Category: RMT

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RMT Survey

RMT warns there is zero chance of agreement to government plans to increase transport services on 11th May in current climate as survey of 10,000 transport workers reveals widespread failings to protect key transport workers and passengers from COVID 19
 
Transport union RMT warned today that there was zero chance of agreement to increase transport services in the current climate. The announcement is in response to information provided by rail companies that Ministers want them to be ready to ramp up the rail timetable on 11 or 18 May.
 
The warning comes on the back of an RMT survey of 10,000 transport workers which found widespread failings to adequately protect transport workers and therefore also passengers from COVID 19.
 
The survey found that:
 
•             4 in 10 transport workers think their employer has put profit or business priorities before safety during the coronavirus crisis.
•             1 in 3 transport workers think their employers’ action to protect them from coronavirus have been poor or terrible.
•             Just 1 in 3 transport workers report that their employer has paused non-essential or routine work tasks.
•             1 in 3 transport workers have not been issued with any PPE.
•             4 out of 10 transport workers have no access to washing facilities and a quarter have not been issued with hand sanitisers.
•             92% of transport workers say they need to be tested for COVID-19 to protect themselves and passengers, but no such testing has taken place.
 
RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said;
 
“We are being told by a range of rail companies that Ministers definitely want to be ready to increase rail services at some point in May.
 
“Yet our survey of 10,000 transport workers has shown there are widespread failures to provide even the most basic protections for our members. If these are not addressed then a ramping up of transport services will also ramp up the risk to workers and passengers.
 
“To protect both our members and passengers I will be writing to the Transport Minister, Grant Shapps, saying there is zero chance of this being agreed in the current climate.
 
“We will not accept unsafe directives being handed down on high from the boardroom or the cabinet room. Transport workers are key workers in keeping essential workers and goods moving and that means they will be key in deciding when it’s safe to increase transport services.”
 
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Covid-19 and Membership Contributions

Dear Colleague
 
Covid-19 and Membership Contributions
 
Further to Circular No. MF/27/20, 17th March 2020 and under Decision No. Nww, 17th March 2020, the National Executive Committee (NEC) outlined how the Union would operate during the public health crisis. Part of the decision enabled the Union to “…use discretion in consideration of membership contributions” where “…employers take steps such as lay-offs, hours and pay reductions.”
 
We have begun to see the impact of this and members are now advising of reductions or the cessation of their pay. In order to assist members during this difficult period, the Union has sought to make some temporary arrangements that are both consistent with our Rules while also allowing some flexibility in line with the NEC decision.
 
It is important that the Union exercises these arrangements consistently and, in order to do so, we must ensure that the implementation of any changes to a member’s contributions is evidenced-based.
 
We are functioning in uncertain times and there is no definitive date as to when matters will return to normal. Therefore, on receipt of evidence, the Union will allow a suitable temporary adjustment to a member’s contribution arrangements until the end of June.
 
This temporary arrangement will be reviewed in June to determine whether it can continue, or if a member will be required to return to their original contribution arrangement from the July period.
 
Depending on a member’s specific circumstances, the Union may be able to offer:
 
·        A payment break. Any contributions due from the date their circumstances changed as a result of the public health crisis (the effective date) to the end of June would then be spread over the remainder of the year.
·        A temporary adjustment to the Low Rate from the effective date, subject to the member receiving an income at a level equivalent to the Union’s threshold on a monthly, 4-weekly or weekly basis.
·        A temporary exemption from contributions from the effective date.
 
Should you be advised by a member that their circumstances have changed as a result of the public health crisis, please ask them to contact the Membership Department by emailing membership@rmt.org.uk. In the event that the circumstances are impacting on a wider group of members within a company or specific depot, please notify the relevant Lead Officer.
 
Any temporary adjustments can only be implemented on receipt of suitable evidence, namely:
 
·        A payslip for the relevant period. This will allow the membership department staff to assess the basic salary against the Low Rate Threshold equivalent on a monthly, 4-weekly or weekly basis (dependent on the period covered by the payslip).
OR
 
·        A letter from the member’s employer indicating the circumstances impacting on their pay e.g. zero pay/SSP only, redundancy, furlough (with the relevant pay figure).
 
