Category: News

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RMT Circular 3rd March

BREAKDOWN IN INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS – LONDON UNDERGROUND (FLEET GRADES) (LUL/14/2)

 

Further to my previous Circular (IR/88/17, 24th February 2017), the National Executive Committee has taken the decision to call on all Fleet Grades members to undertake the following industrial action from 00:01 hours on Tuesday 7th March 2017 until further notice:-

  • Not to work any overtime or attend training courses outside of normal working hours
  • Not to carry out any higher grade duty work
  • Not to change any shifts or work locations to assist with maintenance
  • No trainers are to carry out training for anyone on a job that is not their substantive role
  • No coaches to coach anyone on a job that is not their substantive role
  • Not to work if there is not a valid and in date WRA, COSHH, and Manual Handling Assessment
  • Not to work if there is no first aider on site

Despite discussions with the Company, including at dispute resolution level, the issues at the heart of this dispute remain unresolved and I urge all members to stand firm together during the industrial action listed above to demand that management properly adhere to our agreed machineries and stop trying to impose fundamental changes to working conditions without any agreement from this Union. I will keep Branches advised of all further developments.

 

DISCIPLINARY, L. CORNELL, S. SOUISSI & D. SHARP – LONDON BRIDGE – LONDON UNDERGROUND (LUL/4/4)

Further to my previous Circular (IR/88/17, 24th February 2017), the following resolution was received from the London Transport Regional Council:-

“This Branch notes that the 3 CSAs sent to disciplinary hearings face summary dismissal. This Branch has requested a ballot locally.

 This motion requests that in the event that Bro. Lee Cornell is not reinstated and the sanctions against Souissi and Sharp are not withdrawn, the RMT escalate this dispute across the region”.

This matter has been considered by the National Executive Committee, which has referred it to the Southern Sub-Committee for further examination and report. I will keep Branches advised of all further developments.

 

NON-PAYMENT OF NEGOTIATED PAY INCREASE, EX-UKPN STAFF – LONDON UNDERGROUND (LUL/9/18)

Further to my previous Circular (IR/1/17, 3rd January 2017), the National Executive Committee has taken the decision to proceed with legal claims over the unlawful deduction of wages affecting ex-UKPN staff who were not paid the first year of the LUL (2015-2018) pay increase. Affected individual members will be sent L2 forms and I will keep Branches advised of all further developments.

 

Yours sincerely

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Retired Members Branch Meeting 7th March

NEXT BRANCH MEETING

I hope you can come along to the next meeting of the RMT London Transport Retired Members Branch.   It’s on Tuesday 7th March 2017 at 14.00 in Unity House, 39 Chalton Street London NW1 1JD.

We will be discussing ongoing RMT issues, and branch activities including the 2017 Retired Members Conference.  Please find attached minutes of the last meeting.

We have a guest speaker, Tessa Van Gelderen, former RMT tutor (remember Frant Place?) and Branch Secretary.  As requested by the last Branch Tessa will be talking about women’s rights and abortion, 50 years after it was legalised in the face of right wing and religious opposition.  Our meeting is also the day before International Womens Day!

Please take this opportunity to tell retired members that you have contact details for.  We are slowly building up mainly through e-mails and word of mouth.

SAVE OUR NHS

Following a resolution from this Branch to the Region, the RMT nationally is encouraging all members to support the national demonstration on Saturday March 4th.  It assembles at 12.00 noon in Tavistock Square (nearest tube Russell Square but easily walkable from Euston).  The website is here http://www.healthcampaignstogether.com/  and they have produced good videos, like this one https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XC2UR6Gurvs&feature=youtu.be

I’ve put dates below of a few other events you may be interested in,

Hope to see you on the 7th March,

Cheers,

Oliver New

Secretary 07931 198501

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Blacklisting & Spycops: in court & parliament – Blacklist Support Group update 23rd Feb 2017

 

  1. Blacklisting debate in Westminster parliament
    Well done Chuka Umunna for using a Westminster debate in parliament to
    call for a public inquiry into the blacklisting scandal

