Category: News

Posted on

February 3rd RMT Circular

STATION STAFFING & SAFETY ARRANGEMENTS, POST-IMPLEMENTATION OF FIT FOR THE FUTURE – LONDON UNDERGROUND (LUL/14/5)

 ALL ACTION IS SUSPENDED – MEMBERS TO WORK AS NORMAL

Further to my previous Circular (IR/39/17, 31st January 2017), our RMT negotiating team has been in intensive talks with LUL at ACAS to try to reach an agreement in respect of Station Staffing since Fit for the Future was implemented last year. A proposal has now been received from the Company and the details can be found on our website.

This has been considered by the National Executive Committee, which has congratulated our negotiating team for the outstanding progress made and taken the decision to inform the Company that ALL INDUSTRIAL ACTION IS SUSPENDED, subject to the satisfactory implementation of the commitments contained in the letter. All RMT Stations & Revenue members should therefore report for work and undertake all duties as normal.

It has only been possible to reach this position as a result of the 100% support we have received from Stations & Revenue members throughout this dispute. The overtime and rest day working ban had a massive impact and clearly demonstrated the need for more staff across the network and the strike action on the 9th and 10th January showed tremendous solidarity from all members.

RMT will of course remain vigilant and our Reps will be closely monitoring the implementation of the agreement. I will keep Branches advised of any further developments.

Yours sincerely

Mick Cash

General Secretary

Posted on

GENERAL SECRETARY’S STATEMENT TO THE PRESS ON THE BETRAYAL OF OUR CONDUCTOR MEMBERS

GENERAL SECRETARY’S STATEMENT TO THE PRESS ON THE BETRAYAL OF OUR CONDUCTOR MEMBERS IN THE TUC LED AGREEMENT

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

 I have today put out a Press statement condemning the agreement reached in the TUC led discussions by the TUC itself, ASLE&F and Southern management, an agreement that will allow the company to run trains under DOO mode. The statement is as follows:-

“This so-called agreement is a shocking and historical betrayal presided over by the TUC of not only the conductor grade and drivers, but also passengers, including disabled passengers, who have lost the guarantee of a second member of staff on their trains.

This abysmal document lists a whole host of areas where a train can leave without a second member of staff that will leave both the driver and passengers exposed and vulnerable and which also represents a thin end of the wedge that will lead to the de-staffing of trains.

Loyal and dedicated conductors, who have fought for safety for over a year have had the legs kicked from under them by those who are supposed to be on their side. Passengers and staff alike have been sold out by a stitch up cooked up in Congress House by the TUC and the bosses whilst Southern, one of the most anti-union and hated companies of recent times, is laughing all the way to the bank and have been given a free run to rip up the safety rule book in the name of profits.

This is not a deal it is a disgrace and the RMT dispute remains on and we will fight this shocking betrayal with every tool at our disposal.

We remain available for talks”

I will keep you advised of developments as they happen.

Mick Cash

General Secretary.

Posted on

LUL Track & Signals Sunday to Thursday

Last year the union negotiated a deal whereby staff got a one off payment of £500 for the implementation of Night Tube. That has now happened.

The deal was based on people staying on existing rosters and allowed for time off from work being accrued.

During this period, the one off payment was reduced from £750 to £500. This was partly because the impact was reduced

Now we see the company on SSL where there is no planned start date for Night Tube, looking for people to volunteer. We have rightly therefore asked for an incentive as the company rightly agreed that our members can stay on ‘existing rosters and also allowed for time off from work to be accrued’.

However what we now find is that they want it for FREE and they want volunteers.

The reality is that track staff on Infraco JNP get four extra days off per year and we have said to the company there should at least have parity with those fellow workers.

So let’s be honest, they cut the money offered to us and then try to sneak Sunday to Thursday in through the back door. Thats not acceptable and we will be bringing this to a head in the next two months.

If they want a change then they are going to have to offer something to make it worth considering. Therefore if any of you are asked to volunteer, please refer them to you rep

 

UNITY IS STRENGTH

Posted on

RMT on "‎rail fares overhaul"

RMT on “‎rail fares overhaul”

General Secretary Mick Cash said;

“This is an open admission by Britain’s private train companies and the Government that they have been ripping off the travelling public for over two decades.

“If we want a fair deal on fares then that means keeping ticket offices open, keeping staff on the stations and platforms and nationalising our railways into one publicly owned body with one pricing structure.

“The proposals from the train companies today are just pure window dressing from the same old racketeers who have been plundering our railways since privatisation.”

Posted on

Jan 31st RMT Circular

 

 

STATION STAFFING & SAFETY ARRANGEMENTS, POST-IMPLEMENTATION OF FIT FOR THE FUTURE – LONDON UNDERGROUND (LUL/14/5)

Further to my previous Circular (IR/22/17, 18th January 2017), our RMT Station Reps recently attended a meeting with the National Executive Committee, Lead Officer and negotiating team at RMT Head Office to discuss this dispute and report feedback received from members. Having considered the views from this meeting, the National Executive Committee has taken the decision to call further strike action and instruct ALL LUL STATION & REVENUE members NOT TO BOOK ON for any shifts that commence between:-

  • 18:00 hours on Sunday 5th February 2017 and 09:59 hours on Monday 6th February 2017 
  • 10:00 hours on Tuesday 7th February 2017 and 00:59 hours on Wednesday 8th February 2017

NB: To comply with legal advice the industrial action short of a strike consisting of the overtime and rest day working ban, non-familiarisation and non-rostering  of overtime, is suspended for the duration of the strikes but will commence again immediately after each strike ends and continuously from 01:00 hours on Wednesday 8th February 2017.

Further strike dates to be taken in March will be announced once they are determined and agreed. I will of course keep Branches advised of all further developments.

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

Further to my previous Circular (IR/317/16, 26th October 2016), working party discussions over a draft proposed ETO Re-Grading Initiative continued up until last week when talks unfortunately collapsed at the final hurdle. Despite the best efforts of our negotiating team, management seem intent on multi-skilling the ETO Grade rather than accepting any alternative solutions proposed by RMT which would still meet needs of the business without undermining any other grades.

The National Executive Committee has considered a report from the Lead Officer and taken the decision to call on members to take strike action by NOT BOOKING ON FOR ANY SHIFTS that commence between:- 

  • 05:59 hours on Friday 3rd February until 05:59 hours on Sunday 5th February 2017
  • 05:59 hours on Friday 10th March until 05:59 hours on Sunday 12th March 2017

 Members are also instructed to take ACTION SHORT OF A STRIKE between:-

  • 06:00 hours on Sunday 5th February and 05:50 hours on Friday 10th March 2017
  • 06:00 hours on Sunday 12th March 2017 until further notice.

This action consists of:-

  • Taking meal breaks as per existing agreements and law
  • Not exceeding maximum driving times
  • Not volunteering for additional B2F Trains
  • Not working overtime through extending shifts
  • Not training non-driving or Assist Grades to drive
  • Not driving trains, except on lines, depots and sidings unless you have a full working knowledge of the area concerned, understand the meaning of all signals and are competent and appropriately licensed

I am also making the necessary preparations to ballot our Operational Managers with an ETO License as management has failed to give the guarantee that these members will also be included in the pay parity agreement. I will keep Branches advised of al further developments.

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

Further to my previous Circular (IR/22/17, 18th January 2017), London Underground has been advised of the dispute situation due to breaches of agreements by Fleet management. I can now advise that the ballot papers will be posted to members on Tuesday 7th February and the closing date for this ballot is Tuesday 21st February 2017. If any Fleet Grades member does not receive their ballot paper, please ask them to call the Freephone helpline number on 0800 376 3706.

I will keep Branches advised of all further developments.

 Yours sincerely

Mick Cash

General Secretary

 

Posted on

4th March National Demonstration to defend the NHS

4th March National Demonstration to defend the NHS  

Health Campaigns Together (a national network of over thirty NHS campaigning organisations and unions working together to co-ordinate action to defend the NHS) have called a national demonstration in London on 4th March. RMT has agreed to support and widely publicise this demonstration starting at 12.00 noon from Tavistock Square, London, WC1H 0 and marching to Parliament.

The calling letter, signed by Mike Forster of Hands off HRI campaign in Huddersfield and Dr Louise Irvine of the Save Lewisham Hospital Campaign states: “We believe the time has come to demonstrate the breadth and depth of support for the NHS and anger and opposition to the destructiveness of Tory policies.”

The organisers are aiming for maximum support so that the wider public will become more aware of the threats we face: “The NHS crisis will intensify this winter and there will be no let-up in the following months as drastic cost cutting Sustainability and Transformation Plans (STP) are rolled out across the country, leading to more cuts and closures.”

The timing also means that the demonstration can be linked to strengthening vital campaigns in each locality. “By March the “winter crisis” will not be over, and the full reality of the STP plans will have become clearer to many more people. “We believe this could be a massive demonstration, bringing together the growing number of community campaigns with the trade union movement.”

We hope so and I urge everyone to do all you can to build for this important demonstration.

Bring colleagues, friends and family. The NHS is the single greatest achievement of working class people in Britain. We cannot allow it to be undermined and ultimately destroyed. We echo Nye Bevan’s words, sending a clear statement to this government; “The NHS will last as long as there are folk with the faith to fight for it.”

Thanking you in anticipation

Yours sincerely,

Mick Cash

General Secretary

Posted on

Tube drivers action on Central, Waterloo and City Lines

Tube drivers action on Central, Waterloo and City Lines solid in all depots this morning

Mick Cash, RMT General Secretary, said:

“Pickets are out in force this morning, picket lines are being respected and the support for the action is absolutely solid in all depots. This action has been provoked by a pointless and aggressive approach by London Underground that is entirely cash led and which was always going to spark an angry backlash and this exactly what has happened. Despite repeated warnings from the union management have ploughed on 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 prepared to stand up and be counted the company would be wise to recognise that. RMT remains available for serious talks.”

