Defending jobs

Yesterday we reported the story of a 12 year old boy who had been taken into the sidings on the Bakerloo Line onboard an out of service train. The boy then climbed out between carriages into an area with live tracks and moving trains.

The boy managed to "shimmy up and over the ‘inner car barriers’ and out of the train. He could have killed himself as his means of exit from the train was directly going onto the live positive rail. He got out of the train into an area of 4 live running roads; it was only the actions of the driver that prevented a fatality."

From General Secretary Bob Crow

Dear Colleagues,

The website Rail.Co are running an online poll on RMT’s demand that in light of West Coast Main Line fiasco the Thameslink Fleet deal with Siemens be cancelled and awarded to Bombardier in Derby

You can add your vote here.

We note the report from our LT Regional Council train grades committee. We welcome the committee’s organising efforts, and instruct the General Secretary to offer assistance and resources.

We note the comments concerning which grades may be used to test driverless trains. We instruct the General Secretary to obtain a further, detailed report on this, and to ensure that membership data for all LUL train grades is accurate and up-to-date should we need to hold a ballot for industrial action.

From RMT General Secretary Bob Crow

Reminder: Join the National Demonstrations against Austerity – 20th October 2012

There are just under four weeks to go before the national demonstrations against austerity on Saturday 20 October.

Join RMT colleagues in what promises to be a historic and enjoyable day of protest. Bring your family and friends and send a clear message that we are not prepared to accept the attacks on our jobs, services and communities.

A booklet explaining the reasons for the event is attached below

We note the reports from our representatives, which reveal a catalogue of measures from London Underground Ltd aimed at preparing the ground for job cuts.

These affect every grade of London Underground worker and underline the need for RMT to pursue a united, active and thought-out response, in order to defend our members’ jobs and London’s transport services.

“RMT reiterates this union's complete opposition to driverless trains. Every train must have a driver, to ensure the safe and effective running of the Underground." - Bob Crow

TUBE UNION RMT confirmed today that it is to ballot for strike action and action short of a strike in a dispute over plans to rip up the safety rule book and begin the testing of driverless trains on London Underground.

Initially, RMT will be balloting all members who are test train drivers but the union has also made it clear that it will be looking at which other grades may be called upon to test-drive units with a view to balloting those staff as well.

We note the resolution from our LU Fleet branch, and reiterate this union's complete opposition to driverless trains. Every train must have a driver, to ensure the safe and effective running of the Underground. Plans to scrap drivers or reduce their driving duties are risking safety, services and jobs, motivated by saving money and undermining trade unionism.

We instruct the General Secretary to:

From General Secretary Bob Crow

I write to advise branches that the contract between UKPN Services Powerlink and London Underground will be terminated on 16th August 2013. This matter has now been considered by the General Grades Committee and has made the following decision:-

THE SAFE evacuation of the Northern Rail train derailed near St Bees in Cumbria yesterday underlines the importance of safety-trained train and infrastructure crew who are under threat thanks to “wrong-headed” government policy, Britain’s biggest rail union said today.

As the media reported praise for the train crew’s calm and orderly evacuation of around 100 passengers, RMT condemned the government’s plan to abolish guards under the notorious McNulty report, which aims to sack up to 20,000 rail staff to protect private operators’ profits.

RMT general secretary Bob Crow said:

Justice has prevailed in the case of RMT member William Etchells who has succeeded in his claim for unfair dismissal against Churchill Cleaning Services Limited – contractors on the Tyne and Wear Metro.