    Blacklist Support Group hold their head in shame after being praised
    by a Tory government minister

    Full transcript: http://myparliament.info/Debates/Commons/2017-02-08/18857
    http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/a-a586-Ministers-reject-latest-calls-for-blacklisting-probe#.WK75MTKcbeR
    http://leftfootforward.org/2017/02/unite-backs-chuka-umunnas-call-for-blacklisting-public-inquiry/

    ETUC calls for more legal protection on blacklisting:
    https://www.etuc.org/documents/whistleblowing-and-protection-blacklisting#.WK78ezKcbeS

    2. Haringey council protests
    Huge demonstrations organized by unions and community groups took
    place last week in the London Borough of Haringey against the decision
    by the council to work with the blacklisting firm Lend Lease
    (previously Bovis) in a £2billion regeneration scheme. Blacklisted
    bricklayer and Tottenham resident Keith Dobie spoke on behalf  the BSG
    reminding councillors how their new corporate partner had a history of
    blacklisting back as far as the Economic League but more recently in
    Australia their anti-union antics saw trade unionists threatened with
    jail for peaceful picketing, including the friend and comrade of the
    BSG, Bob Carnegie
    http://www.itfglobal.org/en/news-events/press-releases/2013/february/bob-carnegie-case-itf-statement/
    http://www.housingexcellence.co.uk/news/gmb-union-slams-haringey’s-“reckless-privatisation”-plan-ahead-critical-council-meeting-protest
    https://socialistworker.co.uk/art/40014/Haringey+march+against+re+development
    http://www.24housing.co.uk/news/haringey-council-tenants-protest-against-social-cleansing/

    3. Spycops
    Powerful new spycops film (very short):
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uas6uAxbhEg&feature=youtu.be

    Met Police destroy evidence and ask for further delays to Pitchford
    public inquiry into undercover policing
    https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/feb/08/inquiry-over-met-police-intelligence-unit-claimed-to-have-destroyed-files?CMP=share_btn_twhttp://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/a-8404-Unions-fight-to-expose-Mets-dirty-secrets#.WKLlWZHfWhA
    http://campaignopposingpolicesurveillance.com/2017/02/13/union-leaders-call-hogan-howe-explain-shredding/https://undercoverinfo.wordpress.com/2017/02/13/destruction-of-political-policing-files-goes-back-decades-will-the-met-face-charges/
    http://www.union-news.co.uk/unions-call-for-fresh-enquiry-into-how-spy-cop-evidence-disappeared/
    https://jennyjones.org/2017/02/06/are-the-police-spying-on-the-witnesses-at-the-inquiry-about-them-spying-on-people/http://www.gmb.org.uk/newsroom/GMB-slams-met
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-38984140
    http://realmedia.press/law-unto-spycops-miscarriages-justice/
    http://www.hackneygazette.co.uk/news/politics/colin_roach_centre_dalston_activist_duped_into_relationship_with_undercover_cop_hits_out_as_police_destroy_evidence_1_4884171

    Spycops in Ireland
    Paul Murphy TD names UK spycops operating in the Republic during
    debate in Irish parliament:
    Video:  https://www.facebook.com/paulmurphytd/videos/1255015057920232/
    Victory for campaigners in Northern Ireland court:
    http://www.itv.com/news/utv/2017-02-07/undercover-officers-linked-to-two-ni-murders/
    http://www.rte.ie/news/2017/0207/850802-undercover-northern-ireland/

    4. Shrewsbury Pickets & Grunwick
    John Pilger documentary (1975) about UK conspiracy laws used to clamp
    down on dissent especially in Shrewsbury trial.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFDJW46YfEI&feature=youtu.be
    Grunwick: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/undercover-with-paul-lewis-and-rob-evans/2017/feb/06/covert-infiltration-of-key-strike-to-be-examined-at-public-meeting-next-week?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Copy_to_clipboard

