Category: RMT

RATES OF PAY & CONDITIONS OF SERVICE AND NIGHT TUBE – LONDON UNDERGROUND (LUL/0001)

Further to my previous Circular (IR/299/15, 4^th December 2015), and as members will be aware, RMT suspended industrial action in September 2015 to allow discussions at ACAS to continue. However we also strenuously reiterated the fact that the dispute situation was NOT RESOLVED and that we would reinstate industrial action if and when necessary if our just demands on pay and night tube were not met. Throughout this dispute, RMT has continuously asked for the pay discussions to be separate from the night tube discussions but the Company has always rejected this position.

The Union returned to discussions with the Company to seek improvements to the latest offer received from LUL and try to reach an agreement over night tube. Unfortunately it has now been reported that there has been a complete failure by LUL to work through the detail of implementing night tube.

This matter has been considered by the National Executive Committee, which has noted the total breakdown of negotiations over the linked issues of pay and night tube, and taken the decision to call on all LUL Members (excl. Fleet) NOT TO BOOK ON for any shifts that commence between:-

• 21:00 hours on Tuesday 26^th January 2016 and 20:59 hours on Wednesday 27^th January 2016.

• 21:00 hours on Monday 15^th February 2016 and 20:59 hours on Tuesday 16^th February 2016.

• 21:00 hours on Wednesday 17^th February 2016 and 20:59 hours on Thursday 18^th February 2016.

All LUL Fleet members NOT TO BOOK ON for any shifts that commence between:-

• 18:30 hours on Tuesday 26^th January 2016 and 18:29 hours on Wednesday 27^th January 2016.

• 18:30 hours on Monday 15^th February 2016 and 18:29 hours on Tuesday 16^th February 2016.

• 18:30 hours on Wednesday 17^th February 2016 and 18:29 hours on Thursday 18^th February 2016.

As before, this action is in conjunction with members in other Unions. We remain available for talks and I will of course keep you advised of all further developments.

EVERY JOB MATTERS – DEFENDING JOBS ON LONDON UNDERGROUND (LUL/14/5)

Further to my previous Circular (IR/321/15, 23^rd December 2015), and as members will be aware, at the time of calling the continuous overtime ban from Sunday 3^rd January 2016, the Lead Officer had written to LUL seeking assurances that there will be no imposition of a new framework agreement, that staff will not be forced to sign new contracts and that rosters will not be imposed. At a meeting with the Company last week, management gave their response, which was a total refusal of our requests. They further advised that rosters and a new framework agreement will be imposed on the 7^th February, regardless of whether or not any agreement has been reached.

The critical issues in this dispute that remain outstanding include no agreement over a new framework agreement, the proposed rosters do not comply with current agreements or assurances given regarding weekend working, the Company are denying promotion and career prospects by recruiting externally, there is no guaranteed protection of earnings and no guarantee that vacancies on rosters will be filled.

Following discussions between the RMT Reps, Senior Assistant General Secretary, Regional Organiser and National Executive Committee, the National Executive Committee has taken the decision to instruct all RMT Station Grades NOT TO BOOK ON FOR SHIFTS between the following times:-

• 21:00 hours on Tuesday 26^th January 2016 and 20:59 hours on Wednesday 27^th January 2016.

• 21:00 hours on Monday 15^th February 2016 and 20:59 hours on Tuesday 16^th February 2016.

• 21:00 hours on Wednesday 17^th February 2016 and 20:59 hours on Thursday 18^th February 2016.

NB: To comply with legal advice the overtime ban is suspended for the duration of the strikes but will commence again immediately after each strike ends and continuously from 21:00 hours on Thursday 18^th February 2016.

Also, the National Executive Committee has taken the decision for all station staff grades to take a week of action from the imposition of the rosters and new operating model on Sunday 7^th February through to Saturday 13^th Feburary. The nature of this action will be confirmed in due course and I will of course keep you advised of all further developments.

RATES OF PAY & CONDITIONS OF SERVICE 2015 AND NIGHT RUNNING – TUBE LINES AP JNP (LUL/0001/TL)

Further to my previous Circular (IR/321/15, 23^rd December 2015), the Company has now been informed that a dispute situation still exists between us as the offer which it has tabled in respect of the above, including an offer in respect of moving to a 24-hour service, has been rejected by RMT. Also, at a recent meeting with the Company management advised that any acceptance of the offer would mean an acceptance of renegotiation of rosters in preparation for night tube. In response, RMT made a counter proposal that the long running saga of pensions parity for Tube Lines AP JNP staff be included in any final deal. This counter proposal was rejected by management, although they did state that on acceptance of the pay offer, fresh talks could begin around pensions. This position/offer was rejected and as a result, the National Executive Committee took the decision to conduct the ballot for industrial action.

The ballot papers will be posted out to members on Wednesday 13^th January 2016. The closing date for this ballot is Thursday 28^th January 2016 and I will keep you advised of all further developments.

TRACK PATROLLING, CLEHSAR STAFF – LONDON UNDERGROUND (LUL/14/1)

Further to my previous Circular (IR/276, 12^th November 2015), members will recall the decision to ballot all operational permanent way track staff for strike action and action short of a strike. This dispute is over LUL’s decision to train Cleshar’s staff to undertake track patrolling duties, which has not been agreed by RMT. It is a clear breach of our agreements, represents a casualisation of members’ jobs and is a direct attack on their job security.

