Category: News

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VGC Dispute

The RMT have been in discussions with VGC regarding fair pay and treatment for the Works Train Controllers working on the Cross Rail Contract at Plumstead.

 

These staff were in some cases employed as Machine Controllers and have seen a huge increase in their work and associated responsibility. However, there has been no associated increase in pay and that is not acceptable to our members. Of the 26 members of staff, all of them have joined the RMT and are standing together firmly to push for a significant increase in pay.

 

Further talks are planned to take place soon and we hope that a negotiated settlement can be reached. However, if it cannot, then we urge our members to return their ballot papers with a resounding YES vote.

 

Ballot papers will be posted on Tuesday 21st November 2017 and the closing date for the ballot is Wednesday 6th December 2017.

 

If any member does not receive their voting paper, or knows of a colleague who has not received it, please call the freephone helpline on 0800 376 3706, RMT Head Office on 0207 387 4771 or e-mail info@rmt.org.uk to request a replacement.

 

 

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Thales Pay Deal

Dear ALL

 

Following lengthy talks with the Company, the RMT and Thales have finally reached agreement on pay and we understand that the back pay & increase will be paid in the next available pay run.

 

During the talks, we carried out a referendum among our members that showed a majority to accept the final pay offer by a small majority of approximately 55% to 45%.

 

We therefore went back to management and spent further efforts into tightening up the wording for the Inflation Protection element of the pay offer.

 

Our members will be aware that these talks have gone on far too long. However, given that the initial Thales offer was zero percent, it has taken many months of talks to achieve a good pay offer given the relative position that we started the talks in.

 

Our members will also receive a further 2% Pay increase for 2018 from January and we would like to thank them for their patience and support that they have given us over this period.

 

 

Thales Pay Offer 2017, 2018, 2019

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Former Metronet Signals Boxing Day Dispute

LUL Signals Boxing Day Dispute

 

Dear Colleagues,

 

The RMT have been talking to LUL (ex-Metronet areas) for nearly four years regarding working over the Christmas Period. We have asked for movement towards maximising how many staff can be off should they wish and also requesting a bonus form people forced to work on Boxing Day, as happens in other parts of the business.

 

We have been told that this is just a ‘normal working day’ and that is NOT acceptable to our union and we have therefore notified LUL of our intention to Ballot Signals Staff in Incident and Maintenance in former Metronet Areas (does not include Tube Lines).

 

We are hopeful that our members will return their ballot papers on mass so that we reach the legal thresholds that the Anti-Trade Union Laws now place upon us.

 

The papers go out Thursday 30th November and the closing date for the ballot is Tuesday 12th December

 

Please be aware that this dispute DOES NOT involve any Project Staff working over the Christmas Period.

 

If you do not received you Ballot Papers by the 4th December, then please contact me or ring RMT Head Office on 0800 376 3706

 

Please VOTE YES

 

Paul Jackson

LU Engineering Branch (0962)

07810 643 681

 

www.luengineeringrmt.co.uk

 

 

LUL Signals Boxing Day Dispute

 

 

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RMT demand talks regarding Train Prep

96 HOUR FLEET PREPARATION – LONDON UNDERGROUND

 

It has been brought to my attention that LUL Fleet management in both BCV/LUL and JNP are attempting to discuss the important issue of changes in frequencies of Train Preparation. There is talk of moving to a 96 hours preparation and this proposal is of grave concern to my Union with regard to the safe running of the railway.

 

As this appears to be a company-wide issue effecting other grades than Fleet Staff such as Train Operators, I believe that an ad hoc Safety Directors’ meeting should be called with extended invitees to include the Trains and Fleet H&S Council representatives from both BCV/SSR and JNP, together with the full-time Trade Union Officers and that this should meet as soon as possible.

 

In the interim, I must insist that all other engagements and discussions should cease until the required meeting takes place.

Your urgent confirmation is asked for.

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Transformation & Redeployment

The RMT are holding an urgent meeting tomorrow to discuss Transformation among their reps.

 

Part of these discussions will be the below proposal from Management that could be perceived as a variation to existing agreements that affect all members of staff.

