Your Trains Health & Safety reps write ...

As LU's purse strings tighten we have noticed standards falling across the combine in regard to pigeon guano all over the place. The manager who carried out the water points survey across the combine has been tasked by the Trains Health & Safety Council to look at the worst offending areas; he is the new 'guano guy'.

Colleagues:

We need to advise you that RMT Signal maintainers working for the former Metronet will be taking industrial action for 24 hours starting from 06.45 on Friday 5th of February.

Their dispute is over the imposition of unagreed rosters that change Monday to Friday workers to compulsory weekends

This dispute could have serious implications for the safety of the service that LU will be offering for the duration of the industrial action.

Click '1 attachment' / file name to download the newsletter; read the text below.

Proposed changes are afoot

We all know that there is a recession. We have witnessed it first hand with this year’s pay cut and the sacking of our members just to reduce staffing numbers.

Please find the following Important Safety Information from the Regional Organiser

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION FOR JUBILEE LINE DRIVERS

Dear Colleagues,

We need to advise you that Jubilee Line train maintainers at Stratford Market Depot, Neasden and Stanmore will be taking industrial action for 24 hours from 19.29 hours on Wednesday 24th January. This will be repeated the following Sunday to Monday, and every Sunday/Monday for three months.

Their dispute is due to the fact that their Northern Line counterparts get paid considerably more money for doing the exact same job.

This dispute could have serious implications for the safety of the trains that will be offered for service during and following the industrial action.

Deadline for resolutions and for delegates' registration for this years National Conference of Train Crew and Shunting Grades

Venue: Royal Station Hotel, Newcastle

RMT Trains Council representative Dean O'Hanlon writes ...

I attended today’s meeting of the Instructor Operator (I/Op) Joint Working Party and we discussed the following:

From Jim McDaid, RMT Trains Health & Safety Council rep

We had an 'informal chat' with bods from the Operational Standards Unit (LU's Rule Book people) last Friday to hear their proposals for a new programme of rule changes that they want to implement across the combine. It was informal as we have so far refused to enter into formal consultation until the Safety Council have had a chance to meet with our Functional Council and Head Office officials, which we hope will be happening soon.

There are several rule book changes proposed so I'll give you the main items:

by Vaughan Thomas, RMT representative, London Underground Trains Council

“There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics."

I don’t imagine Mark Twain was working for London Underground when he wrote those words, but as someone who does I share his frustration. LUL and its parent company, Transport for London, are going through the biggest financial crisis in living memory. The Mayor is siphoning off huge sums from LUL to pay debts and to fund Crossrail; upgrades are being postponed or cancelled; vacant positions are remaining unfilled; employees are being forced to do extra work; and they don’t want to pay us a decent wage rise for another 3 years - minimum.

Read the text below; click on '1 attachment' / file name to download a printable notice.

As part of Connect radio ‘Phase 2’ implementation a number of changes were made to safety critical procedures. The most notable of these was authority to pass a semi-automatic signals using secure radio communications. There were many publications, notices and briefings pertaining to the new procedure.

In a way, there was a poor relation, a new procedure that was somewhat overshadowed: wrong direction moves!