Category: LUL

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TFL/LUL TRANSFORMATION (LUL/15/4)

TFL/LUL TRANSFORMATION (LUL/15/4)
 
Further to my previous Circular (IR/80/19, 22nd February 2019) and as you may be aware, TfL/LUL is undergoing a process called ‘Transformation’ which aims to cut costs and make savings by making job cuts. LUL has recently announced a further raft of job losses affecting members in Track Access Control, Power Control, Service Control, LUCC, Skills Development, Waste, Pumps, Stations Buildings & Civils and Signals Incidents. The Company has given formal notice of the start of 90 days of consultations and advised that the effective commencement date was Tuesday 26th March 2019.
 
RMT is of course opposed to the whole Transformation process and determined to make sure that the Company follows the correct procedures and adheres to our agreements during this process. The Union previously received an assurance from LUL that this would be the case so I am shocked that once again, they are pressing ahead with issuing formal notifications.
 
I have written to the Company to demand that section 6.1.1. of the Main Framework Agreement is immediately and properly adhered to. This states that any changes in relation to staffing levels will only be carried out following full consultation and negotiation with the trades unions. This has not been the case so far as no negotiation has taken place and no safety review or validation has been provided.
 
As a result of the above and due to LUL breaching key main agreement principles, RMT will advise the Company at the meeting next Tuesday that unless we are provided with the relevant information including the full proposals and full information on all safety aspects, we will withdraw from the 90 day consultation.
 
The National Executive Committee will consider this matter again next week and I will keep Branches advised of all further developments.
 
Yours sincerely
Mick Cash
Posted on

RMT racks up another important victory in campaign to halt London Overground ticket office closures

RMT racks up another important victory in campaign to halt London Overground ticket office closures

 

RAIL UNION RMT today racked up another important victory in the campaign to halt the London Overground ticket office closure programme but warned that the battle is far from over.

At a packed London Travelwatch board meeting today the independent passenger watchdog recognised that the proposal from Arriva Rail London to close 51 ticket offices ”is not a clear cut situation” and they need more answers to questions which were raised.

 

London Travelwatch said that: “As a passenger body it was entirely legitimate that the board raised its concerns and that it gets answers”. The two main areas were issues around the capability of ticket machines and the level of footfall at these stations, which for 39 of them is well over a million entries and exits a year.

 

Mick Cash RMT General Secretary said;

 

”I welcome the interim decision of the board  and hope that all the genuine concerns of passengers and staff  around safety, accessibility, security and machine reliability are looked at and fully taken into account before any final decision is made. RMT believes firmly that there is no case for any closures. Today we have recorded another important victory in our campaign to halt the ticket office closure programme but the battle is far from over.

 

“I repeat again that London Mayor Sadiq Khan should heed the calls of passengers and their representatives and withdraw now his support from this flawed plan to close the ticket offices”.

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12th September 2018 RMT Circular

 

OFFICIAL CIRCULAR

 

TO ALL BRANCHES AND REPRESENTATIVES

ALL UNDERGROUND AND FORMER LT EMPLOYERS

 

 

12th September 2018                                                   Circular No: IR/403/18

 

Dear Colleague,

 

BREAKDOWN IN INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS, TRAIN OPERATORS, PICCADILLY LINE – LONDON UNDERGROUND (LUL/14/2)

 

Further to my previous Circular (IR/314/18, 16th July 2018) when the previous strike action dates were suspended, Branches will recall that further work was necessary towards the implementation of the promises that the Company gave in the Offer of Agreement.

 

We were of course hopeful that these talks would go smoothly and the dispute would be fully resolved but regrettably, management are up to their old tricks again and have not come good on the assurances related to this dispute concerning Driver Numbers; Pressure on Drivers from Service Control Management; Release of Reps for TU Duties and Application of the Attendance and Disciplinary Policies.

