LUengineering Branch wishes Steve a quick recovery from the heart attack that he has suffered. We are glad to hear that our amazing NHS has acted quickly and he is well on the road to full health and being fighting fit again
From us all ‘Get Well Soon’
RMT calls for London Underground to bring forward staffing review in wake of safety investigation
TUBE UNION RMT is calling for London Underground’s staffing review to be brought forward after the company’s own safety investigation slammed its new staffing model.
As well as closing ticket offices London Underground has removed staff from control rooms and the vast majority of stations have less staff on duty than before the changes, which imposed in April of this year.
The investigation was ordered after an incident involving a passenger slipping between a train and platform at Canning Town in May. The report describes how the incident spiralled out of control with communications hampered by the absence of a control room and inadequate staffing to deal with the situation.
TfL’S TRANSFORMATION
RMT recently received a communication from the TfL Head of Employee Relations advising us of “…TfL faces an unprecedented financial challenge and that we [TfL] do not have the money to continue as we are.”
He goes on to say that one Andrew Pollins has been appointed by the TfL Executive to the role of Transformation Director, and his remit is to eliminate unnecessary duplication, obtain value from procurement, cut reliance on agency staff and cut costs across all functions.
Management had written directly to the General Secretary on this matter who duly reported it to the National Executive Committee whose decision was to call for an all-grades representatives meeting from both LUL and TfL. This has now been arranged and the meeting details are given below.
Although this meeting is open to all Branch Officers and LUL/TfL Representatives, release for attendance has only been agreed for all LUL Functional and TfL LCG Representatives on this occasion and so, as before, Local Reps are asked to make their own arrangements to attend and Branches are asked to give support in this regard. The meeting details now follow:
Meeting of all LUL and TfL Representatives
10.00 hours Monday 26th September 2016
Indian YMCA – 41 Fitzroy Square, London, W1T 6AQ
I again ask those of you who have not been released to make your best efforts to attend and I thank you in anticipation of this.
With best wishes
Yours sincerely
John Leach
REGIONAL ORGANISER
The RMT are to raise concerns with LUL at Company Council level regarding the proposed CAP to leaving payments. This is likely to affect Redundancy Payments and it has also been suggested that it may also affect Pension Lump Sums.
The consultation period is now over with the Government and it looks likely that they will steamroller this Law through and it is important that the RMT challenges any changes that will or may directly affect our members to understand how this may affect our members and all implications this change in Law will have
Indicative_Exit_Payment_Regulations__for_publication__UPDATED_03.03.16
RMT CAMPAIGN BRINGS MAJOR TUBE MAINTENANCE CONTRACT BACK IN-HOUSE
A long-running campaign by tube union RMT has scored a significant victory with the final confirmation from the London Mayor today that a major slice of tube maintenance work is to be brought back in house next year.
The TfL board has announced that it will now manage maintenance work on the Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly lines through its own in-house management team.
The contract dates back to the failed tube maintenance privatisation programme and for the past 13 years the private company Amey has been contracted to manage maintenance work across the three lines – a legacy of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) contract that previously existed between Tube Lines and London Underground.
RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said:
“This is a massive victory for RMT in terms of the fight to end profiteering and privatisation on London Underground. This move helps to bring closer the end to the crazy experiment of tube maintenance privatisation and is a another nail in the coffin of the tube PPP disaster.
“It makes no sense at all having maintenance work hived off to private operators and RMT will continue the fight across the rail industry for these works, and all other supporting services, to come under the public sector, under direct public control with the staff jobs, pay and conditions protected.”
