RMT-LUEngineering News/Events
09.28.08 9:22 pm
-Admin
Subject: Branch AGM
The branch AGM is to take place on Tuesday 18th November and ALL branch/ union/ H&S and Learner Rep positions are up for re-election
09.28.08 9:10 pm
-Admin
Subject: EDF Shift Testers
EDF Powerlink and the RMT are to meet on Thursday 2nd October 2008 to discuss at ACAS in a last minute attempt to avoid a dispute regarding parity of pay.
The dispute centres around implementation of a new roster for the shift testers and a long standing issue regarding parity for this group of workers. If the talks fail at ACAS then the union will have no choice but to ballot all its members in that grade
09.23.08 10:32 pm
-Admin
Subject: Defend Andy Littlechild
by Unjum Mirza, senior safety representative, RMT London Underground (pc)
Metronet, the failed tube maintenance consortium that was taken into administration last year, has suspended Andy Littlechild, the RMT union representative for Metronet Rail Infrastructure Services (MRIS).
Andy, a leading member of the National Shop Stewards Network, is now facing disciplinary action from the bosses.
A health and safety risk assessment was carried out relating specifically to a job that Andy does, finding that hard hats must be worn at all times.
Management followed this risk assessment with an “audit” while Andy was on duty and finding him without a hard hat, stood him down and removed him from the site.
On reporting to work on Monday 15 September Andy was removed from site and out onto the street at 3am.
Andy has been a rep at MRIS for 12 years.
He knows, as does management, that risk assessments cannot be carried out without elected trade union safety representatives—in this case Andy himself.
Andy was the secretary of the Metronet strike committee during the strike in September last year.
That strike shook the bosses across all companies on London Underground as Metronet went into administration.
Andy’s branch, London Underground Engineering alongside the London Underground fleet branch, have agreed to ballot for strike action in Andy’s defence.
Andy’s case is a London-wide issue.
08.18.08 12:12 pm
-Admin
Subject: Tubelines
TUBELINES BOSS Terry Morgan should stop throwing petty insults around and get around the table to negotiate a solution to the current pay and connditions dispute, London Underground’s biggest union says today.
Some 1,000 RMT members are set to down tools from noon on Wednesday in the first of two 72-hour strikes called after the company tabled a pay and conditions offer substantially below that agreed by Metronet for people doing identical work.
In a press interview published today Morgan accused RMT of mounting a “political” strike.
“We gave Tube lines notice of our strike action last Wednesday, and we have heard nothing from the company since,” RMT general secretary Bob Crow said today.
“If Terry Morgan wants to avoid a strike he should get around the table with us to negotiate a pay and conditions package that our members will find acceptable.
“It is no good burying his head in the sand and claiming it’s all political, because that won’t make our members’ grievances go away.
“The reality is that Tubelines already pays rates lower than Metronet and offers inferior pensions and travel facilities, and the reason our members voted by a margin of more than three to one to strike is because what is on the table will widen that gap..
“If Terry Morgan doubts that this is an industrial dispute he should try putting some more money and better conditions on the table,” Bob Crow said.
08.13.08 5:18 pm
-Admin
News: Tube Lines Strike Dates Named
AROUND 1,000 members of London Underground’s biggest union working for the privatised Tube Lines infrastructure consortium are to mount two 72-hour strikes after voting overwhelmingly for action over pay and conditions.
RMT members at the company will down tools between noon on Wednesday August 20 and noon on Saturday August 23. The second 72-hour strike will begin at noon on Wednesday September 3 and end at noon on Saturday September 6.
Tube Lines workers voted by a margin of more than three to one for action after the company tabled an offer inferior to the deal already agreed by the union for staff doing identical work on Metronet.
Tube Lines maintains track and trains on the Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly lines, but it also operates emergency response units across the Tube network, and the stoppage is expected to have a serious effect on LUL’s ability to run a service.
