Believe it or not, the government wants the Tyne & Wear Metro (Underground) go down the same disastrous PPP route as London Underground.
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From 'RMT On The Trains' newsletter, August 2008
The RMT has written to LUL to say we do not accept automatic doors. It is planned that the new Victoria Line trains are designed so that the doors can open on their own without any safety check from the driver. NO matter what is happening on the platform, the train would just open the doors. They assure us that even after several years this would be fail safe technology and would never open the doors in the tunnel. How do they know that? Easy – the private manufacturers have told them so!
From 'RMT On The Trains' newsletter, August 2008
Recent threats of strike action combined with public campaigning by the RMT caused management to re-think their plans to cut station staff. We pointed out that a safe railway must be properly staffed. Videos will never substitute for staff.
LUL have now dropped their plans to close dozens of ticket offices. Furthermore they dropped plans to do away with station supervisors during traffic hours – not everything we want but even that could not have been achieved without determined action from your union.
From 'RMT On The Trains' newsletter, August 2008
RMT has been challenging the redeployment procedures that mean that after 20 years service you can be kicked out of your job because your hearing, or something else, is below their standards – only to be replaced by someone with far less safety experience! We have also asked Management to allow staff in medical redeployment to apply for TfL jobs, which now includes Metronet. We believe all medically redeployed staff should be given the offer of at least one job.
From 'RMT On The Trains' newsletter, August 2008
Senior RMT Officers and Piccadilly Line Trains reps met with Management a few weeks ago to demand an end to intimidation and for LUL to keep to their agreed policies on attendance and discipline. One of the key issues was that Instead of looking at each attendance case properly, Management started to dish out the maximum warnings on every occasion. We threatened to pack up on the Picc if this continued. A satisfactory agreement was reached and this will be reviewed in the near future.
From 'RMT On The Trains' newsletter, August 2008
We have been told that at many Depots, Management are re-interpreting the Attendance at work policy (which we never agreed or signed up to!). Full 26 /52 week cautions are being given, despite people trying to minimise their time off, and any mitigation is being ignored!
From 'RMT On The Trains' newsletter, August 2008
Following on from the drunken chaos on the Underground on May 31st we eagerly await Boris’s plans for December 31st. Past years have seen the Tube transformed into mobile bars on New Years Eve as revellers get in the party spirit before midnight; then transformed into rivers of beer and vomit as they go home again after midnight. Boris’s alcohol ban is hardly likely to reduce this mayhem. Especially if, as in previous years, free travel is sponsored by a drinks company!
... But LUL and ASLEF don’t want to know
From 'RMT On The Trains' newsletter, August 2008
Some RMT driver members are having to make do without a local rep due to the collusion between LUL and Aslef to exclude RMT reps from Hammersmith, Barking (H&C), Stratford and Loughton. At Loughton, Aslef only have a dozen members and have a local rep, we have 42 members but no rep.
From 'RMT On The Trains' newsletter, August 2008
From 'RMT On The Trains' newsletter, August 2008
Management have recently given the union draft proposals to review and change the way Instructor operators are recruited and managed and have proposed some important changes to the role which the Union has made objections to. The key change is that they are suggesting a two tier structure going back to the road trainer idea and a "super I/O" who will be off the roster and no longer doing driving as their main job.