Should a member not have either of the above due to the nature of their employment, the Membership Department will discuss suitable supporting documentation with the member.
 
An application form for the temporary adjustment will need to be completed and accompanied by the supporting documentation before being emailed to membership@rmt.org.uk.
 
If a member cannot scan and email the documents, pictures can be taken and sent by email with a smartphone.
 
Since we do not yet know the scale of the issue for our members, their patience will be appreciated following the submission of their documentation as each case is assessed.
 
I trust the above provides some reassurance that your Union is taking suitable steps to support its members during these difficult and uncertain times.
 
Yours sincerely 
 
 
Mick Cash                                                      
General Secretary
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LUL Furlough & Company Council Report

Today we had the joint LUL & Tube Lines Company Council attended by the RMT.

 

Furlough: LUL announced that they are dealing with an unprecedented loss of income, with train journey’s over Easter, lower than at any time for nearly 100 years.

 

They currently had over 18% of their staff off with Covid related issues along with the normal levels of staff absence.

 

Therefore they had decided to use the Government Job Retention Scheme, also known as Furlough to add funding.

 

This scheme states that the Government will fund up to 80% (capped at £2,500) to support companies for a limitted time with staff that have no work currently.  This period must last for a minimum of 3 weeks and staff must not be undertake any work for LUL during this period.

 

NOTE LUL HAVE GUARENTEED TO PAY 100% OF EMPLOYEES WAGES

 

 

Full details of the Government Job Retention Scheme

 

 

LUL have stated that they intend to use this scheme starting on the 27th April and would spend next week trying to ascertain which staff that they was currently able to furlough. Examples that was given were those at home but unable to work, those being shielded etc. LUL also stated that they expected this to be mainly non-operational.

 

They confirmed that this would be on 100% of their pay and their terms and conditions would remain intact.

 

RMT Regional Organiser, John Leach, insisted that this must be put into writing and that the RMT would not accept anything less than FULL terms and conditions remaining the same and full involvement in the process of discussion who would be furloughed.

 

Non-essential work: 

 

LUL confirmed that they had been examining how much and what types of non-essential work that they should stop doing. They stated that they had produced a list of items for each function and they would share with the RMT asap.

 

Our view remains the same, we will fully support members that are unsure if the tasks that they have been given is either safe or essential to the safe running of the railway. If in doubt, always say no and raise with your reps and managers. Put your health and your safety first as it it better to query and ask why, than risk doing something that is wrong.

 

Face Masks:

 

LUL reported that station staff would be given face masks from next week to deal with emergency situations and that they was reviewing exactly where else these masks were needed.

 

The RMT position remains clear:

  • If the Mayor is telling passengers to wear masks then passenger facing staff should remain protected.
  • PPE is a last resort and LUL agreed that the use of masks was NOT to enable more work to be undertaken
  • The principles of social distancing and hand washing remains the most effective way to combat the spread of Covid 19

LUL Pay Deal:

 

LUL confirmed that this would be paid in July

 

Contractors:

 

The RMT have continually demanded that LUL and TfL take ownership of the issues regarding our sub-contractors and self employed staff and pay them.

 

The RMT today stated that they would work with Management to produce safe working practices to enable the restart of various project works such as in R&E that would enable this workers to be back earning money, but being kept safe by their union.

 

There is a real danger that these staff with be lost to the Railway and they have been denoted as Key Staff. People such as Protection Masters with Morsons and Cleshars, Track Staff employed by VGC and engineers in Engie etc are all core to the safe running of the Railway and all these core functions need to be done in house.

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Social Media Comments by Senior Assistant General Secretary

Social Media Comments by Senior Assistant General Secretary
 
The Senior Assistant General Secretary made a number of controversial comments on social media this week in relation to the public health crisis and the government.
 
Once I became aware of the matter, it was necessary for the President and I to issue a statement which stated: “Steve Hedley’s comments do not represent the views of this trade union and are wholly unacceptable.” I also wrote to the Senior Assistant General Secretary but have yet to receive a reply.
         
