RMT Reaches Olympic Deal With London Underground Which Defends Workplace Agreements

From General Secretary Bob Crow I am writing to advise members that following further talks at ACAS, a final proposal was tabled over Olympic Recognition and Reward for London Underground members. A meeting took place with 150 of your representatives at the end of last week to consult on this offer and the General Grades Committee has decided the following: -

“We note the overwhelming view of our representatives expressed at the meeting on Friday 25 May, and accordingly instruct the General Secretary to advise London Underground of our acceptance of the revised proposal. We note that as a result, our members will receive up to £1000 for Olympics working, none of which is dependent on changes to or breaches of agreements. This union has stood its ground and refused to sign up to any changes to the agreements that protect our members’ working conditions.

We instruct the General Secretary to write to all members advising them of our acceptance of this offer; and to continue to provide information and updates to members on any further developments. We remain vigilant for any problems that may face our members concerning the Olympics, and instruct the General Secretary to place this matter back in front of us should this occur.

We further note the outstanding issue of ICSAs (Incident Customer Service Assistants), and that this is being addressed in a separate dispute. We reiterate our stance that ICSAs should not be counted towards minimum numbers of station staff, and instruct the General Secretary to: arrange talks at ACAS as soon as practical; and place this matter in front of us as a separate item within 14 days.”

"Our position has always been to defend our agreements and get a fair payment which adequately recognises and rewards staff for the additional workload during the Olympic and Paralympic games." - Bob Crow"

It has been confirmed with the company that RMT reps will be part of the normal process for allocation of duties during the Olympics. In the odd depot where this work has already started, our reps will be afforded adequate opportunity and release to review the duty sheets. Another union has been advising its reps not to cooperate with the duty allocation process until LUL are prepared to allocate 8 hours+ duties in line with their own separate agreement with management made last year without any other trade union. This position is not endorsed by RMT and now that agreement has been reached, your reps have been instructed to get fully involved in the allocation of duties process.

Our position has always been to defend our agreements and get a fair payment which adequately recognises and rewards staff for the additional workload during the Olympic and Paralympic games. After a long and drawn out series of negotiations we have reached a deal that achieves this and our firm stance in talks to defend your working conditions has been vindicated.

Please find attached a copy of the agreed payment arrangements for your information.