Author: Paul

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MPs condemn “disgraceful” treatment of tube worker

MPs condemn “disgraceful” treatment of tube workers and calls for Mayor to withdraw imposition of night working

 

London MP Jeremy Corbyn and other MPs have tabled a motion condemning the “disgraceful” treatment of tube workers and calling on the Mayor of London to withdraw the imposition of night working.

 

The motion notes that uncontrolled and unmanaged night work can have a serious impact on the physical and mental health and well-being of employees as well as a detrimental impact on family and social life with MPs saying they are

 

“appalled that the Mayor of London is imposing night working on tube workers without their agreement and is dismayed that tube workers who have only just recently been rightly lauded as some of the heroes of 7/7 are now being treated in such a disgraceful manner.”

 

The motion also expresses concern that the night tube  “is being rushed in on the back of massive cuts to staffing and strains on the existing infrastructure, raising genuine concerns amongst the workforce that the safety and service to passengers and workers will be jeopardized.”

 

The motion calls for the Mayor to withdraw the imposition of night working on tube workers and instead seek agreement with their trade unions on proper and safe staffing levels and working arrangements.

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RATES OF PAY AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE 2015 – NETWORK RAIL

 

 

Circular No IR/162/15

 

8th July 2015

 

TO ALL BRANCHES, REGIONAL COUNCILS AND REGIONAL OFFICES

 

Dear Colleagues,

 

RATES OF PAY AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE 2015 – NETWORK RAIL

 

Further to my previous circular IR/153/15, 24th June 2015, Branches will be aware that after many months in dispute, the latest offer from Network Rail has been accepted by members in a referendum. This dispute was ongoing for over 6 months and has demonstrated what can be achieved when members stand firm and are prepared to take strike action to fight for a fair deal on jobs and pay. This was the first national dispute since the Signallers’ strike in 1994 and the only time since privatisation where Operations and Maintenance staff have had their pay negotiated at the same time. For the benefit of branches I will summarise how we reached the final accepted agreement.

 

At our very first pay meeting towards the end of 2014, management stated from the outset that any increase for 2015 would have to be self-funded, i.e. members would have to sell terms and conditions in order to get anything at all. On top of that they offered the inferior CPI Inflation for the next three years and most importantly refused to extend their No Compulsory Redundancy Agreement which ran out at the end of 2014.

 

After we rejected any sort of productivity strings, Network Rail offered no increase whatsoever for 2015 and RPI for the next three years. Members massively rejected this offer by 95% in a referendum, so we entered into dispute and a ballot was called for strike action and action short of a strike. Members voted by a massive 80% in favour of strike action with a 60% turnout of all members, smashing the Government’s planned thresholds for union ballots.

 

Strike action was called for the end of May with a 24 hour strike and an overtime, additional hours and callouts ban put in place. Network Rail, under the extreme pressure from RMT members, who were rock solid in their support of the planned action, tabled a new proposal which resulted in the action being suspended. This offer was for a £500 one off lump sum for 2015, RPI for the next three years and a no compulsory Redundancy guarantee until the end of 2016.  Following consultation with Area Council representatives the overwhelming view was that this offer was still not good enough so the proposal was rejected.

 

The GGC then called industrial action including a 24 hour and a 48 hour strike as well as an overtime, additional hours and callouts ban for the beginning of June.  Once again the resolve of our Network Rail members was incredible and management were left in no doubt there would a total shutdown of the network if they didn’t come back with a major improvement. Talks held at ACAS resulted in an improved two year offer which was subsequently accepted by members in a referendum.  The full details of the agreement is as outlined below: –

 

Pay

 

2015 – A 2% consolidated increase in basic rates of pay backdated to 1st January 2015.

 

2016 – A consolidated increase equal to November 2015 RPI with effect from 1st January 2016.

 

Redundancies

 

No compulsory redundancies for those members covered by this pay claim until 31st December 2016.