08.03.08 10:32 pm
-Admin
Subject: Grant Rail Pay Offer 2008
Grant Rail Have made the following offer to our members which we are considering
4.4% increase to basic hourly rates of pay backdated to 1st April 2008.
4.4% increase to allowances backdated to 1st April 2008.
(excluding subsistence allowance, mobility allowance, overnight allowance, and On- Call allowance)
An increase of 23p to the hourly rate of all grades to consolidate £2.50 from Mobility Allowance with effect from 1st July 2008. The new rate for Mobility Allowance is proposed to be £15.50.
Those individuals identified as not benefitting from the consolidation of the Mobility Allowance will be compensated in full for a period of twelve months from 1st July 2008 to 30th June 2009. (Calculations to be based on actual earnings / allowances paid during the whole of the 2007/2008 tax year)
Agreement that inclusion in the ‘on-call’ roster becomes a contractual term for those working on ‘Corus’ sites.
Commitment to reviewing terms and conditions of employment, with particular regard to:
a) Pension provisions
b) Working week
c) Annual leave
d) Family friendly policies
08.03.08 10:28 pm
-Admin
Subject: TubeLines Ballot over Pay
London’s biggest Tube union RMT is balloting members at Tube Lines for industrial action over pay following an offer that would have left them worse off than colleagues working for Metronet and London Underground.
“RMT is determined that Tube Line members don’t fall behind in terms of rates of pay and conditions of service with other colleagues on the Tube netork,” said RMT general secretary Bob Crow today.
He said that since the introduction of the PPP contracts, Tube Lines had made enormous profits and could find the money for a similar deal already reached on the Tube network.
“Despite this, they have tabled an inferior pay offer this year, made no movement on improving annual leave and continue to keep the door closed to the pension fund and full travel facilities for newer employees,” Bob Crow said.
Tube Lines ballot papers go out on Monday August 4 and the ballot closes on August 13.
07.19.08 7:07 pm
-Admin
Subject: RATES OF PAY AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE 2008 – TUBE LINES
RATES OF PAY AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE 2008 – TUBE LINES
Further to my circular of 26th June 2008, you will recall that we organised a consultation of Tube Lines members via their representatives over managements two-year offer of 4.85% for this year (one) and RPI plus 0.75% for year two.
This consultation has now been completed and I today reported the situation to the General Grades Committee who’s decision now follows:
“That we note the latest and final offer from the company which does not meet the aspirations of our members.
The General Secretary is instructed to request urgent release of our Company Council Representatives. Meanwhile, the necessary steps to be taken to prepare for a ballot.”
I am of course giving my attention to these matters. With regard to the ballot referred to, I anticipate serving formal notice on the company early during the week commencing 20th July with the intended close of ballot being Tuesday 12th August 2008. This should be confirmed very shortly.
06.18.08 10:46 am
-Admin
Subject: TfL Pension Victory
Thousands of Tube workers win backdated pension rights
THOUSANDS OF Tube workers who were mistakenly denied the opportunity to join the Transport for London pension fund are to have their missing employers’ contributions paid into the scheme under a deal negotiated by the network’s biggest union.
The deal comes some two years after RMT reps noticed that many trainees, probationers and workers initially employed on fixed contracts but subsequently taken on permanently had not been offered their right to be in the pension scheme from their first day of employment.
In detailed discussions with TfL and LUL it emerged that nearly 5,700 former trainees and probationers had been kept out of the fund for up to 147 days, while some 3,000 erstwhile fixed-term workers had lost between 150 and 1,000 days of fund membership.
All will now have their scheme membership backdated to their first day of employment, with missing employers’ contributions paid up in full, and missing employee contributions, averaging £90, deducted over the appropriate number of pay periods.
“This is excellent news which will mean bigger pension entitlements for thousands of Tube workers,” RMT general secretary Bob Crow said today.
“This was a simple blunder, but had it not been for the sharp eyes of RMT reps it might have gone unnoticed and deprived many families of their full pension entitlements.“It has taken us a long time to get there, but TfL and LUL have shown good faith in negotiating this settlement, and no-one should now lose out.