However, the comments have attracted widespread negative media coverage which has led to an extraordinarily large volume of complaints, from both RMT members and the public, through social media and also directly to the Union and our staff with unprecedented levels of hostility.
 
This matter was placed before a Special meeting of the National Executive Committee today. The NEC has taken the following Decision:
 
“We note the report from the General Secretary and instruct him to suspend the Senior Assistant General Secretary with immediate effect, pending a formal investigation.”
Mick Cash, RMT General Secretary
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Union Fees & Furlough/ Laid off members

Your Union National Executive is currently at ways that we can help our members that have been placed onto furlough and how to apply the Rules with regards to members RMT subscriptions.

 

We are hoping that there will be new policy on this in the next few days.

 

In the meantime please contact the RMT membership department and let them know your current position and they will be able to advise and help your further.

 

Call: 0207 529 8837 or email membership@rmt.org.uk

 

Furthermore, we have asked our National Executive to look into whether the RMT has a hardship fund that can be used

 

 

For more details see RMT Rule 2 as well

 

 

Click Here

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FURLOUGH ARRANGEMENTS

FURLOUGH ARRANGEMENTS
 
Your National Executive Committee has adopted the following policy:
 
“Employers across the transport and maritime sectors are introducing Furlough Arrangements to make use of the scheme from government to pay workers.  The union is receiving proposals for such arrangements from employers with whom we have collective bargaining agreements, or where an employer seeks to engage RMT in consultation or negotiation. The NEC has determined that the following guidance shall be issued to ensure we provide the maximum and best possible protection for our members
 
In all circumstances Furlough Arrangements shall be placed before the NEC prior, wherever possible, before going ahead for consideration to ensure that consistency and best practice is maintained.
 
Should it be unavoidable for an officer or representatives to allow a furlough to go ahead before the NEC has discussed it, this matter must be put before the NEC at the first opportunity.
 
The rules and constitution of our union continue to govern these matters. When discussing Furlough Arrangements RMT officials shall seek to ensure:-
 
1.    Wages are paid at 100% meaning the employer tops up the government paid 80%
2.    Employers top up wages above £2500pm (the government schemes cap) so that employees continue to receive their full wages)
3.    No impact on pensions or leave
4.    No changes to terms and conditions
5.    That the Furlough Arrangement are time limited and shall not be extended beyond the period of the Covid-19 health crisis.
6.    The union shall, if the circumstances dictate, utilise pro-formas to provide added protection and guidance for members.”
 
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Victims of Covid-19

Our branch and our union have been touched by so many people becoming unwell and dying of Covid-19. We have now seen several members of our branch succumb to this terrible illness and we send our heartfelt condolances to their friends and families.

 

It is times like this that we need to draw together and be unified as many of us feel the pain and worry of the world that we now live in. We not only remember those that have sadly passed away but also those that are now unwell, whether they are a key worker, a Prime Minister, a member of our family, etc  and we wish them all a speedy recovery.

 

We also are thrilled that one of our Senior Health and Safety Representatives is now almost recovered enough and will hopefully be set home today. He spent over 2 weeks on life support and our hopes and prayers have been with him as it has been with all other victims of Covid-19.

 

To this end we salute and praise our marvellous Doctors, Nurses, Care Workers and everyone that makes our National Health Service function and we will continue to clap and support you every thursday throughout this pandemic and afterwards when this illness has subsided.

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Bob Crow Memorial Album

Branches, Regions, Officers & Offices
 
Dear ALL,
 
Bob’s family have agreed for us to distribute our album today as we remember not only the sad loss of Bob but also smile at the memories that we have of the man and his life. 
 
This was made on behalf of our union as our tribute to him and I truly hope that we would have made him proud. This is not the work of any one individual, but the work of us all that follow in his footsteps.
 
We will be making 4 special copies of the Album, for the union, our branch, to accompany the banner and Bob’s family. We will also make some additional copies for those that contributed. We are toying with the idea of making some more for general sale in aid of Bob’s Charity, the British Heart Foundation, but we will see. We also hope that the RMT buys Bob’s Banner as his family have agreed the money will also donated to his charity.
 
