LU Fleet branch

FIRE BRIGADES UNION statement

London Fire Brigades Union is backing Tube Lines workers starting a 72-hour strike from 4pm this afternoon. The tube workers want access to the Transport for London pension scheme.

Ian Leahair, FBU Executive Council member for London said: “We’re throwing our support behind the Tube Lines workers taking strike action to secure access to the TfL pension scheme. A decent occupational pension is essential for workers to ensure they are not living in poverty in retirement.

We note the correspondence from our lead officer, and share his alarm that Tube Lines has notified members that it to change its occupational health provider from Aviva to Capita without any consultation with this union, and has written to members asking them to sign release forms for their medical information to be transferred to Capita.

The Tube Lines ballot has had an excellent result with 80% of those taking part voting yes to strike action to fight for equal passes and pensions.

TUBE UNION RMT today confirmed a four to one vote for strike action in a ballot of Tube Lines staff in support of a dispute over pensions and benefits justice.

We note the report from our Regional Organiser. At ACAS yesterday (26 March), RMT made clear that in
order to proceed with talks we need a statement from management that no RMT members will be forced to break Framework Agreements. This has not yet been forthcoming from management, and until it is, all talks are adjourned.

RMT General Grades Committee decision:

We note the report from our lead officer and reject Tube Lines’ offer on the following grounds:

1. The company’s proposals would leave some of our members with no annual leave during the summer school holidays, resulting in many children not having a family summer holiday this year.
2. The company’s offer applies only to operational staff, excluding other staff who will also be affected by the Olympics, and the company threatens to halve the financial offer should it apply to all staff.
   

RMT General Grades Committee decision:

We note the correspondence from Tube Lines, that it will grant staff an additional bank holiday in 2012 due to the Diamond Jubilee. We note that this is the same practice as adopted for the additional bank holiday in 2011.

London Transport Regional Council, LU Fleet and LU Engineering branches to be advised.

RMT General Grades Committee decision:

We note the detailed resolution from our LU Fleet branch concerning the situation in Tube Lines DSM (Distribution Services). We note that our branch has itemised specific incidents and events which it believes have led to an intolerable situation in the workplace, and requests a ballot for strike action and action short of strike.

We instruct the General Secretary to:

1. contact the employer immediately advising that we are in dispute and requesting an urgent meeting
2. prepare a matrix for the industrial action ballot requested
   

RMT General Grades Committee decision:

We note that Tube Lines has offered a pay rise of RPI+0.5% (minimum 2%) payable from 1st April 2013 and again from 1st April 2014.

We note that a meeting of our representatives agreed to recommend that the union should accept this offer, and that this is endorsed by both branches with Tube Lines members, and that neither branches nor representatives have indicated that they feel that a referendum of members is necessary.

We therefore instruct the General Secretary to advise Tube Lines of our acceptance of this offer.

RMT General Grades Committee decision:

Further to our decision GWW 15th February 2012 we have received a report from the Lead Officer dated 23rd February 2012 and two additional reports both dated 29th February 2012. These reports arise from unanimous decisions of our meeting of 30 representatives attended by the Lead Officer and Assistant General Secretary on 10th February 2012.

The General Secretary is instructed as follows: