From RMT official circular IR.114/09, dated 1st April 2009

I am writing to advise you that the Union is holding a ballot for strike action and action short of a strike over a number of very important issues.

The first issue is pay. Management has failed to respond to our claim for a one year pay deal and other improvements. Their pay offer of RPI plus 1% and flat RPI for the next 4 years is totally unacceptable to this Union and its members. In the current financial climate it is impossible to work out what will happen to members’ finances tomorrow let alone over the next 5 years. Apart from anything else accepting RPI means members will not improve their standard of living for the foreseeable future.

Management have been breaching the agreed disciplinary and attendance procedures and have encouraged aggressive and punitive behaviour by local managers. For example, members are given 52 week warnings for a first attendance warning, maximum attendance warnings are given as standard, members are regularly subject to unreasonable pressure while they are ill, members have been refused representation for interviews while they are ill, and have been refused representation at other interviews where these could lead to disciplinary action. Management’s latest stunt is to actually increase the level of management representation at disciplinaries by planting a People Management Advisor at hearings.

The company is attempting to push through their Organisational Change policy which contains compulsory redundancy proposals despite the agreement made with RMT in the PPP Code of Conduct. This Union will not accept any dilution to the agreement for these members nor will we accept compulsory redundancies for any other LUL employee.

Ballot papers will be sent to member’s home address and will be despatched by the ERS on Wednesday 8th April, with a return date of no later than first post Thursday 23rd April 2009. Should any member not receive a ballot paper please ask them to contact the RMT helpline on 0800 376 3706 or phone the main switchboard on 020 7387 4771 and ask for the industrial relations department.

Please bring the contents of this circular to the attention of all REW Metronet Acton Works members.

Yours sincerely,

Bob Crow