RMT-LUEngineering News/Events
02.03.10 12:35 am
-Admin
News: IMPOSITION OF ROSTERS, BREACHES OF SIGNALS FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT AND OUTSOURCING – LUL
IMPOSITION OF ROSTERS, BREACHES OF SIGNALS FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT AND OUTSOURCING – LUL
As you may be aware, former Metronet signals members voted massively in favour of both strike action and action short. 307 members voted in favour of strike action with only 25 voting against. The vote for action short of a strike was even greater, this being 319 votes to 9.
None of this is really surprising because what management have been doing is an absolute disgrace and it is for this reason that the RMT has called for extensive industrial action. LUL’s bully boy tactics can no longer be tolerated and action is called as shown below:
First 24 hour strike/ first 24 hour overtime ban
This will take place between 06.45 hours on Friday 5th February and 06.45 hours on Saturday 6th February 2010. Members have been instructed not to book on for any turns of duty OR undertake any overtime between these times. Overtime can be worked at anytime outside these hours
Further 24 Hour Strikes/ further 24 hour overtime bans
These will take place every weekend from Sunday morning into Monday morning. The first of these will take place between 06.45 hours on Sunday 14th February and 06.45 hours on Monday 15th February 2010. Again members are asked not to book on for any turns of duty OR undertake any overtime between these times. Overtime can be worked at anytime outside these hours
Exactly the same will then apply on every Sunday morning into Monday morning until further notice.
It is a shame that instead of arranging talks, we believe that LUL have instead been drawing up plans to further outsource Signals work to sub-contractors, and I am sure many of you saw them working last weekend. Any attempt by the way to use agency labour to cover our strike action is illegal under criminal law (The Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations 2003) and our solicitors will be writing to these companies notifying of this.
Also, the RMT calls on LUL to come clean on their plans to destroy our members’ terms and conditions. Our members are livid that they get bulletins from the company saying it only affects 30 people then hear the plans for additional weekend working from their own management and even on the BBC News! To quote LUL “We are planning to introduce a roster covering 24 hours a day, seven days a week to ensure that planned engineering staff are always available”. This means ruining your time off with your family, attacking your income and destroying agreements that have been in place for decades.
It’s now time to stand together be solid in the face of this attack. Contact your local RMT Rep to find out where the local workplace and worksite picket lines will be.
UNITY IS STRENGTH
12.29.09 9:07 pm
-Admin
Subject: LUL Pay Deal Settled
Dear Colleagues
RATES OF PAY & CONDITIONS OF SERVICE 2009 – LONDON UNDERGROUND LTD
I can confirm that voting in the ballot which closed on Monday 21st December was as follows:
Question: Are you prepared to take strike action?
Total votes cast 3,757
Number voting YES 2,318
Number voting NO 1,402
Spoilt papers 37
Question: Are you prepared to take industrial action short of a strike?
Total votes cast 3,757
Number voting YES 3,109
Number voting NO 594
Spoilt papers 54
Having given due consideration to this matter, the General Grades Committee has taken the following decision:
“That having consulted with our representatives, and taking cognisance of the projected figures for inflation, the General Secretary is instructed to notify LUL that we are no longer in dispute over pay and conditions and that we wish to progress talks on the machinery of negotiation and training for representatives as well as remuneration and arrangements for the Olympics.
The General Secretary is further instructed to notify LUL of our very serious concerns over LUL plans to massively cut jobs and change operational safety procedures and to arrange a meeting for all representatives early in 2010.”
I have advised the employer of our acceptance of the 2009 and 2010 pay increases and I will report further in the New Year.
Yours sincerely
Bob Crow
GENERAL SECRETARY
12.29.09 9:02 pm
-Admin
Subject: EDF Pay Dispute/ Strike
1. RATES OF PAY AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE 2009 – EDF ENERGY POWERLINK
NOTICE OF STRIKE ACTION
I can confirm that the General Grades Committee has called upon our EDF members to take both strike action and action short in support of this year’s pay claim. I have already reported how members voted massively in favour of industrial action in support of an improved pay offer.
EDF members are incensed with an offer of around only 1% with productivity. And management didn’t do themselves any favours by running to the courts instead of the negotiating table. All this has served to do is put off a problem – not solve it.
Since the announcement of the ballot result, no improved offer has been forthcoming and the so following industrial action has been called.
Strike Action
EDF Members have been instructed not to book on for any duty between 19.59 hours on 22nd December and 07.59 hours on 24th December nor for any duty between 19.59 hours on 26th December and 07.59 hours on 27th December 2009.
Industrial Action Short of a Strike
In addition to the above stoppages of work a continuous work to rule and overtime ban will be in operation from 20.00 hours on 22nd December 2009 until further notice.
I am also informed that Unite members have also been balloted and will be taking the same action as ourselves at the same times. Unless management are prepared to make a positive offer that meets our aspirations, then the action will go ahead and the consequences for Underground services will be serious.
11.01.09 8:44 pm
-Admin
Subject: Branch Christmas Social
The Branch Christmas Social will take place on the 4th December at the Green Man, Gt Portland St Station from 17:00
11.01.09 8:43 pm
-Admin
Subject: Branch AGM
The Branch Annual General Meeting will take place on the 17th November, please come along if you wish to stand for election
10.09.09 3:48 pm
-Admin
Subject: RATES OF PAY AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE 2009 – LONDON UNDERGROUND LTD
OFFICIAL
CIRCULAR
TO ALL LUL/TFL BRANCHES,
& REPRESENTATIVES
Circular No. IR/296/09 9th October 2009
Dear Colleagues
1. RATES OF PAY AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE 2009 – LONDON UNDERGROUND LTD
2. RATES OF PAY AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE 2009 – TRANSPORT FOR LONDON
3. ANNUAL TFL PARADE AT THE CENOTAPH
Please ensure this circular is distributed as widely as possible.
