News, reports and information for London Underground train drivers
RMT General Grades Committee decision:
Following our previous decision of 22 June, we are appalled that London Underground has upheld the unjust downgrading of Jayesh Patel at appeal.
We note the resolution from our Bakerloo branch, and applaud the willingness of our Bakerloo train driver members to take strike action to reverse this downgrading.
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.
General Grades Committee decision:
We note that the Employment Tribunal found on 17 August that London Underground dismissed Victoria line driver James Masango unfairly, that London Underground unreasonably required him to drive a train when he was not fit to do so, and that James made no contribution to his dismissal. This is a shocking case, in which LU management’s determination to force its employees to work whether or not they are fit to do so has resulted not only in an unfair dismissal but in putting the travelling public in danger.
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:
RMT General Grades Committee decision:
TUNDE UMANAH - YOU'VE BEEN FITTED UP!
Click '1 attachment' / file name to download this as a PDF leaflet.
On Monday 20th June, RMT member & activist Tunde Umanah who is a well respected & trusted T/Op at Leytonstone was viciously sacked at a CDI. All issues raised in his defence were dismissed at hand by the disciplinary panel. Tunde was involved in a PTI incident at Woodford where a DTSM deliberately and willingly obstructed the doors on Tunde’s train. At the CDI the evidence was very clear that the DTSM could’ve removed his foot from the doors at any time throughout the incident.
Download poster for union noticeboards.RMT General Grades Committee decision:
That we note that the Employment Tribunal has ruled that London Underground dismissed Arwyn Thomas unfairly. This proves beyond any doubt what this union has asserted all along – that Arwyn’s sacking was a great injustice.
We further note the Tribunal's finding that “no reasonable employer would have taken this action in these circumstances...”
This injustice can only be put right by Arwyn's return to work for London Underground, not by a pay-off. Our reps are not for sale.
RMT General Grades Committee decision:
We note the correspondence from our Bakerloo branch. We are appalled at London Underground’s decision to downgrade our member Jayesh Patel from Train Operator to Customer Service Assistant, causing him a considerable loss of income. This is clearly a very harsh punishment considering the circumstances. This incident shows once again that London Underground treats its staff very differently from its managers, that the company is systematically persecuting RMT reps and activists, and that London Underground managers, emboldened by senior management’s anti-union stance, are out of control.