Headline forecasts
Inflation rate: Average new forecast
July 2016 RPI inflation (change in cost of living relative to same time one year earlier) was 1.9%
For the final three months of 2016, annual RPI (according to the latest forecasts) will rise to 2%
For the final three months of 2017, annual RPI (according to the latest forecasts) will rise to 2.9%
Average earnings growth: Average new forecast
Over the course of 2016, average earnings are predicted to increase by 2.4%
Over the course of 2017, average earnings are predicted to increase by 2.5%
Transport co shareholders receive big dividend payments, while workers’ pensions are under-funded
Jan 2003 – Dec 2015: National Express paid £548m to shareholders, but just £255m was allocated to pension costs. Meanwhile, at FirstGroup the size of the workers’ pension fund deficit is being obscured (by switching from valuing pensions with RPI inflation to using the inferior CPI measure).[1]
Forecasts in detail: RPI inflation[2]
Predictions for RPI inflation made by a range of forecasters are:
Q4 2016
Average forecast (non-City): 2.1%
Average new forecast: 2%
Average forecast (City): 2.1%
Highest recent forecast: 3.4%
Lowest recent forecast: 0.9%
Median recent forecast: 2.1%
High RPI Q4 2016 forecasts to quote to employers in pay negotiations are:
ITEM Club (3.1% – forecast made in August 2016), Citigroup (2.7% – forecast made in August 2016), Experian Economics (2.6% – forecast made in August 2016), Centre for Economics and Business Research (2.5% – forecast made in August 2016)
Q4 2017
Average forecast (non-City): 3%
Average new forecast: 2.9%
Average forecast (City): 3.1%
Highest recent forecast: 4.5%
Lowest recent forecast: 2.3%
Median recent forecast: 3%
High RPI Q4 2017 forecasts to quote to employers in pay negotiations are:
National Institute of Economic and Social Research (3.7% – forecast made in August 2016), Citigroup (3.6% – forecast made in August 2016), Société Générale (3.4% – forecast made in August 2016)
Forecasts in detail: Average earnings growth
Predictions for average earnings growth made by a range of forecasters are:
2016
Average forecast (non-City): 2.3%
Average new forecast: 2.4%
Average forecast (City): 2.2%
Highest recent forecast: 3.4%
Lowest recent forecast: 1.4%
Median recent forecast: 2.4%
High average earnings growth forecasts for 2016 to quote to employers in pay negotiations are:
Economic perspectives (2.8% – forecast made in August 2016), ITEM Club (2.6% – forecast made in August 2016), Beacon Economic Forecasting/ Capital Economics/ ING Financial Markets/ Santander GBM/ Scotiabank (2.5% – forecast made in August 2016)
2017
Average forecast (non-City): 2.4%
Average new forecast: 2.5%
Average forecast (City): 2.2%
Highest recent forecast: 4.8%
Lowest recent forecast: -1%
Median recent forecast: 2.5%
High average earnings growth forecasts for 2017 to quote to employers in pay negotiations are:
Economic Perspectives (3.5% – forecast made in August 2016), ITEM Club (3.4% – forecast made in August 2016), Beacon Economic Forecasting/ Goldman Sachs (3.1% – forecast made in August 2016)
Recent RMT Settlements
Company |
Award |
Effective From |
| Train workshop and maintenance | ||
| Alstom West Coast Traincare (WCML and PSG grades) |
|
1 April 2016 |
| Wabtec | Year One
· 2.9%
Year Two · March 2017 RPI (min 2%, max 3.6%) |
1 April 2016
1 April 2017 |
Cleaning and catering |
||
| Churchill (E Midlands Trains contract) |
|
1 April 2016
1 July 2017 |
Road Transport and Buses |
||
| DHL Preston Brook Warrington |
|
1 April 2016 |
| Stagecoach Yorkshire Chesterfield Depot (Drivers) |
|
1 May 2016
Asap, not later than end Oct
23 April 2017
29 Oct 2017 |
| Stagecoach Yorkshire Chesterfield Depot Engineering Grades | Year One
Year Two
|
1 May 2016 2 Oct 2016
7 May 2017 1 Oct 2017 |
London Transport and other Metro |
||
| Alstom Metro Trains |
|
1 April 2016 |
Recent non-RMT settlements
Company (Sector) |
Award |
Effective From |
| Asda – N Ireland (Retail) | · 3.9% | 1 April 2016 |
| Crown Paints (Manufacturing) | · 2.625% | 1 April 2016 |
| Western Power Distribution (Utilities) | · 2.5% | 1 April 2016 |
| 2 sisters (Food processing) | · 3.1% | 1 April 2016 |
| RS Components – Corby (Distribution) | · 2.2% | 1 June 2016 |
| JD Williams Logistics (Distribution) | · 2.7% | 1 July 2016 |
| Construction Industry Joint Council agreement (Construction) | · 2.5%
· 2.75% |
25 July 2016
25 July 2017 |
We use RPI and not other measures of inflation such as CPI or CPIH
RPI, which includes housing costs and excludes high earners’ spending, is the only inflation measure to use for negotiating pay (referencing average earnings is no longer recommended).
RPI is also used to calculate index-linked government bonds, privately issued index-linked bonds, National Savings and Investments, Corporation Tax, Business Rates, Alcohol Duty, Tobacco Duty, Gaming Duty, Air Passenger Duty, Vehicle Excise Duty, Climate Change Levy, car and van Fuel Benefit Charge, regulated rail fares, regulation of water and sewerage charges, indexation of British Telecom’s wholesale charges and interest payments on student loans.
CPI is designed for comparing different EU countries’ economic performances and not for internal UK purposes. It excludes housing costs (though includes stockbrokers’ fees and foreign students’ university tuition fees), is calculated to a mathematical formula less responsive to price fluctuations and doesn’t adequately reflect changes to ordinary workers’ cost of living: so says the Royal Statistical Society.
Any attempt by an employer to link a pay award to CPI or a new variation CPIH must be refused and should be logged with the union’s National Policy Department.
Yours sincerely,
Mick Cash
General Secretary
[1] Last two sentences of page 43: http://www.firstgroupplc.com/~/media/Files/F/Firstgroup-Plc/indexed-pdfs/2016%20ARA/FirstGroup%20plc%20Annual%20Report%20and%20Accounts%202016.pdf
[2] The average of forecasts generally suggest a modest rise or fall.
While forecasts can be useful in indentifying a plausible trajectory for inflation and average earnings, the data is unreliable.
This is especially the case during periods of heightened volatility – such as now.
Accordingly, the main use of forecasts to us is as a negotiation tool with employers
and not as an accurate predictor of changes in our members’ cost of living.
PAY PARITY, TRANSPLANT ENGINEERS TRAIN DRIVERS – TUBE LINES AP JNP (LUL/10/2)
Further to my previous Circular (IR/237/16, 12th August 2016), branches will be aware that our members voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action over management’s total failure to meet our fair demand for pay parity.
LUL purchased new tamper machines in 2015 which they intended to operate with contractors, therefore leaving RMT Tube Lines members with old stock and less work. Following long and protracted negotiations, an agreement was reached for RMT members to work the new machines which resulted in a new roster, 9 new jobs and a 6.3% salary increase. While this is of course a good and welcome agreement for all concerned, it did leave a disparity where our members’ salaries are no longer in line with those of their Tamper colleagues.
Talks to try to address this disparity have regrettably failed and we are left with no option but to call industrial action. We cannot accept such disparity in pay and management must be sent a clear message it will not be tolerated.
Members are therefore instructed not to book on for any shifts that commence between: –
In addition, members are instructed not to work any overtime between: –
I urge you our members to stand shoulder to shoulder during this action. Management must be left in no doubt of our strength and determination to have our demands met. We will continue to seek meaningful discussions to resolve this dispute and branches will be kept fully informed of developments.
DISCIPLINARY/SPAD PROCEDURE, SHUNTERS – TUBE LINES AP JNP (LUL/4/4)
Further to my previous Circular (Ref: IR/212/16, 29th July 2016), I advised you of the magnificent vote of our members in favour of taking industrial action. A subsequent meeting of our relevant representatives was held at Unity House at which it was reported that the two disciplinary cases had now been dealt with at the appeal stage and our members were happy with the outcome.
Tube Lines has also agreed to introduce a SPAD procedure which will be a copy of the existing LUL procedure, thus our members should not find themselves in this situation again. It was also made very clear at the meeting that it was the ballot and support of all our members working at Northfields which led to Tube Lines backing down and withdrawing the punishments which it had originally handed out at the disciplinary hearings.
The National Executive Committee has therefore considered and noted all developments and congratulated our members, reps and lead officer for winning this excellent settlement. Additionally, the NEC instructed me to close the file.
