Defending and improving conditions

Strike action ballots return strong yes votes from ISS cleaners, drivers on the Piccadilly and sub surface depots, and maintenance workers on TfL contract with Mitie

RMT today confirmed a ballot for strike action of Train Operators and Instructor Operators on the Piccadilly Line, in response to London Underground riding roughshod over agreements and abusing a range of agreed policies and procedures, has shown a massive nine to one vote in favour.

TUBE UNION RMT confirmed today that electricians and engineers working for contractors Mitie on the TFL contract are to be balloted for strike action and action short of a strike in a dispute over redundancies and unilateral changes to working conditions.

We note the interim statement from the Law Commission on its consideration of taxi and private hire
legislation.

We welcome the indication that the Commission will recommend retaining the distinction between taxis and
private hire vehicles (PHVs). We are concerned, however, that the replacement of the concept of ‘plying for hire’ with the concept of ‘pre-booking’ may dilute this distinction and allow private hire vehicles to encroach on taxi drivers’ work. (paragraph 5)

We note the report from our Regional Organiser and the correspondence from our Hammersmith and City branch and our LUL Trains Council representatives.

We note that there are several serious problems concerning the introduction of the S Stock, itemised in previous GGC decisions and including inadequate preparation time and cross-line working. We reaffirm our stance that the introduction of new stock must not be a pretext for attacks on safety standards or working conditions.

We note the correspondence from London Underground Ltd outlining its proposed settlement of this dispute, and instruct the General Secretary to obtain and place in front of us a report as to whether this represents a satisfactory outcome for our members.

London Transport Regional Council and branches to be advised. Jubilee South branch to be advised by personal letter.

Tube union RMT today confirmed a ballot for strike action of Train Operators and Instructor Operators on the Piccadilly Line in response to London Underground riding roughshod over agreements and abusing a range of agreed policies and procedures.

London Underground has also unilaterally decided to split Acton Town Piccadilly Depot into two, ripping up rosters and booking times, refusing perfectly reasonable requests for decent staff facilities and bulldozing through their plans outside of the agreed negotiating machinery.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:

We note the report from our Regional Organiser and the resolution from our Finsbury Park branch.

We note that it is the unanimously-held view of our drivers' representatives and branch officers on the Piccadilly line that the union should ballot Piccadilly line drivers for strike action without delay.

Our representatives believe that the line's management are riding roughshod over agreements and for some time appear to have been deliberately misinterpreting policy on SPADs, holistic reports and attendance, particularly at Arnos Grove.

We note the report from our lead officer, and welcome the progress made at ACAS talks.

Accordingly, we instruct the General Secretary to suspend our strike action beginning at 00:01 on Tuesday 2 April.

A report is to be placed in front of us as to whether the dispute is fully resolved within time to allow strike action to be called should it not be resolved.

We note the report from our lead officer, that ISS has still not responded to our request for a meeting to discuss this issue. We instruct the General Secretary to pursue this, and should such a meeting not have been scheduled within 14 days, to place this matter back in front of us.

The RMT today congratulated members on their determination to challenge the problems at North Greenwich and Stratford depots. Members voted by 85.7% for industrial action.

In line with the strike action called by ASLEF, RMT members are to take strike action by not booking on for duties commencing between:

• 00:01 and 23:59 on 2nd April 2013
• 00:01 and 23:59 on 2nd May 2013

Jubilee Line drivers are striking in a dispute over bullying of staff through the misuse of procedures and an appalling decline in the standard of working conditions.