 

The National Executive Committee has therefore considered this matter again and taken the decision to call on all Piccadilly Line Driver members to take strike action by not booking on for any shifts that commence between:-

 

  • 12:00 hours on Wednesday 26th September 2018 and 12:00 hours on Friday 28th September 2018

 

  • 20:30 hours on Friday 28th September 2018 and 01:30 hours on Saturday 29th September 2018

 

It is unacceptable for members to be treated in the same manner which led to this dispute in the first place and for agreements made in trust and good faith by our Reps to be totally disregarded by management. I will keep Branches advised of all further developments.

 

BREAKDOWN IN INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS, TRAIN OPERATORS, CENTRAL LINE – LONDON UNDERGROUND (LUL/14/2)

 

Industrial relations on the Central Line have been deteriorating now for some time, a situation which is exacerbated by Senior Line Management acting in a hostile manner and obstructing our Reps in their efforts to seek a resolution and improve conditions for all Drivers on the Central Line. Despite several meetings with the Company having taken place, there has been no progress made and the consensus from affected members is that this situation now represents a breakdown in industrial relations and cannot continue any longer.

 

The issues which form this dispute are: breaches of our local agreements; undue pressure on Drivers from Service Control management who routinely treat Driver members with contempt for adhering to the framework agreements – a review of communications and service recovery was promised two years ago but has never materlialised; obstruction of our representatives’ trade union duties by refusing release requests and meeting requests; misuse of the attendance at work policy with reports of management harassing members who are fit and at work and raising historic issues; inadequate welfare facilities, especially for Night Tube Drivers.

 

The National Executive Committee has taken the decision to ballot all Central Line Train Operators, Night Tube Train Operators and Instructor Operators over this issue and I am currently making the necessary preparations for the ballot to commence. I will keep Branches advised of all further developments.

 

DISMISSAL, P. BAILEY – LONDON UNDERGROUND (LUL/4/1)

 

Further to my previous Circular (IR/277/18, 20th June 2018), Branches will recall that RMT member and Union Learning Rep Paul Bailey has been dismissed from his position as a Train Operator at Leytonstone Traincrew Depot in a manner which calls into question the integrity of the entire drugs and alcohol policy and testing regime.

 

Throughout this case there have been numerous failings by the Company in the application of the disciplinary procedure and it is clear to the Union that the facts of this case have been grossly misinterpreted by the Company and evidence provided has been ignored. The appeal hearing officer was not impartial having previously investigated and conducted grievances raised by Paul over the same disciplinary process leading to his dismissal. Also the ‘factual’ findings in the appeal outcome letter only serve to further confuse the situation. The appeal hearing resulted in the dismissal being upheld and the Company has so far refused any further review into this case.

 

Remember, if management are allowed to get away with this kind of behaviour and sack members at will, by making up the facts and procedures as they go along to suit themselves, it leaves all members at risk of being the next victim.

 

The National Executive Committee has taken the decision to ballot all Central Line Train Operators, Night Tube Train Operators and Instructor Operators over this issue and I am currently making the necessary preparations for the ballot to commence. I will keep Branches advised of all further developments.

 

Yours sincerely

Mick Cash

General Secretary

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SOO Waivers: Electrocuting PWT’s

It has come to the attention that LUL are looking at ways to cut back on safety to enable trains to run in the event of an over run of engineering works during engineering hours by using trains to do line searches rather than people. This would be in the event that a PWT-EH has ‘not cleared the road’.

 

RMT Members already do a great job, in often difficult conditions, with regards to making sure people complete their journeys everyday, however, this will not be over the electrocuted bodies of our track workers.

 

 

It is obvious to most people that doing this would involve turning the traction current back on and potentially electrocuting staff working on the track. The thought of a train coming through a tunnel itself is enough to scare the living daylights out of most people.

 

To be clear on this matter, the RMT will not accept our members lives being put at risk in this manner and have notified LUL that we will not shy away from balloting all our members that access the track in every company we have members if necessary.

 

We are happy to work on ways that allow members to communicate better and remain available for further talks.

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SOO Waivers

Many of you will know that we have had serious concerns with LULs wildly dangerous interpretation of the SOO waiver process .