 

Job Security

 

Network Rail and the Trades Unions will enter into discussion to agree a comprehensive job security package working within the principles of PTR&R, which includes:

 

Voluntary Severance (VS)

Extending VS to those not affected but who want to go, via “bumping”

Publication of a national Network Rail vacancy list

Re-training

Relocation

Trial-period opportunities

 

Efficiency and Improvement Project (Completely separate from pay discussions)

 

Separate to the pay proposals, under the auspices of ACAS, discussions will be held with  Network Rail as part of an Efficiency and Improvement Project to deliver savings.

 

This will not affect members’ terms and conditions and these discussions have not held up the pay award. The General Grades Committee will consider any formal proposals that emerge and the affected members would be fully consulted in the normal way.

 

The issues proposed for discussion are as follows: –

 

  • Safe and efficient working practices and processes which identify methods to drive down incidents and accidents.
  • Examine opportunities to reduce labour-only, agency, sub-contract supplier and consultancy costs.
  • Joint review to create opportunities in our maintenance, operations and controllers teams to enable enhanced efficiency and improvements.
  • Develop a forum between Network Rail and RMT, TSSA and Unite as appropriate, to examine options for reducing waste from the business to enable further efficiencies to be made.
  • Creating single ‘point care’ teams.
  • Cross boundary working for response teams within Route for incidents and disruption.
  • Develop technology for placing of detonators and PLBs thus releasing staff for other work.
  • Train and deploy resident signallers to work adjacent mechanical signal boxes on a voluntary basis for an agreed premium.

 

Final proposals on implementation plans for any agreed changes would be delivered by 30th November 2015.

 

The above agreement means members get two years of consolidated pay increases and a two year no compulsory redundancy guarantee. When you consider that at the start Network Rail were adamant that members would have to sell off terms and conditions in order to get a pay rise and refused to guarantee no redundancies, the solidarity of members and their support for the negotiating team clearly forced Network Rail to radically alter their position.  At a time of major cost cutting and real uncertainty for members over jobs, this deal is a major achievement and I congratulate our Network Rail members for making this possible.

 

Talks will begin in the near future to discuss the Efficiency and Improvement Project under the auspices of ACAS.  Branches will be kept fully informed of any proposals that arise from this project.

 

Yours sincerely

Mick Cash

General Secretary

 

 

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LUL Strike ON

General Secretary Mick Cash said

 

“Despite strenuous efforts by union negotiators to press London Underground to address the issues of fairness, safety, worklife balance and equality at the heart of this dispute they have come up with nothing in the talks this afternoon.

 

“The action is on and RMT will be mobilising picket lines and effective action with our sister unions and there are no further talks planned at this stage. ”

 

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RMT to recommend rejection of "divisive and unacceptable" LU pay offer

6th July 2015

IMMEDIATE

 

RMT to recommend rejection of “divisive and unacceptable” LU pay offer

 

 

RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said:

 

“RMT has received the latest offer from London Underground during the ACAS talks today.

 

“Our representatives on London Underground have discussed it and are clear that it is divisive and unacceptable. While a small minority of staff are being offered a non-consolidated one-off lump sum the remainder of staff are ignored and the key issues of work/life balance and the personal health and safety concerns are side lined. The deal as it stands is financed off the back of the proposed axing of over 800 safety-critical station jobs and is deliberately constructed to play individuals off against each other in the most cynical fashion.

 

“RMT is a democratic organisation and the views of our reps on LU are being taken into account. There will be a meeting of the union executive tomorrow morning at which there will be a recommendation to reject the offer. As is normal in all industrial negotiations RMT will remain available for talks.”

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Blacklisting

  1. High Court

The next dates for the High Court group litigation is set for 14th July – it will be a very busy schedule covering disclosure of documents, destroyed evidence, expert witnesses etc.. If all items are not finished, the hearing will carry over into the 15th July.

 

  1. Pitchford public inquiry into undercover policing

BSG have sent an official submission to the Home Office regarding the remit for the upcoming Pitchford Inquiry into undercover policing. We called for there to be a full investigation into undercover police infiltration of unions to spy on activists. Teresa May is expected to announce the full scope of the inquiry sometime in mid-July.