“Former Metronet workers who were forced into inferior pension arrangements thanks to privatisation are now also to be given their right to join the final-salary scheme that all Tube workers should be in,” Bob Crow said.
04.19.08 11:38 pm
-Admin
Subject: Metronet Dispute Settled
Following the announcement of a 48 hour strike, LUL have finally given assurances on travel privilages and pensions for Metronet employees that is likely to settle the dispute. The full press release and heads of agreement are available on the website. Information messages are also available on the Metronet message line 07522 367 055 (please note not leave a message)
04.19.08 11:32 pm
-Admin
Subject: Engineering Grades Conference
The Engineering Grades Conference is in London starting Thursday 24th April until Friday 25th April 2008.
The conference is taking place at Friends House, near Euston Station.
CONFERENCE AGENDA
Opening of Conference by Conference President
Welcome by LU Engineering and LU Fleet Branch Representatives
Address by Civic Representative
Election of Tellers
Conference Secretary Report
Election of Standing Orders Committee
Address by General Secretary
Address by Senior Assistant General Secretary
Address by General Grades Committee Representative
Address by Andrew Hutson and Doug Christie of Thompson’s solicitors
Address by Rob Miller the Director of Cuba Solidarity Campaign
Address by Louis Marron the Political Councilor from the Cuban Embassy.
Address by Mick Lynch on the Credit Union
Conference Resolutions
Conference Resolutions for the Annual General Meeting
Election of Officers and Executive Committee for 2009
Confirm Venues for Future Conferences
04.06.08 9:08 pm
-Admin
Subject: Tubelines Message Line
You can listen to a recorded message, giving updates on the Tubelines Ballot by ringing 07528 768 074.
PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE A MESSAGE
04.04.08 10:24 pm
-Admin
Subject: Tubelines Ballot: PM SPC Payment
Tubelines were notified on the 1st April of the RMT's intention to ballot over PM & SPC Payments. The Ballot closes on the 23rd April and anyone NOT receiving a ballot should contact 0800 376 3706.
The RMT call son Tubelines to make a serious offer as disruption in the event of a strike, is liable to be TOTAL
03.27.08 10:05 pm
-Admin
Subject: Metronet Ballot
The Metronet Ballot starts on 27th March until 9th April. Anyone that doesn't receive a ballot form please ring your local rep or 0800 376 3706
03.21.08 4:23 pm
-Admin
Subject: Metronet & Tubelines to Ballot
RMT Members on both infracos are to ballot for Industrial Action. Tubelines members are furious that the Company has still not settled the 2006 Pay Deal and paid the PM and SPIC money yet
Metronet members want to see the end to a two tier workforce when they pass back to TfL control and want the same travel and pension rights for all. They also want guarentees over outsourcing of work. This is due to Tubelines being invited to look at Lifts and Escalator work and Westinghouse to look at Signal activities on the Victoria Line
11.01.07 9:47 pm
-Admin
Subject: Lindsay German (Respect)/ AGM
Lindsay German is visiting our Branch on the the 20th November to seek support for her campaign to become mayor.
Also the Branch Elections will take place that night so please come along and take part in the democratic processes of the branch
11.01.07 9:45 pm
-Admin
Subject: Special Branch Meeting
There's a special branch meeting to discuss the MRA in Metronet for COMMs, P&E and Cables on Tuesday 6th November 2007.
07.23.07 9:20 pm
-Admin
METRONET have gone into administration, it would take a heart of stone not to laugh out loud
05.27.07 3:33 pm
-Admin
Subject: Grant Rail Redundancies
Mass Demonstration is to be held outside Tubelines Headoffice following the decision to limit work for Grant Rail. The demo is to take place on Wednesday 30th May at 10:30
05.27.07 3:31 pm
-Admin
Subject: Metronet Job Losses
PRIVATEER CONSORTIUM Metronet must not be allowed to scale down renewals work on the Tube network to claw back up to £750 million in cost over-runs, London Underground’s biggest union says today.
