Industrial action

From RMT & TSSA representatives on the Stations And Revenue Control Safety Council

Many of you will be aware that all bus companies serving London may be on strike this coming Friday (at the time of writing this a deal may be be on offer).

We met with management today to raise concerns about overcrowding on stations and the knock on effect. Management have stated that they feel the existing arrangements in place for crowd control are acceptable.

Branches are advised that the recent ‘Yes’ vote in the above ballot has now been considered by the General Grades Committee and has made the following decision:-

“In accordance with the wishes of our TfL no.1 branch, we instruct members to take industrial action as follows:

• not to book on for any duties starting after 21:30 on Sunday 1st July 2012, returning to duties starting after 21:30 on Monday 2nd July 2012

The strike is now off, and the dispute settled, following successful negotiations

I write to advise branches that the recent ‘Yes’ vote in the above ballot has now been considered by the General Grades Committee and has made the following decision:-

“In accordance with the wishes of our service control representatives and members, we instruct members to take industrial action as follows:

• not to book on for any duties starting after 19:00 on Sunday 1st July 2012, returning to duties starting after 19:00 on Wednesday 4th July 2012
  
  

"It is a scandal that this group of fellow transport workers have been kicked in the teeth by TFL and the bus companies when it comes to a fair reward for the extra work load generated by the Olympics" - Bob Crow

TUBE AND RAIL UNION RMT warned today of a “massive impact” on services on Friday as millions of passengers try to find alternative means of travel as a result of the bus workers strike for Olympics pay justice.

This morning, Central Line services were again reduced to chaos due to a signal failure at Liverpool Street as the harsh reality that the network can barely cope with routine demand after successive waves of cuts to maintenance and staffing, let alone a surge in passenger numbers from either the bus workers action or the Olympics, was laid bare.

That we note the correspondence on file regarding Harmonisation.

Referring to decision GWW 26th April 2012 (Rates of Pay & Conditions of Service 2012 - Thales) where our members are to be balloted for Industrial Action, we instruct the General Secretary to commence an immediate ballot our affected members for strike action and action short of a strike on "Rates of Pay and Conditions of Service 2012" and "Harmonisation of Terms & Conditions", with a strong recommendation to vote YES on both questions. This ballot is to be undertaken in the minimum amount of time allowed to us by law.

No worker should be expected to live on an income of less than the London Living Wage

We note the report from our Regional Organiser. While we may be close to securing an acceptable offer on Olympic Reward and Recognition, we are appalled by Carlisle’s refusal to pay our cleaning and security members the London Living Wage. No worker should be expected to live on an income of less than the LLW, an amount calculated to meet only the ‘minimum acceptable quality of life’, currently set at only £8.30 per hour.

At the same time as the RMT calls for London Underground to return to ACAS regarding the recent dispute over the union's interpretation of the 'Olympic agreement', South West Train members are heading toward Industrial action as bosses there renege on Olympic agreements.

RMT to ballot South West Trains staff

RAIL UNION RMT announced today that is to ballot staff on South West Trains for industrial action after the company reneged on Olympics agreements linked to this year’s pay settlement and attempted to impose a new regime that would force staff to work longer hours on extended services for nothing in return for the entire duration of the games.

"As a result of these outstanding issues and because we wish to negotiate an agreement on this dispute, I believe the best way forward is to hold talks at ACAS as a matter of urgency." - Bob Crow

Letter from RMT General Secretary Bob Crow to London Underground

MISTREATMENT OF SERVICE CONTROL STAFF – LONDON UNDERGROUND

Further to your letter dated 31st May 2012, please accept my apologies for the delay in responding to you. We have been preparing a detailed response which is outlined below.

As advised yesterday my Service Control members voted overwhelmingly for strike action and action short of industrial action. Despite the contents of much of your letter, I must advise you that we still have a substantial number of concerns and we believe service control staff and our representatives continue to be mistreated by LUL. I shall answer each of the points on which we remain in dispute below: -

"This group of workers are absolutely key... the way that they have been treated by the management at a time when the system is under intense pressure is nothing short of shocking." - Bob Crow

TUBE UNION RMT confirmed today that key service control centre staff have voted overwhelmingly for strike action and action short of a strike in a dispute over jobs and conditions of service.

Proposals by London Underground regarding the move of Piccadilly Line Service Control to Hammersmith Service Control Centre have raised a range of union concerns that the management refuse to address:

• The Wholesale job losses arising from the move to Hammersmith Service Control Centre
• The Non-payment of the Service Operator 3 rate of pay
  

We note that the ballot result was as follows:

Are you prepared to take strike action?