Pay

Rail union RMT confirmed today that, having pursued a claim with sister union TSSA, they have secured a ground-breaking pay and rewards package offer aimed at taking Network Rail staff through the Olympics:

• £500 additional money for working through the Olympics period
• More than 10% pay increase on the basic over the next two years - 5.2% this year and RPI plus .5% in 2012.
• Agreement of a disputes procedure throughout the Olympics period that means no union member can be dismissed and which recognises the continuing right to withdraw labour.

RMT General Grades Committee decision:

That we note the report from our Regional Organiser.

We accept the company’s offer on grade progression for the Power Control Room, and congratulate our rep and our members for taking a firm stance and achieving a far better deal than was originally offered.

We note that our outstanding concerns regarding the TAC office have now been addressed. We instruct the General Secretary to conduct a referendum of our members in the TAC office, with a recommendation to accept the company’s offer on grade progression.

Click on the attachment below to download the April edition of London Calling.

In this edition:

STOP VICTIMISING OUR REPS - why drivers across the combine voted 'YES' to strike action for the reinstatement of Arwyn Thomas and Eamonn Lynch;

LU REWARDS STAFF WITH PAY CUT - 'Metro of the Year' rewards its staff with more work and a pay cut;

LU STALLS ON JOB CUT REVIEWS - how LU management are sticking two fingers up to the job cut review process.

RMT rejects London Underground pay offer

This year we put in a joint pay claim with Unite and Tssa (aslef were asked to join us but declined.) RMT, TSSA and Unite are meeting on Thursday 28th April to discuss our next joint positions (once again
Aslef were invited but declined.) RMT formally rejected London Underground's pay offer which was a five year deal. A 4 percent pay deal this year when inflation is 5.5 percent and inflation plus 0.25 percent for the next four years. We will be seeking more talks on pay and I will keep you informed of all progress made.

TUBE UNION RMT confirmed today that it has rejected a proposed five year pay offer from TFL and is launching a campaign for a substantial, above-inflation one year deal that reflects the additional workload placed on staff as a result of the repeated breakdown in services, a large increase in passenger numbers and the knock on effect from a programme of staff reductions.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:

In line with RMT policy, a pay claim for an increase in pay and improved terms and conditions was submitted to London Underground on behalf of you and your colleagues.

The offer has been considered by your union’s Executive Committee and has been rejected.

RMT GGC decision:

That we note that London Underground has made a five-year pay offer, with this year's 'rise' being just 4%. With February's RPI being 5.5%, this is a real-terms pay cut of 1.5%. Further, LU has dismissed most of our claims for improved conditions, and on the two its offer has mentioned, makes no firms commitments.

The following emergency resolution to the April meeting of the Regional Council was passed unanimously:

This Region is appalled by London Underground's below-inflation, five-year pay 'offer', with no commitment to improving conditions. Our union must reject this insult, and fight as effectively as possible for a much better, preferably one-year offer.

London Underground today told the unions its pay offer. It is a five-year offer, of a 4% pay rise this year and a rise of RPI+0.25% in the four following years.

London Underground pay settlements are based on the February RPI figure. In February, RPI was 5.5%.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow has described the offer as "disappointing", and confirmed that the union's executive will be discussing it soon. I represent you on RMT's executive, so please let me know your views by emailing j.booth@rmt.org.uk.

RMT General Grades Committee decision:

That we note that Serco Docklands has clarified that: “Employees on trade union contracts will be paid double time if they work on a bank holiday, this applies to both hours and overtime. The bank holiday payments are applied from 12 midnight at the start of the day to midnight at the end of the day. If an employee is rostered to work on a bank holiday or if it is their rostered rest day they will accrue a lieu day. They may choose to have this paid instead.”

We seek the views of our Docklands Light Railway branch on this matter.