“Death trap” tube warning as RMT releases pictures of worn train brakes

Submitted by Peter on 1 October, 2010 - 00:32

AS WORKERS across London Underground prepare for a further 24 hour strike over safe staffing levels starting this Sunday evening, RMT have today released pictures of worn-away brake blocks on trains that with finance-driven maintenance changes would be forced into service, a move that the union says demonstrate that financial cuts are ripping to shreds safety and maintenance schedules with lethal consequences for passengers and staff alike.

'RMT up front' - October issue

Submitted by Joffe on 28 September, 2010 - 20:06

Click on the attachment to see the latest 'RMT up front', newsletter of the RMT train grades committee.

Articles follow:
Bend it like Beckham!
Becks can bend a ball, but not half as much as LU can bend standards and procedures
Remember the disgraced tycoon Robert Maxwell? He used to ask his legal advisors for their legal opinion; if he didn’t like their answer, he’d sack them, and get a new legal advisor. He’d repeat the process until he got the opinion he wanted. LU is no better. They have standards to ensure health and safety is maintained, if they don’t have enough staff to ensure standards and procedures are carried out correctly, they just bend the rules to suit them.

Regional Council meeting

Venue: Somers Town Community Centre, Ossulston Street, London NW1.

Guest speakers: Bob Crow (RMT General Secretary) and Faryal Velmi (Transport for All).

Plus reports from our Executive member and Regional Organiser, reports on recruitment and organising, discussion on our disputes and campaigns, resolutions from branches, and more.

Details of agenda, resolutions etc here.

Strike for Jobs and Safety - Round 2

Submitted by plectrum on 28 September, 2010 - 10:40

After the successful strike on 7th September and with an overtime ban causing stations to close and engineering works to be cancelled, London Underground management is coming under strong pressure to return to the negotiating table. We can win this fight for a safe and properly staffed railway, but only if we crank up the pressure. Finsbury Park's latest leaflet explains how our overtime ban is hurting the company and calls on all members to make the next strike on October 3rd/4th even stronger than the first.

Download a copy by clicking on the attachment.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow On Labour Leader Ed Miliband

Submitted by Peter on 28 September, 2010 - 05:04

The BBC have an article on RMT General Secretary Bob Crow's comments on the new Labour leader Ed Miliband.

The article says "Mr Crow, general secretary of the RMT union, claims Mr Miliband might break his pledge to attend a rally against public spending cuts."

"Mr Crow said a Labour leader who failed to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the party's core supporters would "get slaughtered at the polls".

The full article is here.

Job Cuts – London Underground - New Strike Times

Submitted by Peter on 28 September, 2010 - 04:57

This is a letter to all RMT members at London Underground (excluding ex-Metronet), from General Secretary Bob Crow.

I am writing to advise you that despite the best efforts of your negotiators at the recent ACAS talks management refuse to take seriously our concerns that their proposed job cuts will have a devastating effect on safety. The General Grades Committee has amended the times of the next strikes as follows:

  • 18.29 hours on Sunday 3rd October 2010 and 18.28 hours on Monday 4th October 2010

Alstom-Metro Tube train maintenance staff to stage second strike over pay

Submitted by Peter on 28 September, 2010 - 04:47

NEARLY 200 Alstom-Metro train-maintenance workers at depots on London Underground’s Jubilee and Northern lines are to strike again next week over pay and conditions in a concerted bid to force the wealthy company to improve its “insulting” sub-inflation pay offer.

RMT members at the two depots will begin their second 24-hour strike at 19:00 on Monday October 4, with further action scheduled for the same time on Wednesday November 3, and Monday November 29.