These talks have now stopped without agreement - latest update here

Talks at conciliation service ACAS got underway today as 10,000 members of London Underground’s two biggest unions begin final preparations for a rolling series of strikes starting on Monday September 6 against plans to axe 800 station and other staff and close ticket-offices. RMT said this morning that there can be no compromise on tube safety and safe staffing levels.

Official circular - MAINTENANCE OPTIMISATION - LONDON UNDERGROUND (LUL/15/4/)

Dear Colleagues,

A resolution was received from LU Fleet about an alarming policy change by management over the maintenance regime on trains. This was placed before the General Grade Committee who have made the following decision:-

DISMISSAL- K.MORTELL, TRAIN OPERATOR, WHITE CITY, (LUL/4/1)

Dear Colleague

I regret to advise you that the ballot to reinstate Brother Mortell must be rerun due to an administrative error With the Anti Trade Union laws being so incredibly restrictive we cannot risk the company challenging the previous ballot and declaring any industrial action called from it illegal. Therefore the safest course of action is to re run the ballot and I offer my sincere apologies to for this error.

From Bob Crow, General Secretary ...

Dear Colleague,

I am writing to bring you up to date with developments in regard to the TfL Pension Fund.

Actuarial Valuation

The results of the latest valuation of the Fund have recently been concluded. The valuation, as at 31st March 2009, assesses whether or not there are sufficient assets to pay for pensions already promised to existing pensioners, deferred pensioners and active members, and also sets employer contribution rates necessary to fund future benefits after the valuation date.

The valuation revealed a £1,206m deficit in the Public Sector Section. In addition a deficit of £125m exists in the LUL BCV and SSL sections, and a £75.6m deficit in the Tube Lines Section.

From Bob Crow, General Secretary ...

You will shortly be receiving a ballot paper to your home address over the massive job cuts that LUL Management are planning. These disastrous cuts will result in detrimental working conditions and seriously undermine safety of staff and the travelling public.

Circular No IR/171/10 from RMT General Secretary Bob Crow

I write to advise branches that after substantial and detailed preparations, notice has been served on London Underground of a ballot for strike action and action short of a strike over the company’s disastrous plans to cut jobs. Papers will be sent to home addresses shortly and the ballot is due to close on Wednesday 14 July 2010. I would be grateful if you could make your members aware of this situation and urge all LUL members to vote strongly in favour of action to fight these cuts.

Tube Lines are responsible for the Emergency Response Unit that covers the entire network and is fundamental to the safe running of London Underground. To ensure your own safety and that of others during the period of industrial action you are advised to approach your management prior to carrying out your duties for assurances that a safe system of work is in place.

Ballot papers over the issues of massive job cuts and the resultant detrimental effects they will have on your working conditions and safety will be sent out shortly.

Your union cannot accept that you should pay with your job and safety for management’s financial incompetence. If savings need to be made they can come from the 200 TFL managers who earn more than £100,000 a year. We will not sit idly by whilst your safety is compromised.

From Bob Crow, General Secretary ...

Dear Colleague,

I am pleased to be able to advise members that the issue of ill-health pensions payable from the TfL Pension Fund has been resolved.

Our London Transport members will recall that in 2006 RMT started fighting a lone rear-guard action against management’s attempts to undermine the very valuable ill-health arrangements offered by the TfL Pension fund. Management wanted to turn the qualification for an ill-health pension from an ‘own job’ test to an ‘all work test.’

Please find the following attached

A PDF with

An official circular inviting nominations for LGBT Reps
LGBT Rep Poster for your workplace
LGBT Newsletter 'Standing Proud'

also attached is an advert which can be placed into newsletters

and a LGBT Website Banner - to be attached to any LGBT Union Website Page.

RMT Young Members’ AGM training Course - 2010
Aberdeen, Sunday 27th June – Friday 2nd July

Last year we held a very successful ‘AGM Course’ for our young members. Sixteen attended – the largest course of its kind that we have organised. Our improved organisation for young members was further reflected when 30 delegates attended the recent National Young Members Conference, in Liverpool.

We are now looking for young active members to train on our 2010 course which shall run in tandem with our AGM in Aberdeen. Members must be under 30 years of age at the start of the course.

Applications need to be submitted by the 30th April 2010

Click 'Read More' to read the rest of the circular and '1 Attachment' to download the circular and application form

Please find below a request from Head Office for submission of delegate nominations, 2011 venue nominations and more importantly, resolution submissions for equality conferences.

Click 'Read More' for the full circular

This is an official RMT circular - IR/72/10 dated 4th of March 2010, from General Secretary Bob Crow.

In this Circular:

• Reduction of station staff levels
• Duty Manager grade progression
• LUL machinery of negotiation and consultancy

Click 'Read More' for the full circular.

This is an official RMT circular - IR/61/10 dated 18th of February 2010, from General Secretary Bob Crow.

I write to advise branches that victory has been achieved in the above dispute which has been concluded following talks at ACAS and the industrial action has been suspended.

Former Metronet signals members voted massively in favour of both strike action and action short of a strike.

The First 24 hour strike action will take place between 06.45 hours on Friday 5th February and 06.45 hours on Saturday 6th February 2010.

Further 24 hour strike action will take place every weekend from Sunday morning into Monday morning. The first of these will take place between 06.45 hours on Sunday 14th February and 06.45 hours on Monday 15th February 2010.

Strike action has been cancelled. Update here

Alstom members at Stratford Market Depot voted one hundred per cent in favour of both strike action and action short of a strike in order to attain pay harmonisation with Alstom emplyeees at other locations on LU.

The first 24 Hour Strike will now take place between 19.29 Hours on Wednesday 27th January and 19.28 hours on Thursday 28th January 2010. Until further notice strike action will continue from Sunday evening until Monday morning.

Read the full story to see the official RMT circular

The December rates of RPI and CPI were published by the Office for National Statistics on the 19th January 2010. The next publication date is the 16th February 2010.

December 2009 retail prices index rate is 2.4%.This is up from 0.3% in November. The last time there was an increase in the annual inflation rate greater than 2.1 per cent was between June and July 1979, when the rate increased from 11.4 per cent to 15.6 per cent.

This record increase is due to a number of exceptional events that took place in December 2008:

In this Circular:

1. Ballot results: Dismissal of F Chambers – train operator, Bakerloo Line
2. Ballot results: Dismissal of Joel Miah - train operator, Bakerloo Line
3. Ballot results: Dismissal of Mercy Odisi - Green Park Group

In this Circular:

1. IMPOSITION OF ROSTERS, BREACHES OF SIGNALS FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT AND OUTSOURCING – LUL – BALLOT FOR INDUSTRIAL ACTION
2. REVIEW OF MOBILE PHONE BILLS – LUL

(Updated with Ballot Results)

RMT General Grades Committee have decided to accept the LUL pay offer.

General Secretary, Bob Crow says "After giving careful consideration to the situation, the General Grades Committee has decided to accept the most recent offer in respect of the 2009 and 2010 pay increases and the associated improvements to conditions of service. This was a 1.5% increase from 1 April 2009 for one year and RPI + 0.5% or 0.5% whichever is the greater for year two."