1. RATES OF PAY AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE 2009 – LONDON UNDERGROUND LTD
NOTICE OF BALLOT FOR STRIKE ACTION AND INDUSTRIAL ACTION SHORT OF A STRIKE
As you will be aware, RMT has been in a dispute situation with LUL for most of this year. There have been several areas of dispute including this year’s pay claim, breaches of agreements and threats to jobs.
We can fairly say that thanks to a firm stand by RMT the issues have all been resolved with the exception of the pay claim. As things currently stand, the offer on the table remains as follows:
Year 1: 1.5% increase from 1st April 2009
Year 2: February 2010 RPI + 0.5% or 0.5% whichever is the greater from 1st April 2010
This situation was put to a mass meeting of industrial representatives this week and the unanimous view was that this offer is unacceptable. The General Grades Committee has therefore subsequently decided to ballot all LUL members for both strike action and industrial action short of a strike.
It is quite clear that LUL are unlikely to improve their offer without further pressure and unless we accept the two year offer on the table, it is necessary to take action.
I will now be giving my attention to preparing for the ballot and I will report further with a formal timetable for it as soon as I am able.
(LUL/0001)
2. RATES OF PAY AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE 2009 – TRANSPORT FOR LONDON
The General Grades Committee also this week considered the outstanding pay claim for TfL members and the following decision has been recorded:
“That we note the pay offer from TfL and the report from our Lead Organiser.
The General Secretary is instructed to inform TfL that we do not accept the pay offer and to liaise with other TfL Unions . The General Secretary is further instructed to again demand that TfL notify this Union of their plans on redundancies. The General Grades Committee to be advised of developments.”
I will of course be giving RMT attention to all this and will report further in due course.
(LUL/0001/TfL)
3. ANNUAL TFL PARADE AT THE CENOTAPH
You may be aware that for a number of years LUL and its predecessors have had the right to participate in the Annual Remembrance Parade at the Cenotaph. The TFL contingent is made up of past and present employees.
Management have made known to me the release arrangements which will apply to all participating members of staff, and these are as follows:
1) They will be released with pay
2) The 12 hours rest will apply provided they do not changeover their duties
3) If they are on rostered nights or covering nights because of sickness or as a leave cover then they are released for 2 nights
4) If they were not nights originally and they subsequently change for nights then they are released for 1 night only
5) If they are on a rest day or on annual leave that day, they will be given the day back, subject to mutual agreement
6) The above only applies to the Annual TFL Parade at the Cenotaph and does not apply to any local Remembrance Sunday parades. Members of staff would be expected to take leave, change a rest day or apply for unpaid special leave to attend other events.
(LUL/7/7)
Yours sincerely
Bob Crow
GENERAL SECRETARY
07.23.09 7:17 pm
-Admin
Subject: RMT V TSSA
News: Tolpuddle march
RMT HAD A MASSIVE TURNOUT FOR THE SUNDAY MARCH AT TOLPUDDLE, DWARFING THE PRESENCE OF UNITE. THERE WAS A RARE SPOTTING OF THE TSSA BANNER-BEING CARRIED WITH THE REVERSE SIDE, FEATURING A WASTE PAPER BASKET, FORWARD. THEY REALLY DON'T KNOW IF THEY ARE COMING OR GOING.
07.21.09 10:40 pm
-Admin
Subject: Tube LInes S&E Resolution
The following resolution was passed tonight at the branch UNANIMOUSLY
This branch notes with alarm the Tubelines proposal to disband its signal and electrical department and disperse these signal technicians onto the lines. We believe that this move will weaken this department to such an extent that the long term future of its staff are now seriously in question as there will be insufficient staff to pursue project work and it will be left to wither on the vine and die. Furthermore, we believe that Tube Lines assurances of consultation are meaningless when it has already been made clear that Lee Jones, Operations Director has already made up that this change will be forced through.
We demand that assurances are given to our members from Tube Lines that these changes are held in abeyance until such a time that full and proper negotiations on this matter have occurred. Our members will not be held to account for the mistakes of Gordon Brown's failed PPP on the Underground and that we request that the General Grades Committee ballots our affected members in the area for strike action and action short of strike should assurances on the Signal and Electrical Department's long term future as a single entity not be guarenteed.
07.09.09 10:30 pm
-Admin
News: Tubelines Funding Row
Tube union RMT warned today of another potential privatisation collapse on the Tube as a £2 billion funding row broke out between Tube Lines and Transport for London which could put essential works and thousands of jobs at risk in the run up to the 2012 Olympics.
Tube Lines, which holds the contract for the repairs and refurbishment of the Piccadilly, Northern and Jubilee Lines, has attempted to hack £2 billion from it's estimated costs of £ 7.2 billion on the work programme for the next seven and half years with a significant scaling back of the scope of the planned works.
TfL have estimated that the full scope of the essential upgrading and modernisation programme could be delivered for £4.1 billion and the government arbiter concluded it should cost no more than between £5.1 billion and £5.5 billion - leaving a £2 billion black hole on the Tube Lines budget.
Bob Crow, RMT General Secretary, said today:
"It is clear that there is a £2 billion stand off between Tube Lines and TfL on the works programme on the Piccadilly, Northern and Jubilee Lines with tube users and tube workers caught bang, smack in the middle.