JOB DESCRIPTIONS – INTERSERVE (LUL CONTRACT) (LUL/14/1)
Further to my previous Circular (IR/169/16, 15th June 2016) I received correspondence from the company after I advised them of a dispute situation arising as a result of it failing to provide the required assurances to protect members’ pay and terms and conditions. However, the company said it would carry on with the implementation of the Job Descriptions and failed to mention your union’s three demands to enable discussions. Namely, No redundancies, wages to be protected and all staff moved would be in consultation and with RMT agreement.
Subsequent correspondence from the company provides for a three month protection of earnings, but the main issue remains that the process has not been halted.
The National Executive Committee has noted these matters and has instructed me to organise a meeting of our Interserve reps on LUL to discuss the proposals outlined in the Interserve correspondence and to use such a meeting to discuss our formal response to the company. I will keep you advised on this matter following the meeting.
Yours sincerely
Mick Cash
General Secretary
CHANGES TO RAIL STAFF TRAVEL CONCESSIONS – 12 MONTH TRIAL
Further to my Circular No IR/213/14 dated the 21st August 2014 with regards to the trial changes to the rail staff travel concessions and in relation to the union’s approach to ATOC requesting an RMT representative to be an active participant at the trial evaluation during September 2015. Regrettably, ATOC responded by saying that they are unwilling to include a Union Representative and that the evaluation was a matter for individual TOCs.
As you are aware, it is union policy to pursue parity and improvements in staff travel arrangements for all staff working within our industry. Therefore, the union sought to explore all possible avenues with individual TOCs to ensure the trial arrangement was implemented permanently. I have received responses from some of the TOCs indicating that because it is an ATOC led trial and that the arrangement was extended again during September 2016 there was still no requirement for the union to get involved.
Following on from the above, I can now advise you that I have received a further response from ATOC advising that ‘the fare on which a Priv fare is calculated was expanded to include day and period walk-up off-peak fares (including super off-peak fares) for an initial one year trial period and was extended in September 2015. This arrangement has been extended for a further year and will now run up to September 2017.’
In accordance with the above, I would be most grateful if you could bring this matter to the attention of your members and I will, of course, keep you fully advised on any further developments.
Best wishes.
Mick Cash
General Secretary
COMBATTING RACIST ABUSE IN THE WORKPLACE
Please find attached a T.U.C. guide to protecting Migrant and Black and Minority Ethnic workers from violence, harassment and abuse.
Please take this opportunity to familiarise yourself with the document and distribute as appropriate across all locations where we organise, ensuring copies are available at RMT notice boards.
Yours sincerely
Mick Cash
General Secretary
www.rmt.org.uk/healthandsafety
Combatting racist abuse July 2016 RMT.docx
The RMT have reached agreement for Thales GTS with regards to overtime as below. We thank the company reps for their hard work in making this agreement.
OFFICIAL CIRCULAR
TO ALL BRANCHES AND REPRESENTATIVES
ALL UNDERGROUND AND FORMER LT EMPLOYERS
12th August 2016 Circular No: IR/237/16
Dear Colleagues,
PAY PARITY, TRANSPLANT ENGINEERS TRAIN DRIVERS – TUBE LINES AP JNP (LUL/10/2)
Further to my previous Circular (IR/212/16, 29th July 2016), the ballot has concluded with members voting as follows:-
Question: Are you prepared to take strike action?
Total Votes Cast 22
Number Voting ‘Yes’ 21
Number Voting ‘No’ 1
Spoilt Papers 0
Question: Are you prepared to take industrial action short of a strike?
Total Votes Cast 22
Number Voting ‘Yes’ 22
Number Voting ‘No’ 0
Spoilt Papers 0
The National Executive Committee is currently considering this result and I will keep you advised of all further developments.
BREAKDOWN IN INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS, DRIVERS, HAMMERSMITH & CITY LINE – LONDON UNDERGROUND (LUL/14/2)
Further to my previous Circular (IR/212/16, 29th July 2016), the ballot papers were posted out to affected members on Tuesday 9th August and the closing date for this ballot is Tuesday 23rd August 2016. I will keep you advised of all further developments.