 

This ended up as a compliant to the ORR .

 

There have been some developments which robustly back up our argument on the criteria of the waiver.

 

The ORR have stated the following in correspondence with LUL ( see below ) .

 

* waivers must be issued on safety grounds .

* waivers must be issued if the rule being waived is less safe than the waiver

* waivers can’t be issued on the grounds of reputational damage

* waivers can’t be issued on the grounds of customer service.

 

There is still work to be done on the issue of waivers and stations CCEP which us and TSSA are currently putting together .

 

Attached is the letter from LUL in response .  They are evidently not happy and are looking to fight it .

 

We will be writing to the director of safety in the next 24 hours , setting out our position in light of the ORR.

 

Many of you will know that we have had serious concerns with LULs wildly dangerous interpretation of the SOO waiver process .

 

This ended up as a compliant to the ORR .

 

There have been some developments which robustly back up our argument on the criteria of the waiver.

 

The ORR have stated the following in correspondence with LUL

 

* waivers must be issued on safety grounds .

* waivers must be issued if the rule being waived is less safe than the waiver

* waivers can’t be issued on the grounds of reputational damage * waivers can’t be issued on the grounds of customer service.

 

There is still work to be done on the issue of waivers and stations CCEP which us and TSSA are currently putting together .

 

Attached is the letter from LUL in response .  They are evidently not happy and are looking to fight it .

 

We will be writing to the director of safety in the next 24 hours , setting out our position in light of the ORR and will cover this for all functions . John – I will send this to you first .

 

 

ORR SOO Waiver August 2018

 

 

 

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Latest RMT Circular 17 8 18

17th August 2018                                                                     Circular No: IR/372/18

 

Dear Colleague,

 

REMOVAL OF DETRAINMENT STAFF, WATERLOO, WATERLOO & CITY LINE – LONDON UNDERGROUND (LUL/14/10)

 

Further to my previous Circular (IR/340/18, 27th July 2018), the ballot closed with the following result:-

 

Question: Are you prepared to take industrial action short of a strike?

 

Number of individuals who were entitled to vote in the ballot:                          67

Number of votes cast in the ballot:                                                                   53

Number of individuals answering “Yes” to the question:                                   53

Number of individuals answering “No” to the question:                                    0

Number of spoiled or otherwise invalid voting papers returned:                        0

 

This matter has been considered by the National Executive Committee, which has congratulated members on the magnificent 100% yes vote to take industrial action.

 

The NEC has taken the decision to instruct all Train Operator and Instructor Operator members at Leytonstone Traincrew Depot to take industrial action and not to enter the sidings to reverse until the train has been physically checked and doors closed on porter buttons from 00:01 hours on Sunday 9th September 2018, until further notice.

 

While we remain available for talks to resolve this dispute, we cannot accept the Company’s dangerous cost-cutting plans to remove detrainment staff from the Waterloo and City Line at Waterloo Station. I will keep Branches advised of all further developments.

 

CANTEEN CLOSURE, HARROW, METROPOLITAN LINE – LONDON UNDERGROUND (LUL/8/13)

 

Further to my previous Circular (IR/355/18, 9th August 2018), I wrote to the Company giving two options, either to reinstate the canteen at Harrow or make arrangements for members to take booked meal breaks in other staff canteen location on the Metropolitan Line. The Company has now replied and refused to meet either of these options or provide any alternative solution.

 

The National Executive Committee has considered this matter and finds the company position sets an unacceptable precedent for members across the network. The NEC has taken the decision to arrange a meeting of our H&S and IR Reps from the Metropolitan Line, Neasden Branch Officers, Trains Safety Council and the Lead Officer. I will keep Branches advised of all further developments.

 

TFL TRANSFORMATION (TFL/15/4)

 

Further to my previous Circular (IR/277/18, 20th June 2018), the following resolution has been received from our LU Fleet Branch:-

 

“In regard to the removal of Fleet Materials members to Network, Planning and Services under Transformation; our brothers and sisters within Fleet Materials have been summarily removed from Fleet and placed into Network, Planning and Services without any notice or consultation, despite assurances given that Fleet members would not be affected by Transformation.