As the PPP arbiter today indicated that a projected £750 million in cost over-runs would have to be met by Metronet, RMT warned that the consortium would seek to cut costs by slashing refurbishment projects and outsourcing work on the cheap.
"It is quite right that taxpayers and farepayers should not have to foot the bill for Metronet's failings, but there is no way Metronet should be allowed to skimp on the work it is supposed to deliver either," RMT general secretary Bob Crow said today.
"Metronet has already indicated that if it cannot squeeze more cash out of the public it will cut back on station renewals and is looking to fragment the network even further by outsourcing contracts - and that can only undermine safety even more.
"Our members at Metronet will tomorrow start voting in a ballot for strike action to prevent engineering staff being forcibly transferred to Metronet shareholder companies, which include Bombardier, Balfour Beatty, WS Atkins and EDF.
"We have said time and again that failure and fragmentation are built into the very fabric of the PPP contracts, and the solution is to bring the work back in-house and under the direct control of London Underground," Bob Crow said.
05.13.07 2:55 pm
-Admin
Martin Valente and John Leech have been elected to the Grant Rail Comany Council
05.13.07 2:54 pm
-Admin
Subject: Grant Rail
RMT to fight Tubelines decision to end renewals contract in London. The decision is based on a dash for greater profits and will see and increase in the use of Agency Staff rather than unionised, trained and experienced staff
12.16.06 6:14 pm
-Admin
News: Hand/ Arm Vibration Victory
One of our members has won a massive victory for improving health & safety for people using vibrating equipment on the Railway. The individual works on the PWAY, now for Metronet but formally for LUL and following a three year battle he has secured an out of court settlement as compensation for suffering from Hand/ Arm Vibration Syndrome (formally known as Vibration White Finger)
This victory has caused the Department of Works and Pensions to recognise that PWAY work can cause this syndrome, possible opening the door for similar claims from people that may have been similarly injured in the past.
The member wishes to thank the RMT and Thompsons Solicitors for their help
-Admin
Subject: Branch AGM
The branch AGM is to take place on Tuesday 18th November and ALL branch/ union/ H&S and Learner Rep positions are up for re-election
09.28.08 9:10 pm
-Admin
Subject: EDF Shift Testers
EDF Powerlink and the RMT are to meet on Thursday 2nd October 2008 to discuss at ACAS in a last minute attempt to avoid a dispute regarding parity of pay.
The dispute centres around implementation of a new roster for the shift testers and a long standing issue regarding parity for this group of workers. If the talks fail at ACAS then the union will have no choice but to ballot all its members in that grade
09.23.08 10:32 pm
-Admin
Subject: Defend Andy Littlechild
by Unjum Mirza, senior safety representative, RMT London Underground (pc)
Metronet, the failed tube maintenance consortium that was taken into administration last year, has suspended Andy Littlechild, the RMT union representative for Metronet Rail Infrastructure Services (MRIS).
Andy, a leading member of the National Shop Stewards Network, is now facing disciplinary action from the bosses.
A health and safety risk assessment was carried out relating specifically to a job that Andy does, finding that hard hats must be worn at all times.
Management followed this risk assessment with an “audit” while Andy was on duty and finding him without a hard hat, stood him down and removed him from the site.
On reporting to work on Monday 15 September Andy was removed from site and out onto the street at 3am.
Andy has been a rep at MRIS for 12 years.
He knows, as does management, that risk assessments cannot be carried out without elected trade union safety representatives—in this case Andy himself.
Andy was the secretary of the Metronet strike committee during the strike in September last year.
That strike shook the bosses across all companies on London Underground as Metronet went into administration.
Andy’s branch, London Underground Engineering alongside the London Underground fleet branch, have agreed to ballot for strike action in Andy’s defence.
Andy’s case is a London-wide issue.
08.18.08 12:12 pm
-Admin
Subject: Tubelines
TUBELINES BOSS Terry Morgan should stop throwing petty insults around and get around the table to negotiate a solution to the current pay and connditions dispute, London Underground’s biggest union says today.