 

The RMT are happy to work through changes with Management but they need be in no doubt that we won’t stand by and see them steamroller our conditions

 

Maximising job opportunities for employees in scope for Transformation

At our last Transformation Oversight Group (TOG) meeting with the union Full Time Officers, feedback was provided on the redeployment support provided by TfL. Specifically, the trade unions were not confident that adequate arrangements were in
place to ensure that TfL was maximising the opportunities for staff in scope of organisational change to find alternative employment across TfL and in other work streams.
I share your concerns about the potential to lose knowledge, skills and experience. I also agree that we should ensure “at risk” and “displaced” staff are provided with optimum opportunities to secure a suitable job within TfL without compromising any
of the principles or commitments contained within either the RSRP or OCP processes.

To this end we will be introducing a more proactive and prescriptive approach to filling all vacancies across TfL during Transformation which seeks to redeploy existing skills, knowledge and experience as follows:

• An employee in a selection pool where there are more people than roles will be able to apply for vacancies across the business as a priority candidate at the earliest opportunity in consultation. This activity will run in parallel with either RSRP or OCP as appropriate.
• This is entirely voluntary – an employee has a choice whether to apply for a vacancy elsewhere in TfL or not.

2
• Those employees already formally displaced (whether for medical reasons or as a result of a previous organisational change) will always be considered first for any vacancies that exist, including roles currently temporarily filled by non-permanent labour (NPL). This new category of priority candidate will be considered before any other internal candidates.
• If the role is a direct 1:1 skills match (e.g. an existing PA applies for another PA role) the priority candidate will be appointed on a permanent basis. There will be no trial period.
• If the role is not a direct skills match or more than one priority candidate applies, an assessment and selection process will be followed. If the minimum benchmark is met, a priority candidate must be appointed (no trial period).
• If the priority candidate chooses to accept the role they will come out of their pool at that point. They will not take part in assessment and selection.
• The relevant terms and conditions for the role will be offered. The successful priority candidate’s salary will be honoured provided it is within the pay band. If the current salary is above the salary maximum for the band, protection of earnings will be applied for 3 years in line with OCP / RSRP as appropriate. Their salary will always be capped at the band maximum.
• If an individual is unsuccessful in securing an alternative role prior to the assessment stage they will be required to participate in the relevant assessment process for their pool.
To maximise job opportunities available for those identified above, we will implement the following:
 Targeted recruitment freeze – we will immediately limit recruitment to priority candidates only in disciplines where we can readily identify potential redeployment opportunities – e.g. Band 1 and Band 2 administration, Project Management and Engineering roles. A jobsite will be created, only accessible to priority candidates, where all applicable vacancies will be posted. We will also seek to make work streams aware of new vacancies arising on an ongoing basis during consultation.
 Business critical roles will only be temporarily filled with NPL.
 For all other recruitment (excluding high volume and operational) we will ensure priority candidates are considered before any other applicant.

3
With regard to redeployment support for those who become displaced we will be even more proactive in identifying potential opportunities for our people as follows:-
 All business areas will be required to undertake ongoing reviews of their NPL and identify all long term / permanent non specialist NPL roles for potential swap out with anyone remaining at risk of redundancy post selection and assessment.
 All secondments over 3 months to be processed through the Redeployment Team, as potential opportunities.
 We will rigorously enforce that anyone referred to Redeployment, must be interviewed for posts where their skills, knowledge and experience are deemed to match by Recruitment. Managers must accept people into roles identified as suitable alternative employment.
HR Business Partners are being briefed on this and will be able to answer any questions your representatives may have in the course of the ongoing work stream consultation.

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RMT welcomes Labour MP Dan Carden’s backing for Merseyrail guards

RMT welcomes Labour MP Dan Carden’s backing for Merseyrail guards in parliamentary debate

 

Rail union RMT has welcomed Labour MP Dan Cardens support for their fight to keep the guard on our trains. 

The Liverpool Walton Labour MPs has been a solid supporter of the guards and this week  Mr Carden secured a special parliamentary debate to press the case to keep a guard on every train.

The following is a extract from a wide-ranging speech from the MP.