 

Having been told in mitigation that the machinery will remain unchanged, it takes little more than a desultory review to clearly see multiple scenarios which would now see them divided from their Fleet comrades during disputes.

 

We view this action as an attack on all Fleet members in an attempt to mollify future actions and we must not stand by and allow our Fleet brothers and sisters to be moved to a business area under attack from cuts due to austerity without any consultation or agreement. What is to say this is the extent of the vision in order to circumvent previous assurances?

 

This divisive action serves only to undermine our members’ position, having stood firmly with their Fleet comrades through any number of hard fought disputes and the time has now come for all Fleet grades to reciprocate that support.

 

We demand that all materials members who have been removed from Fleet be immediately returned to their pre-Transformation status of Fleet staff. Any further consultation upon their status will only be undertaken upon this action and with their full consent”.

 

This matter has been considered by the National Executive Committee, which has taken the decision to seek an urgent meeting with the company to raise our concerns and objections with the aim of full reintegration of our Fleet Materials Stores members back into the Fleet family. I am acting in accordance with this decision and will keep Branches advised of all further developments.

 

VENDOR MANAGED INVENTORY SYSTEM, FLEET MATERIALS – LUL (LUL/15/9)

 

The following resolution has been received from our LU Fleet Branch:-

 

“In regard to the removal of Vendor Managed Inventory from Fleet Materials; approximately one year ago, our brothers and sisters within Fleet Materials were asked to trial a system called Vendor Managed Inventory. This system involved outside suppliers taking over management of stock control on items such as nuts and bolts held within the Stores. Despite clear reservations of their core work being outsourced to private companies, they were persuaded to get on board with this system in the promise that other (more technical) work was being created as part of their role.

 

Roll on one year later and the entire scope of VMI has completely changed. It would appear that any and every avenue for items to be contracted out is being exhausted, which in turn is completely eroding the role of a storeman; even the (more technical) work which was promised has failed to materialise!

 

It has become abundantly clear that privatisation by stealth is being employed in a furtive attempt to remove the necessity of Materials members to manage their own inventory. Furthermore, having also been summarily removed from Fleet into Network, Planning and Services; a business area under attack from cuts due to austerity without any consultation or agreement, the true proposed future for our Fleet Materials members is beginning to reveal itself. What is to say this is the extent of the division within Fleet, in order to circumvent previous agreements and assurances?

 

This management stream’s deceitful action in order to gain members confidence has resulted in an atmosphere of suspicion, distrust and mistrust. This surreptitious attack on our brothers and sister in Fleet Materials will not and must not be tolerated.

 

We demand an immediate end to all VMI and associated outsourcing of core Materials work to external contractors”.

 

This matter has been considered by the National Executive Committee, which has taken the decision to seek an urgent meeting with the company to raise our concerns and objections with the view of an immediate end to all VMI and associated outsourcing of core Materials work to external contractors. I am acting in accordance with this decision and will keep Branches advised of all further developments.

 

RATES OF PAY & CONDITIONS OF SERVICE 2018 – EXTERION MEDIA (LUL/0001/EM)

 

In line with union policy, a pay claim for an increase in pay and improved terms and conditions was submitted to the company. The Regional Organiser has met with them and the following offer has been tabled:-

 

  • A 2% increase, backdated to 1st April 2018
  • A 2% increase, from 1st April 2019

 

Following a consultation of affected members, the Lead Officer submitted a report to the National Executive Committee, which noted the unacceptable below inflation pay offer. The NEC has taken the decision to inform the Company of our rejection of their derisory offer and that a dispute situation now exists between our organisations.

 

I am currently acting in accordance with this decision and in the meantime, would be grateful for all Branches to ensure members’ job details and postal addresses are correct in preparation for a ballot for industrial action.

