Defending and improving conditions

Revenue control members across London underground are looking at what action to take in response to several issues now impacting the deparment. They include:

• Christmas Leave being cancelled, even though already agreed
• Duty mangers trying their hardest not to grant requests for odd days leave
• Flexible working and mutual swaps being ripped up
• Staff being coerced to break the framework to take part in special exercises
• Morale at an all-time low

From RMT General Secretary Bob Crow

I write to regarding those Tube Lines employees who are being denied access to TfL Pension Fund (TfLPF) and the same travel facilities as other TfL workers. As you will be aware earlier this year union members employed by Tube Lines were balloted for pension and travel equality and as a result returned a massive yes vote in support of industrial action.

it is clear that management are not going to move on pensions or address the claim in full on travel. I therefore wish to inform you that with effect from 17.30 hours Friday 5th October 2012 until 05.30 hours Monday 8th October 2012 that the RMT General Grades Committee has instructed Tube Lines members not to work any overtime.

We instruct the General Secretary to write to London Underground immediately stressing that these guidelines are issued unilaterally by the company and are not agreed by this union. We oppose employers’ intrusion into our members’ private lives and time, and will defend our members against unjust disciplinary action taken against them by London Underground under the pretext of these guidelines.

London Transport Regional Council and branches to be advised.

Northern Line Training Latest from Trains Health And Safety Council

Local Reps met with Trains Health and Safety Council and Trains Functional Council representatives and RMT Head Office to formulate RMT concerns over training and delivery of any agreed training.

Training Course: That initial feedback be received in a positive manner to help improve and tailor the course to meet t/ops needs.

Scheduled for Tuesday 2nd Oct....... Update ASAP

Practical Training:

From Trains Functional Council

Just to update everyone on the Northern Line about what is happening regarding the training and i/o’s, there are lots of rumours regarding the working practice that may be asked of the i/o’s during TBTC training and the testing of TBTC area when it goes live at west finchley next february.

The RMT’s postion is clear on this, all IO’s must not be asked to breach their framework agreement in anyway
to facilitate this training.

We note the failure of the Joint Working Party to achieve our demands of pensions and travel equality, and the desire of our representatives to take further industrial action. This is in line with our previous decision of 27 July to call targeted, serious, sustained, effective and strategically-planned action, in pursuit of this dispute. Should Tube Lines continue to refuse our entirely justified demands, we are prepared to take further industrial action and to continue this campaign until we are successful.

We note that RMT currently has at least eight ongoing disputes with cleaning employers with ‘live’ ballot mandates, with issues heading towards disputes in other companies as well. We aim to hold co-ordinated strike action to pursue these disputes, perhaps a 48-hour strike in October or November.

We instruct the General Secretary to obtain as a matter of urgency reports from all relevant lead officers as to the feasibility of this in the disputes with companies for which they have responsibility, and to place responses in front of us as they are received, and in any case within 21 days.

We note the final offer from Mitie Technical Facilities Management of a pay rise of 1.5% for this year. While this is a disappointing offer, we note that it is the first pay rise in several years and as a one-year offer, gives us a platform to campaign for an improved rise next year.

We note that our representatives and branch recommend accepting it on this basis, and instruct the General Secretary to advise the employer of our acceptance.

London Transport Regional Council and branches to be advised

From General Secretary Bob Crow

The above matter has been considered again by the General Grades Committee and has taken the following decision:-

“We note the report from our Regional Organiser. Accordingly, we instruct the General Secretary to write to Cubic seeking a further meeting, and to place any developments in front of us. London Transport Regional Council and LU Engineering branch to be advised.”

Branches will be updated on further developments.

We note the resolution from our London Transport Regional Council and share our Regional Council’s concerns.

We instruct our London Underground representatives to not take part in case conferences where there is a breach of procedure and the Employing Manager is not present.