Some 1,000 RMT members are set to down tools from noon on Wednesday in the first of two 72-hour strikes called after the company tabled a pay and conditions offer substantially below that agreed by Metronet for people doing identical work.
In a press interview published today Morgan accused RMT of mounting a “political” strike.
“We gave Tube lines notice of our strike action last Wednesday, and we have heard nothing from the company since,” RMT general secretary Bob Crow said today.
“If Terry Morgan wants to avoid a strike he should get around the table with us to negotiate a pay and conditions package that our members will find acceptable.
“It is no good burying his head in the sand and claiming it’s all political, because that won’t make our members’ grievances go away.
“The reality is that Tubelines already pays rates lower than Metronet and offers inferior pensions and travel facilities, and the reason our members voted by a margin of more than three to one to strike is because what is on the table will widen that gap..
“If Terry Morgan doubts that this is an industrial dispute he should try putting some more money and better conditions on the table,” Bob Crow said.
08.13.08 5:18 pm
-Admin
News: Tube Lines Strike Dates Named
AROUND 1,000 members of London Underground’s biggest union working for the privatised Tube Lines infrastructure consortium are to mount two 72-hour strikes after voting overwhelmingly for action over pay and conditions.
RMT members at the company will down tools between noon on Wednesday August 20 and noon on Saturday August 23. The second 72-hour strike will begin at noon on Wednesday September 3 and end at noon on Saturday September 6.
Tube Lines workers voted by a margin of more than three to one for action after the company tabled an offer inferior to the deal already agreed by the union for staff doing identical work on Metronet.
Tube Lines maintains track and trains on the Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly lines, but it also operates emergency response units across the Tube network, and the stoppage is expected to have a serious effect on LUL’s ability to run a service.
08.03.08 10:32 pm
-Admin
Subject: Grant Rail Pay Offer 2008
Grant Rail Have made the following offer to our members which we are considering
4.4% increase to basic hourly rates of pay backdated to 1st April 2008.
4.4% increase to allowances backdated to 1st April 2008.
(excluding subsistence allowance, mobility allowance, overnight allowance, and On- Call allowance)
An increase of 23p to the hourly rate of all grades to consolidate £2.50 from Mobility Allowance with effect from 1st July 2008. The new rate for Mobility Allowance is proposed to be £15.50.
Those individuals identified as not benefitting from the consolidation of the Mobility Allowance will be compensated in full for a period of twelve months from 1st July 2008 to 30th June 2009. (Calculations to be based on actual earnings / allowances paid during the whole of the 2007/2008 tax year)
Agreement that inclusion in the ‘on-call’ roster becomes a contractual term for those working on ‘Corus’ sites.
Commitment to reviewing terms and conditions of employment, with particular regard to:
a) Pension provisions
b) Working week
c) Annual leave
d) Family friendly policies
08.03.08 10:28 pm
-Admin
Subject: TubeLines Ballot over Pay
London’s biggest Tube union RMT is balloting members at Tube Lines for industrial action over pay following an offer that would have left them worse off than colleagues working for Metronet and London Underground.
“RMT is determined that Tube Line members don’t fall behind in terms of rates of pay and conditions of service with other colleagues on the Tube netork,” said RMT general secretary Bob Crow today.
He said that since the introduction of the PPP contracts, Tube Lines had made enormous profits and could find the money for a similar deal already reached on the Tube network.
“Despite this, they have tabled an inferior pay offer this year, made no movement on improving annual leave and continue to keep the door closed to the pension fund and full travel facilities for newer employees,” Bob Crow said.
Tube Lines ballot papers go out on Monday August 4 and the ballot closes on August 13.
07.19.08 7:07 pm
-Admin
Subject: RATES OF PAY AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE 2008 – TUBE LINES
RATES OF PAY AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE 2008 – TUBE LINES
Further to my circular of 26th June 2008, you will recall that we organised a consultation of Tube Lines members via their representatives over managements two-year offer of 4.85% for this year (one) and RPI plus 0.75% for year two.