 

Yours sincerely

Mick Cash

General Secretary

 

Posted on

RMT Circular 23rd May 2018

INTRODUCTION OF WTT15 – TRAIN OPERATORS – JUBILEE LINE, LONDON UNDERGROUND (LUL/14/2)

 

Further to my previous Circular (IR/228/18, 10th May 2018), the ballot has concluded with members voting as follows:-

 

Are you prepared to take strike action?

 

Number of individuals who were entitled to vote in the ballot:        108

Number of votes cast in the ballot:                                              58

Number of individuals answering “Yes” to the question:                 46

Number of individuals answering “No” to the question:                  12

Number of spoiled or otherwise invalid voting papers returned:      0

 

Are you prepared to take industrial action short of a strike?

 

Number of individuals who were entitled to vote in the ballot:        108

Number of votes cast in the ballot:                                              58

Number of individuals answering “Yes” to the question:                 50

Number of individuals answering “No” to the question:                  8

Number of spoiled or otherwise invalid voting papers returned:      0

 

This matter has been considered by the National Executive Committee, which has taken the decision to instruct all affected members to take part in strike action to demand that the company withdraw the imposition of a timetable which is detrimental to their work life balance and not to book on for shifts that commence between:-

 

  • 00:01 hours to 23:59 hours on Wednesday 6th June 2018

 

  • 00:01 hours to 23:59 hours on Thursday 14th June 2018

 

I will keep Branches advised of all further developments.

 

DISMISSAL, L. VIGO, TRAIN OPERATOR, BAKERLOO LINE – LONDON UNDERGROUND (LUL/4/1)

 

Further to my previous Circular (IR/228/18, 10th May 2018), this matter has been considered by the National Executive Committee, which congratulates our Bakerloo Line Branch, Trains Functional Council Reps, the Lead Officer and Senior Assistant General Secretary on the re-instatement of Bro Vigo by London Underground on Tuesday at a resolution meeting with the Employment Tribunal Judge and London Underground management.

 

Not only have LU re-instated the member back to his driver position but they have also agreed to back pay all his wages – well over a years’ worth – and pay his legal costs plus compensation; all due to the fact that trumped up charges were levelled at him with procedures bent and misused to try and make them stick.

 

The company’s attempt to rule by fear has been exposed by this case and the whole debacle also serves as a wake-up call to London Underground to end the bullying culture which is rife throughout the company and stop setting up and picking off individual staff.

 

The Company has been informed that as a result of the above the dispute situation between us is no longer in place.

 

TFL TRANSFORMATION (TFL/15/4)

 

Further to my previous Circular (IR/23/18, 11th January 2018), the following resolution has been received from our LU Engineering Branch:-

 

“This branch condemns the cuts being carried out across LUL and TfL.

 

We note that LUL are now informing staff that they are intent on ignoring our jobs for life deal (Annex H, PPP Code of Best Practice) and have stated that people may be made compulsory redundant.

 

We also note that the TfL and LUL behaviours in these discussions have fallen short of the expectations that our union has on how these matters will be negotiated. We believe that the companies have failed people on Maternity Leave or with Mental Health, among many other factors and have driven change through that will not work and will make life miserable for many that remain.

 

We also note the feedback of our members that attended the mass meeting on Transformation on the 8th May and unanimously decided to fight these cuts. We therefore ask the National Executive Committee to:

 

  1. Ballot all Engineering Members in TfL in the PMO and Engineering for strike action and action short of strike.
  2. Ballot all members in LUL affected by Transformation for strike action and action short of strike.
  3. Ballot all members in LUL Asset Operations for strike action and action short of strike.
  4. The General Secretary meets with the Mayor and asks him to condemn the cuts and put a halt to Transformation.
  5. That general legal advice on the contractual nature of the PPP Code of Best Practice and particularly Annex H, is distributed to our affected branches”.

 

This matter has been considered by the National Executive Committee, which has taken the decision to arrange for a special meeting to be held with our LT Regional Organiser, Transformation Reps and London Underground at the most senior level to discuss all matters outstanding on LUL Transformation, including individual’s cases. Also to prepare a ballot matrix of our LUL membership as requested in the LU Engineering Branch resolution.

