ABM Cleaners

RATES OF PAY & CONDITIONS OF SERVICE 2015 – INTERSERVE FACILITIES (KEOLIS AMEY DOCKLANDS CONTRACT) (DLR/0001/I(KAD))

Further to my previous Circular (IR/107/15, 23rd April 2015), the ballot has concluded and the result is as follows:-

Question: Are you prepared to take strike action?

Total Votes Cast 58

Number Voting ‘Yes’ 51

Number Voting ‘No’ 7

Spoilt Papers 0

USE OF FINGERPRINTING TO BOOK ON – ISS (LUL CONTRACT) (BR1/27/2)

Further to my previous Circular (IR/261/14, 3rd October 2014), Branches will recall that we were in dispute with ISS last year over the imposition of a biometric fingerprint system for staff to book on for duty. Members took industrial action with some even locked out by the Company for refusing to use the biometric machines. Agreement was then reached at ACAS which we hoped had resolved the matter however, the Lead Officer reports that management are now in breach of this agreement.

RATES OF PAY & CONDITIONS OF SERVICE 2015 – INTERSERVE FACILITIES (KEOLIS AMEY DOCKLANDS CONTRACT) (DLR/0001/I(KAD))

In line with Union policy, a claim was submitted for a substantial increase in rates of pay and improvements to conditions of service. Following discussions with the Company, a report was received from the Lead Officer along with further correspondence from the Branch Secretary, advising that the Company has failed to resolve several issues which have been outstanding for many months.

London Underground cleaning contractor ISS are trying to renege on the commitments they made at acas last year regarding the use of biometric bookin on systems. Although the RMT never agreed the use of biometric booking on, Iss gave the RMT assurances as they pushed ahead with it's implementation regardless of the opposition from their workers . We are demanding the company stick to their assurances on this matter . The RMT is prepared to enter a dispute if necesary - the union will also go to ACAS to resolve this issue.

ISS Renege On Biometric Use

Clara Osagiede, RMT cleaners’ secretary on London Underground, has been dismissed from her job for the crime of fighting for workplace justice for London’s transport cleaners.

Bosses at Interserve – a private contractor that LU use for cleaning – concocted a series of spurious charges in order to get rid of an activist who is a thorn in their side.

Interserve is a company with an appalling record on industrial relations across all their contracts in the railway industry which exploits their low-paid workers for as much profit as they can.

RMT campaigning has forced cleaning company Interserve to commit to hiring 50 AGS agency cleaners on permanent contracts across London Underground by the end of April 2015.

This shows that union campaigning gets results. Our exposure of AGS’s exploitative practises, such as forcing workers to register as “self-employed”, is putting pressure on Interserve. Let’s keep up the fight and win more permanent contracts for cleaners.

Bakerloo News is the newsletter for RMT members in the Bakerloo branch.

In this edition:

• LU’s pay offer is an insult
• Every Job Matters - Prepare for more action!
• Toilet humour at the Elephant
• RMT wins 50 permanent jobs for cleaners
• The fight against ticket office closures goes on!
• No member left behind

A resolution was recently received from Jubilee South Branch regarding the above and this matter has been considered by the General Grades Committee, which has taken the decision to investigate the use of “disguised employees” by Interserve and other companies in TfL/LUL (reference LUL Engineers Charter and article by GS in January RMT News ‘Fighting Casualisation’) and to produce a report on this worrying pract

BREAKDOWN OF INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS – INTERSERVE (LUL CONTRACT) (LUL/14/2)

Further to my previous Circular (IR/303/14, 17th November 2014), members will recall that we advised the Company that a dispute situation existed over the mistreatment of staff and abuse of power by supervisors and management, non-payment of wages, and attacks on trade union reps and activists. The RMT Reps then commenced the task of checking and updating member’s details as necessary for a ballot for industrial action.