    5. Employment rights legal victory
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-38931211

    6. Blacklisted workers take on Paul Nutall in Stoke
    Blacklist Support Group went on the campaign trail against the UKIP
    fantasist Paul Nuttall in Stoke this week – Lee Fowler and Jimi Kindri
    representing
    Roy Bentham interview
    https://socialistworker.co.uk/art/44110/Racist%2C+lying+bandwagon+jumper+Nuttall+should+have+stayed+at+Tranmere+Rovers

    5. Dates for the diary where Blacklist Support Group will be attending
    with our banners:
    Save the NHS national demo – London
    Sat 4th March

    Orgreave – Make Some Noise demo (flyer attached)
    2pm Monday 13th March

    Durham TAs strike – Solidarity Day
    Sat 25th March

    Spycops protest – Royal Courts of Justice
    Wed 5th April

 

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Friends of Durham Miners Association Appeal

Friends of Durham Miners Association Appeal

The Durham Miners’ Gala is an important and historic date in our movement’s calendar and one at which the RMT has always been represented.

Last year, it was estimated that 150,000 attended what was the largest gathering for several decades and they are expecting even more to experience the unique atmosphere of music, politics and community spirit on 8th July this year.

To add to the enjoyment of the event the Miners are organising a music festival on the Friday and Saturday night on the Houghall Campus of East Durham Community College, close to the Gala field, where camping will be available for those who wish to stop over for the weekend.

All this has been made possible by the support they have received from well-wishers. To help secure the future of this legendary occasion I am asking all branches to join the growing band of marras* by donating to this year’s appeal.

All details can be found at http://www.durhamminers.org/gala

For those who don’t know ‘marra’ is the Durham miners’ word for a close friend and comrade, something we should all be proud to be known as, and I hope you will be able to give them some support.

Thanking you in anticipation

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Mick Cash

General Secretary

 

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Tube drivers’ strike on Central Line East rock solid this morning

Tube drivers’ strike on Central Line East rock solid this morning

TUBE UNION RMT said today that strike action on the Central Line East is “rock solid” as expected this morning with the union repeating the call for management to start taking the issues at the heart of the dispute seriously  and start engaging in genuine and meaningful talks. 

 RMT has met the company on numerous occasions, including the talks on Monday, in an effort to reach an acceptable solution to this dispute but despite the best efforts of our negotiating team, LUL have maintained that they will be proceeding with the displacements. RMT therefore had no option but to put on this latest phase of strike action to reinforce the demand that management return to talks and halt the forced and unacceptable displacements until agreement is reached. That action is being solidly supported at all depots and pickets are out in force.

 Mick Cash, RMT General Secretary, said:

“RMT negotiators have made strenuous efforts to resolve this dispute but the door has been slammed in our faces. The action is rock solid today with the impact severe and widespread and the blame for that lies firmly at the door of an intransigent LU management that refuses to see sense.

“Let us be in no doubt, if LU are allowed to get away with this move on the Central Line they will start shunting drivers around the combine at the drop of a hat regardless of the consequences. Our members will be sent out from pillar to post to plug gaps that are solely down to staffing shortages. With massive budget cuts in the pipeline at LU this is a straw in the wind as to how the company expects to operate in the future.

“Staff across London Underground are angry and the company would be wise to recognise that. The action today relects that anger at local level and RMT remains available for serious talks but is now down to the company to show that they are prepared to listen and engage with our negotiating team.”

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Agreement reached with Engineering Train Drivers

Following months of talks between the RMT, Aslef and Tube Lines, a final offer has now been received that is acceptable to our members. This shows what unity in workforce can achieve especially when a dispute is driven by the rank and file members whose determination and strength, whether RMT or Aslef, deserves to be saluted.

This offer will now go before the RMT National Executive with a recommendation to accept

Full wording

Following our recent discussions I am writing to confirm the basis of our agreement;

1.    All current industrial action will be suspended and no further industrial action will be taken unless there is a failure to reach agreement in relation to all of the items set out below.