 

I am currently acting in accordance with this decision and will keep Branches advised of all further developments.

 

BREAKDOWN IN INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS, DRIVERS, HAMMERSMITH & CITY LINE – LONDON UNDERGROUND (LUL/14/2)

 

The following resolution was recently received from our Hammersmith & City Branch:-

 

“The H&C Branch has received news from the LUL TFC that London Underground management plan to push ahead with disciplining Drivers (and possibly members of other grades) who they deem to be taking excessive PnR’s (personal needs relief). It is a long standing Branch policy that members should not be subject to disciplinary action for taking PnR’s, in accordance with the LUL rule book.

 

As this forms part of our former dispute resolution from a previous dispute and was as far as we are concerned agreed at ACAS that this practice would cease, we must re-enter into dispute with the Company.

 

Therefore we seek an immediate ballot of all Train Operator and Instructor Operators at Edgware Road and Hammersmith Depots for strike action and action short of a strike”.

 

This matter has been considered by the National Executive Committee, which has noted the resolution from our Hammersmith & City Branch regarding the heavy-handed approach of disciplining members for taking personal needs breaks; and that the company is breaching agreements on this reached at ACAS. This is an intolerable situation to our members and this union and we will not tolerate such a violation of our members’ human rights, agreements and LU’s own rule book.

 

The NEC has taken the decision to inform London Underground that a dispute exists between our two organisations and to ballot our Train Operator and Instructor Operator members at Edgware Road and Hammersmith Depots for strike action and action short of a strike. The Company has been advised accordingly and I am currently making preparations to act in accordance with this decision. I will keep Branches advised of all further developments.

 

ABUSE OF ATTENDANCE AT WORK POLICY – LONDON UNDERGROUND (LUL/5/9)

 

The following resolution has been received from the London Transport Regional Council:-

 

“This branch notes ongoing abuses of the AAW policy and resolves to request that the Regional Organiser raise this issue with LU at Director level as soon as possible”.

 

This matter has been considered by the National Executive Committee, which has taken the decision to seek a report from the Lead Officer regarding this matter. I am currently acting in accordance with this decision and will keep Branches advised of all further developments.

 

MANAGEMENT USE OF ‘YAMMER’ SOCIAL MEDIA – LONDON UNDERGROUND (LUL/27/1)

 

The following resolution has been received from the London Transport Regional Council:-

 

“This branch believes “yammer” is used by management to bypass and undermined collective bargaining and trade unionism.

 

This is shown by their blanket policy of deleting any union material posted there, leading to a one-sided ‘conversation’ in which the bosses can circulate their propaganda, but we cannot respond.

 

This branch calls for a companywide campaign to expose the true nature of “yammer” and encourage members who want to let management know their views to instead use the unions’ structures and industrial action to do that”.

 

This matter has been considered by the National Executive Committee, which taken the decision to launch a companywide campaign to expose the true nature of “yammer” and encourage members who want to let management know their views to instead use the unions’ representative structures and industrial action to do that. I am currently acting in accordance with this decision and will keep Branches advised of all further developments.

 

PAY PARITY, TRANSPLANT MAINTENANCE & STORES STAFF – LONDON UNDERGROUND (ex-AP JNP) (LUL/10/2)

 

Further to my previous Circular (IR/107/18, 23rd February 2018), members have been taking part in industrial action including an ongoing overtime and rest day working ban but due to recent changes to balloting legislation in the 2016 Trade Union Act, the current mandate for action will expire on Wednesday 6th June.

 

As this dispute remains unresolved the National Executive Committee has taken the decision to conduct a re-ballot. Ballot papers will be posted to members on Thursday 24th May 2018 and the closing date for the ballot is Tuesday 5th June 2018. If any member does not receive their voting paper, or knows of a colleague who has not received it, please call the freephone helpline on 0800 376 3706, RMT Head Office on 0207 387 4771 to ask for the Industrial Relations Department or e-mail info@rmt.org.uk to request a replacement.

