Dear Colleagues,

DEFENDING JOBS, PENSIONS & AGREEMENTS - LONDON UNDERGROUND (LUL/14/2)

ALL STRIKE ACTION IS SUSPENDED

Further to my previous Circular (IR/218/23, 14th July 2023) talks have taken place at ACAS this week between the Company and the Assistant General Secretary, Relief Regional Organiser and Negotiating Team, resulting in significant progress in this dispute.

LUL has presented a set of proposals covering the following issues:

Attendance at Work Policy

The initial draft policy, with an implementation date in January 2024 is withdrawn and further discussions will take place without reference to that document.

Trains Modernisation

Further talks will take place at ACAS with the Union and without the current proposals as a starting point. All issues will be negotiable and no changes can be made without our agreement.

Protection of Earnings for Stations Grades

 LUL acknowledge the long-standing protection of earnings policy and will continue to use this as the starting point. For this Stations change only, LUL will extend the enhancement to a pensionable consolidated four year period with a guaranteed review at the end of year three. The protection will not commence until the new grade changes go live, which could be in up to 6 years' time.

 In relation to current or future changes in other areas, such as Asset Performance, LUL will continue to apply the existing policy and may apply enhancement arrangements where appropriate.

Pensions

A guarantee that there will be no change to the TfL Pension Scheme prior to 30th September 2026 at the earliest. The option remains for no changes to take place at all.

The National Executive Committee has considered this matter, noted the unanimous views of your negotiating team and taken the decision to SUSPEND THE STRIKE ACTION FOR ALL GRADES which was due to commence Sunday 23rd July. All members are therefore instructed to book on for all shifts next week.

This represents real progress over these issues with the proposals received in writing, allowing us to suspend the action next week. However, at this time we still remain in dispute with LUL over Defending Jobs, Pensions and Agreements and our current ballot mandate is in place until November this year.

All the issues are still subject to further discussions and the Union will be making sure that sufficient progress is made and that any future agreements are properly implemented. As always, we will also be vigilant to any further issues which might arise and will respond accordingly.

Finally, congratulations to all LUL members who have stood firm throughout this dispute so far and enabled us, with their willingness to take action and fight for thei jobs and terms and conditions, to get to this point and secure important protections.

I will of course keep Branches advised of all further developments.

Yours sincerely,

Michael Lynch

General Secretary