"This row all stems from the botched PPP privatisation of the Tube and it is not out of the question that we could see another failure similar to Metronet or National Express on the East Coast with Londoners left to pick up the pieces.
"Meanwhile, jobs and essential works on these lines are left at risk in the run up to the 2012 Olympics. Our advice to Boris Johnson and TfL is to seize this opportunity to get rid of Tube Lines, take these works back into direct public control and work out a funding programme which protects jobs and the upgrade programme in the run up to 2012 and beyond."
07.09.09 10:27 pm
-Admin
News: RMT CALLS FOR INVESTIGATION INTO USE OF MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS
RMT CALLS FOR INVESTIGATION INTO USE OF MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS
BY TRANSPORT FOR LONDON
Transport union RMT today called for a full National Audit Office investigation into the use of management consultants by Transport for London after new figures showed that over £15 million has been spent in one section alone, congestion charging and traffic enforcement, in the past two years. The union are also referring the matter to the Transport Committee of the GLA.
RMT has today submitted Freedom of Information requests demanding details of the consultancy spend in another nine sections of TfL operations.
The bulk of the congestion charging and traffic enforcement cash has been spent on a consultancy contract with Deloittes whose partners charge TfL an incredible £2,761 a day.
Transport for London are currently looking at a multi-billion pound cuts programme and thousands of jobs are known to be at risk across TfL and the Tube.
RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said today:
"While TfL staff face the prospect of being thrown on the dole in a jobs massacre, the sky's the limit for the management consultants who appear to be able to charge what they like when they like with no serious accountability to Londoners. That's why RMT are demanding a National Audit Office investigation into the use of management consultants right across Transport for London.
Some of these management consultants earn in a week what some TfL staff would struggle to earn in a year , yet we get lectures from the same managers who are signing off these grotesque fees about how RMT members should take a hit on pay and job security to help them balance the books.
We are going to fight for a forensic examination of the use of management consultants at TfL We want to know just who is signing off these millions of pounds of taxpayers’ money and why they are doing it while thousands of TfL staff face the threat of the sack."
Bob Crow
RMT General Secretary
06.14.09 5:35 pm
-Admin
Subject: Personal Message Bob Crow
A PERSONAL MESSAGE FROM THE GENERAL SECRETARY
THE TRUTH (AND IF NOT SUE US FOR LIBEL)
This is my 31st year as a member of this Union and a worker on London Underground and in all that time I have never experienced such dishonesty from any management that I have dealt with. Let me explain to you what really happened at the talks.
The Facts
Pay. Management made a revised offer on a two year deal or four year deal. We said we would go away, speak to our members and representatives and come back to them. We said this did not have to be resolved immediately and hence we could suspend the action.
Breaches of Agreements. It is an out and out lie that we were only interested in the two sacked drivers. There were another five specific cases where management had abused the disciplinary procedures. It was agreed that ACAS would look at all seven cases and we said that we would be able to suspend the action to allow this to go ahead.
On the application of the sickness procedures, management were abusing it by making unannounced visits to members without a Trade Union representative being present. They were also issuing 52 week warnings as opposed to the maximum allowed which is 26 weeks. We reached agreement that the 26 weeks maximum would be adhered to and that a Trade Union representative would be in attendance at the interviews.
Redundancies. In 2001 after campaigning that the privatisation of the infrastructure would be a disaster LUL members were transferred to Metronet. We reached an agreement with LUL and Metronet that there would be no compulsory redundancies and that staff would be offered alternative employment in the event of their job going. This was enshrined in members’ contracts. As we predicted Metronet went bust with massive debts. We asked that all Metronet members that came back to LUL, and all other LUL members, should have the same agreement of no compulsory redundancies. At 6 o’clock, and hour before the strike was to begin, agreement was reached with the Acting Managing Director, Richard Parry. In fact I signed a document to this effect and this was to go back in front of your General Grades Committee immediately so that we could suspend the strike. At 6.35 p.m. whilst awaiting the final typed agreement we were told by management that they had made a phone call and that they could no longer abide by the agreement – they reneged before the ink was even dry. We were stunned that management could be so dishonest.
I have no doubt that the phone call made was to the Transport Commission or City Hall and they instructed the negotiators to pull the agreed deal. It became quite clear that the Transport Commission or City Hall were using stalling tactics to try and extend the talks to 7 p.m. in the hope that staff would believe agreement had been reached and turn up for work and members were also getting anonymous texts telling them the action was being called off.
It is an absolute disgrace that these bodies should interfere in the negotiations taking place between your Union and the LUL management. We negotiate in good faith and expect the same from the other side. It is the management side that have forced this strike to go ahead and now they will have to find a way to deal with the outstanding issues all over again.
The RMT want a negotiated settlement without interference from the Politicians. Agreement can be reached if management sit down and negotiate honestly.
Thank you for your support – the strike is solid and it is a tremendous effort by all of you. I will write to you with developments.
Best wishes
Bob Crow
General Secretary
03.25.09 10:51 pm
-Admin
Subject: CLAIM FOR PARITY PAYMENTS – SHIFT TESTER MEMBERS – EDF POWERLINK
CLAIM FOR PARITY PAYMENT – SHIFT TESTER – MEMBERS – EDF POWERLINK
I can confirm that EDF shift tester members have voted overwhelmingly in favour of accepting a package that resolves the above dispute that has prevaricated for some time.
I would like to thank RMT members for their unity, support and resolve in the prolonged discussions and industrial action that has at last born fruit with an agreement of the following terms and conditions;
All previous offers are off the table
The purpose of this agreement is to ensure safe and effective shift hand over cover to ensure customer and passenger services
This revision agreement is strongly recommended by the Union and its officers for acceptance and implementation and payment from the first working day after acceptance of the agreement and all its conditions
The current pensionable salary of £34,990 is realigned to be £27,992 basic salary plus shift allowance of £6,998 (25% consistent with other Powerlink grades). The total remains the same as present at £34,990 plus London weighting
That the rate of overtime purposes remains unchanged based on £24,771, the same as Day Testers
The shift testers agree to provide onsite shift handover assurance as set out in the Appendix as below
Then in full and final settlement of the shift testers claim for parity and recognition of flexibility assurance as set out in the agreement the company will offer to pay;
A non pensionable Flexibility allowance of £2,000 per annum to provide recognition of the onsite handover assurances provided and implemented by the shift testers and the onsite needs for working 12 hour shifts on site
APPENDIX – ON SITE SHIFT HANDOVER ASSURANCE
The Shift Testers agree to provide the following assurance for onsite shift handover;
Under system fault circumstances which require a substitution to be manned, the assurance that the site will always remain appropriately manned until the shift changeover can take place on site
In exceptional circumstances,(e.g. if a fault occurs near the end of a shift to effect repairs as necessary. This is permitted under QUENSH, and ensures that any potential disrupting to the London Underground services and journeys is avoided or minimised
The normal reporting centre for the shift testers is Tufnell Park Depot
Any additional hours worked as a result of the circumstances will be paid at the appropriate rates
Additional travelling time will be paid at the appropriate overtime rates based on the existing travelling time by public transport agreement and the normal reporting centre being Tufnell Park
The company have been informed that the offer was accepted overwhelmingly by the 25 members concerned
Total votes cast 20
Number voting YES - 13
Number voting NO – 7
Spoilt papers - 0
This clearly shows majority in favour of the offer.
03.25.09 9:59 pm
-Admin
Subject: LUL/ TfL Ballot
NEWS RELEASE
March 23, 2009
RMT to ballot 10,000 Tube and TfL workers over jobs and pay
THE TUBE’S biggest union is to ballot nearly 10,000 members across London Underground and Transport for London for strike action in two separate disputes centred on jobs and pay.
As news emerged that the number of jobs under threat across the Tube and TfL could reach 3,000, RMT said it would ballot all its members at LUL, including former Metronet staff, as well as in the separate dispute at TfL.
Both ballots will open tomorrow, March 24, and close on Wednesday April 8.
On London Underground, bosses are threatening to tear up an agreement aimed at safeguarding jobs, and has refused to rule out compulsory redundancies.
LUL has also refused to budge from an unacceptable five-year pay offer that gives no real-terms increase for four years, and which could even see pay cut, and there have been so many complaints of breaches of disciplinary and attendance procedures they appear co-ordinated.
TfL is also threatening compulsory redundancies as part of a £2.4 billion cuts package, and has so far failed to table any pay offer at all.
“London Underground seems to think that observing agreements is optional, and its plan to cut jobs is simply unacceptable,” RMT general secretary Bob Crow said today.
“After three months of stonewalling LUL has also tabled what is at best a five-year pay freeze which it knows full well could never be accepted, and its managers appear to have been given the nod to unleash a fresh round of bullying.
“LUL’s own ‘Valuing Time’ study acknowledges that our members’ productivity is at an all-time high, with passenger numbers up to record-breaking levels of four million a day.
“We said from the start that our members, whether in LUL or TfL, would not be made to pay for the failure and greed of bankers and privateers, and that any attempt to impose compulsory redundancies would be met with a ballot for industrial action
“If LUL and TfL want to avoid confrontation they should withdraw their plans to slash jobs and guarantee there will be no forced redundancies, start talking seriously about pay and call off the bully managers,” Bob Crow said.
02.22.09 8:23 pm
-Admin
Subject: Branch Visit by Oilc
The next Branch meeting on the 3rd March will also be attended by Jake Malloy, Regional Organiser responsible for off shore members. A big welcome would be appreciated
10.23.08 8:02 pm
-Admin
Subject: RMT welcomes return of Metronet staff to London Underground
LONDON UNDERGROUND’S biggest union RMT today welcomed plans to transfer the workforce at failed public-private partnership company Metronet back to LUL.
In a letter to RMT general secretary Bob Crow, Metronet Rail chief executive Andie Harper confirmed that a consultation over the TUPE transfer will soon be underway and that he hoped the process would be completed by December.
“RMT has been pressing for this measure all along and welcomes Metronet Rail’s move as a victory for common sense,” Bob Crow said today.
“It is another small step on the road for a properly integrated transport system for London after the disastrous experiment with PPP. Next up, Tubelines’ operations should be brought back in-house.”
10.14.08 8:40 pm
-Admin
News: Metronet Disputes Hopefully settled
The following position statements were reached following intensive talks with Metronet:
Joint Statement
Following further discussions between Metronet Rail and RMT we are pleased to announce that both sides have agreed to further talks on all matters and that the Andy Littlechild incident has been formally concluded.
Moving forward, discussions will take place to clarify any ambiguity relating to PPE Policy/legislation.
-------------------------------------------------------
Position Statement following Adhoc Joint Functional (level 2)
& Tier 2 Meeting on 14th October 2008
District Line Rosters
These will be implemented as agreed but with cover turn indicated as cover turn and not as a specific shift, i.e. late etc on the roster. The Framework will be complied with.
Liverpool Street Rosters
Agreed to be transferred back to local level.
Designated Depot/Home Location
Referred to MRCC.
