What is a National Executive Committee decision?

This article is an 'executive decision' which has been written by the RMT National Executive Committee. The National Executive is the union's governing body in between AGMs. Its decisions set out what the union will do on a particular issue.

These decisions can often be brief, and may be one of several passed over a period of time. To get a better understanding or find out more information about what the RMT is doing, speak to your rep or attend your branch or Regional Council meeting.

Meeting called as Piccadilly line heads towards dispute

OFFICIAL CIRCULAR
TO ALL BRANCHES AND REPRESENTATIVES
ALL UNDERGROUND AND FORMER LT EMPLOYERS
28th March 2018 Circular No: IR/168/18

Dear Colleague,
BREAKDOWN IN INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS, TRAIN OPERATORS, PICCADILLY LINE - LONDON UNDERGROUND (LUL/14/2)

Further to my previous Circular (IR/140/18, 14th March 2018), the following resolution has been received from our Piccadilly & District West Branch:-

“The Piccadilly & District West Branch together with our sister branch Finsbury Park note that due to continued mismanagement, morale levels on the line are at an historic low level.

This is exacerbated by management failing to properly resource the line, leading to unacceptable and dangerous levels of staffing on night tube, members are often unable to secure outstanding leave when requested, being forced over contractual hours due to mismanagement and a lack of spare drivers, while management attempt to introduce increasingly draconian attendance measures which have not been agreed with our representatives or this union.

Furthermore management are now attacking and restricting the release of our representatives to conduct their elected role and to comply with company agreements.

Management within service control routinely treat our train driver members with contempt for attempting to finish work on time and uphold the framework agreements.

Management have further failed to honour and uphold a number of commitments given during other disputes, most notably relating to stock, training and SPAD management.

Further evidence of low morale is the number of members trying to transfer to other lines and taking early retirement.

This situation can no longer be tolerated and we call on the General Secretary to declare a dispute over these issues and ballot our affected train operator members for strike action and action short of strike action”.

This matter has been considered by the National Executive Committee, which has noted that a dispute situation is arising due to the intolerable behaviour from management understaffing Train Ops on the Piccadilly Line, attacking our members through draconian use of the attendance procedures, breaching agreements and obstructing our representatives' trade union duties. The NEC has taken the decision to arrange a meeting with the Senior Assistant General Secretary, Regional Organiser, Piccadilly Line Trains Functional Council and Trains Safety Council Representatives and the NEC in attendance.

I am currently acting in accordance with this decision and will keep Branches advised of all further developments.

...........

TU REPS RELEASE, PICCADILLY LINE - LONDON UNDERGROUND (LUL/20/3)

The following resolution has been received from our Finsbury Park Branch:-

“Finsbury Park Branch calls on the GS to declare a breakdown of industrial relations at Arnos Grove due to refusal of management to engage in the machinery of negotiation and consultation, with management unilaterally withdrawing TU release to scrutinise and allocate duties over Easter in line with agreement leading to sheets being imposed without agreement (contrary to SWAG agreement) and imposing the use of new TU release forms without any consultation or discussion leading to Reps being refused release to represent members should they not use this form.

This constitutes an attack on the Trade Union and its members in the area and we call in the GS to ballot all members in the area for strike action and action to restore proper industrial relations and collective bargaining arrangements”.

This matter has been considered by the National Executive Committee, which has noted that a dispute situation is arising due to the intolerable behaviour from management understaffing Train Ops on the Piccadilly Line, attacking our members through draconian use of the attendance procedures, breaching agreements and obstructing our representatives' trade union duties. The NEC has taken the decision to arrange a meeting with the Senior Assistant General Secretary, Regional Organiser, Piccadilly Line Trains Functional Council and Trains Safety Council Representatives and the NEC in attendance.

I am currently acting in accordance with this decision and will keep Branches advised of all further developments.

Yours sincerely,

Mick Cash
General Secretary

What is a National Executive Committee decision?

This article is an 'executive decision' which has been written by the RMT National Executive Committee. The National Executive is the union's governing body in between AGMs. Its decisions set out what the union will do on a particular issue.

These decisions can often be brief, and may be one of several passed over a period of time. To get a better understanding or find out more information about what the RMT is doing, speak to your rep or attend your branch or Regional Council meeting.