SOME 10,000 members London Underground’s two biggest unions will begin a rolling series of strikes on September 6 against plans to axe 800 station and other staff and close ticket-offices, after RMT and TSSA members voted overwhelmingly for action to defend jobs and safety.

Ex-Metronet (maintenance and engineering) staff will begin their first 24-hour strike at 17:00 on September 6, with similar action also scheduled to begin at the same time on Sunday October 3; Tuesday November 2, and Sunday November 28.

On 11 August, RMT members protested outside Euston station against London Underground's planned job cuts.

Click '1 attachment' / file names to download the leaflet and poster that we used on the day.

Click '1 attachment' / file name to read details of TfL / London Underground directors' pay.

A few examples of how much some of our bosses were paid in 2009/10:

• Peter Hendy, Commissioner of Transport: £393,551
• David Brown, TfL Managing Director Surface Transport: £316,655
• Steve Allen, TfL Managing Director Finance: £310,601
• Vernon Everitt, TfL Managing Director Group Marketing and Communications: £283,919
• Phil Hufton, LU Chief Maintenance Officer: £267,891
• Howard Carter, TfL General Counsel: £268,556
  

Assistant General Secretary Pat Sikorski discusses cuts to jobs at LU and changes to maintenance routines at London Underground. The interview took place whilst RMT activists were leafletting passengers at Euston station.

In the interview, conducted with Geoff Martin, Pat explains "We're telling everyone here at Euston that it's cuts in jobs in stations like this that is going to cost lives in the future....we had a fire in an escalator, the alarm failed to go off - it took alert station staff members to evacuate the station and save lives"

Are you prepared to take strike action?

• Total Votes Cast...3727
• Number Voting Yes...2810
• Number Voting No...893
• Spoilt Papers...24
• (Yes vote is 76% of valid vote = approx. 3:1 majority)

Are you prepared to take industrial action short of a strike?

• Total Votes Cast...3727
• Number Voting Yes...3253
• Number Voting No...449
• Spoilt Papers...25
• (Yes vote is 88% of valid vote = approx 8:1 majority)

Wednesday 11th August, Euston Station, London, 8.30am

RMT is holding a mass leaflet of the public on Wednesday morning outside Euston Station and we’d be grateful for your assistance. Wednesday is the day that the LUL ballot result will be announced.

Four weeks ago an escalator fire at Euston was identified by station staff - who might not have been present if the cuts had taken place. For details, click here.

The Transport Salaried Staffs' Association and RMT are to hold a joint meeting on the 24th August 2010 at 6pm to discuss the action against job cuts on London Underground. The venue is Friends Meeting House, Euston Road, (opposite Euston Station) in the Small Meeting Room.

RMT and TSSA are both balloting members for strike action over the cuts of up to 800 jobs.

The following people will be speaking at the meeting:

• Bob Crow, RMT General Secretary
• Gerry Doherty, TSSA General Secretary
• John McDonnell MP, RMT Chair, RMT Parliamentary Group
• Steve Hedley – RMT Regional Organiser, London Transport

This is an open meeting and members are invited to attend for an open discussion with the union leaders on how to combat these unnecessary and dangerous cuts.

Stratford no.1 branch submits the following resolution to the next meeting of the Regional Council ...

This Regional Council believes that RMT's pay claim to London Underground for 2011 should include:

• a flat-rate pay rise for all grades ie. a sum of money (say, £3,000) rather than a percentage figure.
  Amendment from Finsbury Park branch: This should not be less than would have been achieved by an RPI pay rise for 2011.
• a rise sufficient to fund workers having to pay an additional 2.5% VAT from 2011.
  Amendment from Finsbury Park branch:

From Bob Crow, General Secretary ...

Dear Colleague,

I am writing to bring you up to date with developments in regard to the TfL Pension Fund.

Actuarial Valuation

The results of the latest valuation of the Fund have recently been concluded. The valuation, as at 31st March 2009, assesses whether or not there are sufficient assets to pay for pensions already promised to existing pensioners, deferred pensioners and active members, and also sets employer contribution rates necessary to fund future benefits after the valuation date.

The valuation revealed a £1,206m deficit in the Public Sector Section. In addition a deficit of £125m exists in the LUL BCV and SSL sections, and a £75.6m deficit in the Tube Lines Section.

• Station Assistant Multi-Functional (SAMF): 28.9%
• Customer Service Assistant (CSA): 25.9%
• Operational staff overall: 17.3%
• Station Supervisor: 12.5%
• Train Operator (driver): 10%

Click 'read more' for some comments.

From Bob Crow, General Secretary ...

You will shortly be receiving a ballot paper to your home address over the massive job cuts that LUL Management are planning. These disastrous cuts will result in detrimental working conditions and seriously undermine safety of staff and the travelling public.

In this latest leaflet, Finsbury Park's Branch Officers and reps explain why they will be voting YES in the forthcoming ballot for industrial action against LUL's latest attempts to destroy jobs, working conditions and safety on the Underground. To read or download a copy, click on the attachment below:

Click on the attachment below to download the June edition of Monthly News.

In this issue:

THE GREAT BANK ROBBERY - Why our bosses are out to crush us. Monthly News explains exactly why the government and employers everywhere are attacking our jobs, pay, working conditions and public services.

Circular No IR/171/10 from RMT General Secretary Bob Crow

I write to advise branches that after substantial and detailed preparations, notice has been served on London Underground of a ballot for strike action and action short of a strike over the company’s disastrous plans to cut jobs. Papers will be sent to home addresses shortly and the ballot is due to close on Wednesday 14 July 2010. I would be grateful if you could make your members aware of this situation and urge all LUL members to vote strongly in favour of action to fight these cuts.

From Steve Hedley, RMT Regional Organiser

Dear colleagues,

I wrote to Gerry Duffy, Director of Employee Relations yesterday because of serious safety concerns that have led many drivers to refuse to work on safety grounds. Amongst the drivers concerns are the absence of Emergency Response Unit staff who cover the whole network and signalling technicians who cover the Northern, Jubilee and Piccadilly lines.