RMT up front April edition. LU drivers - VOTE YES!

Submitted by Joffe on 31 March, 2011 - 09:24

Click on the attachment to see the latest RMT up front.

Lead story follows:

Vote YES to stop the victimisations of LU drivers!
RMT has served notice to London Underground that we are balloting all drivers on the combine over the victimisations of Eamonn Lynch and Arwyn Thomas.
Since Eamonn’s and Arwyn’s dismissals last year train drivers on the Bakerloo Line and at Morden depots have taken two days strike action for their reinstatement.

Victoria Line drivers' dispute

Submitted by Janine on 30 March, 2011 - 14:58

RMT General Grades Committee decision:

That we note the correspondence from London Underground on this matter, and also note that London Underground has sent a letter by post to Victoria Line drivers defending its actions on these important safety matters and attacking our dispute. This underlines the importance of our previous decision that this union will send a letter by post to all our Victoria Line driver members outlining our stance on these issues, which is to be implemented without further delay. Email and text communication are to be used to promote this union’s ballot and industrial action, but not to substitute for letters by post when specifically instructed by the GGC.

Bank Holiday and Leave Arrangements - Serco Docklands

Submitted by Admin on 30 March, 2011 - 14:52

RMT General Grades Committee decision:

That we note that Serco Docklands has clarified that: “Employees on trade union contracts will be paid double time if they work on a bank holiday, this applies to both hours and overtime. The bank holiday payments are applied from 12 midnight at the start of the day to midnight at the end of the day. If an employee is rostered to work on a bank holiday or if it is their rostered rest day they will accrue a lieu day. They may choose to have this paid instead.”

We seek the views of our Docklands Light Railway branch on this matter.

Confirmed: Version 22a is the Stations Framework Agreement

Submitted by Admin on 30 March, 2011 - 14:42

RMT General Grades Committee decision:

That we note and endorse the report from our Regional Organiser.

We welcome the fact that London Underground has finally accepted that Version 22a of the Stations Framework Agreement is the agreed Framework which applies to station staff and that its Version 24 has not been agreed and does not apply. We particularly welcome the fact that management's attempt to worsen our members' working conditions - including requiring staff to work away from their rostered station in non-urgent situations, and allowing management to impose roster changes - have not succeeded.

We remain vigilant for further attempts by LU to impose these or similar attacks, and instruct our functional council representatives to oppose any such moves and alert the Regional Organiser.

RMT 'Disgust' at London Underground's Confirmation of Arwyn Thomas Sacking; More Campaigning Planned

Submitted by Janine on 30 March, 2011 - 12:49

RMT General Grades Committee decision:

That we note with disappointment and disgust that London Underground's directors' review has upheld the sacking of Arwyn Thomas. This is despite the fact that the Employment Tribunal awarded Arwyn Interim Relief and found that LU had sacked him unfairly due to his trade union activities. It is appalling that LU apparently feels that it is above the law, and that Tribunals does not have the power to compel an employer to re-employ a worker sacked unfairly.

Report: RMT Women's Conference 2011

Submitted by Admin on 29 March, 2011 - 17:50

Report from Val Barzey, delegate from LU Engineering branch:

Tim Wilkinson - Gloucester Branch welcomed the guests to Cheltenham Spa.

Bob Crow - General Secretary

  • The Court of Appeal has handed down its decision today (4 March) in NURMT v Serco & combined cases, in which it overturned injunctions against strikes in both the RMT and ASLEF cases.
  • Some aims of the RMT is to have a high denser of membership, increase in educational activities and fill all positions for reps and branches.

Victoria Line drivers: Vote Yes for Action over Safety at Work

Submitted by Admin on 25 March, 2011 - 14:36

To all Train Operators and Instructor Operators on the Victoria Line, from Bob Crow, RMT General Secretary:

Dear Colleagues,

BREAKDOWN OF MACHINERY OF NEGOTIATION: VICTORIA LINE UPGRADE SAFETY AND TRAINING ISSUES- LONDON UNDERGROUND

Further to my letter dated 27th January 2011 regarding the issues over Sensitive Edge Activation, a number of other issues have been bought to my attention concerning the Victoria Line Upgrade. The General Grades Committee has considered this matter and taken the decision to ballot all Victoria Line Train Operator members for industrial action short of a strike with a view to protecting you from being forced to work unsafely and unfairly blamed for accidents.

Bob Crow and Boris Johnson to meet head to head for first time on this week’s “Any Questions.”

Submitted by Peter on 24 March, 2011 - 16:22

* Friday 25 March, 8pm, BBC Radio 4 *

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow and London Mayor Boris Johnson will meet head to head for the first time this week when they both appear as guests on the BBC’s “Any Questions” which is being broadcast from Kingston Grammar School in Surrey.

In almost three years as London Mayor, Boris Johnson has refused to meet directly with the tube unions despite a massive financial crisis leading to staffing and maintenance cuts and repeated breakdowns on the Underground’s creaking infrastructure.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said: