It was standing room only as nearly 150 workers packed into a meeting yesterday evening to launch RMT's fight for jobs, pay and justice for London Underground and Transport for London staff.

From Steve Hedley, Regional Organiser

Dear brothers sisters and comrades

We are facing several attacks from the employers right now and we have had requests for strike ballots on no compulsory redundancies, pay, breaking of agreements and failure to carry out meaningful consultation. Having discussed the issues the Council of Executives has agreed that a ballot will be conducted on LUL and coordinated with a ballot on TfL.The issues for the LUL ballot are:

DEFEND JOBS – PUT SAFETY FIRST LOBBY OF NETWORK RAIL OFFICES – 11.00, FRIDAY 20th MARCH 2009 90 York Way, London N1 9AG

Members will be aware that in the name of efficiency savings Network Rail is deferring almost thirty per cent of previously planned renewals work for 2009/10.

The union estimates that 1000 jobs could be under threat by the deferrals which coupled with the cutting of scaling back of maintenance regimes and inspections will hugely increase safety risks.

Attendance: Janine Booth, Vaughan Thomas, Josie Toussaint-Pinnock, Dean O'Hanlon, Carol Foster, Becky Crocker, Steve Hedley, Olly New, Clara Osageide

Apologies: Brian Haughian, Andy Littlechild, Malcolm Taylor, Joanne Parry, Linda Wiles, Paul Putland, Paul Jackson, Dave Rayfield, Brian Munro, Unjum Mirza, Glenroy Watson, Frank Curtis

CORRESPONDENCE Various correspondence noted and passed round. Agreed to: - arrange for new banner to be made - circularise branches asking if they have banners and recommending that they do!