LUL Trains

RMT GGC decision:

That we note the resolution from our Bakerloo branch and support its sentiments. We therefore instruct the General Secretary to immediately write to all TUC-affiliated trade unions, asking whether they plan to hold any industrial action in London or the surrounding areas during May or June, and inviting them to discuss with us the possibilities of co-ordinating that industrial action with any strike action we call in pursuance of this dispute.

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

HARDSHIP PAYMENTS

“This Regional Council notes and congratulates the GGC's ballot of all train drivers on London Underground over the victimisations of Bro's Thomas and Lynch. Given the amount of strike action taken by our members in the last 8 months we agree that if any strike action is called by the national union then the Council of Executives should make hardship payments to our members concerned.”

The Following resolution to the April meeting of the Regional Council was passed unanimously.

Co-ordinated Strike Action

“This Regional Council requests that the General Secretary writes to other trade unions who are in dispute with a view to coordinating strike action across union's and sectors with our dispute on London Underground over the victimisations of Bro's Thomas and Lynch.”

RMT General Grades Committee decision:

That we note the result of the ballot for ‘action short of strikes’ is as follows:-

Total votes cast: 45
Number voting “Yes”: 33
Number voting “No”: 12
Spoilt Papers: 0

We congratulate our members on their 73.3% majority vote to take action to defend their safety at work. We note that Finsbury Park branch will discuss this at its branch meeting tomorrow. Once the branch has given its recommendations for action, this matter to be placed back of us.

RMT General Grades Committee decision:

That we note the resolution from our Hammersmith & City branch and the report from our Regional Organiser about London Underground’s plan to cut 8 duties from Hammersmith depot, with the loss of 3 substantive posts and a significant increase in anti-social working hours for drivers at Hammersmith.

From General Secretary Bob Crow

As previously advised we are balloting all Train Operators and Instructor Operators for strike action over LUL’s continuing victimisation of our representatives and activists. You should by now have received your ballot papers for strike action at your home addresses. If not you should urgently contact the RMT helpline on 0800 376 3706. I urge you to vote in favour of strike action to send a clear message to LUL that we will not tolerate the victimisation of our reps and activists such as Eamonn Lynch and Arwyn Thomas. The ballot is due to close on Wednesday 27th April 2011.

RMT General Grades Committee decision:

That we note the correspondence from London Underground and the report from our Regional Organiser.

We are very concerned that the role of the recently-reorganised duty manager grades in the grievance procedure will see grievances dealt with only within the driver’s own depot, and that in many cases, the grievance will not even reach the Train Operations Manager (TOM). This represents a devaluation of the grievance process, and will inevitably lead to genuine and serious grievances not being dealt with properly.

Click on the attachment to see the latest RMT up front.

Lead story follows:

Vote YES to stop the victimisations of LU drivers!
RMT has served notice to London Underground that we are balloting all drivers on the combine over the victimisations of Eamonn Lynch and Arwyn Thomas.
Since Eamonn’s and Arwyn’s dismissals last year train drivers on the Bakerloo Line and at Morden depots have taken two days strike action for their reinstatement.

RMT General Grades Committee decision:

That we note the correspondence from London Underground on this matter, and also note that London Underground has sent a letter by post to Victoria Line drivers defending its actions on these important safety matters and attacking our dispute. This underlines the importance of our previous decision that this union will send a letter by post to all our Victoria Line driver members outlining our stance on these issues, which is to be implemented without further delay. Email and text communication are to be used to promote this union’s ballot and industrial action, but not to substitute for letters by post when specifically instructed by the GGC.

RMT General Grades Committee decision:

That we note with disappointment and disgust that London Underground's directors' review has upheld the sacking of Arwyn Thomas. This is despite the fact that the Employment Tribunal awarded Arwyn Interim Relief and found that LU had sacked him unfairly due to his trade union activities. It is appalling that LU apparently feels that it is above the law, and that Tribunals does not have the power to compel an employer to re-employ a worker sacked unfairly.