BREAKDOWN IN INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS – FARRINGDON, BARBICAN, MOORGATE, LIVERPOOL STREET & ALDGATE STATIONS – LONDON UNDERGROUND (LUL/14/2)
Further to my previous Circular (IR/196/16, 15th July 2016), members will recall the previous National Executive Committee to organise a meeting of Stations Reps to review the implementation of Fit for the Future – Stations to discuss our strategy, including possible industrial action.
The meeting took place on Wednesday 27th July, the NEC has noted the consensus from this meeting to use the broadsheet to build on the anger against the effects of the implementation of Fit for the Future Stations and to complete the preparation of the ballot matrix of all Stations and Revenue staff to ensure that we are in a position to ballot members by early September 2016.
DRIVERLESS TESTING, JUBILEE LINE – LONDON UNDERGROUND (LUL/14/10)
The following resolution was recently received from the London Transport Regional Council:-
“Jubilee South Branch has been made aware that testing has taken place on the Jubilee Line whereby trains were moved without the need of the operator to ‘activate’ the cab before using ATO buttons.
We believe this is a deskilling of the train operators role, and suggests that technology is being developed and tested on the line to enable – in theory – the operation of trains without an operator in the cab.
The RMT has consistently warned of the obvious risks to safety of driverless trains and made clear that we will take action should London Underground have any plans to operate trains without a train operator in the cab in full control of the train.
We ask that the National Executive take action to ensure that this matter is investigated and that a plan be devised to respond to this or any other attempts at deskilling the train operator role, or operating trains without a train operator”.
This matter has been considered by the National Executive Committee, which has taken the decision to consult with our Train Driver Reps on the Jubilee Line over this concerning issue. I will keep you informed of all further developments.
TERMINATION OF AMEY MAINTENANCE CONTRACT – TUBE LINES AP JNP (LUL/15/10)
The Company recently issued a communication to Tube Lines AP JNP members advising of its intention not to extend the current contract with Amey for the management of maintenance activities across the Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly lines from the end of 2017.
There are no current plans to make any changes to members’ jobs, terms and conditions or pensions although RMT will of course monitor this situation closely. I have written to the Company advising that we expect a full consultation over this matter and requesting a timescale for discussions to take place as well as the early assurance that all LUL maintenance will not be brought back ‘in-house’. I will keep you advised of all further developments.
TRANSITIONING OF CROSSRAIL STAFF INTO TFL (TFL/15/10)
Further to my previous Circular (IR/029/16, 5th February 2016), the Crossrail Audit Team TUPE transferred into TfL on 1st March 2016.
RATES OF PAY & CONDITIONS OF SERVICE 2016 – EXTERION MEDIA (LUL/0001/EM)
In line with union policy, a claim for an increase in pay and improved terms and conditions was submitted to the Company. After negotiations between management and the RMT, the following two-year offer has been tabled:-
In addition, management are offering a £300 one-off payment in recognition for hard work on the previous contract and there will be no changes made to terms and conditions.
The offer is the subject of a referendum which closes on Tuesday 23rd August 2016 and I will keep you advised of all further developments.
Yours sincerely
Mick Cash
General Secretary
I write to inform you of this year’s black and ethnic minority (B&EM) member’s empowerment course. The purpose of the course is to help B&EM members understand how the union works, including history, structure, writing and presenting resolutions etc to overcome the barriers which can discourage them from becoming active.
The course will take place from Friday 7 October to Saturday 8 October 2016 at our National Education Centre in Doncaster. The course will commence with a lunch at 1pm on Friday and will conclude by 4pm Saturday, so it only requires only 1 night away.
Branches are invited to nominate one representative but in doing so please ensure that your nominee will definitely be able to attend the school if allocated a place. The application form can be sent directly to the Education Centre and the costs of this course will be met by Head Office. The form must be received by Friday 9 September 2016.
All B&EM members are encouraged to take this course once and then move up to representative/officer level courses. Any queries, please do contact our Equal Opportunities Officer, Jess Webb, j.webb@rmt.org.uk
Yours sincerely,
Mick Cash