RMT General Grades Committee decision:
That we note the pay offer from Tube Lines for former Alstom staff at Stratford Market depot, and the report from our Regional Organiser. We accept our Regional Organiser’s recommendation that should the employer agree to proposed amendments to the wording of the offer, then it would be acceptable to us.
That we note the pay offer from CBS Outdoor and the report from our Regional Organiser.
We accept the Regional Organiser’s view that the pay offer (1.3% backdated to April) is poor, but that we should reluctantly accept it. We note that there has also been some progress on working conditions: negotiations on a new roster pattern, new vans, and better training; and on the MMTA grade which management have now agreed to backdate for all staff qualified or unqualified (through lack of training) for six months.
Today, the RMT delegation met with London Underground at ACAS to try to resolve the dispute about LU's victimisation of Northern line driver Arwyn Thomas.
Unfortunately, management refused point blank to even discuss re-employing Arwyn. Furthermore, they stated that even if the Employment Tribunal found 100% in Arwyn's favour, they still would not guarantee to reinstate him. Therefore, we have no option but to go ahead with our strike action to defend our longstanding rep and activist.
With strike action in the tube victimisation dispute beginning this weekend, tube union RMT today set out a summary of the key facts regarding the specific case of Northern Line driver Arwyn Thomas.
RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said: “The facts in Arwyn Thomas’s case could not be clearer and with the rolling action due to start this weekend I would appeal again to London Underground to see sense, abide by the spirit of the agreement we reached with them weeks ago over these vitimisations and get Arwyn back to work doing what he is being paid to do - drive tube trains."
RMT General Grades Committee decision:
That we note the correspondence from London Underground.
It is disingenuous of LU to complain that this union has not used the ‘agreed machinery’ when during the period referred to there was no agreed machinery due to LUL’s withdrawal from it. Despite this, our reps have tried to maintain good industrial relations.
Furthermore, despite LUL’s claims, there are no agreed minutes available yet and our representatives have been requesting a director level meeting to discuss this matter.
RMT General Grades Committee decision:
That we note the letter from London Underground dated 27 May 2011 on this matter. Its content is not acceptable to our representatives, and by its own admission, it does not address all of our concerns. We continue to believe that there are serious safety concerns on the Victoria Line, and reaffirm our industrial action short of strikes.
We note that a further meeting with the company is to take place on this issue on 23 June. A report on this meeting is to be placed in front of us as soon as possible after this meeting.
RMT General Grades Committee decision:
That we note that a number of employers have recently tabled pay offers including an element of applying the average rate of increase of RPI based on the preceding 12 months.
We wish to ensure that our members’ pay rise each year at least matches, and preferably exceeds, the rate at which their costs of living have risen over the previous year. This can be achieved through a pay rise (whether flat-rate or based on a percentage, or a combination of the two) which exceeds an agreed measure of how much costs of living have risen.
RMT General Grades Committee decision:
That we note the report from our lead officer concerning discussions with Serco Docklands about working arrangements for the Olympic Games.
We instruct the General Secretary to obtain reports from all lead officers on progress of discussions regarding the Olympics.
We refer this issue to the Olympics Sub-Committee for examination and report, and instruct that it meet as soon as practical in order to effectively co-ordinate our work on this issue.
RMT General Grades Committee decision:
That we note the latest pay offer from Alstom, of 2.75% for this year and CPI+0.5% for next year, subject to a minimum of 2% and a maximum of just 3%. We note the report from our Regional Organiser, and also note that this is not a final offer.
Accordingly, we reject this offer, as it is below inflation for this year, and is very poor for Year 2, which includes the Olympic Games. The offer is unacceptable to our members.