“Despite several days of strike action, the public still overwhelmingly back the guards. The entire trade union movement and the north-west TUC support the guards, and the Labour party’s policy is clear: to oppose any extension of DOO. The Welsh Government have now guaranteed a guard on every train for future franchises, and Scotland has made similar long-term arrangements. The shadow Secretary of State wrote to train operators last week to tell them that a Labour Government would halt any plans to extend DOO. Merseytravel’s former chairman, Mark Dowd, remains fully opposed to removing the guards, saying that “common sense should prevail”.

As a result of issues raised in the debate the union has now written to the Metro Mayor seeking an urgent meeting. 

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said,

“Our members are absolutely delighted at the solidarity Labour MP Dan Carden has shown with their cause through securing this parliamentary debate.

At the same time his debate has also seen constructive proposals put forward to resolve the dispute which will benefit passenger service and safety”. 

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Political School

Attendance on the Political School is intended to equip participants with a sound understanding of the political role of trade unions, the RMT’s political activity and our international work. Students on the course will consider how Branches and Regions can most effectively support national campaigns and develop local campaigning initiatives.

 

The Political School takes place mostly at the RMT National Education Centre at Doncaster, but also includes a trip to the UK Parliament at Westminster, with students staying overnight in Central London. The course is delivered by the union’s Political Officer, with the assistance of guest speakers, as well as MPs from our parliamentary group.

 

This residential school takes place twice a year, with the next one scheduled to run between Sunday 18 March and Friday 22 March 2018. Participants will be expected to arrive by the early evening of 18 March in Doncaster to meet fellow students at an evening buffet. The course will conclude in London on the morning of 22 March.

 

Branches are invited to now nominate one representative to attend the school. In doing so, please ensure that your nominee will definitely be able to attend the school. In the event of applications exceeding places available, the National Executive Committee will determine the successful applicants.

 

With regards to what information a nominee should provide in support of an application to participate on this course, the NEC has reached the following decision:

 

“This school is particularly beneficial to Branch and Regional Council Chairs, Secretaries and Officers and also members who already completed level one courses. All applications will however continue to be treated on their merits and the application form should be updated to obtain more information on the applicant’s union activity, previous courses attended, union positions held and reasons for attending the school.”

 

Please complete and return the attached form to nominate a representative and return by Thursday 30 November to the Policy Department based in our Head Office.

 

171121jcgb(PolSchool_AppForm)

 

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RMT SLAMS CHRIS GRAYLING

RMT SLAMS CHRIS GRAYLING’S “MISLEADING, DAMAGING AND POLITICALLY MOTIVATED” LETTER TO MP’S OVER RAIL SAFETY DISPUTES

 

RAIL UNION RMT today slammed a letter sent to MP’s by Transport Secretary Chris Grayling over the on-going guard’s safety disputes as “a wholly misleading work of fiction that damages the prospects of reaching a negotiated with the train companies for clearly politically motivated reasons.”

In a letter to Mr Grayling, in response to his MP’s letter, RMT General Secretary Mick Cash says:

Dear Chris

 

GTR Dispute

 

Further to your letter to MP’s on the 25th October to MP’s I am writing to you regarding your claims within that letter.

 

It is abundantly clear to passengers that it is your proposals under the strategic direction of your Department to remove the train guard from railway services on Southern, Northern, Greater Anglia, Merseyrail and South Western railways that is preventing the companies from reaching safe and effective agreements with the RMT.

 

I do not say this lightly and a number of train operating companies are privately indicating to me that that you are sabotaging the deals that in normal circumstances they would be able to make.

 

My concerns are reinforced by the fact that since you have become the Secretary of State similar offers made by other rail companies namely Transpennine Express, East Coast and Great Western were all agreed under your predecessor Patrick McLoughlin.  Since you became Secretary of State you have prevented any such agreements.

 

I would also point out that my union has been able to reach agreement on new trains and keeping the Guard on Scottish rail services, assisted by the involvement of the Scottish Government and also on Welsh rail services assisted by the Welsh Government.  The fact that we can reach agreements with the Scottish and Welsh governments but not your government only reinforces my concern that you are simply rejecting out of hand any deal and in doing so putting anti- union politics before passengers.