2.  An initial salary increase of 3.15% will be made to the relevant employees on the first available pay date following the completion        of items (3) and (4) below. This increase will be cost neutral and will be funded by the  completion of item (3) below.

3.    The following elements of the Draft ETO Regrading Initiative will be implemented with immediate effect:

·         Section 3: Crewing of Trains

·         Section 4: Assistant Train Operators (Assists)

·         Section 6: Plant Link

·         Section 8: Drinks Machine

4.     A local level Working Group will examine the practice of how meal breaks are taken and the reciprocal arrangement for staff leaving at the end of their shift. An agreed process mirroring existing methods of working will be drafted and implemented by the end of February 2017. In the event that this is not achieved then an Officer Level Meeting will take place at the first mutually agreeable date.

5.    A further salary increase of 3.15% will be paid on the first available pay date following the successful implementation of the following efficiencies as set out in the Draft ETO Regrading Initiative. This is anticipated to be by the end of May 2017 and will not be unreasonably delayed by either party .

– Section 7: Completion of Utilisation of Paid Hours work by April 2017

– Section 2: Rosters and their Implementation Dates to be agreed as per the 2010 Roster Agreement for Day and Night Link Driver by May 2017. The number of required positions will be decided following the Transplant Reorganisation and following 6.1.1.of the Main Framework Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt payments under this section will not be backdated.

3.    The review of the individual managers salary  for ‘pay compression’ will be completed by May 2017, and any recommendations implemented.

4.    Following successful implementation of the above, both ASLEF and RMT will confirm that this dispute is resolved and undertake not to raise any further dispute in relation to the pay or working arrangements for Transplant employees during the course of the current pay deal.
Transplant – Proposed ETO Regrading Initiative – updated Proposal 23 1 17 – Final for submission

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February 15th RMT Circular

FULL-TIME TRAIN OPERATORS POSITIONS, CONTRACTED HOURS AND OVERTIME RATE – NIGHT TUBE DRIVERS – LONDON UNDERGROUND (LUL/14/2)

 

The following resolution was recently received from the London Transport Regional Council:-

“This Union deplores the decision of LUL to prevent NT Drivers (TO23) from moving to full-time (TO21) positions for a period of at least 18 months. TO21 jobs are currently being advertised internally, all other staff including part-time NT Station Staff are eligible to apply, but NT Drivers are not.

 The 18 month tie in period is a direct result of the ASLEF Boxing Day agreement, which the RMT did not sign up to.

 This Union also deplores LUL’s decision not to pay NT Drivers the overtime rate for work until they exceed 35 hours, they’re contracted at 16 hours at the moment so it is unlikely they will ever achieve an OT rate. Drivers cannot do voluntary OT, so the only payments they receive are for finishing late due to service disruption, it is discriminatory for FT Drivers to get the OT rate each they finish late, but NT Drivers to never get it.

 This Region asks the NEC to declare a dispute over these discriminatory practices and to prepare a matrix to ballot all NT Drivers on these matters”.

This matter has been considered by the National Executive Committee, which has taken the decision to advice London Underground that we are in dispute over these discriminatory practices and to ballot our Night Tube Train Operator members for strike action and action short of a strike. I am currently acting in accordance with this decision and will keep Branches advised of all further developments.

 

DISPLACEMENT, TRAIN OPERATORS, CENTRAL LINE – LONDON UNDERGROUND (LUL/16/4)

Further to my previous Circular (IR/22/17, 18th January 2017) the National Executive Committee has consulted with Local Reps and the RMT Central Line East Branch and has taken the decision to call on all affected members at Hainault, Leytonstone and Loughton Traincrew Depots NOT TO BOOK ON for any shifts that commence between:-

  • 21:00 hours on Tuesday 21st February 2017 and 20:59 hours on Wednesday 22nd February 2017.

 

I urge all members to stand firm together against these unacceptable enforced displacements. This is the thin end of the wedge and London Underground must be under no illusion that Train Operators will fight against unnecessary and unfair displacements to plug gaps left by staffing shortages. I will keep Braches advised of all further developments.

