RMT official circulars

Circulars from RMT head office about issues in our region

Proposed Cuts to Compensation For Workers Who Suffer An Assault Or Railway Suicide

From General Secretary Bob Crow

I write to advise you that the Government yet again are proposing changes to the CICS that if implemented will affect the compensation that our members currently receive when attacked at work or when they experience a suicide on the railways. It is currently proposed to abolish the lower tariff bands of the Compensation Criminal Injury Scheme (CICS), this move will remove from eligibility the majority of our members injured as a result of criminal violence during the course of their work.

Workers Memorial Day

From RMT General Secretary Bob Crow

Further to my previous circular NP 013/12 dated 24th January 2012, please find enclosed links to the bulletins issued by the TUC for Workers’ Memorial Day. The bulletins are designed to help you mobilise and organise around various issues affecting the Health & Safety of our members. The next three in the series are entitled; Compensation under Threat, Occupational Disease a time bomb the Government ignores and Union Health & Safety Representatives.

Justice For Asbestos Victims As Supreme Court Rules Against ‘Callous’ Insurers

From RMT General Secretary Bob Crow

I am writing to advise you of a landmark ruling by the Supreme Court which will effect many of the 2,500 people who are diagnosed with mesothelioma each year.

The Supreme Court upheld an appeal brought by Unite the Union and rejected arguments by insurance companies which would have denied compensation to victims of the terminal disease mesothelioma.

Judges in the country’s highest court agreed that the insurers of an employer at the time of the exposure to asbestos should pay compensation.

London Underground Olympic Recognition And Reward

Here is the latest circular official from General Secretary Bob Crow (LUL/22/2)

As you may be aware, we have been in negotiations with London Underground over Olympic Recognition and Reward. The company’s offer has been considered by your General Grades Committee and has been rejected as it compares less favourably with deals achieved such as London Overground and Network Rail. Please find attached a copy of the offer.

TUC Workers Memorial Day

From General Secretary Bob Crow

The TUC is dedicating this year’s Workers’ Memorial Day, Saturday 28th April, to a Day of Action to defend Health and Safety. They are producing a series of bulletins that will assist reps and activists to organise for the day with important discussion topics. The first two ‘Defending Regulation’ and ‘The Need for Enforcement’ are available online now. (see below)

Save Our Railways - No to McNulty - Nationwide Campaigning Day of Action

As part of the ongoing campaign against the McNulty Report the union is organising a further campaigning day of action on Thursday 2nd February.

The intention is that we again distribute campaign postcards during the morning rush hour to passengers at stations throughout the country.

The last day of action proved very successful. We managed to reach fifty stations around the country with a very supportive response and passengers have returned a massive number of cards to their MPs.

Identifiers Tags – London Taxis

from General Secretary Bob Crow - TFL (RT/14/2)

Further to my circular dated 14th December (IR/608/11) I write to update branches on the TfL scheme to introduce Identifier tags from March 2012 for all Taxi driver members (Taxis and Private hire).This would distinguish between those drivers licensed for hire in all of Metropolitan London (green badge) and those who were licensed for particular sectors outside the centre (yellow badge). Yellow badge drivers might be typically licensed for the London Boroughs of Redbridge, Greenwich, Merton, Harrow, Hillingdon and so on.

London Underground Operational Effectiveness Programme Ballot Results

From General Secretary Bob Crow

I write to advise you that the ballot for industrial action short of a strike has now closed and the result is as follows: -

Are you prepared to take industrial action short of a strike?

  • Total Votes Cast - 463
  • Number Voting Yes - 369
  • Number Voting No - 93
  • Spoilt - 1

This result is being considered by the General Grades Committee and I shall be in touch with you again shortly.

LU Pay Referendum To Be Rerun

From General Secretary Bob Crow

I write to advise members that we have decided to re-run the current referendum of members on this year’s pay award. This decision has been taken because a letter from management advising us of a slight amendment to the Years 2 to 4 offer was not reflected in the paperwork sent to members with the voting papers. The change is significant enough to warrant the referendum being re-run as members are not voting with the full proposal at their disposal.

Future Pension Provision & Free Travel Facilities For Tube Lines Staff

As you will recall from my previous Circular (No LUL/15/10, 16th May 2011) I highlighted the disparity in regards to the terms and conditions of those employees who were TUPE transferred from Alstom Metro Trains, Stratford Market Depot, to Tube Lines (TL) compared to those former Metronet employees who have been fully integrated into LUL.