RMT bus workers at London United mount protest over harassment of members

Submitted by Admin on 8 September, 2009 - 11:08

RMT BUS members at London United will be mounting a protest at the company’s London headquarters this Wednesday ( September 9) in a fightback against the victimisation and harassment of RMT members building a fighting and campaigning union organisation that has challenged the company for a fair deal on pay and working conditions.

RMT is growing fast at London United and the response of the company has been to hit back at individual members of staff with completely unfounded threats that the union will not be able to represent them if they find themselves in trouble.

Training workshop: Pensions

Venue: Exmouth Arms, Star Cross Street, near Euston

Pensions are a very important issue to workers - they ensure a comfortable and dignified retirement - and yet seem both complicated and continually under threat.

In this workshop, one of our rank-and-file RMT pensions reps will explain - and answer questions about - issues including:

  • RMT representation on the bodies that oversee your pension
  • ill-health pensions
  • medical termination

RMT Members Ballot for Action on Woolwich Ferries

Submitted by Admin on 5 September, 2009 - 09:16

Woolwich ferryRMT is to ballot our members on the Woolwich Ferry for action short of strikes in a dispute about redundancies and attacks on terms and conditions.

Ferry operator SERCO wants to get rid of 31 jobs out of 120 who work on board the ferries. RMT fears that shoreside workers will face redundancies when the company have dealt with the onboard staff.

Jobs/Pay/Justice dispute: where we are

Submitted by Admin on 5 September, 2009 - 08:19

A summary of where we currently stand with the jobs/pay/justice dispute:

  • RMT is calling no more strikes for the time being.
  • Our disputes with LUL and TfL are still 'live' ie. not resolved.
  • The Regional Council's strike committee continues to meet and organise.
  • No RMT member will be made compulsorily redundant in the current LUL job-cut process.
  • LUL accepts that it has a 'no compulsory redundancy' agreement, but insists that this only applies to operational staff even though it clearly states that it applies to "all employees".

Proposed RMT rule changes

As you will probably know, RMT will be holding a Special General Meeting in early November, which will discuss four rule changes submitted by branches. All these rule changes seek to improve our union's democracy, as follows:

- to extend the time available to branches to submit amendments to resolutions to the union's AGM - to ensure that during disputes, the union's Executive considers the views of a strike committee elected by and from the striking members - to create a larger, more diverse and representative Annual General Meeting

Alstom: RMT Wins 2.5% Pay Rise - More for Lower-Paid Grades

Submitted by Admin on 3 September, 2009 - 14:42

Circular No. IR/253/09: RATES OF PAY AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE 2009 – ALSTOM METRO TRAINS

I can confirm that the General Grades Committee has accepted the following offer from Alstom on behalf of our members on the Northern and Jubilee Lines:

  • An increase in basic rates of pay of 2.5% with effect from 1st April 2009.

CBS Outdoor: hours cut without loss of pay

Submitted by Admin on 3 September, 2009 - 14:38

Circular No. IR/253/09: RATES OF PAY AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE 2009 – CBS OUTDOOR

On the recommendation of our negotiating team, the General Grades Committee has accepted a reduction in the working week of one hour in return for a freeze on all current pay rates.

Whilst far from perfect, negotiators took the view that this was the best position possible given the general malaise in the advertising industry. Indeed the company, which is having to be bankrolled by its parent company in the USA, were originally demanding a pay freeze with no cut in hours.

DLR: Vote Yes to Stop Roster Imposition

Submitted by Admin on 2 September, 2009 - 23:00

Circular No. IR/253/09: IMPOSITION OF ROSTERS – CONTROL ROOM – SERCO DOCKLANDS

The above dispute remains ongoing and I am in the process of re-balloting these members for strike action and industrial action short of a strike.

To re-cap, the dispute originated last year from an attempt by management to force Control Room staff from a popular 12 hour roster to an 8 hour one. A successful ballot for industrial action forced them to pull back from implementation, but negotiations broke down and Serco again attempted to unilaterally implement the 12 hour roster.

Victoria Line: '5-rounder' dispute

Submitted by Admin on 2 September, 2009 - 23:00

Circular No. IR/253/09: ROSTERING ISSUES – VICTORIA LINE TRAINCREW, LUL

A dispute situation has arisen on the Victoria Line in respect of our Train Operator members and I am in the process of balloting members for both strike action and industrial action short of a strike. The ballot is due to close on Tuesday 8th September 2009.