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/undercover-with-paul-lewis-and-rob-evans/2015/jun/30/trade-unionists-call-for-public-inquiry-to-examine-claims-that-police-spied-on-them

http://rt.com/uk/270676-trade-unions-police-spying/

http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/a-f936-MET-SILENT-ON-BLACKLIST-SPY#.VZUgYvlViko

 

  1. Teeside #PayTheRate Protests

The ongoing SITA dispute in Teeside is still attracting 100s of workers to weekly early morning protests. Last week, scores of activists turned up unannounced at the Liverpool offices of the MRWA to press their point home. Keep up the good work brothers & sisters – you are leading the fightback against the attacks on our terms & conditions.

For more info and updates about the latest actions follow Teeside Construction Activists on FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Teesside-Construction-Activists/429641457200160?fref=nf

 

  1. Blacklisting events – Dates for the Diary in July

Thu 2nd (6:30pm) – Defend Our Unions, ULU

Sat 4th (all day) – National Shop Stewards Conference – Conway Hall, Holborn

Thu 9th (6:30pm) – Blacklisted book event – Black Pig, Tunbridge Wells, Kent – with Helen Clifford

Fri 10th (5:30pm) – Durham Miners Gala Education 4 Action event – NUM Offices, Redhills – in association with People’s Bookshop

Sat 11th (2pm) – Blacklisted workers filmed discussion, London – in association with film maker Lucy Parker – please contact BSG ASAP if you are interested in attending.

Tue 14th (10am) – High Court blacklisting trial case management hearing

Tue 14th (6:30pm) – TUCG Tolpuddle Seminar – Jubilee Room, Houses of Parliament – with MPs & Gen Secs www.tucg.org.uk

Wed 15th (10am) – High Court day 2 (tbc)

Wed 15th (7pm) – Hackney TUC

Sat 18th – Tolpuddle Festival

Thu 23rd – Dave Smith arrest trial – City of London Magistrates Court

 

https://www.facebook.com/Education4ActionTheStruggleforJustice

http://englandevents.co.uk/durham-book-launch-dave-smiths-blacklisted-the-secret-war/303066

 

  1. Get Carillion out of Liverpool

BSG are working with Spirit of Shankly supporters group in Liverpool FC about the contract given to blacklisting firm Carillion to redevelop the Anfield stadium.

BSG are also involved in ongoing meetings with Trust operating New Royal Liverpool Hospital that has also awarded a contract to Carillion.

Watch this space – this could get very big.

 

  1. Blacklist Support Group at Glastonbury Festival

BSG were at Glastonbury Festival appearing at Leftfield stage, Speakers Forum in the Green Futures Field and the Reel News installation in Shangri-La. Phil Chamberlain, Tom Fowler, Martin Smith, Shaun Dey, Merrick Badger, Dave Smith were flying the flag. All the photos are on social media

 

  1. Other Blacklisting news items:

Michelle Stanistreet, NUJ Gen Sec review in the Morning Star: http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/a-7520-Intimidation-on-an-industrial-scale

http://www.ardrossanherald.com/news/roundup/articles/2015/06/26/537153-north-ayrshire-council-to-call-for-inquiry-into-construction-worker-blacklisting/

Join Blacklist Support Group on FaceBook or follow @daveblacklist on Twitter for the most up to date news as it breaks

 

Tunbridge Wells flyer

 

Blacklist Support Group

book: http://newint.org/books/politics/blacklisted-secret-war/

video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlCa8yQmZ70

blog: www.hazards.org/blacklistblog

facebook: http://www.facebook.com/groups/blacklistSG/

 

 

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Rate of Pay and Conditions of Service 2015 and Night Running LONDON UNDERGROUND

1 July 2015

London Underground

Our Ref LUL/0001

1st July 2015

TO ALL LONDON UNDERGROUND MEMBERS

Dear Colleagues

Rate of Pay and Conditions of Service 2015 and Night Running LONDON UNDERGROUND

Firstly you should all be congratulated for the massive yes vote in favour of industrial action which sends a clear message to LUL that RMT members stand united and are prepared to fight for a fair pay increase.