 

PAY PARITY, TRANSPLANT ENGINEER TRAIN DRIVERS – TUBE LINES AP JNP (LUL/10/2)

Further to my previous Circular (IR/39/17, 31st January 2017), the Company has been advised that a dispute situation also exists due to management’s failure to guarantee that Operational Managers with an ETO licence will be included in the pay parity agreement.

I can now advise that the ballot papers will be posted to these members on Tuesday 14th February and the closing date for this ballot is Tuesday 28th February 2017. I am currently acting in accordance with this decision and will keep Branches advised of all further developments.

 Yours sincerely

Mick Cash

General Secretary

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Tube drivers to strike again on Central Line East

Tube drivers to strike again on Central Line East over cuts-led forced displacement of staff 

Following last month’s rock solid strike action against the forced displacement of Central Line Train Operators, and having consulted with local reps , RMT’s National Executive Committee has taken the decision to call on all affected members at Hainault, Leytonstone and Loughton Traincrew Depots NOT TO BOOK ON for any shifts that commence between:-‎

21:00 hours on Tuesday 21st February 2017 and 20:59 hours on Wednesday 22nd February 2017

 

RMT met with the Company on 3rd and 13th January in an effort to reach an acceptable solution to this dispute but despite the best efforts of our negotiating team, LUL has now written to RMT stating that it will be proceeding with the displacements. RMT therefore has no option but to put on further strike action to reinforce the demand that management return to talks and halt the forced and unacceptable displacements until agreement is reached.

 Mick Cash, RMT General Secretary, said:

“RMT negotiators have made strenuous efforts through the ACAS machinery to resolve this dispute but the door has been slammed in our faces. To up the ante, LUL have now written to us confirming that they will be bulldozing through the displacements regardless.

“Let us be in no doubt, if LU are allowed to get away with this move on the Central Line they will start shunting drivers around the combine at the drop of a hat regardless of the consequences. Our members will be sent out from pillar to post to plug gaps that are solely down to staffing shortages. With massive budget cuts in the pipeline at LU this is a straw in the wind as to how the company expects to operate in the future.

“Staff across London Underground are angry and the company would be wise to recognise that. This latest phase of action is on and RMT remains available for serious talks.”

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Southern make a mockery of dispute talk

General Secretary Mick Cash said;

“RMT entered today’s talks in good faith but it soon became clear that the only thing Southern were interested in was bulldozing through driver only operation further and faster with safety and access to services not even on their agenda. That pig-headed attitude has today wrecked the talks process.

“Not only have Southern refused point blank to give a guarantee on a second safety critical member of staff but the company have also made it clear that the deal set up by the TUC in the drivers’ dispute is even worse than we first expected and gives Southern a free run to kick the legs from under our members who have fought for nearly a year on the principles of safety and access.

“RMT’s negotiating team is furious at the way this union and its members have been treated. This is dire news not just for staff but for passengers who rightly demand a safe, reliable and accessible service.  I will now take a full report back to the unions exectutive. “

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Jan Inflation Rate

New Inflation Rates

 

The Office for National Statistics has published inflation figures for the twelve months to January 2017.

 

The Retail Prices Index (RPI) stood at 2.6% for the year to January 2017, up 0.1% from the year to December 2016.

 

Some private and public sector employers are attempting to sideline RPI as the measure for pay negotiations and are pushing other measures – such as CPI (1.8% for the year to January 2017, up 0.2% from the year to December 2016) or CPIH (2% for the year to January 2017, up 0.3% from the year to December 2016). These alternative inflation measures are not appropriate for pay negotiations as they are an inaccurate measure of workers’ average costs over the year.

 

Any attempts by an employer to link pay awards to CPI or CPIH must be opposed and logged with the National Policy Department.

 

Further information will follow in the Pay Bulletin and I would be grateful if you could bring this Circular to the attention of all Branch members.