Maintenance Reductions & RBMBU
Consultation will continue.
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
News: IMPOSITION OF ROSTERS, BREACHES OF SIGNALS FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT AND OUTSOURCING – LUL
IMPOSITION OF ROSTERS, BREACHES OF SIGNALS FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT AND OUTSOURCING – LUL
As you may be aware, former Metronet signals members voted massively in favour of both strike action and action short. 307 members voted in favour of strike action with only 25 voting against. The vote for action short of a strike was even greater, this being 319 votes to 9.
None of this is really surprising because what management have been doing is an absolute disgrace and it is for this reason that the RMT has called for extensive industrial action. LUL’s bully boy tactics can no longer be tolerated and action is called as shown below:
First 24 hour strike/ first 24 hour overtime ban
This will take place between 06.45 hours on Friday 5th February and 06.45 hours on Saturday 6th February 2010. Members have been instructed not to book on for any turns of duty OR undertake any overtime between these times. Overtime can be worked at anytime outside these hours
Further 24 Hour Strikes/ further 24 hour overtime bans
These will take place every weekend from Sunday morning into Monday morning. The first of these will take place between 06.45 hours on Sunday 14th February and 06.45 hours on Monday 15th February 2010. Again members are asked not to book on for any turns of duty OR undertake any overtime between these times. Overtime can be worked at anytime outside these hours
Exactly the same will then apply on every Sunday morning into Monday morning until further notice.
It is a shame that instead of arranging talks, we believe that LUL have instead been drawing up plans to further outsource Signals work to sub-contractors, and I am sure many of you saw them working last weekend. Any attempt by the way to use agency labour to cover our strike action is illegal under criminal law (The Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations 2003) and our solicitors will be writing to these companies notifying of this.
Also, the RMT calls on LUL to come clean on their plans to destroy our members’ terms and conditions. Our members are livid that they get bulletins from the company saying it only affects 30 people then hear the plans for additional weekend working from their own management and even on the BBC News! To quote LUL “We are planning to introduce a roster covering 24 hours a day, seven days a week to ensure that planned engineering staff are always available”. This means ruining your time off with your family, attacking your income and destroying agreements that have been in place for decades.
It’s now time to stand together be solid in the face of this attack. Contact your local RMT Rep to find out where the local workplace and worksite picket lines will be.
UNITY IS STRENGTH
12.29.09 9:07 pm
-Admin
Subject: LUL Pay Deal Settled
Dear Colleagues
RATES OF PAY & CONDITIONS OF SERVICE 2009 – LONDON UNDERGROUND LTD
I can confirm that voting in the ballot which closed on Monday 21st December was as follows:
Question: Are you prepared to take strike action?
Total votes cast 3,757
Number voting YES 2,318
Number voting NO 1,402
Spoilt papers 37
Question: Are you prepared to take industrial action short of a strike?
Total votes cast 3,757
Number voting YES 3,109
Number voting NO 594
Spoilt papers 54
Having given due consideration to this matter, the General Grades Committee has taken the following decision:
“That having consulted with our representatives, and taking cognisance of the projected figures for inflation, the General Secretary is instructed to notify LUL that we are no longer in dispute over pay and conditions and that we wish to progress talks on the machinery of negotiation and training for representatives as well as remuneration and arrangements for the Olympics.
The General Secretary is further instructed to notify LUL of our very serious concerns over LUL plans to massively cut jobs and change operational safety procedures and to arrange a meeting for all representatives early in 2010.”
I have advised the employer of our acceptance of the 2009 and 2010 pay increases and I will report further in the New Year.
Yours sincerely
Bob Crow
GENERAL SECRETARY
12.29.09 9:02 pm
-Admin
Subject: EDF Pay Dispute/ Strike
1. RATES OF PAY AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE 2009 – EDF ENERGY POWERLINK
NOTICE OF STRIKE ACTION
I can confirm that the General Grades Committee has called upon our EDF members to take both strike action and action short in support of this year’s pay claim. I have already reported how members voted massively in favour of industrial action in support of an improved pay offer.
EDF members are incensed with an offer of around only 1% with productivity. And management didn’t do themselves any favours by running to the courts instead of the negotiating table. All this has served to do is put off a problem – not solve it.
Since the announcement of the ballot result, no improved offer has been forthcoming and the so following industrial action has been called.
Strike Action
EDF Members have been instructed not to book on for any duty between 19.59 hours on 22nd December and 07.59 hours on 24th December nor for any duty between 19.59 hours on 26th December and 07.59 hours on 27th December 2009.
Industrial Action Short of a Strike
In addition to the above stoppages of work a continuous work to rule and overtime ban will be in operation from 20.00 hours on 22nd December 2009 until further notice.
I am also informed that Unite members have also been balloted and will be taking the same action as ourselves at the same times. Unless management are prepared to make a positive offer that meets our aspirations, then the action will go ahead and the consequences for Underground services will be serious.
11.01.09 8:44 pm
-Admin
Subject: Branch Christmas Social
The Branch Christmas Social will take place on the 4th December at the Green Man, Gt Portland St Station from 17:00
11.01.09 8:43 pm
-Admin
Subject: Branch AGM
The Branch Annual General Meeting will take place on the 17th November, please come along if you wish to stand for election
10.09.09 3:48 pm
-Admin
Subject: RATES OF PAY AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE 2009 – LONDON UNDERGROUND LTD
OFFICIAL
CIRCULAR
TO ALL LUL/TFL BRANCHES,
& REPRESENTATIVES
Circular No. IR/296/09 9th October 2009
Dear Colleagues
1. RATES OF PAY AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE 2009 – LONDON UNDERGROUND LTD
2. RATES OF PAY AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE 2009 – TRANSPORT FOR LONDON
3. ANNUAL TFL PARADE AT THE CENOTAPH
Please ensure this circular is distributed as widely as possible.