Acknowledgements:
 
Firstly, to Ed Hall, who made the banner in a very short time to enable us to premier it at the 2019 May Day March in London.
 
We thank Nicola Hoarau for giving us permission, on behalf of Bob’s family, to change our branch name to the Bob Crow Branch and also to the National Executive and General Secretary for allowing this to happen. Also, for her marvellous efforts to finally get Bob onto the stage at Tolpuddle, something that sadly did not occur during Bob’s life-time.
 
We thank Bob’s work colleagues, Sean Fahey, Terry ‘the Tamper’ Gipps, Chris Newell, Eddie Norton and Doug Hammersley for their memories of Bob during his working days.
 
We would like to thank those that have spent time to write such wonderful and heartfelt tributes to Bob to accompany the photographs in this album. Karen Mitchell, Barry West, Mick Cash, Andy Gilchrist, Mick Lynch, John Leach, John Reid, Glen Hart, John Leach, Glenroy Watson, Andy Littlechild, Sean Hoyle, Michelle Rogers, Peter Skelly and Alan Pottage
 
Our most sincere thanks to Stephen Guy of the Durham Miners, who not only made us welcome, but also organised a special blessing of our Banner, outside Durham Cathedral. A unique tribute that is usually only allowed for Miners’ Banners.
 
We would like to thank LU Engineering Branch and RMT Members for their love and support in ensuring that Bob’s legacy has endured and continues to thrive. It was symbolic of this that ‘Bob’s Banner on Tour’ was met with such respect and support as we travelled the country in the name of class solidarity and determination to honour the giant of a man that was our Bob.
 
Our gratitude also, to the staff of the RMT Communication’s Team for their proof reading and formatting of our album, who have helped finish this work that we all worked so hard to create.
 
Lastly, we would like to thank Bob’s family, for allowing us to share him with them, for an all too brief moment in time.
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Retired Members Branch Meeting 3rd March 2020

The next meeting of the LT Retired Members Branch will be on Tuesday 3rd March at 14.00 in Unity House, 39 Chalton St NW1 1JD.

 

Our Guest speaker will be brand new LT Executive Member Jared Wood talking about the issues currently facing RMT on the Underground and LT.

 

We’ll also discuss retirement issues, and hear reports on a range of other issues including a report from the Branch members who took part in the recent on the Regional Recruitment Day.

 

Lesley is proposing that we join the RMT coach to the Tolpuddle Festival.  Dates of that and other events below.

 

Our Branch Membership Officer Kate has hit the ground running and will unveil the latest plans to increase the Branch membership using RMTs database.

 

I look forward to seeing everyone on Tuesday.

 

All the best,

Olly New

Branch Secretary

 

Coming Up in 2020

 

8 March International Womens Day, Ealing Trades Council event

1 May London May Day March

10 June RMT Cuba Solidarity Garden Party, Clapham

4th July  Women Chainmakers festival, near Birmingham

11 July Durham Miners Gala19 July Tolpuddle Martyrs Festival, Dorset (from Friday 17th for the full festival)

6 September Burston Strike School Rally, Norfolk

12 September Wigan Diggers Festival

 

Our Branch Meetings

 Tuesday 3rd March from 14.00 to 16.00

Tuesday 5th May from 14.00 to 16.00

Tuesday 7th July from 14.00 to 16.00

Tuesday 1st September from 14.00 to 16.00

Tuesday 3rd November from 14.00 to 16.00

All in Unity House, 39 Chalton Street  NW1 1JD.

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London Transport Regional Council

The London Transport Regional Council meets tonight at the Indian YMCA, nearest station Warren Street, from 4pm. 

 

Our meeting will be followed by a Trade Union Rally, chaired by RMT President Michelle Rogers and feature speakers from French Rail Union, CGT Versailles, RMT AGS Steve Hedley, and includes other Trade Union’s in dispute; UCU,UVW amongst others.

 

Hope you’re able to make both events.

 

Fraternally yours,

 

Glen Hart
London Transport Regional Council Secretary

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