This consultation has now been completed and I today reported the situation to the General Grades Committee who’s decision now follows:
“That we note the latest and final offer from the company which does not meet the aspirations of our members.
The General Secretary is instructed to request urgent release of our Company Council Representatives. Meanwhile, the necessary steps to be taken to prepare for a ballot.”
I am of course giving my attention to these matters. With regard to the ballot referred to, I anticipate serving formal notice on the company early during the week commencing 20th July with the intended close of ballot being Tuesday 12th August 2008. This should be confirmed very shortly.
06.18.08 10:46 am
-Admin
Subject: TfL Pension Victory
Thousands of Tube workers win backdated pension rights
THOUSANDS OF Tube workers who were mistakenly denied the opportunity to join the Transport for London pension fund are to have their missing employers’ contributions paid into the scheme under a deal negotiated by the network’s biggest union.
The deal comes some two years after RMT reps noticed that many trainees, probationers and workers initially employed on fixed contracts but subsequently taken on permanently had not been offered their right to be in the pension scheme from their first day of employment.
In detailed discussions with TfL and LUL it emerged that nearly 5,700 former trainees and probationers had been kept out of the fund for up to 147 days, while some 3,000 erstwhile fixed-term workers had lost between 150 and 1,000 days of fund membership.
All will now have their scheme membership backdated to their first day of employment, with missing employers’ contributions paid up in full, and missing employee contributions, averaging £90, deducted over the appropriate number of pay periods.
“This is excellent news which will mean bigger pension entitlements for thousands of Tube workers,” RMT general secretary Bob Crow said today.
“This was a simple blunder, but had it not been for the sharp eyes of RMT reps it might have gone unnoticed and deprived many families of their full pension entitlements.“It has taken us a long time to get there, but TfL and LUL have shown good faith in negotiating this settlement, and no-one should now lose out.
“Former Metronet workers who were forced into inferior pension arrangements thanks to privatisation are now also to be given their right to join the final-salary scheme that all Tube workers should be in,” Bob Crow said.
04.19.08 11:38 pm
-Admin
Subject: Metronet Dispute Settled
Following the announcement of a 48 hour strike, LUL have finally given assurances on travel privilages and pensions for Metronet employees that is likely to settle the dispute. The full press release and heads of agreement are available on the website. Information messages are also available on the Metronet message line 07522 367 055 (please note not leave a message)
04.19.08 11:32 pm
-Admin
Subject: Engineering Grades Conference
The Engineering Grades Conference is in London starting Thursday 24th April until Friday 25th April 2008.
The conference is taking place at Friends House, near Euston Station.
CONFERENCE AGENDA
Opening of Conference by Conference President
Welcome by LU Engineering and LU Fleet Branch Representatives
Address by Civic Representative
Election of Tellers
Conference Secretary Report
Election of Standing Orders Committee
Address by General Secretary
Address by Senior Assistant General Secretary
Address by General Grades Committee Representative
Address by Andrew Hutson and Doug Christie of Thompson’s solicitors
Address by Rob Miller the Director of Cuba Solidarity Campaign
Address by Louis Marron the Political Councilor from the Cuban Embassy.
Address by Mick Lynch on the Credit Union
Conference Resolutions
Conference Resolutions for the Annual General Meeting
Election of Officers and Executive Committee for 2009
Confirm Venues for Future Conferences
04.06.08 9:08 pm
-Admin
Subject: Tubelines Message Line
You can listen to a recorded message, giving updates on the Tubelines Ballot by ringing 07528 768 074.
PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE A MESSAGE
04.04.08 10:24 pm
-Admin
Subject: Tubelines Ballot: PM SPC Payment
Tubelines were notified on the 1st April of the RMT's intention to ballot over PM & SPC Payments. The Ballot closes on the 23rd April and anyone NOT receiving a ballot should contact 0800 376 3706.
