An RMT London Busworkers Committee meeting will take place on Monday 14th December 2009, from 4-6pm at The Exmouth Arms, 1, Starcross Street, Euston, London, NW1 2HR. The nearest tube stations are Euston and Euston Square. For a map click here
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| Photo by James Cridlan |
TUBE UNION RMT today accused TfL and Tube Lines of slashing safety standards to dangerous levels as it emerged that twice weekly inspection of escalators will be cut to just once a week and the 12 week frequency of signal maintenance on the Jubilee Line will be cut to a 16 week cycle.
The latest safety and maintenance cuts on the Tube Lines section of the Underground have come just two weeks after RMT exposed moves to hack back the frequency of track inspections on the Jubilee Line extension.
RMT reps will be raising the issues at a meeting of the Health and Safety forum today – Thursday 3rd December – with a demand that the cuts be reversed as a matter of urgency.
Ballots have concluded for the Willesden Green Group, Alstom staff at Stratford Depot, EDF employees and the drivers at Hammersmith & City Depot.
Alstom, EDF and Willesden Green Group members all voted a resounding YES for both strike action and action short of a strike. The Hammersmith & City Depot dispute was resolved and therefore the ballot cancelled.
See the full article for the circular from Bob Crow, General Secretary
The following resolution was carried unanimously at the Bakerloo Branch AGM:
"This Branch notes the summary dismissal of Bro Fitz Chambers on Tuesday 1st of December 2009 and is appalled at this gross unfair treatment of a long standing and respected member of staff with an exemplary record. This Branch believes that London Underground has an agenda of reducing staffing levels and has an agenda of getting rid of syndicates in train crew depots.
Click these links for more information on these crucial issues:
RMT is sending members on London Underground (including Metronet) a ballot paper for industrial action to achieve a better pay deal. Your union urges you to vote YES to strikes and YES to action short of strikes.
Voting YES to both will enable the union to use a variety of tactics - such as overtime bans or work-to-rule as well as strikes - to win a better deal than the pay-cutting ‘offer’ from management.
From Jim McDaid, RMT Trains Health & Safety Council rep
We had an 'informal chat' with bods from the Operational Standards Unit (LU's Rule Book people) last Friday to hear their proposals for a new programme of rule changes that they want to implement across the combine. It was informal as we have so far refused to enter into formal consultation until the Safety Council have had a chance to meet with our Functional Council and Head Office officials, which we hope will be happening soon.
There are several rule book changes proposed so I'll give you the main items:
Following hours and hours of talks at ACAS a new offer has been received from the company. This has been placed before the General Grades Committee and has been referred to the union’s Southern sub-Committee for consideration.
In the meantime the ballot goes ahead. You should vote YES for both strike action and industrial action short of a strike on your ballot paper.
ATTENDANCE