Posted on

LUL Network Command Reorganisation

LUL are starting discussions today regarding a reorganisation with the Network Command and Response Team.

This proposal includes a changes in some areas such as the DOME team, Asset Performance Control Centre, Duty Network Operation Manager and  the Incident Response Team (Incident and C&I TO’s).

The reality is that management always like to rearrange their teams, that is their role. They are also looking at their budgets and their headcount. That is what they do too

Our role is to make sure that it is done in the right way and that our members are catered for and that any impacts that they reject are fully opposed in the usual way. That is what we do

Once we have met management today then the full details will be set out for our members and full discussions will take place.

It is important to stress though that because of our industrial strength in this area, that the talks will be meaningful and our members are safe in the knowledge that our unity is our strength will see us succeed

Posted on

Metropolitan Line Signals Annual Leave Agreement

The RMT have net with management over the last week following problems covering last Christmas Day on call.

To this end we have tried to address some of the issue regarding being on call and how cover is arranged and will vary the agreement with the below proposal that is agreed in principle.

“Christmas Day cover (assuming NO train service) will be as per previous custom and practice arrangements: 1 x TO (12 hr Days) + 1 x TO (12hr Nights) on call.

Staff covering on call on Christmas day will only be expected to attend site if a report is made that may be expected to affect the start up of train services on Boxing Day. This will be a decision made by the Incident Manager and be justifiable to the Line Incident Manager (LIM).

Annual leave period, as per the framework will be assessed by fourteen days after the end of February date for the main submission of annual leave (3.2.1 Signals Framework).

If no cover for Christmas day is forthcoming then a level 1 meeting will take place to address this matter prior to leave over the Christmas period being granted.

Any other requests to work Christmas Day period will be dealt in an individual manner and work will be found for any person wishing to work. All other staff are expected to book annual leave.”

The aim of these words are to describe the type of fault a person will be called to attend on Christmas Day i.e. Service Affecting and that we will monitor the situation for the next few months to see if there are any volunteers. In the event that there is not then we will meet with management to review a way forward

 

Proposal

 

The longer term view will be to negotiate a stand alone agreement for all Incident Technical Officers/ DSIMs and how the Christmas Period will be covered in a consistent and unified way

Posted on

LATEST TORY ATTEMPT TO BAN TRANSPORT STRIKES

RMT RESPONSE TO LATEST TORY ATTEMPT TO BAN TRANSPORT STRIKES

Mick Cash, RMT General Secretary, said:

“These Tories would ban trade unions full stop if they could get away with it. Their objective is to turn the railways into a money-raking racket for their mates in the private train companies where safety counts for nothing. The Tories behind this Ten Minute Rule Bill won’t be happy until companies like Southern Rail have a free pass to run riot with no opposition whatsoever.

“The workforce, supported by the public, are the front line of defence against this union-baiting, bandit-capitalism which has more in common with a right-wing dictatorship than it does a modern, safe railway.”

 

Posted on

Engineering Train Operator Talks Collapse

Following months of intensive talks with Tube Lines Management that have been productive and have nearly reached a conclusion, the main sticking point has been that they wish Engineering Train Operators (ETOs) to carry out shunting duties. It is our position that we will not undermine the conditions of these group of workers and have refused this proposal.

However, during talks, we have offered compromises that include increasing numbers on the Shunters roster so that there are the correct staff available when required to shunt trains. We have also stated that ETOs will work as instructed by shunters and move trains on various roads in the depot outside of the workshops.

Our members have a growing belief that local Transplant Managers are trying to sabotage any agreement by talking down any alternative solution. They have been given what they want, albeit in a different way, yet it is still never enough.

We therefore see no alternative but to ask our NEC to put on more action over this issue and refer the matter to Acas

Posted on

Emergency Public Rally in support of Tube workers

Emergency Public Rally in support of Tube workers

 Wednesday 1 February, 18:30pm

Indian YMCA, 41 Fitzroy Square, London, W1T 6AQ

Tube journeys are up by 23% in the last six years.

Even Tube management have conceded that the 838 job cuts imposed by the previous Mayor, have had a devastating impact on passenger safety.

The cuts have also left station control rooms – which are the “eyes and ears” of the network – unstaffed. This has led to a serious threat to passengers at a time of heightened safety and security alerts. Last year’s incidents at Canning Town and North Greenwich, exposed just how serious those threats are. Those safety warnings have been reinforced by daily reports of intolerable overcrowding and pressures on stations and services right across all routes.

With the constant overcrowding on stations and platforms, it is only a matter of time before there is a major tragedy.

RMT has confirmed a new phase of action from 6 February, as part of Tube workers’ campaign for safe staffing levels.

I enclose a leaflet advertising the event. Please share this widely including on social media and with your workmates, family and friends.

Yours sincerely,

 

RELATED NEWS

Archives