The ballot papers will be posted out to affected members on Tuesday 19^th January and the closing date for this ballot is Tuesday 2^nd February 2016. I will keep you advised of all further developments.

DISCIPLINARY, GLEN HART – LONDON UNDERGROUND (LUL/4/4)

Further to my previous Circular (IR/261, 29^th October 2015), the National Executive Committee has considered a report from the Lead Officer and also noted from the LTRC that there is strong support for Glen from our members across all London Underground grades and taken the decision to conduct a ballot for strike action and action short of a strike.

I have advised LUL that a dispute situation exists over the continued suspension and threat of disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal, against RMT Rep Glen Hart. Also that this dispute situation will remain in place until this matter is resolved to my members’ satisfaction and Glen Hart is reinstated to his full substantive role.

The ballot papers will be posted out to all London Underground members on Thursday 21^st January and the closing date for this ballot is Thursday 4^th February 2016. I will keep you advised of all further developments.

SECTION 15 – POSSESSIONS – LONDON UNDERGROUND and SECTION 15 – POSSESSIONS – TUBE LINES AP JNP (LUL/22/2)

As Branches and members will be aware, a dispute situation currently exists between us, LUL and Tube Lines AP JNP in respect of the above. I can advise that the ballot papers will be posted out to members on Wednesday 13^th January 2016, the closing date for this ballot is Thursday 28^th January 2016 and I will keep you advised of all further developments.

10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY FESTIVAL – BOB CROW NATIONAL EDUCATION CENTRE.  

It was on the 18^th October 2006 that the recently renamed Bob Crow National Education Centre was opened by our union. In succeeding 10 years the centre has expanded and developed into a first class residential Trade Union Education Centre. To mark this 10 year anniversary the Centre will be organising a Festival to celebrate the educational work and facilities the Union is rightly proud of.

The Festival will take place on Friday 29^th July 2016 at the Bob Crow National Education Centre, opening at 11.00hrs and closing at 17.00hrs. Entry will be by free ticket (s). The festival will be very much an RMT family event, with food, refreshments, live music and guest speakers throughout the day. An extended invitation to our Trade Union friends affiliated to the TUC and GFTU will also be made.

If members and their families wish to attend you should request tickets from the National Education Officer at a.gilchrist@rmt.org.uk or in writing to Bob Crow National Education Centre, 47-49 Thorne Road, Doncaster, DN1 2EX

UK commuters spend up to six times as much of their salary on rail fares as other European passengers

Commuters on the UK’s privatised railways returning to work today (Monday) will face new fare increases, while spending up to six times as much of their salaries on rail fares as European passengers on publicly-owned railways, new analysis has revealed.

Action for Rail, a campaign by rail unions and the TUC, has compared average earnings with monthly season tickets on similar commuter routes across Europe.

The analysis looked at a UK worker on an average salary who is now spending 13% of their monthly wages on a £357.90 monthly season ticket from Chelmsford to London.

By contrast, the average amount of salary going on a monthly season ticket for a similar journey is just 2% in Italy, 3% in Spain and 4% in Germany.

Even in France, which is the closest to the UK for cost, commuters still spend nearly a third (30%) less on season tickets than their counterparts in the UK:

Country

Monthly season ticket

% of monthly median earnings

UK

£358

13%

Germany

£95

4%

France

£234

10%

Italy

£37

2%

Spain

£56

3%

The comparably high costs of the UK’s privatised railways are reflected by public opinion. A separate new poll for Action for Rail of 1,719 British adults by YouGov found that:

61% say train services in the UK are bad value for money

62% think that fares would be cheaper if train companies weren’t trying to make a profit

62% support public ownership of train operating companies

The findings come as rail campaigners and workers plan to hold protests at over 60 stations around the country against fare rises and in support of public ownership.

The government point to regulated rail fare rises being capped at the rate of inflation. But Action for Rail says the public will pay for this cap through taxes amounting to £700m over the next five years.

Research shows that more than double this (£1.5bn) could be saved over the same period if the rail franchises up for renewal were returned to the public sector. Researchers at Transport for Quality of Life have estimated that this could fund a 10% reduction in season tickets and other regulated fares from 2017.

Rail campaigners, passengers and rail unions will be outside London Kings Cross mainline station (on the edge of Kings Cross Square) at 8am today (4 January) handing out mock tickets to passengers, which highlight the high costs of fares and privatisation and call for public ownership of the railways.

TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said:

“It’s hardly surprising that UK passengers think rail travel is bad value for money. They are shelling out far more of their income on rail fares than their counterparts in Europe.

“Years of failed privatisation have left us with exorbitant ticket prices, overcrowded trains and ageing infrastructure. It would be nice if ministers woke-up to this reality instead of allowing train companies to milk the system at taxpayers’ and commuters’ expense.”

RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said:

“Today is national rail rip off day when, along with the looming Christmas credit card bills, the British public awake to another kick in the teeth from the greedy private train companies. We would urge everyone to join with the trade unions to end the money making racket on our rail tracks in 2016. “