The company’s below inflation offer on pay and Night tube is simply not good enough. It would see your pay fall well behind the rate of inflation and will see you burdened with even more unsociable hours, bring an end to any meaningful work/life balance, and dilute your hard fought terms and conditions.

Their pathetic one off lump sum offer for introducing Night Tube is frankly insulting. A £500 lump sum paid in two stages for COO and CPD Operational Staff, with £250 extra for Drivers, Track and Signal Staff, goes nowhere near far enough to compensate for the major upheaval this will mean for your working arrangements.

The General Grades Committee has considered the clear and overwhelming mandate from members and has decided to call you and your colleagues to take the industrial action outlined below.

All LU members, excluding Train Operators And Instructor Operators are instructed not to book on for any shifts that commence between:-

•    18.30 hours Wednesday 8th July 2015 and 18.29 hours Thursday 9th July 2015

Train Operator and Instructor Operator members only are instructed not to book on for any duties that commence between: –

•    21.30 hours  Wednesday 8th July 2015 and 21.29 hours Thursday 9th July 2015

ALL LU members are instructed not to work any overtime from 21.30 hours on Thursday 9th July 2015 until further notice.

I urge LUL members to stand shoulder to shoulder with your colleagues during the days of action. We must send a clear message to LU and their political masters that we will accept nothing less than a substantially improved offer. It is your hard work and dedication that keeps London running and its only right you should receive a decent offer that keeps pace with the cost of living and reflects the long hours and hard work you do.

SUPPORT THE ACTION
UNITY IS STRENGTH

Yours sincerely

Mick Cash
General Secretary

Posted on

PARENTAL LEAVE

My ref: EO/3

1st July 2015

Circular No. NP/117/15

 

TO: THE SECRETARY

ALL BRANCHES & REGIONAL COUNCILS

 

Dear Colleague,

 

PARENTAL LEAVE

Following new rules introduced in April this year, parents with at least one year’s service with their current employer qualify for 18 weeks’ unpaid parental leave per child, which can be taken any time up until the child’s 18th birthday. Previously only parents with children under five were eligible for this EU-derived right.

The statutory right is to unpaid leave which has to be taken in blocks of one week. However, employers can go beyond the statutory minimum and pay the leave or allow it to be taken on a daily or more flexible basis.  The leave must be requested 21 days in advance.

With schools breaking up for the summer holidays in the next couple of weeks, parents who might want to use this unpaid time off work should let their employers know as soon as possible. Employers can postpone parental leave for up to six months if they feel it would unduly disrupt the business.

The TUC’s guides to leave and pay for working parents are available at https://www.tuc.org.uk/equality-issues/gender-equality/caring

 

Please contact our Equal Opportunities Officer, Jess Webb ([email protected]) with any queries.

 

Yours sincerely,

Posted on

Jeremy Corbin

Transport union backs Jeremy Corbyn’s bid for Labour leadership.

 

At its Annual General Meeting in Newcastle today, transport union RMT voted to endorse Jeremy Corbyn’s bid for the Labour Party leadership.

 

Mick Cash, RMT General Secretary, said;

 

“RMT’s AGM has voted to support Jeremy Corbyn’s bid for the Labour Party leadership and to provide whatever practical assistance we can.

 

“Jeremy has been a long standing member of RMT’s parliamentary group and has stood shoulder to shoulder with RMT members in every sector whenever and wherever they have been in struggle.

 

“Jeremy’s standing on a platform of opposition to austerity, support for public ownership and for the repeal of the anti-union laws. That platform matches much of RMT’s core campaigning programme and we are delighted to be backing him. “

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CHARGING FOR PPE EQUIPMENT BY AGENCIES

 CHARGING FOR PPE EQUIPMENT BY AGENCIES

 

It was made known to me that some agencies who currently provide staff to Interserve were charging their employees for the PPE they are required to wear to carry out duties for London Underground whilst working for Interserve.

 

Information received suggested that they were being charged £35 for boots, which can only be purchased from the agency, £5 for bump hats, £5 for Hi Vi vest, as well as being charged for overalls and safety goggles.

