Notes from Regional Council Executive, 11 January 2011

Attendance: Vaughan Thomas, Adrian Finney, Janine Booth (Council of Executives member), Mac McKenna, John Reid, Arwyn Thomas, John Kelly, Andy Littlechild, Peter Hartshorn (for first item), Roy Carey, Steve Hedley (Regional Organiser), Ross Marshall, Bob McMunn, Jackie Darby, Glenroy Watson, Val Barzey, Neil Hodgson
Apologies: Adrian Rowe, Lewis Peacock, Paul Jackson, Unjum Mirza, Becky Crocker

1. PETER HARTSHORN

Peter addressed the meeting about his victimisation; his CDI takes place tomorrow. Branch leaflet circulated.

2. NEXT LTRC MEETING

Massive Majority Vote For Action At Docklands Light Railway

TRANSPORT UNION RMT members have voted by a massive majority for action in a dispute with Serco Docklands.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said “Management at Serco Docklands continue to show total disregard for the idea of proper negotiation and consultation with this trade union on a number of issues and have also victimised and dismissed two of our colleagues. Our members have shown in this massive vote for action that they will not be bullied and treated with contempt."

RMT Council of Executives report, 12 January 2011

Report from Janine Booth, your Council of Executives member

  • I was elected last Tuesday (4 January) - thanks for support.
  • I have been appointed to the following Executive subcommittees - Equal Rights, Olympics, General Finance, Staffing, Health & Safety - disappointed not to have others eg. Publicity and Propaganda, but membership of these committees was decided before I was elected.
  • RMT grades and equalities conferences will be taking place over the next few months - all branches, please send delegates and resolutions.

JOB CUTS – LONDON UNDERGROUND

From RMT General Secretary Bob Crow:

I write to advise members of the latest situation in our dispute with London Underground over their planned job cuts. Many of you may have today seen the totally false reports made by the BBC that RMT had decided not to call strike action in January. Please be assured that this statement is totally false and your Executive continues to deliberate on the way forward. Nothing has been ruled in or ruled out at this stage.

The General Grades Committee has today met to discuss the dispute and the following decision has been taken: -

Breakdown in Industrial Relations - Serco Docklands - Ballot result

RMT General Grades Committee decision:

That we note the ballot result is as follows:-

Are you prepared to take strike action?

Total Votes Cast 198
Number Voting Yes 162
Number Voting No 36
Spoilt 0

Are you prepared to take industrial action short of a strike?

Total Votes Cast 198
Number Voting Yes 175
Number Voting No 21
Spoilt 2

BBC report of no January strikes against job cuts is INACCURATE

This morning, the BBC has reported that RMT will not hold strikes against London Underground job cuts during the month of January, and attributes this to a "highly-placed RMT source". This report is wrong. [The BBC has changed its report since it originally publish it, but it is still inaccurate, although less so than previously.]

Eamonn Lynch campaign receives parliamentary support

John McDonnell MP has given Bakerloo drivers the full support of the parliamentray group in the union's campaign to reinstate Eamonn Lynch.

John said:

"The RMT Parliamentary Group fully supports the industrial action taken by RMT and Aslef drivers working on the Bakerloo Line on 17th-18th December. The disgraceful victimisation of Eamonn Lynch appears to have been escalated by Tube management during the appeals process apparently to intimidate trade union members working on the Bakerloo Line and across the Tube network.

Tube chiefs given green light to blow cuts cash on lunches, flowers, hotels and management consultants as stations are left unstaffed during security alert

Tube chiefs given green light to blow cuts cash on lunches, flowers, hotels and management consultants as stations are left unstaffed during security alert

TUBE UNION RMT today slammed underground bosses as it emerged cash that has been saved through £12 million of recent cuts is to be spent on hotels, drinks, flowers, lunches and management consultants.

Bakerloo News January 2011- Strike While the iron is hot!

Click on the 'attachment' to download RMT Bakerloo January newsletter.

Main Story follows:

Strike while the iron is hot!

The RMT has called a further days strike action for Saturday 15th of January in the campaign to reinstate Eamonn Lynch.
The solid strike on December 18th shutdown the line and showed management that all drivers on the line know that sacking Eamonn Lynch is an injustice too far.
Just in case management still haven’t worked it out, drivers shutdown the line because: