Jobs/Pay/Justice Dispute

London Underground and TfL have taken industrial relations to a new low with their recent disgraceful pay ‘offer’: RPI +1% this year, followed by RPI + nothing for the next four. This ‘offer’ follows a period in which LUL has abused and misused the Attendance at Work Procedure in order to harass and penalise staff who have suffered illness or injury. And the company’s latest plan is to renege on the ‘jobs for life’ agreement which was made at the time of the enforced introduction of PPP six years ago, opening the way for wholesale job cuts.

According to the latest official Retail Price Index, on average prices are now falling. But a closer look at the figures shows that the working-class cost of living is still rising.

Food prices went up 12.5% between February 2008 and February 2009. Eggs went up 11.2%, vegetables 18.6%, fruit 13%.

Fares and other travel costs went up 10.2% (January-January), gas 33.1%, electricity 18%.

The fall in the overall index comes from cheaper prices on clothing, car purchases, and “consumer durables” of all sorts, and from lower mortgage payments.

For our industrial action ballot of all London Underground and Transport for London members, all RMT reps and activists should:

 Talk to every member in your workplace and urge them to vote Yes

 Persuade non-members to join RMT

 Make sure your area’s membership list is accurate and up-to-date

 If any member does not receive a ballot paper, tell them to phone the RMT helpline on 0800-376-3706 - or take their name and membership/NI number, and phone the helpline yourself

RMT's rep on the Goodge Street group of stations has produced this excellent question-and-answer article about our ballot for industrial action ...

What are the issues?

Pay. LUL’s pay offer is a five year pay cut. We want a decent pay rise.

The day before the ballot papers go out to all LUL, ex-Metronet and Tfl RMT members, things are looking good for a solid yes vote. Metronet say there are no weak areas, drivers are showing they are up for a fight. Low-paid CSAs are angry at the appalling pay offer and many will strike for the first time in their lives. This strike has the power to shut London down. Having Metronet's industrial power behind us has given everyone a big boost, knowing they will be part of some effective action. Management have proven they are willing to dig their heals in every step of the way.

From RMT General Secretary Bob Crow ... Dear colleague

Ballots of RMT members at LUL and Transport for London begin tomorrow, March 24, and close on April 8. You are urged to vote YES for action to defend jobs and win pay justice.

At LUL:

LUL is trying to push through compulsory redundancies, despite the agreement designed to safeguard jobs in the PPP Code of Conduct.

It is also trying to push through an unacceptable five-year pay formula which would offer no real-terms increase for FOUR years – and could even result in a pay cut.

Click here to read why local RMT reps for London Underground stations are strongly recommending that members vote Yes in the ballot for industrial action.

Fifty RMT activists took our message to our employers' offices as we protested for jobs, pay and justice on Friday morning.
TfL branch's banner took centre-stage ...

Protesters held placards spelling out our demands ...

Top LUL/Metronet boss Paul Tullet made a statement at the Metronet LUL Company Council on Friday 13 March which shows just what we are up against and why everyone must vote yes in the coming ballot for industrial action. At this meeting, management tabled the same 5-year pay offer that management of the rest of LUL had previously tabled - RPI plus 1% for '09 followed by RPi plus 0% for the following 4 years.

That is quite bad enough - a year-on-year real-terms pay cut - but Mr Tullet then went on to say ...

Below is the decision made by RMT's Executive to ballot members on London Underground for industrial action. The Executive made a separate decision to ballot TfL members about jobs and pay.

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That we note the resolutions from the London Transport Regional Council, the LU Fleet branch, the LU Engineering branch, the TfL no.1 branch and the report from the Regional Organiser.