1. RATES OF PAY AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE 2009 – LONDON UNDERGROUND LTD
NOTICE OF BALLOT FOR STRIKE ACTION AND INDUSTRIAL ACTION SHORT OF A STRIKE
As you will be aware, RMT has been in a dispute situation with LUL for most of this year. There have been several areas of dispute including this year’s pay claim, breaches of agreements and threats to jobs.
We can fairly say that thanks to a firm stand by RMT the issues have all been resolved with the exception of the pay claim. As things currently stand, the offer on the table remains as follows:
Year 1: 1.5% increase from 1st April 2009
Year 2: February 2010 RPI + 0.5% or 0.5% whichever is the greater from 1st April 2010
This situation was put to a mass meeting of industrial representatives this week and the unanimous view was that this offer is unacceptable. The General Grades Committee has therefore subsequently decided to ballot all LUL members for both strike action and industrial action short of a strike.
It is quite clear that LUL are unlikely to improve their offer without further pressure and unless we accept the two year offer on the table, it is necessary to take action.
I will now be giving my attention to preparing for the ballot and I will report further with a formal timetable for it as soon as I am able.
(LUL/0001)
2. RATES OF PAY AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE 2009 – TRANSPORT FOR LONDON
The General Grades Committee also this week considered the outstanding pay claim for TfL members and the following decision has been recorded:
“That we note the pay offer from TfL and the report from our Lead Organiser.
The General Secretary is instructed to inform TfL that we do not accept the pay offer and to liaise with other TfL Unions . The General Secretary is further instructed to again demand that TfL notify this Union of their plans on redundancies. The General Grades Committee to be advised of developments.”
I will of course be giving RMT attention to all this and will report further in due course.
(LUL/0001/TfL)
3. ANNUAL TFL PARADE AT THE CENOTAPH
You may be aware that for a number of years LUL and its predecessors have had the right to participate in the Annual Remembrance Parade at the Cenotaph. The TFL contingent is made up of past and present employees.
Management have made known to me the release arrangements which will apply to all participating members of staff, and these are as follows:
1) They will be released with pay
2) The 12 hours rest will apply provided they do not changeover their duties
3) If they are on rostered nights or covering nights because of sickness or as a leave cover then they are released for 2 nights
4) If they were not nights originally and they subsequently change for nights then they are released for 1 night only
5) If they are on a rest day or on annual leave that day, they will be given the day back, subject to mutual agreement
6) The above only applies to the Annual TFL Parade at the Cenotaph and does not apply to any local Remembrance Sunday parades. Members of staff would be expected to take leave, change a rest day or apply for unpaid special leave to attend other events.
(LUL/7/7)
Yours sincerely
Bob Crow
GENERAL SECRETARY
07.23.09 7:17 pm
-Admin
Subject: RMT V TSSA
News: Tolpuddle march
RMT HAD A MASSIVE TURNOUT FOR THE SUNDAY MARCH AT TOLPUDDLE, DWARFING THE PRESENCE OF UNITE. THERE WAS A RARE SPOTTING OF THE TSSA BANNER-BEING CARRIED WITH THE REVERSE SIDE, FEATURING A WASTE PAPER BASKET, FORWARD. THEY REALLY DON'T KNOW IF THEY ARE COMING OR GOING.
07.21.09 10:40 pm
-Admin
Subject: Tube LInes S&E Resolution
The following resolution was passed tonight at the branch UNANIMOUSLY
This branch notes with alarm the Tubelines proposal to disband its signal and electrical department and disperse these signal technicians onto the lines. We believe that this move will weaken this department to such an extent that the long term future of its staff are now seriously in question as there will be insufficient staff to pursue project work and it will be left to wither on the vine and die. Furthermore, we believe that Tube Lines assurances of consultation are meaningless when it has already been made clear that Lee Jones, Operations Director has already made up that this change will be forced through.
We demand that assurances are given to our members from Tube Lines that these changes are held in abeyance until such a time that full and proper negotiations on this matter have occurred. Our members will not be held to account for the mistakes of Gordon Brown's failed PPP on the Underground and that we request that the General Grades Committee ballots our affected members in the area for strike action and action short of strike should assurances on the Signal and Electrical Department's long term future as a single entity not be guarenteed.
07.09.09 10:30 pm
-Admin
News: Tubelines Funding Row
Tube union RMT warned today of another potential privatisation collapse on the Tube as a £2 billion funding row broke out between Tube Lines and Transport for London which could put essential works and thousands of jobs at risk in the run up to the 2012 Olympics.
Tube Lines, which holds the contract for the repairs and refurbishment of the Piccadilly, Northern and Jubilee Lines, has attempted to hack £2 billion from it's estimated costs of £ 7.2 billion on the work programme for the next seven and half years with a significant scaling back of the scope of the planned works.
TfL have estimated that the full scope of the essential upgrading and modernisation programme could be delivered for £4.1 billion and the government arbiter concluded it should cost no more than between £5.1 billion and £5.5 billion - leaving a £2 billion black hole on the Tube Lines budget.
Bob Crow, RMT General Secretary, said today:
"It is clear that there is a £2 billion stand off between Tube Lines and TfL on the works programme on the Piccadilly, Northern and Jubilee Lines with tube users and tube workers caught bang, smack in the middle.
"This row all stems from the botched PPP privatisation of the Tube and it is not out of the question that we could see another failure similar to Metronet or National Express on the East Coast with Londoners left to pick up the pieces.
"Meanwhile, jobs and essential works on these lines are left at risk in the run up to the 2012 Olympics. Our advice to Boris Johnson and TfL is to seize this opportunity to get rid of Tube Lines, take these works back into direct public control and work out a funding programme which protects jobs and the upgrade programme in the run up to 2012 and beyond."
07.09.09 10:27 pm
-Admin
News: RMT CALLS FOR INVESTIGATION INTO USE OF MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS
RMT CALLS FOR INVESTIGATION INTO USE OF MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS
BY TRANSPORT FOR LONDON
Transport union RMT today called for a full National Audit Office investigation into the use of management consultants by Transport for London after new figures showed that over £15 million has been spent in one section alone, congestion charging and traffic enforcement, in the past two years. The union are also referring the matter to the Transport Committee of the GLA.
RMT has today submitted Freedom of Information requests demanding details of the consultancy spend in another nine sections of TfL operations.
The bulk of the congestion charging and traffic enforcement cash has been spent on a consultancy contract with Deloittes whose partners charge TfL an incredible £2,761 a day.
Transport for London are currently looking at a multi-billion pound cuts programme and thousands of jobs are known to be at risk across TfL and the Tube.
RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said today:
"While TfL staff face the prospect of being thrown on the dole in a jobs massacre, the sky's the limit for the management consultants who appear to be able to charge what they like when they like with no serious accountability to Londoners. That's why RMT are demanding a National Audit Office investigation into the use of management consultants right across Transport for London.
Some of these management consultants earn in a week what some TfL staff would struggle to earn in a year , yet we get lectures from the same managers who are signing off these grotesque fees about how RMT members should take a hit on pay and job security to help them balance the books.
We are going to fight for a forensic examination of the use of management consultants at TfL We want to know just who is signing off these millions of pounds of taxpayers’ money and why they are doing it while thousands of TfL staff face the threat of the sack."
Bob Crow
RMT General Secretary
06.14.09 5:35 pm
-Admin
Subject: Personal Message Bob Crow
A PERSONAL MESSAGE FROM THE GENERAL SECRETARY
THE TRUTH (AND IF NOT SUE US FOR LIBEL)
This is my 31st year as a member of this Union and a worker on London Underground and in all that time I have never experienced such dishonesty from any management that I have dealt with. Let me explain to you what really happened at the talks.
The Facts
Pay. Management made a revised offer on a two year deal or four year deal. We said we would go away, speak to our members and representatives and come back to them. We said this did not have to be resolved immediately and hence we could suspend the action.
Breaches of Agreements. It is an out and out lie that we were only interested in the two sacked drivers. There were another five specific cases where management had abused the disciplinary procedures. It was agreed that ACAS would look at all seven cases and we said that we would be able to suspend the action to allow this to go ahead.
On the application of the sickness procedures, management were abusing it by making unannounced visits to members without a Trade Union representative being present. They were also issuing 52 week warnings as opposed to the maximum allowed which is 26 weeks. We reached agreement that the 26 weeks maximum would be adhered to and that a Trade Union representative would be in attendance at the interviews.
Redundancies. In 2001 after campaigning that the privatisation of the infrastructure would be a disaster LUL members were transferred to Metronet. We reached an agreement with LUL and Metronet that there would be no compulsory redundancies and that staff would be offered alternative employment in the event of their job going. This was enshrined in members’ contracts. As we predicted Metronet went bust with massive debts. We asked that all Metronet members that came back to LUL, and all other LUL members, should have the same agreement of no compulsory redundancies. At 6 o’clock, and hour before the strike was to begin, agreement was reached with the Acting Managing Director, Richard Parry. In fact I signed a document to this effect and this was to go back in front of your General Grades Committee immediately so that we could suspend the strike. At 6.35 p.m. whilst awaiting the final typed agreement we were told by management that they had made a phone call and that they could no longer abide by the agreement – they reneged before the ink was even dry. We were stunned that management could be so dishonest.
I have no doubt that the phone call made was to the Transport Commission or City Hall and they instructed the negotiators to pull the agreed deal. It became quite clear that the Transport Commission or City Hall were using stalling tactics to try and extend the talks to 7 p.m. in the hope that staff would believe agreement had been reached and turn up for work and members were also getting anonymous texts telling them the action was being called off.
It is an absolute disgrace that these bodies should interfere in the negotiations taking place between your Union and the LUL management. We negotiate in good faith and expect the same from the other side. It is the management side that have forced this strike to go ahead and now they will have to find a way to deal with the outstanding issues all over again.
The RMT want a negotiated settlement without interference from the Politicians. Agreement can be reached if management sit down and negotiate honestly.
Thank you for your support – the strike is solid and it is a tremendous effort by all of you. I will write to you with developments.
Best wishes
Bob Crow
General Secretary
03.25.09 10:51 pm
-Admin
Subject: CLAIM FOR PARITY PAYMENTS – SHIFT TESTER MEMBERS – EDF POWERLINK
CLAIM FOR PARITY PAYMENT – SHIFT TESTER – MEMBERS – EDF POWERLINK
I can confirm that EDF shift tester members have voted overwhelmingly in favour of accepting a package that resolves the above dispute that has prevaricated for some time.
