London Underground Job Cuts Dispute 2010-11

AFTER MONTHS of accusing tube union RMT of scaremongering over the safety impact of cuts on London Underground, tube bosses this morning put their hands up and admitted that the cuts mean that services are running on dangerous and rotten infrastructure dating back to the 1920's with worse to come in terms of the risks to millions of passengers as the Government lines up further attacks on the TFL budget and the tube upgrade programme.

RMT underground members begin balloting today for strike action across the entire network over jobs and safety cuts.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:

Click '1 attachment' / file name to download this as a 2-page leaflet.

1. Because the merging of the three revenue units into one was a prototype for these cuts. Look at the effects this has had: extremely low morale; higher stress levels; more disjointed, unrealistic workloads for management and admin. Imagine how bad it would be if this was spread to the rest of LUL.

2. Because ticket offices will be shut, passengers won't be able to sort out Oyster problems or buy tickets, so there will be an increase in assaults on staff.

Click '1 attachment' / file name to download this as a 2-page leaflet containing other articles too.

1. London Underground management propose to cut around 800 station staff. This means that they are looking to get maintenance staff who work out on the operational railway attending and assisting in emergency situations eg. If a train gets stalled in a tunnel, with no station staff available, they will send out a callpoint maintainer or technical officer.

From Bob Crow, General Secretary ...

You will shortly be receiving a ballot paper to your home address over the massive job cuts that LUL Management are planning. These disastrous cuts will result in detrimental working conditions and seriously undermine safety of staff and the travelling public.

TUBE UNION RMT has welcomed the tabling of a motion at tomorrow’s London Mayor’s Question Time, in the names of Labour’s Val Shawcross and the Lib Dem’s Caroline Pidgeon, calling on Boris Johnson to review plans to axe 800 station staff jobs and to close or slash the opening times of 245 ticket offices.

Read the ten reasons below. Click '1 attachment' / file name to download a special issue of 'RMT London Calling' for London Underground drivers.

1. Because management want to take risks with our safety by cutting jobs to save money. They are trying to change our procedures so we have to deal with incidents alone, without help from station staff. This will leave us vulnerable both to accidents and assaults, and to disciplinary action if anything goes wrong.

Read the ten reasons below. Click '1 attachment' / file name to download a special issue of 'RMT London Calling for MATS grades.

1. Because these job cuts will be a disaster for all of us - every grade of station staff; other grades of Underground workers; and passengers too.

2. Because LU management are not listening to your union reps in talks. Industrial action will make them listen.

Please find attached the new issue of 'RMT Platform', our newsletter for London Underground station and revenue staff. It reports on what has been happening at talks with the company, explains how the job cuts will affect staff, answers frequently-asked questions, and offers ten reasons why staff should vote Yes in RMT's ballot for industrial action. Please download and distribute widely. Printed copies will also be available at the Regional Office at Unity House.

Circular No IR/171/10 from RMT General Secretary Bob Crow

I write to advise branches that after substantial and detailed preparations, notice has been served on London Underground of a ballot for strike action and action short of a strike over the company’s disastrous plans to cut jobs. Papers will be sent to home addresses shortly and the ballot is due to close on Wednesday 14 July 2010. I would be grateful if you could make your members aware of this situation and urge all LUL members to vote strongly in favour of action to fight these cuts.

RMT has produced over 30 different leaflets for passengers at specific stations. You can download them here.