 

Under the PPE at Work Regulations 1992, Regulation 4 it states Employers shall provide PPE and training in the use of that PPE to their employees. It states in the H&S at Work Act 1974 that no charges can be made to workers for PPE if it is used in the workplace.

 

As you can imagine, a lot of the staff involved in this would be on zero hour contracts which makes the situation even more unpalatable. I duly raised the matter with LUL in the strongest terms.

 

This resulted in management carrying out a thorough review of the practices in place within their direct contractors as well as their sub-contractors. They claim there was no evidence of employees or other workers having to purchase their own PPE or other safety-related equipment, however, there did appear to have been “….a practice among a small number of organisations whereby new workers were asked to pay a refundable deposit of £60 when PPE was first distributed.” This appears to tally with the total of the sums given above.

 

LUL did accept that whether or not such practice is consistent with the relevant legislation, RMT was right to say it is not appropriate or acceptable. They have therefore instructed their contractors to ensure that both they and any subcontractors cease this practice with immediate effect. They also undertook to monitor the situation.

 

I am sure you share my delight in seeing such a dodgy working practice getting kicked into touch. In closing I would like to thank our Fleet Representatives for bringing this matter to my attention.

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

John Leach

REGIONAL ORGANISER

 

 

 

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Report on the National Women’s Advisory Committee Wednesday 10 June 15

Report on the National Women’s Advisory Committee Wednesday 10 June 15

There are 40 Members for the RMT National Women’s Advisory Committee with 10 vacancies still open. Our meetings are very well attended with lots of interaction and views about various issues.

The General Secretary Mick Cash was in attendance today. He gave a talk on the current events and some disputes which were ongoing around the country.

Janet Cassidy of North Clyde Branch announced that she was retiring from her job and so was standing down from her positions in the RMT. She will be taking up other duties in the STUC. Mick Cask presented her with flowers and some crystal glasses to thank her for all the hard work that she had contributed to the RMT.

We also welcomed three members of the Council of Executives (CoE) to our meeting. A written report was received from the Equal Rights Sub-Committee which came from the resolutions put to the CoE. Please see review below:

  1. RMT – Coverage of Equalities Issues

The view of the Committee was that the coverage of women’s and other equality issues has been good and reasonably prominent in the RMT News given the pressures on space in the journal.

  1. Challenging Sexism and Sexual Harassment at Work

The following actions are being carried out:

  • Negotiate a sexual harassment policy with all companies with whom we have recognition.
  • Ensure all industrial and health and safety representatives are trained in identifying and dealing with sexual harassment and;
  • Produce a guidance booklet and place before the CoE after consulting with our advisory committees.
  1. Violence Against Women Transport Workers Poster

The poster which was produced by the RMT is being printed up and will be distributed to the Branches before the UN Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on 25 November.

The next RMT National Women’s Conference 2016 will be held in Scarborough. The dates are to be confirmed as the March dates are conflicting with others conferences taking place.

There is a Women’s training course taking place in Doncaster on 25-26 September. All Women members are welcome to attend.

The Women’s Advisory Committee are Celebrating 100 Years of Women in the RMT at the Houses of Parliament, 25 November 2015 between 5-7pm. The RMT Parliamentary Group will be invited to speak. Further details will follow about the invitations to this event.

One resolution was discussed which was supporting two women members, ISS cleaners who were subject to physical sexual harassment. On discussion we felt that a letter of support and a petition should be arranged.

The next meetings will be 23 September and 25 November.

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Blacklisting

The Blacklist Support Group (BSG) has made a formal submission to the Home Office with suggested Terms of Reference for the Pitchford Inquiry into undercover policing, calling for the judge led inquiry to investigate police surveillance of trade union members. The Pitchford Inquiry was set up by Teresa May before the General Election, in response to revelations that undercover police units spied on bereaved relatives of murder victims, including the Stephen Lawrence family and had long term sexual relationships with women activists they were spying on. BSG are being legally represented by the prominent human rights solicitor Imran Khan, who has supported the blacklisted construction workers since presenting an IPCC complaint about police collusion in blacklisting back in 2012. Imran Khan is also representing Doreen Lawrence in the Pitchford Inquiry. The deadline for such submission is tomorrow (Wednesday 24th June) and the final remit is expected to be published by the end of July.

