Organising

Canteen rep Petrit Mihaj

RMT has agreed reduced-rate subscriptions of £1 per week for workers at Initial Cleaners and Sodexho canteens in London Transport. This reduced rate is part of our organising campaign to achieve recognition in these two companies, and will be reviewed in 12 months' time.

RMT General Grades Committee decision:

We note the report from our Regional Organiser, that Initial is paying the London Living Wage to cleaners, but has not met any other demands in our pay and conditions claims. This leaves these cleaners among the most exploited workers in London, working for disgracefully low pay, and without the sick pay, pensions and other benefits enjoyed by other workers.

RMT General Grades Committee decision:

That we note that a further meeting of our steering group has taken place and that a summary report of the survey among our Renewals members is on file. We also note that the work on the RMT Track Contractors Charter for London Underground is progressing and is about to be launched.

The General Secretary is instructed as follows:

• To provide any practical and material support and assistance that may be required by our London Underground Engineering Branch for a successful launch of the Charter;

RMT General Grades Committee decision:

We endorse the Track Contractors’ Charter drafted by our LU engineering reps to form part of our Rail Renewals forum, and instruct the General Secretary to ensure that it is printed promptly and in sufficient quantities.

We note that the Council of Executives has already agreed reduced-rate subs for these workers, and that the branch has an effective campaign plan. We look forward to a successful campaign to recruit to RMT, achieve recognition, and win improvements for these workers.

RMT CLEANERS have forced contractor John Laing Integrated Services to recognise the union on London Overground following an organising campaign that has seen the vast majority of the workforce join the union since the end of March.

A ballot carried out under Central Arbitration Committee rules after the firm refused to enter into a voluntary agreement returned a six-to-one vote to give RMT bargaining rights for the staff, who work from depots at Acton, Gospel Oak, New Cross Gate and Willesden.

This organising plan was agreed by the Regional Council Executive on March 8.

RMT has 12,614 members in the LTRC region, of these there is 1,527 that are classed as Young Members. The purpose of a Young Members' officer is to mobilise as well as organise these members into an active and effective part of our union.

The average age of a Trade Union representative is 47 years old, to properly organise our Young Membership is to be laying the foundations for a sustained future.

RMT's General Grades Committee has agreed a detailed campaign to organise workers in Carlisle Cleaning and Support Services. This is a national campaign, which will initially start outside our Region. However, it is relevant to our Region, as Carlisle holds contracts in London Transport, including TfL/LU secruity staff and Docklands Light Railway cleaners.

Here is the full GGC decision:

This resolution, submitted by Stratford no.1 branch and seconded by East Ham branch, was carried unanimously at January 2011 meeting of the Regional Council:

The London Transport Regional Council resolves to convene annual one-day meetings for all reps in each function in London Underground (operational), and similarly for health & safety reps in each function.

We believe that these will be very useful events for discussing issues of common concern, sharing experiences, identifying training needs, developing strategies and establishing contact between reps.

The National Education Centre Programme – The centre (Doncaster) continues to be the focal point for our Union’s National Education Programme, within its excellent facilities, there are several courses currently scheduled throughout the year.

Click 'Read More' to find out about the courses planned for next year, or download the attached documents.

Circular from Bob Crow, RMT General Secretary ...

Earlier this year I wrote to Carlisle Cleaning & Support Services expressing my utmost concern over the company’s assertion that the RMT only had direct bargaining and recognition rights for three Carlisle Cleaning and Support Contracts, namely Eurostar, London Midland and Alstom/West Coast.

Our cleaning grade vice-chair has drafted the following proposal for an organising strategy for cleaners. It will be discussed in detail at the Regional Council Executive meeting on 9 November.

Venue: Unity House, Chalton Street, London NW1

Stations and Revenue Grades Meetings Monthly meetings that bring together rank-and-file station and revenue RMT reps and activists. All members are welcome to come along and raise issues that concern you and plan with others how we are going to fight for a better deal for our grades.

Come along and bring your experience and ideas with you!

Location: The Exmouth Arms (upstairs), nearest station Euston Square.

exit the station turn right, take the first right. For a map http://www.exmoutharms.co.uk/ click the FIND US tab.

Standing Items on the Agenda:

I have been elected as the Lesbian, Gay Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Officer for the London Transport Region at the recent Regional Council Meeting.

Anybody who has suggestions of the sort of things we can be doing in the London Transport Region, or wants to be involved please contact me via email here or leave a comment below.

Venue: Bloomsbury Baptist Church, near Tottenham Court Road Tube Station

LU Engineering has organised a seminar on 'Organising, Militancy and Revitalisation' Case study of the RMT - looking at the relationship between union militancy, effectiveness in delivering barginaing gains, membership growth and union revitalisation.

Speakers include Bob Crow (RMT General Secretary) and Alex Gordon (RMT National President), along with Professor Ralph Darlington of Salford University.

Click '1 attachment' / file name to download a leaflet advertising this event.

This resolution, aimed at strengthening the union's grades committees in our Region, was passed unanimously by the Regional Council Annual General Meeting on 25 February.

THIS REGIONAL COUNCIL BELIEVES THAT:

1. grades committees can perform three important roles:

• improving RMT's recruitment and organisation within the grade
• bringing local reps and activists from different locations together for mutual support, exchange of information and ideas
  

I have tabled these thoughts for discussion at today's Regional Council Executive meeting ...

For some time, I have been thinking over the potential benefits of enhancing the role of grades committees within the Region, and would like to schedule a discussion on the subject at this month's Regional Council Executive, with a view to circulating some firm proposals in good time for February's AGM. Here are some thoughts:

Venue: Exmouth Arms, Starcross Street, near Euston.

A meeting for all stations and revenue reps and activists to discuss what is going on in your workkplace, to hear reports from and give feedback to level 2 / tier 2 reps, and to plan our campaigning against job cuts and for a better deal for staff.

Meetings will take place on the first Wednesday of every month; same time, same venue.

I received an email today from 'Tube Worker' with a flyer attached urging ASLEF members to reject the pay deal as it stands.

The Tube Worker Leaflet is available to view or download here.