Management's discipline and attendance policies - and the way they use them to mistreat staff
Click on '1 attachment' and/or the file name below to view and download London Underground's Attendance at Work procedure.
Merry Christmas from Morden Management
A Morden train operator has had his pay stopped because he has had an eye operation for a detached retina. If this condition had not been treated he would have lost the eyesight in his right eye.
Management tried to force Bob to come back to work on alternative duties. Bob declined this offer, the operation was successful and he was recovering at the expected timescale.
From RMT Circular No. IR 283, November 27 2008
Dear Colleagues,
LUL ATTENDANCE POLICY
Examples of Management ignoring or twisting clear policies in relation to attendance have recently been brought to my attention.
We have made it clear that we expect Management to abide by their own policies and have listed a series of serious instances where management seem to have flagrantly breeched the rules. It is unacceptable that policies are ignored and all members should be advised of the seriousness of this matter, which could lead to a major dispute.
What happens if your company's Occupational Health department says that you are fit to return to work after sickness but your own GP says you should stay off work for a while longer? Is your employer allowed to stop your sick pay if you stay off?
No. Case law outlined below explains the legal situation.
Scottish Courage Ltd vs Guthrie EAT/0788/03
The first issue of your RMT Region's new-look quarterly newsletter is out now, and has been mailed to every member at home. It urges members to get ready for the battle ahead to win a decent pay rise; to defend workmates who face victimisation; and to support and unite local disputes in defence of jobs and against management bullying.
Click on the file name below to view, download and/or print it.
by Bill O’Dowd, Trains Council
LUL management can’t get a new Attendance At Work policy, so say they will ‘enforce the existing one’. This means there will be no more ‘not normally counted items’ such as medical treatments at hospital, unless it is an emergency admittance!
by Rick Grogan, RMT rep, East Ham group
On East Ham group there is an ongoing dispute due to management’s disregard of proper procedure and the bullying and unfair sacking of staff.
A meeting with management made things worse, with management now saying you are not entitled to a union rep until you have been off sick for 28 days.
This opens the door to widespread abuse and bullying of staff. We have been struggling for over a year to get management to accept our agreements and now they have shown their contempt and torn up our right to representation when off sick.
If you have a medical appointment, how should you and your manager deal with it?
From 'RMT On The Trains' newsletter, August 2008
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!