The RMT call son Tubelines to make a serious offer as disruption in the event of a strike, is liable to be TOTAL
03.27.08 10:05 pm
-Admin
Subject: Metronet Ballot
The Metronet Ballot starts on 27th March until 9th April. Anyone that doesn't receive a ballot form please ring your local rep or 0800 376 3706
03.21.08 4:23 pm
-Admin
Subject: Metronet & Tubelines to Ballot
RMT Members on both infracos are to ballot for Industrial Action. Tubelines members are furious that the Company has still not settled the 2006 Pay Deal and paid the PM and SPIC money yet
Metronet members want to see the end to a two tier workforce when they pass back to TfL control and want the same travel and pension rights for all. They also want guarentees over outsourcing of work. This is due to Tubelines being invited to look at Lifts and Escalator work and Westinghouse to look at Signal activities on the Victoria Line
11.01.07 9:47 pm
-Admin
Subject: Lindsay German (Respect)/ AGM
Lindsay German is visiting our Branch on the the 20th November to seek support for her campaign to become mayor.
Also the Branch Elections will take place that night so please come along and take part in the democratic processes of the branch
11.01.07 9:45 pm
-Admin
Subject: Special Branch Meeting
There's a special branch meeting to discuss the MRA in Metronet for COMMs, P&E and Cables on Tuesday 6th November 2007.
07.23.07 9:20 pm
-Admin
METRONET have gone into administration, it would take a heart of stone not to laugh out loud
05.27.07 3:33 pm
-Admin
Subject: Grant Rail Redundancies
Mass Demonstration is to be held outside Tubelines Headoffice following the decision to limit work for Grant Rail. The demo is to take place on Wednesday 30th May at 10:30
05.27.07 3:31 pm
-Admin
Subject: Metronet Job Losses
PRIVATEER CONSORTIUM Metronet must not be allowed to scale down renewals work on the Tube network to claw back up to £750 million in cost over-runs, London Underground’s biggest union says today.
As the PPP arbiter today indicated that a projected £750 million in cost over-runs would have to be met by Metronet, RMT warned that the consortium would seek to cut costs by slashing refurbishment projects and outsourcing work on the cheap.
"It is quite right that taxpayers and farepayers should not have to foot the bill for Metronet's failings, but there is no way Metronet should be allowed to skimp on the work it is supposed to deliver either," RMT general secretary Bob Crow said today.
"Metronet has already indicated that if it cannot squeeze more cash out of the public it will cut back on station renewals and is looking to fragment the network even further by outsourcing contracts - and that can only undermine safety even more.
"Our members at Metronet will tomorrow start voting in a ballot for strike action to prevent engineering staff being forcibly transferred to Metronet shareholder companies, which include Bombardier, Balfour Beatty, WS Atkins and EDF.
"We have said time and again that failure and fragmentation are built into the very fabric of the PPP contracts, and the solution is to bring the work back in-house and under the direct control of London Underground," Bob Crow said.
05.13.07 2:55 pm
-Admin
Martin Valente and John Leech have been elected to the Grant Rail Comany Council
05.13.07 2:54 pm
-Admin
Subject: Grant Rail
RMT to fight Tubelines decision to end renewals contract in London. The decision is based on a dash for greater profits and will see and increase in the use of Agency Staff rather than unionised, trained and experienced staff
12.16.06 6:14 pm
-Admin
News: Hand/ Arm Vibration Victory
One of our members has won a massive victory for improving health & safety for people using vibrating equipment on the Railway. The individual works on the PWAY, now for Metronet but formally for LUL and following a three year battle he has secured an out of court settlement as compensation for suffering from Hand/ Arm Vibration Syndrome (formally known as Vibration White Finger)
This victory has caused the Department of Works and Pensions to recognise that PWAY work can cause this syndrome, possible opening the door for similar claims from people that may have been similarly injured in the past.
The member wishes to thank the RMT and Thompsons Solicitors for their help