Tube Workers Balloted For Action In Two Separate Disputes

“Both of these disputes are about protecting our member’s jobs, working conditions and standards of living in the face of aggressive and bullying management tactics" - Bob Crow"

TUBE UNION RMT confirmed today that it has begun balloting service control centre and Ticket/ Gate line Maintenance engineers staff for strike action and action short of a strike in two separate disputes over jobs, pay and conditions of service.

Proposals by London Underground regarding the move of Piccadilly Line Service Control to Hammersmith Service Control Centre have raised a range of union concerns that the management refuse to address

:

  • The Wholesale job losses arising from the move to Hammersmith Service Control Centre
  • The Non-payment of the Service Operator 3 rate of pay
  • The Treatment of ex-apprentice secondee Service Operators
  • Staffing cuts for Service Control at Neasden SCC (Jubilee)
  • The Lack of any meaningful offer for Service Control staff for the Olympic period
  • Hammersmith signal cabin grading
  • A Breakdown of machinery of negotiation

As a result papers were sent to members on Monday 28th May 2012 with a recommendation to vote ‘Yes’ for strike action and ‘Yes’ for industrial action short of a strike.

In a separate dispute, ticketing and barrier engineering outfit Cubic Transportation Services have point blank refused to discuss RMT’s pay claim and an Olympic bonus. The company have instead said that they are not prepared to give an Olympic bonus, have offered a paltry 2.5 % pay rise and have total rejected totally RMT claims for a shorter working week. Rates of pay also vary, with many people on individual contracts who receive no pay rise. Many staff do not have free travel and get no travel allowance.

A ballot for both strike action and action short of a strike will begin today.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:

“Both of these disputes are about protecting our member’s jobs, working conditions and standards of living in the face of aggressive and bullying management tactics that leave us no choice but to ballot for action.

“RMT remains available for talks but no one should underestimate the level of anger amongst both of these groups of workers.”