Notes from Regional Council Executive, 9 March 2010

Submitted by Admin on 11 March, 2010 - 22:25

PRESENT: Adrian Rowe, Clara Osagiede, Gary Lazell, Malcolm Taylor, Paul Jackson, Will Reid, Pat O'Brien, Andy Littlechild, Chris Carroll, James Wong-McSweeney, Carol Foster, Glenroy Watson, Adrian Finney, Vaughan Thomas, Janine Booth. IN ATTENDANCE: Steve Hedley (Regional Organiser), Olly New (Executive member), John Moloney (PCS), Josie Toussaint-Pinnock, Claire Reilly APOLOGIES: Linda Wiles, Paul Rutland, Ross Marshall, John Kelly, Lewis Peacock, Steve Reeley, Tony Gandolfi, Dave Rayfield

Resolution: New LUL Grievance Procedure

Submitted by Admin on 11 March, 2010 - 21:18

The following resolution, submitted by Hammersmith & City and Jubilee & East London Line branches, was carried at the March meeting of the Regional Council.

This Regional Council opposes the decision made by the General Grades Committee to accept the new LUL Grievance Procedure.

This was done without consultation with either local representatives or branches.

We cannot understand why this matter was hurried through the GGC when the implementation date was 1st April 2010.

Emergency resolution: Stations Job Cuts

Submitted by Admin on 11 March, 2010 - 19:53

The following resolution, submitted by Stratford no.1 branch and seconded by Hammersmith & City branch, was carried unanimously by the March meeting of the Regional Council.

This Regional Council deplores TfL's announcement of 700-800 stations jobs. We reaffirm RMT's determination to fight all job cuts, and resolve to step up implementation of the campaign plan that we passed late last year.

We resolve to run a high-profile public campaign against these job cuts, as well as fighting them through industrial action.

It's Official: London Underground Plans to Slash "700-800" Stations Jobs

Submitted by Janine on 11 March, 2010 - 14:46

SOSTransport for London has today finally admitted its plans for widespread de-staffing of London Underground stations, with the loss of 700-800 jobs. Today's press release, which you can read below, follows months of warnings from RMT about the company's intentions, and several leaks - which at the time, the company dismissed as 'scaremongering'.

TfL claims that its plans will create a 'safe, efficient and transformed Tube'. However:

  • The Tube will not be 'safe' with hundreds fewer staff - it will leave passengers (and the remaining staff) vulnerable to accidents and assaults in understaffed stations, and unable to cope properly with serious, even life-threatening, incidents.
  • The Tube will not be 'efficient', as without enough staff, it will not be able to provide the reliable and comfortable services that passengers want.
  • The Tube will be 'transformed', but not in a good way! Rather, it will be 'transformed' into a barely-staffed system in which services become unreliable and passengers find it hard to find the help they need.

RMT is determined to fight these job cuts, as we know that they are potentially disastrous for station staff, for other grades of Underground and TfL staff, and for passengers. Everyone is welcome to be part of our campaign.

Make sure you regularly check our special 'SOS - Staff Our Stations' webpage for updates on developments and campaigning.

Regional Report

Submitted by Admin on 10 March, 2010 - 21:02

1 TUBE UNION RMT today demanded that London Mayor Boris Johnson take “urgent and decisive” action to terminate the Tube Lines contract on London Underground as it emerged that LU are calling in forensic accountants to “examine massive and secretive payments to Tube Lines’ shareholders” and after the company were branded as “ailing and failing” by TFL.

LU Calls In 'Forensic Accountants' On Tube Lines Payments To Shareholders

Submitted by Peter on 10 March, 2010 - 14:04

TUBE UNION RMT today demanded that London Mayor Boris Johnson take “urgent and decisive” action to terminate the Tube Lines contract on London Underground as it emerged that LU are calling in forensic accountants to “examine massive and secretive payments to Tube Lines’ shareholders” and after the company were branded as “ailing and failing” by TfL.

Demonstration: Rail Cuts Cost Lives

URGENT: Rail Cuts Cost Lives

Demonstration at Network Rail Office, Kings Place, 90 York Way, London

To coincide with the Network Rail maintenance ballot result and to publicise the massive amount of MPs who have signed the Early Day Motion condemning Network Rail’s proposed cuts and the threat to safety, the RMT has called a demonstration outside the Network Rail Offices in central London. I do appreciate the short notice, but we’d like you to be there as part of a loud and colourful demonstration.

Resolution: Stop TfL selling off LUOH

Submitted by Admin on 8 March, 2010 - 20:48

The following resolution, submitted by TfL no.1 branch with the last paragraph added as an amendment from Stratford no.1 branch, was carried by the March meeting of the Regional Council ...

This region notes the attempted privatisation of TfL Occupational Health Service and wholly oppose the sell off our members rights to in-house occupational health services.

This is grave news as where this has happened in other parts of the railway industry it has lead to a reduction in treatment for our members and it also leads to a one way ticket to redundancy.

Resolution: Adverse Weather Conditions

Submitted by Admin on 8 March, 2010 - 20:46

The following resolution, submitted by LU Engineering branch and seconded by Hammersmith & City branch, was carried unanimously by the March meeting of the Regional Council ...

This Region opposes the requirement that staff take annual leave if they were unable to get to work during "adverse" weather conditions

The recent guidelines from Howard Collins are unfair in some respects to all staff.