In a show of solidarity with Uganda’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, delegates to this year’s RMT LGBT Member’s Conference (Blackpool, May 18th) linked up via Skype video with one of the most prominent and courageous advocates for LGBT rights in Uganda, Frank Mugisha.

We note the report from our lead officer.

We note the report from our Regional Organiser, and the feedback from our branches. We endorse his view that an important principle is at stake and that London Underground members can be convinced to take a stand on this issue.

London Underground's continuing use and abuse of agency staff is seriously detrimental to LUL employees, as it undermines their opportunities to obtain and retain work and creates disruption in the workplace. We therefore declare a trade dispute with London Underground Ltd, demanding that it cease the use of agencies and offer permanent, direct employment to agency workers, including those formerly supplied by Trainpeople.

Referring to decision GWW 21st May 2013. The meeting has now taken place and we note the report from our Regional Organiser regarding the substantial progress made and that the recommendation of our negotiating team is that we should regard this dispute resolved due to the following points:

SPAD Policy

The RMT took a motion on the tragic death of Stephen Simpson to the TUC Disability conference. The motion details how Stephen, a young gay man who was autistic, was brutally killed. On his 18th birthday, he was doused in tanning oil and set alight - he died the next day.

The judge in the case Roger Keen dismissed the crime as ‘good-natured horseplay’ that had gone too far, and sentenced Sheard to a unusually short sentence of just three and a half years in prison.

The RMT has made great progress in our S Stock dispute with LU. But one sticking point remains - the issue of Cross Line Working.

Following talks at ACAS on Tuesday 21st of May your negotiators tabled a reasonable solution to the S Stock dispute which was flatly refused by LUL for spurious reasons. The RMT proposed that the timetable should be amended so that trains are picked from Moorgate Bay Road as opposed to Baker St Met platforms; our view was that this would not compromise any existing agreements or require any additional training.

TUBE UNION RMT warned today London Assembly members risk unleashing the biggest wave of industrial action on London Underground in 30 years after City Hall politicians lined up this morning to attack basic tube workers’ rights including pensions and passes.

RMT believes that this morning’s attack is part of a coordinated, political action designed to kick off the process of stripping away hard-won working conditions and workplace rights across the Underground network.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:

SFC reps are receiving reports that the number of disciplinary investigations into unsatisfactory surplus and/or loss items in ticket offices is growing.

Please download the latest edition of SFC News and the pro-forma memo that can be used by RMT members to respond to notifications of unsatisfactory items.

Admin CDI Note Taking
On Tuesday May 14th the Reps attended a MATS Functional Council meeting. The RMT was the union that put this on the agenda. At the meeting we were able to highlight the pressing issues around CDI note taking. The Reps pointed out how Admin were being told they had to take part in the pilot scheme and we insisted that this was voluntary and was not part of your role or job description.

Agency STM has 'locked out' its workers, without pay, for taking industrial action against management bullying. RMT asks you to give your full support to our members and join an urgent protest about the outrageous persecution.

DEMONSTRATE outside the headquarters of London Overground Rail Operations Ltd (just outside Swiss Cottage tube station) on Monday 20 May at 0900hrs.