I would like to thank RMT members for their unity, support and resolve in the prolonged discussions and industrial action that has at last born fruit with an agreement of the following terms and conditions;
All previous offers are off the table
The purpose of this agreement is to ensure safe and effective shift hand over cover to ensure customer and passenger services
This revision agreement is strongly recommended by the Union and its officers for acceptance and implementation and payment from the first working day after acceptance of the agreement and all its conditions
The current pensionable salary of £34,990 is realigned to be £27,992 basic salary plus shift allowance of £6,998 (25% consistent with other Powerlink grades). The total remains the same as present at £34,990 plus London weighting
That the rate of overtime purposes remains unchanged based on £24,771, the same as Day Testers
The shift testers agree to provide onsite shift handover assurance as set out in the Appendix as below
Then in full and final settlement of the shift testers claim for parity and recognition of flexibility assurance as set out in the agreement the company will offer to pay;
A non pensionable Flexibility allowance of £2,000 per annum to provide recognition of the onsite handover assurances provided and implemented by the shift testers and the onsite needs for working 12 hour shifts on site
APPENDIX – ON SITE SHIFT HANDOVER ASSURANCE
The Shift Testers agree to provide the following assurance for onsite shift handover;
Under system fault circumstances which require a substitution to be manned, the assurance that the site will always remain appropriately manned until the shift changeover can take place on site
In exceptional circumstances,(e.g. if a fault occurs near the end of a shift to effect repairs as necessary. This is permitted under QUENSH, and ensures that any potential disrupting to the London Underground services and journeys is avoided or minimised
The normal reporting centre for the shift testers is Tufnell Park Depot
Any additional hours worked as a result of the circumstances will be paid at the appropriate rates
Additional travelling time will be paid at the appropriate overtime rates based on the existing travelling time by public transport agreement and the normal reporting centre being Tufnell Park
The company have been informed that the offer was accepted overwhelmingly by the 25 members concerned
Total votes cast 20
Number voting YES - 13
Number voting NO – 7
Spoilt papers - 0
This clearly shows majority in favour of the offer.
03.25.09 9:59 pm
-Admin
Subject: LUL/ TfL Ballot
NEWS RELEASE
March 23, 2009
RMT to ballot 10,000 Tube and TfL workers over jobs and pay
THE TUBE’S biggest union is to ballot nearly 10,000 members across London Underground and Transport for London for strike action in two separate disputes centred on jobs and pay.
As news emerged that the number of jobs under threat across the Tube and TfL could reach 3,000, RMT said it would ballot all its members at LUL, including former Metronet staff, as well as in the separate dispute at TfL.
Both ballots will open tomorrow, March 24, and close on Wednesday April 8.
On London Underground, bosses are threatening to tear up an agreement aimed at safeguarding jobs, and has refused to rule out compulsory redundancies.
LUL has also refused to budge from an unacceptable five-year pay offer that gives no real-terms increase for four years, and which could even see pay cut, and there have been so many complaints of breaches of disciplinary and attendance procedures they appear co-ordinated.
TfL is also threatening compulsory redundancies as part of a £2.4 billion cuts package, and has so far failed to table any pay offer at all.
“London Underground seems to think that observing agreements is optional, and its plan to cut jobs is simply unacceptable,” RMT general secretary Bob Crow said today.
“After three months of stonewalling LUL has also tabled what is at best a five-year pay freeze which it knows full well could never be accepted, and its managers appear to have been given the nod to unleash a fresh round of bullying.
“LUL’s own ‘Valuing Time’ study acknowledges that our members’ productivity is at an all-time high, with passenger numbers up to record-breaking levels of four million a day.
“We said from the start that our members, whether in LUL or TfL, would not be made to pay for the failure and greed of bankers and privateers, and that any attempt to impose compulsory redundancies would be met with a ballot for industrial action
“If LUL and TfL want to avoid confrontation they should withdraw their plans to slash jobs and guarantee there will be no forced redundancies, start talking seriously about pay and call off the bully managers,” Bob Crow said.
02.22.09 8:23 pm
-Admin
Subject: Branch Visit by Oilc
The next Branch meeting on the 3rd March will also be attended by Jake Malloy, Regional Organiser responsible for off shore members. A big welcome would be appreciated
10.23.08 8:02 pm
-Admin
Subject: RMT welcomes return of Metronet staff to London Underground
LONDON UNDERGROUND’S biggest union RMT today welcomed plans to transfer the workforce at failed public-private partnership company Metronet back to LUL.
In a letter to RMT general secretary Bob Crow, Metronet Rail chief executive Andie Harper confirmed that a consultation over the TUPE transfer will soon be underway and that he hoped the process would be completed by December.
“RMT has been pressing for this measure all along and welcomes Metronet Rail’s move as a victory for common sense,” Bob Crow said today.
“It is another small step on the road for a properly integrated transport system for London after the disastrous experiment with PPP. Next up, Tubelines’ operations should be brought back in-house.”
10.14.08 8:40 pm
-Admin
News: Metronet Disputes Hopefully settled
The following position statements were reached following intensive talks with Metronet:
Joint Statement
Following further discussions between Metronet Rail and RMT we are pleased to announce that both sides have agreed to further talks on all matters and that the Andy Littlechild incident has been formally concluded.
Moving forward, discussions will take place to clarify any ambiguity relating to PPE Policy/legislation.
-------------------------------------------------------
Position Statement following Adhoc Joint Functional (level 2)
& Tier 2 Meeting on 14th October 2008
District Line Rosters
These will be implemented as agreed but with cover turn indicated as cover turn and not as a specific shift, i.e. late etc on the roster. The Framework will be complied with.
Liverpool Street Rosters
Agreed to be transferred back to local level.
Designated Depot/Home Location
Referred to MRCC.
Maintenance Reductions & RBMBU
Consultation will continue.
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