 

Proposed Terms of Reference for the Public Inquiry into Undercover policing from the Blacklist Support Group:

 

“To inquire into and make recommendations as to the role, conduct and governance of the police service and her majesty’s Government in the establishment and deployment of undercover and covert operations, with specific regard to the Special Demonstration Squad, National Extremism Tactical Coordination Unit and any other similar units in the police and in particular, to consider: 

  • The surveillance of trade union activists and trade union supported campaigns;
  • The provision of information by the police, whether directly or indirectly, of information contained on databases they have access to, to businesses about prospective employees;
  • The collusion, specifically with the Economic League and the Consulting Association and any other similar organisations, in the blacklisting of trade union members;
  • The outsourcing of state surveillance operations to private contractors;
  • The level and degree of political oversight into the above operations;
  • The extent to which the police were assisted in the above operations by the security services;
  • The circumstances of, and the reasons for, the loss, destruction and /or unavailability of documentation with regard to the matters above.

The Inquiry will also consider how to fulfill the objectives set out in these Terms of Reference by considering, in particular, the:

  • Extent and degree of protection from prosecution, under the Official Secrets Act or any other relevant legislation, of any witnesses giving information / evidence including whistleblowers;
  • Extent and degree to which the police’s stated position of ‘Neither Confirm Nor Deny’ affects a transparent and thorough investigation into the matters set out above”. 

The covering letter to the Home Office from Imran Khan states:

 

“In 2009, following a raid by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) at premises connected to The Consulting Association (hereinafter “TCA”), it was discovered that there was a database of secret files kept on 3123 trade union activists by some of the largest multi-national building firms in the UK.  The database was used to deny trade union activists work on major projects and was a continuation of a process that had been previously conducted by the Services Group within an organisation called the Economic League. There is prima facie evidence that some of the information on the database originated from or was provided by the police. Given this, a complaint was lodged with the Independent Police Complaint Commission (hereinafter IPCC) whose initial scoping of the complaint confirmed that “every Special Branch in the country routinely provided information about prospective employees”. 

 

In addition to the trade union members, around 200 environmental and social justice activists also appear on the blacklist, including some of the women spied on by the undercover police that led to the inquiry to be set up.

 

Dave Smith, BSG secretary commented:

“3 years ago, when the BSG started talking about the police colluding with big business to spy on trade union members, people looked at us as if we were paranoid conspiracy theorists. But we refused to let it lie and now the evidence is beyond dispute: senior police officers were actively participating with the Consulting Association blacklisting operation. Trade unions are a perfectly legal part of civil society. Why are we being infiltrated by undercover police units and why is the state sharing intelligence with big business?

 

It is only because we were prepared to kick up a stink that the evidence about police collusion has slowly come to light. We now call upon the Pitchford Inquiry to carry out a thorough and transparent investigation into the out of control anti-democratic practices of these secret political police units. A first step would be for the Inquiry to be given a wide enough remit to uncover the truth, rather than being so narrowly defined that we get another establishment whitewash”

 

Imran Khan commented:

“It is extremely sad to note that it often takes many years, grave injustices and tenacious individuals to uncover discreditable conduct in society. Those involved in the BSG have been bearing the brunt of severe injustices for a long time. Their hardship in doing so has not diminished their tenacity in seeking to throw light on this most murky of worlds. The Public Inquiry to be chaired by Lord Justice Pitchford will give the BSG the opportunity to not only uncover what happened to them but also ensure that the general public finally hears what went on and that the conduct complained of never happens again.”

 

John McDonnell MP, who has championed the cause of blacklisted workers in parliament commented:

“Thousands of innocent trade unionists and their families have suffered at the hands of blacklisting companies. They deserve a thorough and open inquiry to bring out the truth of how they were victimised and harmed by blacklisting.”

 

 

 

 

Posted on

LUL Ballot

Dear Colleagues,

If you wish to see how to fill in a ballot paper to vote yes, see attached below

 

Ballot Paper

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