Jobs/Pay/Justice Dispute

I am writing regarding the latest position in negotiations with LUL and TfL over pay, the 'jobs for life' deal and bullying of our members.

Talks at ACAS have broken down because management have refused to discuss pay and bullying. The 'jobs for life' deal has been discussed but despite this deal being signed off by Gordon Brown and guaranteed by John Prescott management are refusing point blank to abide by it.

We have had another Goebbels-like piece of propaganda in senior management's 'Heads Up' communiqué stating that there are now only 70 jobs at risk and there were over 250 vacancies. If this were true then management could easily guarantee everyone at least one alternative job: why then are they not prepared to do this?

By Steve Hedley, Regional Organiser

We met management at ACAS to once again try and safeguard your jobs by simply getting them to abide by their own agreements.

We discussed the latest position at the Regional Council meeting this Thursday 1630 at Somers Town Community Centre (150 Ossulston Street, Camden [nearest station King's Cross]). We had to discuss the dispute at the Regional Council because management have turned down our request for paid release of reps.

From Steve Hedley, Regional Organiser

You may be aware of management's propaganda bulletin “Heads up” and I think it is worth drawing your attention to the document issued on 16th July. If any of you were uncertain what the future holds if senior management get their way, this appalling mix of distortion and wishful thinking should set you right. It is probably better to expose the lies and distortions as they arise in the document of the 16th but as I am pressed for time I will only dwell on the most serious abuses of the truth.

PAY

An RMT member writes ...

MATS, if you are a M, SM, Technical or AD grade then the OCR is coming for you. LU Employee Relations have just ripped up the protection you thought you had under annexe H of the PPP contract and you are now eligible for Compulsory Redundancy.

Whether you are an Engineer, Document controller, CAD Draftsperson, Accountant, Quantity Surveyor, Project Manager, Architect, Site Surveyor, Buyer, Technical Writer, Planner or PA you are expendable as you are, in Gerry Duffy's words, "just back-room staff".

Dear colleagues,

Having listened carefully to your representatives on 6th July 2009, it was unanimously felt that London Underground's offer in regards to pay did not meet our aspirations. More importantly, LUL were still refusing to abide by cast iron agreements on no compulsory redundancies and breaking other agreements.

From Bob Crow, RMT General Secretary

Dear Colleague,

RATES OF PAY & CONDITIONS OF SERVICE 2009, REDUNDANCIES AND BREACH OF AGREEMENTS - LUL

DISPUTE UPDATE

On behalf of the General Grades Committee, I would firstly wish to congratulate members and representatives on London Underground for their continuing unity which delivered a strong and successful strike last month.

This link shows Boris Johnson describe his quarter of a million payment for a second job as a journalist as “chicken feed”.

It makes me wonder not only about our Mayor's judgement but also his hypocrisy in opposing the RMT pay claim. Why is it that millionaires so strongly oppose people on just over twenty thousand per annum getting a pay rise that keeps up with the real rate of inflation?!