 

TRAIN PREPARATION PAYMENTS, TRANSPLANT MAINTENANCE STAFF – LONDON UNDERGROUND (ex-AP JNP) (LUL/1/8)

 

Further to my previous Circular (IR/107/18, 23rd February 2018), members have been taking part in industrial action including an ongoing overtime and rest day working ban but due to recent changes to balloting legislation in the 2016 Trade Union Act, the current mandate for action will expire on Wednesday 6th June.

 

As this dispute remains unresolved the National Executive Committee has taken the decision to conduct a re-ballot. Ballot papers will be posted to members on Thursday 24th May 2018 and the closing date for the ballot is Tuesday 5th June 2018. If any member does not receive their voting paper, or knows of a colleague who has not received it, please call the freephone helpline on 0800 376 3706, RMT Head Office on 0207 387 4771 to ask for the Industrial Relations Department or e-mail info@rmt.org.uk to request a replacement.

 

Yours sincerely

Mick Cash

General Secretary

Posted on

Vinci Variations to terms and conditions

Vinci took over the contract to maintain various LUL buildings (such as 55 Broadway, Palestra House, Allsop Place etc) last year from Mitie and have forwarded a proposal to change rosters for our members at Palestra House and move the night staff to days. They look after the plumbing, fabric, electrics etc.

 

Following meetings with our members, we have forwarded a counter proposal for both issues to the company as they unanimously rejected all proposals from the company.

 

The roster is now being discussed at company level and the move from nights is awaiting formal discussions also at Company Level following a failure to agree with local management under the Transferred recognition agreement that we currently have.

 

Once a formal outcome has been received then I will call a further meeting with our members and report back any recommendation that they have.

 

 

Recognition for Collective Bargaining Agreement – Mitie & RMT

Posted on

LUL Protection Staff

Cleshars & Morsons Protection Master Report LUL Contract:

 

Over the last year, we have been carrying out an intensive recruitment drive regarding Morsons and Cleshars Protection Masters. This has included grades such as Protection Master, Possession Masters and Train Masters. These staff currently work on the London Underground contract and provide safe access to the track and implement possessions to enable London Underground staff or project work to be undertaken. These members of staff are almost entirely self employed  and are vulnerable workers. At our last mass meeting with them, we have now elected three reps and are organising training for them. We believe that our membership is nearly 100%

 

We have also approached LUL, Morsons and Cleshars and have arranged a meeting with all three companies in two weeks time, with the RMT.

 

We have a number of outstanding issues that we are working through such as:

 

  1. Regular monthly meetings to occur with Trade Union. This has been agreed and will take place monthly
  2. Treating our people with dignity and respect. Which has been agreed (at Mark Wide level) and we are working at ways to implement this. Part of this will be a dress code for members (to put an end to the need to wear full PPE at their depot meetings etc) and workshops on behaviours
  3. A clear role/ descriptions of EWS: To be discussed at our next meeting
  4. Ending culture of short notification to work that night: Agreed by the company
  5. Planning Meetings: Some meeting times are not achievable e.g Bollo lane, barking T.O and some depot possession jobs. The meeting times is 23:00hr,the briefing times for these jobs is 22:30: The client is committed to ensuring the planning meeting times are accesible and realistic.
  6. Depot Parking: LUL are endeavouring to ensure that where parking is available then Protection Staff are treated equally and allowed to park
  7. Transformation: LUL have assured us that there will be no impacts on Assessments and Investigations for our protection members. This will be explored in detail in two weeks.
  8. A fair investigation process (compliance and the framework contract): LUL have agreed to work with us on this and investigations have been much more quickly. We have also secured the reinstatement of 3 members today that will recommence work back on LUL within the next few days (in one case after 2 years).
  9. Roster for staff: A roster will be introduced to ensure fair allocation of work and overseen at our meetings (with LUL, Cleshars and Morsons).
  10. Staff Progression: Is difficult due to a downturn of work but will be discussed at our future meetings
  11. More Flexible Working:  Difficult to fully implement due to mainly engineering work, but there is a commitment to explore who this can be implemented and will be discussed at our regular meetings. for example to enable parents or carers a greater choice.
  12. Manual Handling: A project to get a cage in the car park, where heavier items will be stored permanently
  13. Health and Safety: Staff to be provided with Tea, coffee, water, cups immediately. Also, Fire wardens, first Aider (available)and defibrillator to be made available. Issue to be discussed more fully

