Resolution to RMT AGM: defending ourselves from the economic crisis

Submitted by Janine on 13 February, 2009 - 09:49

This year, I will be attending RMT's AGM as a delegate, nominated by my branch, Stratford no.1.

Yesterday, the branch discussed resolutions to the AGM, and amongst others, passed this one. I wrote it following reflection on the recent oil refinery walkouts, but it is as much about the lessons we can all learn from those strikes as about the strikes themselves.

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DEFENDING OURSELVES FROM THE ECONOMIC CRISIS

Unofficial Strikes - British jobs for British workers?

Submitted by Brian Munro on 12 February, 2009 - 11:26

I have posted a recent article from Seaumus Milne of the Guardian on the recent wildcat strikes and protests. Definitely worth a read...

"The target of this campaign of strikes is now obvious

Attempts to paint the week of walkouts as anti-foreigner look silly now that Polish workers are joining the protests

London Underground scuppers talks on massive job cuts

Submitted by Admin on 11 February, 2009 - 17:10

RMT press release, issued today

TALKS ON London Underground’s plan to axe 1,000 jobs failed to clear the first hurdle today after the company refused to agree consultation arrangements.

The company effectively walked away from the table after refusing to discuss the procedure for the consultation, trying instead to steamroller through its own terms of reference – even down to the number of reps from each union.

Regional Organiser's report: Job cuts, snow, CBS Outdoor and more ...

Submitted by Admin on 11 February, 2009 - 17:06

[1] The RMT held a protest today outside London Underground head offices to protest at the first wave of job cuts which comprises of 1000 jobs. Around thirty RMT activists turned out to demand that those responsible for running up the massive TfL/LU defecit of over £2.5 billion be sacked and not the workers who are being sacked because of senior management incompetence.

Latest: LUL Walk Away from Jobs Talks

Submitted by Admin on 11 February, 2009 - 16:50

LUL Management refused to agree consultation arrangements today over their plans for 1,000 job cuts. The top level Company Council meeting was called to discuss massive reductions in white collar jobs, including ex-Metronet staff.

The trouble started when Management refused outright to continue discussing procedure for consultations. Management tried to impose their own ‘terms of reference’ for the talks and even their own numbers of reps from different unions.

Tube workers to demonstrate against job cuts WEDNESDAY FEB 11

Submitted by Admin on 9 February, 2009 - 23:00

RMT press release, issued today

RMT to lobby LUL headquarters at Broadway from 08:00

LONDON UNDERGROUND’S biggest union will tomorrow (Wednesday) demonstrate its opposition to at least 1,000 redundancies planned by Tube bosses with a mass Lobby at the network’s 55 Broadway headquarters.

The noisy and colourful protest will commence at 08:00 on Wednesday, February 11

The union has already indicated that it will resist job losses, and that any attempt to impose compulsory redundancies among its members would be met with a ballot for industrial action.

Serious OPO Safety Concerns On The Bakerloo Line

Submitted by Eamonn Lynch on 8 February, 2009 - 19:09

This weekend has raised serious questuions about the robustness of the fabled datum mark alignment system. A driver reported that although the datum marks looked as though all was well,he was unable to see a set of double doors at the front of the train. This raised a real concern as to the confidence we can place in this system,and as a result the driver asked for all Cat A staion platforms to have a member of staff to enable safe despatch. This reasonable request was surprisingly turned down.

Adverse Weather: Report on Talks with LUL Management

Submitted by Oliver New on 6 February, 2009 - 18:28

Steve Hedley and I buttonholed senior LU Managers today about their policy on the heavy snowfall last Monday. The radio and TV advised everyone not to travel and TfL cancelled the buses on safety grounds. Quite rightly so.

But now LUL managers have started deducting pay and leave from staff who couldn't get in. So they stop people getting in, then fine them! Has the left hand knowledge of what the right hand is up to?

Zak Khan's Appeal Decision Deferred

Submitted by plectrum on 6 February, 2009 - 14:19

Arnos Grove driver, Zak Khan, harshly sacked last month after having a SPAD last October, has had his appeal decision deferred, not once, but twice. At his appeal hearing on 3rd February, Zak’s rep, Dean O’Hanlon, pointed out the many points which the original disciplinary panel skipped over, along with new evidence, and made a strong case for Zak’s reinstatement. Appeal Chairman, Nick Shaw, listened to the points made, before announcing that he was not going to make his decision immediately; the appeal would now be reconvened at 1530 on Friday 6th February.