Health and safety

RMT General Grades Committee decision:

We note the report from our Regional Organiser. We also note the expressed view of our trains health and safety representatives that three particular aspects of London Underground’s ‘Operational Effectiveness Programme’ and are unacceptable and potentially dangerous. These are the proposed new procedures for: reversing a train; platform re-categorisation; and carrying passengers over a shunt signal. London Underground is now imposing Operational Standards Notice (OSN) 101 against the objections of our representatives.

The latest edition of London Taxi News, an anti-pedicab special, is now availale to download.

In this edition:

• Bob says NO - RMT calls for unity against London’s pedicab menace
• STOP PRESS - Cynical attempt to sneak in pedicab licensing
• What happens if Clause 17 becomes law?
• McDonnell scores important victory over pedicabs
• Shame on Taxi
• Unity, not sniping, is needed
• Westminster City Council supports pedicab ranks

You can download the full newsletter using the link below, or click 'read more' to view the pdf if you have a modern browser.

Victoria line incident could have been fatal, says union

TUBE UNION RMT has demanded an end to the “reckless” policy of expecting drivers to override a door failsafe system after a potentially fatal incident in which a passenger jumped from a moving train and another was caught in its open doors.

The incident, at Oxford Circus station, happened after the ‘sensitive edge’ door-safety system – which immobilises a train if anything is caught in its doors – was over-ridden on a Victoria Line train during the evening peak on July 11.

The following resolution submitted by the Finsbury Park Branch and amended by the LTRC Executive was carried unanimously at the Regional Council meeting on the 25th August:

TAXI UNION RMT warned today that central London will be “jammed solid” with unlicensed and uninsured rickshaws as we head towards the London Olympics with the authorities refusing to lift a finger to clampdown on the unregulated trade.

RMT London Taxi Branch has a clear position of opposition to rickshaws in London and last month RMT parliamentary group convenor John McDonnell successfully objected to the TFL London Local Authorities Bill at Second Reading - specifically on the grounds that it would lead to the continued proliferation of unlicensed, unsafe rickshaws clogging up central London.

A YEAR away from the London Olympics tube union RMT has raised staffing concerns again following a fire alert incident at Euston station just over a week ago.

RMT General Grades Committee decision:

That we note the letter from London Underground dated 27 May 2011 on this matter. Its content is not acceptable to our representatives, and by its own admission, it does not address all of our concerns. We continue to believe that there are serious safety concerns on the Victoria Line, and reaffirm our industrial action short of strikes.

We note that a further meeting with the company is to take place on this issue on 23 June. A report on this meeting is to be placed in front of us as soon as possible after this meeting.

RMT joined health and safety campaigners in protest outside the Department of Work and Pensions on Workers Memorial Day: April 28, 2011. They told Tory minister Chris Grayling that his savage cuts to the Health and Safety Executive will lead to death and injury among British workers.

Interviews are by Geoff Martin and the Video is filmed and edited by Chris Kasrils. You can watch this and many more RMTV films at RMTv.

RMT General Grades Committee decision:

That we note the report from our Regional Organiser and our representative, and are alarmed that London Underground intends to conduct trials from Seven Sisters to Walthamstow Central from May 30 despite our ongoing dispute over safety issues.

From Regional Organiser Steve Hedley - RS procedure implementation.

Dear members, as you are fully aware there has been a proposed change to the old but very safe “scotch and clip” procedure for passing over points in slow speed were route secure indication cannot be confirmed to the train operator. The following may answer some of your questions.