organise, the right to bargain collectively, the right to just conditions of work and the right to fair pay, amongst others.
Furthermore, the UK was the first country to ratify the International Labour Organisation Convention 87 but remains in breach in relation to the absence of the right to strike.
Virtually every country in the world recognises that workers have the right to take strike action. Unlike the UK, some 90 countries have it enshrined in their national constitution
Since June 2012, employers have been challenging the existence of an international right to strike and the authority of the United Nations International Labour Organisation (ILO) and its supervisory mechanism. The increasing use of ILO jurisprudence at national and regional level, as well as in codes of conduct on business and human rights, shows the relevance and importance of ILO standards and the need for an effective ILO supervisory mechanism. This crisis is also intended to prevent national and regional courts from deriving a right to strike from international law.
In March 2015, the ILO Governing Body has to take a decision on the resolution of this conflict that has had a chilling effect on the ILO supervisory mechanism since 2012. If no agreement can be reached, workers demand a referral to the International Court of Justice for an advisory opinion on the matter, as foreseen in the ILO Constitution. Many governments support the demand of the labour movement to respect the ILO Constitution and to bring the case before the ICJ. But some are procrastinating. These governments and all groups of employers have to held accountable for their disrespect of international law and the crucial role of the ILO.
Not only is the right to strike under attack at an international level, but the UK faces a further threat from Tory plans to further restrict the ability of UK workers to go on strike.