Central Line West branch

The following resolution submitted by Central line West was carried unanimously at the November 24th Regional Council meeting.

This regional council notes the young member’s conference is to be held in London in Feb 2012.

This region further notes the conference is very well attended and is growing. It is the lifeblood of the union.

This region further notes that many members the London region have played an active role in the conference over the years.

This region agrees

1/ To offer assistance with arrangement of the conference

2/To offer speakers for the conference

From Bob Crow, General Secretary

I write to update Branches that a resolution was received from our Central Line West Branch alleging unfair and discriminatory practices against members at Shepherds Bush. I am pleased to advise branches that the matter is now been resolved and the General Grades Committee has decided to close the file.

From Bob Crow, RMT General Secretary

DISMISSAL – K.MORTELL –TRAIN OPERATOR – WHITE CITY, LUL (LUL/4/1)

I write to update Branches that following the unjust economic dismissal of Bro Kevin Mortell and the subsequent industrial action, the General Grades Committee have made the following decision:-

“That we continue to press LUL for a Directors Review and support Brother Mortell in pursuing his Employment Tribunal application”

I will keep all Branches advised of any further developments.

DISMISSAL - RAVI SOORIAH – TRAIN OPERATOR – WEST RUISLIP

From Bob Crow, General Secretary:

I write to advise branches that brother Ravi Sooriah has been dismissed by LUL following an incident of wrong side opening. It is our firm belief that he is being victimised and has been very harshly treated by management. Following a resolution from his branch the General Secretary has decided to ballot all train grade members at West Ruislip for strike action and industrial action short of a strike. Preparations for the ballot are currently taking place and I shall keep branches advised of any further developments.

DISMISSAL- K.MORTELL, TRAIN OPERATOR, WHITE CITY, (LUL/4/1)

Dear Colleague

I regret to advise you that the ballot to reinstate Brother Mortell must be rerun due to an administrative error With the Anti Trade Union laws being so incredibly restrictive we cannot risk the company challenging the previous ballot and declaring any industrial action called from it illegal. Therefore the safest course of action is to re run the ballot and I offer my sincere apologies to for this error.

The next Central Line West branch meeting will take place on Thursday 5th August from 4pm - 6pm at The Redan, 1, Westbourne Grove, W2 4UA.

The nearest tube stations are Bayswater and Queensway.

The next Central Line West branch meeting will take place on Thursday 1st June 2010 from 4pm - 6pm at The Redan, 1, Westbourne Grove, London, W2.

The nearest tube stations are Bayswater and Queensway.

The next Central Line West branch meeting will take place on Thursday 3rd June 2010 from 4pm - 6pm at The Redan, 1, Westbourne Grove, London, W2 4UA.

The nearest tube stations are Bayswater and Queensway.

The next Central Line West branch meeting will take place on Thursday 6th May 2010 from 4pm - 6pm at The Redan, 1, Westbourne Grove, London, W2 4UA. The nearest tube stations are Bayswater and Queensway.

The next Central Line West branch meeting will take place on Thursday 1st April from 4pm - 6pm at The Redan, 1, Westbourne Grove, London, W2 4UA. The nearest tube stations are Queensway and Bayswater.

On Tuesday 26th January 2010 at Ealing Council's cabinet meeting it was decided by the cabinet that due to the limited progress made to date with their "earlier conciliatory approach" to Transport for London and London United, to address the problems that arise through the poor management of bus operations at the route 94 bus stand in Acton Green, it authorised council officers to remove the bus stand. The council will also write again to TfL and the bus operator London United to try to progress this issue, express concern over the issue and insist upon urgent action.

A gang of First employees took more than £200,000 in bribes to let dozens of unqualified drivers drive buses. The men worked at First's Marsh Lane depot in Tottenham. They would charge between £1,500 and £2,500 to supply bogus test certificates and paperwork. Many of those who paid could not even speak English or even understand road signs.

A new police team has been drafted on to a bus route labelled as one of the most dangerous, in an attempt to crack down on drunken fights and violent scuffles. The team has been told to mainly concentrate on the 29 and N29.

The 29 and N29 bendy bus, which runs from Trafalgar Square to Wood Green, has long been notorious for reports of pickpocketing, violence, drunkenness and fare evasion. In recent years incidents have included a 19 year old being punched to the ground and needing major surgery and a 23 year old being stabbed.

On 18th December 2009, First was fined £400,000 plus costs after it was found guilty of breaching section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 states that: "It shall be the duty of every employer to ensure, as far as reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all his employees."

The next Central Line West branch meeting will take place on Thursday 4th March from 4pm - 6pm at The Redan, 1, Westbourne Grove, London, W2 4UA. The nearest tube stations are Queensway and Bayswater.

An RMT London Busworkers Committee meeting will take place on Monday 8th February 2010 between 5pm -7pm at The Bulstrode public house, 55, Lampton Road, Hounslow, TW3 1JG. The pub is situated next to Hounslow Central tube station.

Important recent developments and issues will be discussed at the meeting as well as an election taking place for convenors. All RMT members are welcome to attend.

The Central Line West Branch meeting takes place on Thursday 4th February 2010 from 4pm-6pm. The meeting will be at The Redan, 1, Westbourne Grove, London, W2 4UA. Nearest tube stations are Queensway and Bayswater. For a map click here

The 67th National Busworkers Conference will be held on the 22nd, 23rd and 24th April 2010, at the Elstead Hotel, 12-14, Knyveton Road, Bournemouth, BH1 3QP

The conference will be composed of duly elected delegates from branches with bus membership. Each branch with less than 100 members may send two delegates. Branches with more than 100 members may send two delegates for the first 100 members with one additional delegate for every 100 members or part thereafter.

Raouf Mraidi, 29, a bus driver from Croydon is wanted for causing death by dangerous driving.

At approximately 0950 hrs on Sunday 7th September 2008, a tram was in collision with a route 468 double decker bus driven by Mraidi. He had run a red light and slammed into a tram travelling along George Street, Croydon. The collision sent the bus careering down George Street, smashing into shop fronts before it finally came to a halt when it crashed into a parked BMW car.

First faces a fine after being convicted of a health and safety "shambles" over the death of one of it's drivers.

Robert Cherry, 59, was crushed to death when he was trapped between two buses at a depot in Uxbridge belonging to Centrewest London, a subsidiary of First UK group. Robert had been collecting a can of water to top up his vehicle's engine when the gear stick of the bus in front slipped and the vehicle reversed into him. He was pinned between the first bus and the one behind, which was in turn thrown back into a third vehicle. He died at the scene of the accident.