RATES OF PAY & CONDITIONS OF SERVICE AND NIGHT TUBE – LONDON UNDERGROUND (LUL/0001)
Further to my previous Circular (IR/299/15, 4th 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 26th January 2016 and 20:59 hours on Wednesday 27th January 2016.
- 21:00 hours on Monday 15th February 2016 and 20:59 hours on Tuesday 16th February 2016.
- 21:00 hours on Wednesday 17th February 2016 and 20:59 hours on Thursday 18th February 2016.
All LUL Fleet members NOT TO BOOK ON for any shifts that commence between:-
- 18:30 hours on Tuesday 26th January 2016 and 18:29 hours on Wednesday 27th January 2016.
- 18:30 hours on Monday 15th February 2016 and 18:29 hours on Tuesday 16th February 2016.
- 18:30 hours on Wednesday 17th February 2016 and 18:29 hours on Thursday 18th 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, 23rd December 2015), and as members will be aware, at the time of calling the continuous overtime ban from Sunday 3rd 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 7th 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 26th January 2016 and 20:59 hours on Wednesday 27th January 2016.
- 21:00 hours on Monday 15th February 2016 and 20:59 hours on Tuesday 16th February 2016.
- 21:00 hours on Wednesday 17th February 2016 and 20:59 hours on Thursday 18th 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 18th 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 7th February through to Saturday 13th 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, 23rd 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 13th January 2016. The closing date for this ballot is Thursday 28th 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, 12th 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 19th January and the closing date for this ballot is Tuesday 2nd 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, 29th 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 21st January and the closing date for this ballot is Thursday 4th 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 13th January 2016, the closing date for this ballot is Thursday 28th January 2016 and I will keep you advised of all further developments.