News, reports and information for RMT members who work for London Underground Ltd
Bakerloo branch Annual General Meeting & Christmas Social
Tuesday 6 December, 16:00, upstairs at The Fountains Abbey, 109 Praed Street, W2 1PL (nearest Tube: Edgware Road H&C or Paddington)
RMT Upfront is the newsletter for drivers on London Underground, produced by RMT driver activists and reps.
In this edition:
Please share the newsletter with your colleagues.
A ballot for strike action of drivers on the Piccadilly Line is being prepared. The dispute involves issues over breach of procedure, mistreatment of a line representatives, unfair disciplinary action and issues surrounding safety and training.
Read the latest Piccadilly Line newsletter for all the latest news for drivers on the line.
Following a number of reports of London Underground carrying out trials of ‘driverless’ trains into and out of Willesden Green sidings on the Jubilee line, the Trains Health & Safety Council formally asked LUL at director level if the reports were correct. LUL confirmed that they have been testing technology that would allow trains to move in and out of sidings without a Train Operator on the train.
Today (Thursdsy, 27th October) senior RMT Health and safety reps from both LUL and Tubelines and myself attended a special Health and safety forum (summit) called after last week's security incident at North Greenwich.
Directors of LUL and senior management as well as the chief Inspector of B.T.Police were in attendance. We were updated on the incident and other security matters. It was stated to us that the level of threat remains Severe, unchanged since August 2014.
To all Industrial and H&S Train Operator Representatives – LUL
Dear Colleagues
Please see the attached letter (below) that John Leach has received from the General Secretary calling for a meeting of Train Staff Representatives within 10 days to discuss the above as well as the situation on the Hammersmith & City and Piccadilly Lines.
This meeting will take place at 10.00 hours in the Boardroom, Unity House on Monday 31st October.
London Underground has agreed with the RMT about the fairest way to operate services on New Years Eve.
Now all Night Tube drivers will have the opportunity to either work or apply for annual leave on NYE, but if they choose to work they will be paid the same enhancements as full time drivers who volunteer. This has been a prolonged process – taking many months to achieve – but at last we have a position which is both fair and consistent with current procedures.
Today myself and reps from the other Trade Unions again met with London Underground management to provide initial feedback and questions in response to the proposals made last week. I tabled 35 questions and comments and the other unions fully supported these, as well as making a number of additional points. For the RMT, the biggest issues will be the threat to pensions if the company's proposals over pay capping are allowed to happen and needing the company to guarantee a process of preferencing for locations.
London Underground union the RMT has made a submission to London TravelWatch who have been instructed by London Mayor Sadiq Khan to carry out a review of ticket office closures on the Tube.
Click here to tell London TravelWatch your view on ticket office closures
The RMT's submission covers the following important areas:
TUBE UNION RMT today urged the public to respond to the London Travel Watch review of ticket office closures with a message that this is an opportunity to press for a reversal of the cuts and closures programme.