News, reports and information for London Transport cleaners
The RMT London Transport Regional Council sends solidarity to its Cleaner members who are in dispute with ISS in regards to biometric finger printing.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS – CLEANERS – TRANSPORT FOR LONDON CONTRACTS (LUL/14/2)
A resolution was received from our LU Engineering branch concerning our cleaning grade members working on London Underground. It raised a number of issues affecting the whole grade such as the following
The RMT has made a number of proposals to London Underground of alternatives to job cuts and ticket office closures. All of these have been rejected by the company. One issue raised was bosses pay. In 2012/13, TfL paid 328 people more than £100k. RMT calculate that if this was capped at £100k, £15m would be saved per year.
In response to our proposal, London Underground wrote to the RMT to defend the bosses high pay, citing ‘total annual pay, ‘Long-term incentives’ and ‘Total Direct Compensation’ to name a few. TfL told us they believe that their managers are probably not paid enough:
Dear Colleagues,
USE OF FINGER PRINTING TO BOOK ON – ISS (LUL CONTRACT)
I write to remind you that we remain in dispute with ISS over the planned introduction of Biometric Fingerprinting Machines for booking on for duty. We are totally opposed to this technology which we believe is a breach of civil liberties and a threat to your jobs. Members on the LUL contract voted ‘Yes’ in a ballot for industrial action and were instructed by the union not to use the new technology until further notice and to use the established booking on method. This action is still in place.
More information here: http://www.rmtlondoncalling.org.uk/election2014
We note the resolution from the London Transport Regional Council and agree that the union must deal effectively with our members demands and aspirations employed in the cleaner grade. The most effective way for our members concerned to secure decent terms and conditions and social justice in the long term is through industrial trade unionism and rock solid organisation.
From Bob Crow, General Secretary
Further to my last letter, it has been brought to my attention that ISS has displayed posters at some workplace locations, demonstrating how to use the new Biometric Fingerprinting Machines for booking on for duty. This situation is unacceptable to your union and I am writing to reassure members that you have our full support.
Ahead of this ballot, we have organised a meeting of members to discuss this dispute and you are all invited to attend to have your say on this important issue.
ISS LONDON UNDERGROUND
BIOMETRIC / FINGERPRINTING TO BOOK ON FOR DUTY
Thursday 6th March 2014 at 2.30pm
Thompsons Conference Suite
TUC Congress House, Great Russell Street, London, WC1B 3LS
In attendance, RMT Executive member and Assistant General Secretary
Please check in at TUC Reception where you will be directed to the 6th floor meeting room
From RMT General Secretary Bob Crow
I wrote to you last week concerning our dispute with ISS over their planned introduction of Fingerprinting technology to book on for duty. We see this technology as an invasion of your civil liberties and a threat to your jobs. It now appears that management are planning to impose this new Biometric fingerprinting process from early March 2014 so your union’s executive has considered this matter further and decided to call a ballot of all members for strike action. Preparations are under way to hold this ballot in the near future.
We note that despite this union’s objections - the infringement of our members’ civil liberties and the threat to jobs - ISS (LU CONTRACT) are pressing ahead with the use of this technology. We further note that they intend to impose this technology on March 2nd and have been insisting our members sign documentation in advance of this imposition threatening our members that they must use this technology or they will not be paid. We instruct the General Secretary to seek legal advice on this matter as soon as possible.