 

I would be grateful if we could meet to discuss these concerns at the earliest opportunity.

 

I look forward to hearing from you.

 

Yours sincerely

 

Mick Cash

General Secretary

 

Mick Cash, RMT General Secretary, said:

 

“This letter from Chris Grayling nails down once and for all the core fact that it’s the Government who are imposing Driver Only Operation on the train operators and who are directing the attack on Britain’s train guards from the centre.  Instead of allowing normal industrial relations to run their course the train companies are boxed in by central diktat from Chris Grayling and the DfT.

 

“When it comes to the reasons for the current disputes Mr Grayling’s letter is a wholly misleading work of fiction that damages the prospects of reaching a negotiated with the train companies for clearly politically motivated reasons. The next phase of planned strike action is solely about the safety of the travelling public and the staff that they rely on and Mr Grayling knows that, he should give up his bogus claims and allow the talks process to get back underway”.

 

“This unprecedented political interference explains why RMT has been able to reach negotiated settlements over the guards and the method of train dispatch in Scotland and Wales, where responsibility is devolved, but have had the door slammed in our face in England when it comes to any meaningful talks.

 

“Chris Grayling’s letter to MP’s shows that the Government are driving the current rail disputes for their own politically-motivated reasons. That damaging and dangerous behaviour needs to stop right now and normal industrial relations should be reinstated.”

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DRIVER ONLY OPERATION (DOO)

DRIVER ONLY OPERATION (DOO)

 

Further to my Circular No IR/252/16 dated the 24th August 2016 with regards to the above matter and where I informed you of the union’s national campaign to defend the role of the Guard and our fight against the further spread of Driver Only Operation. I can now advise you that I have received the following resolution from our Newcastle Rail & Catering Branch:

 

“This Branch commends all RMT members who have taken solid and determined industrial action in defence of the roles and responsibilities of the Guard. Their sacrifice has been for the safety of the travelling public and for ensuring the rail network is accessible to all especially the disabled and the vulnerable.

 

In the face of overwhelming opposition from a vicious Tory Government who are determined to implement the McNulty report and crush our union and propose to ban us from taking legitimate industrial action by refusing our right to withdraw our labour. They have been aided by the mainstream media who have trivialised and miss reported and out right lied over the facts of this dispute as well as the Train Operating Companies that have bullied, bribed and lied to our members. We stand head and shoulders about the entire British trade union movement in our resoluteness to fight attacks on all railway workers and must continue to do so.

 

However a victory for DOO at any train operating company poses a grave threat to the guard’s grade nationally. Unity with other rail unions can no longer be relied upon in the struggle against DOO the RMT must be prepared to fight this battle alone.

 

Therefore this branch calls on the RMT National Executive Committee to continue to fight industrially and politically against DOO. There should be no selling out our members or sweet heart deals done behind closed doors. The fight for the role and responsibilities of the guard and a safe and accessible railway for all must continue.”

 

The matter has been considered by the union’s National Executive Committee and their decision is as follows:

 

“This NEC welcomes and completely agrees with the resolution rom our Newcastle Rail & Catering Branch.

 

 

Our campaign to stop the introduction and extension of DOO is one of the most important in the history of our union.

 

We currently have separate industrial disputes with 5 TOCs on this issue.  These different disputes have their own dynamics, and we are dealing with them all separately.

 

We are, however, also following union policy decided by our 2013 AGM decision, which stated:

 

‘This Conference …condemns the McNulty report as an attack on all railway workers, especially on the role of the guard…. We therefore call on the General Secretary to consider coordinated strike action where McNulty threatens job losses within any train operating companies.’

 

We reaffirmed this in our decision 1309 of 9th August 2017, which said:

 

‘This National Executive Committee reiterates that all industrial action in defence of the role of the guard will continue to remain coordinated where practically possible, and this National Executive Committee remains committed to consulting the wider membership on strike dates whilst adopting the same strategy of coordinating action against train-operators intent on driving through the introduction and extension of DOO’

 

In order to make our campaign more effective, we instruct the General Secretary to:-

 

  • Seek donations from Regional Councils, branches, and members to our national dispute fund, to support our members taking strike action in these disputes.
  • Write to the wider Labour and Trade Union movement for support in our campaign, including financial support.
  • Report back to us with further proposals for raising funds for the national dispute fund, including the possibility of a levy on Regional Councils and branches.
  • Report back to us with proposals for a one-off solidarity payment in January to those who take strike action in these disputes.

 

We further instruct the General Secretary to arrange for the Lead Officers, and Guards Company Council Chairs and Secretaries of Merseyrail, Arriva Rail North, Greater Anglia, Southern, and South Western Railway to meet with himself, the Senior Assistant General Secretary,  and the NEC as soon as practicable.

 

We note that a new Train Crew newsletter is being produced, which will of course be about the campaign against DOO. We instruct the General Secretary to distribute this to Regional Councils, branches, and to all traincrew members.

 

All Regional Councils and branches to be advised. All traincrew members to be informed by email.”

 

Our position has always been that the Guard should be in full operational control of the doors and has a vital safety role for passengers and the railway in general. The union continues to gain public support through intense leafleting, holding successful public meetings and educating the general public and politicians about the safety role of the Guard and the importance of retaining these staff on passenger rail services.

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RMT Equality Courses

RMT’s first ever Disabled Members’ weekend course will be taking place at the National Education Centre in Doncaster on Friday 16 and Saturday 17 March 2018. This will be a chance for disabled members to learn how the union works, to get more involved, to raise the issues that concern us as disabled members, and to meet other disabled RMT members. It will benefit both the individual participants and the union as a whole as we continue to develop and strengthen our disabled members’ organisation.

 

Please think about which members of your branch would benefit from attending this course. Bear in mind that disabled members include those with invisible impairments such as dyslexia and illnesses such as cancer, as well as more apparent physical impairments.

The course is fully funded by the union, so trainees will have accommodation, food and all course materials provided, and travel costs and lost wages will be refunded by the union. The registration form includes the opportunity to request any adjustments or provisions that will help to make the course more accessible for participants.

Other disability-related training courses (all run Monday-Friday for one week) at the National Education Centre in Doncaster next year are open to all members and include:

  • 15-19 January / 23-27 April / 17-21 September: Equality at Work
  • 12-16 March: Cancer in the Workplace
  • 11-15 June: Disability in the Workplace
  • 25-29 June: Mental Health
  • 2-6 July: Autism in the Workplace

 

Download the application form for any of these courses here:

 

https://www.rmt.org.uk/news/publications/national-course-application-form-2018/

 

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RMT TUBE CLEANERS TO DEMONSTRATE

RMT TUBE CLEANERS TO DEMONSTRATE FOR JUSTICE AND END TO OUTSOURCING

 

TUBE CLEANERS UNION RMT is organising a demonstration outside City Hall to protest against poor pay and conditions as a result of outsourcing.

 

The demonstration will take place on Thursday 12 October at  09:00, Thursday 12 October at City Hall, The Queen’s Walk, SE1 2AA

 

London Underground has recently consolidated its major cleaning contracts into a single contract, sold to the lowest bidder, American firm ABM. As with previous cleaning contracts, the main contractor, ABM, will outsource a significant proportion of the work to labour supply agencies such as AGS People, who pressure cleaners into registering as “self-employed”, or “limited liability companies” of one person, in order to avoid upholding their statutory rights. Cleaners have no company sick pay, and unlike other Tube staff, do not have travel passes to allow them to freely use the system they help run.

 

RMT is fighting back against injustice. We want London Underground to follow the example of the London School of Economics by ending outsourcing and bringing cleaning services back in house. We want Mayor Khan, as a Labour Mayor, to implement Labour’s policy for a £10/hour minimum wage on the transport system he runs. We want travel passes, sick pay, and holiday pay for Tube cleaners.

 

RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said:

 

“Tube cleaners keep London moving by cleaning up after five million passengers every day. They are an often invisible, marginalised group of workers whose labour is essential to the daily functioning of one of the wealthiest cities in the world.

 

“The Victorian degree of exploitation they face brings shame to our city. RMT will continue to fight for justice for Tube cleaners and for these workers to be brought in-house so they can receive the decent pay and conditions that they deserve.”

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