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

Mick Cash

General Secretary

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Unions demand action from spycops inquiry following Met Police shredding of evidence

Joint Union Statement 

We the undersigned are outraged at the news that despite court orders to the contrary, the Metropolitan Police Service has destroyed evidence required for use in the Undercover Policing Public Inquiry. State spying on trade unions and political campaigns is a human rights scandal that affects millions of British citizens.

Despite continued reassurances, the Pitchford Inquiry has failed to secure the documents that will be central to the investigation. Trade union core participants are beginning to question whether the Inquiry team has the ability to stop the police from obstructing the pursuit of justice. Lord Justice Pitchford needs to act now to restore our faith.

We are calling on Lord Justice Pitchford to announce an urgent Inquiry hearing to examine the destruction of evidence by the police. The Commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe should be forced to give evidence under oath to explain why, how and under whose authority documents have been destroyed.

Lord Justice Pitchford needs to take immediate measures to secure all documentation held by the police, in order to prevent future destruction and avoid the entire inquiry descending into a hugely expensive cover-up on the part of the Metropolitan Police.

SIGNED:

Len McCluskey (General Secretary) and Gail Cartmail (Acting General Secretary) UNITE the Union, incorporating UCATT 

Matt Wrack (General Secretary) Fire Brigades Union

Chris Kitchen (General Secretary) National Union of Mineworkers

Tim Roache (General Secretary) GMB union 

Mick Cash (General Secretary) Rail Maritime and Transport union 

Michelle Stanistreet (General Secretary) National Union of Journalists 

Dave Smith and Roy Bentham (joint secretaries) Blacklist Support Group

 

Blacklist Support Group

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

video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNcgrNs6pB8

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

blog: www.hazards.org/blacklistblog

 

 

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ROLE OF THE GUARD & EXTENSION OF DOO – SOUTHERN (GTR)

ROLE OF THE GUARD & EXTENSION OF DOO – SOUTHERN (GTR)

I write further to my Circular (IR/26/17) dated 20th January 2017 and to my Circular dated 4th February 2017, in which I informed you of the shocking and historical betrayal of our conductor members at the hands of the TUC, ASLE&F and Southern management.

Firstly, I would like to thank and congratulate our members for their continued determination in opposing DOO and defending the safety critical role of the guard. Additionally, I would like to express thanks to all those who took industrial action on the 23rd January 2017 and to all those who voiced their opinions and attended the meeting of representatives and members held at three bridges on Sunday 29th January 2017.

I can confirm that we have been in contact with Southern and once the deal with ASLE&F had been announced we requested a copy of the proposals from the company, who unacceptably did not reply or provide a copy of the document until Monday 6th February, three days later. Over the weekend it was proposed by Southern that talks should take place under the auspices of Acas and the union should meet with the company on Tuesday or Wednesday this week. However, I was deeply surprised and concerned to be told by Acas officials that Southern are not available for any talks until Next Monday (13th February). I was then informed yesterday, that they are unavailable for talks until Tuesday 14th February 2017.  Nevertheless, I have informed them that as always we are prepared to meet and will be doing so on Tuesday 14th February at Acas.

I am appalled at the company’s evasive behaviour and blatant attempts at stalling meaningful talks, particularly, at such an important and sensitive time. It is without doubt that Southern are more concerned with pushing through and ensuring a deal with the drivers is concluded before our union gets the opportunity to get round the table and focus on a deal for our members who have been at the centre of this dispute.

It has been publicly declared by certain parties to the deal which was tabled and agreed at the TUC talks that it secures a second safety critical member of staff on “every train” and “…guarantees a second person on Southern Trains”. Therefore, I have challenged the company to confirm that this is their full interpretation of the same agreement. Additionally, we have requested that our Reps be released to meet with the National Executive Committee and National Officers to discuss the dispute.

I would be most grateful if you could bring the contents of this Circular to the attention of your members.

Yours sincerely

Mick Cash

General Secretary

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