The new issue of 'RMT London Calling' gives lots of facts and arguments against London Underground's plan to cut 800 jobs. It also celebrates the end of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) with the return of Tube Lines to public ownership, while warning TfL not to make workers pay the price.
Click '1 attachment' / file name to download it. Please distribute widely.
Section 10.1(a) of the Employment Relations Act 1999 states:
Right to be accompanied
(1) This section applies where a worker—
(a) is required or invited by his employer to attend a disciplinary or grievance hearing, and
(b) reasonably requests to be accompanied at the hearing.
(2) Where this section applies the employer must permit the worker to be accompanied at the hearing by a single companion who—
(a) is chosen by the worker and is within subsection (3),
From the Labour Representation Committee ...
The left and trade unions have started organising a broad coalition against the incoming coalition government and its plans to cut public services, jobs, pensions and benefits. There is no popular mandate for cuts and, as in Greece, any attempt to impose them will be firmly resisted.
John McDonnell MP, LRC Chair, said:
Here are some of the responses we have received from passengers to our 'Staff Our Stations' leaflets:
"White City Tube Station is very busy and well and is situated at the heart of a large residential community and serves a number of major businesses such as the BBC and Westfield Shopping Centre. I object most strongly to the proposed staff cuts at this station."
Simon McKay
An interesting and informative discussion is to take place on thursday 27th may. Reps and activists could benefit by attending. It may provide interesting ideas on how to solve problems in their workplaces.
The Haldane Society of Socialist Lawyers and the Institute for Employment Rights invite you to hear Lord Wedderburn QC and Jim Mortimer (former Labour Party General Secretary) in conversation with John Hendy QC
"The Law Versus the Trade Unions? Reflections on the Past and Strategies for the Future".
Figures obtained by RMT show that from October 2009 through to March 2010 surface level stations on the District, Central, Metropolitan, Circle & Hammersmith and Northern Lines were left unstaffed for entire shifts on a total of 439 occasions. One station, Mill Hill East, was left unstaffed for 95 entire shifts.
Current cuts plans being implemented by London Underground would see up to 800 ticket office, station and platform staff jobs axed creating a wave of ticket office closures and ushering in a culture of unstaffed tube stations, particularly late at night.
ATTENDANCE
The next Morden & Oval branch meeting will take place on Wednesday 19th May 2010 from 5.30pm at the Wheatsheaf public house, 2, Upper Tooting Road, London, SW17. It is situated next to Tooting Bec tube station.
Update: TfL have now confirmed this story, saying it will cost £310m to buy out Tubelines.
It is being reported that TfL are planning to buy out Tubelines shareholders and put the final nail in the PPP coffin. The Times reports that TfL "will buy out Amey and Bechtel, the shareholders that control Tube Lines."
Click on the attachment to see the latest Branch Newsletter.
Articles follow...
Don’t be fooled by the lies - Stand up for jobs and safety
London Underground has fired the first shots in the coming battle over jobs and safety with their recent consultation document. They have announced that 450 ticket office positions must go as well as another 150 CSA positions. Meanwhile, management have approached the Train’s Health & Safety Council (THSC) with proposals for the worst watering down of safety standards ever seen. Add to this a leaked document from management in which they spell out their plans for smashing the unions on the job and it is clear that our bosses are intent on reversing all the gains we have won over the years and are going to put both us and the passengers in danger with their attacks on safety.