 

We have also raised the issue of pay with all companies and believe that it is time that our members received better pay and conditions and a greater bonus for working bank holidays as per other internal staff.

 

We therefore request that:

  1. A formal pay claim is submitted to both Morsons and Cleshars
Posted on

LUEngineering Branch Resolution to NEC

Resolution to NEC ref Transformation:

 

“This branch condemns the cuts being carried out across LUL and TFL.

We note that LUL are now informing staff that they are intent on ignoring our jobs for life deal (Annex H, PPP Code of Best Practice) and have stated that people may be made compulsory redundant.

 

We also note that the TfL and LUL bahaviours in these discussions have fallen short of the expectations that our union has on how these matters will be negotiated. We believe that the companies have failed people on Maternity Leave or with Mental Health, among many other factors and have driven change through that will not work and will make life miserable for many that remain.

 

We also note the feedback of our members that attended the Mass Meeting on Transformation on the 8th May and unanimously decided to fight these cuts. We therefore ask the National Executive Committee to:

 

  1. Ballot all Engineering Members in TfL in the PMO and Engineering for strike action and action short of strike.
  2. Ballot all members in LUL affected by Transformation for strike action and action short of strike
  3. Ballot all Members in LUL Asset Operations for Strike Action and Action Short of Strike.
  4. The General Secretary meets with the Mayor and asks him to condemn the cuts and put a halt to transformation.

That general legal advice on the contractual nature of the PPP Code of Best Practice and particularly Annex H, is distributed to our affected branches.”

 

Code of practice PPP

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Mass Meeting Transformation

Mass Meeting Transformation

 

On the 8th May 2018, LUEngineering branch organised a mass meeting of RMT members affected by the Transformation proposal from LUL  & TfL. Full reports were given by our representatives that had attended the discussions with Management from both companies and members were informed that this was the most that could be achieved through negotiation.

 

Views were then sought from the 50 plus members that attended and they then voted unanimously to take action to defend their jobs.

 

Furthermore, they were informed that they would need to be at the forefront of any dispute however that the threats from LUL & TfL to make our members compulsory redundant would need to be challenged further and the issue was further placed onto the agenda of the LUEngineering Branch Meeting that followed.

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London Underground wake-up call to end the culture of picking on staff

RMT says that major employment tribunal loss by London Underground is a wake-up call to end the culture of picking on staff

 

TUBE UNION RMT today called on London Underground to end the culture of picking on staff and misusing procedures after the company lost an important employment tribunal case, costing the taxpayer a six figure sum in the process.

The driver in question was re-instated by LU yesterday at a resolution meeting with the Employment Tribunal Judge and London Underground management.

 

Not only have LU re-instated the member back to his driver position but they have also agreed to back pay all his wages – well over a years worth – and pay his legal costs plus compensation. All due to the fact that trumped up charges were levelled at him with procedures bent and misused to try and make them stick.

RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said:

 

“RMT is delighted with the outcome of this case but our member should never have been subjected to this travesty of justice from the start which left him with an axe hanging over his head due to appalling mismanagement by London Underground.

 

“The victory, which will cost the London taxpayer a packet due to the vindictive attitude of the company, is ringing out across the combine as staff take note of both the background and outcome. It proves that you need a strong trade union on your side when it’s your name in the management frame.

 

“The whole debacle also serves as a wake-up call to London Underground to end the bullying culture which is rife throughout the company and stop setting up and picking off individual staff. The attempt to rule by fear has been exposed by this case and RMT is demanding it is called to a halt immediately.”

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