August 19 2009

RMT chalks up major victory over Tube job security

TUBE UNION RMT today welcomed a major breakthrough in an on-going dispute with London Underground which will see the company sticking to agreed policies on redundancies, protecting the futures of a thousand staff who had been identified as being at risk.

The dispute, which was at the heart of the 48 hour tube strike earlier this year, has led to long hours of direct negotiation both face to face and through ACAS.

Bob Crow RMT general secretary said today:

“As a result of our members standing firm in the current dispute, LUL has agreed to the RMT demands that there be no compulsory redundancies. There were a thousand jobs due to be made redundant but now management has agreed to abide by ‘Annex H’ – the key security of employment clause -and that this will apply to all LUL operational staff.

“A thousand of the LUL members that were transferred to the failed Metronet company were at risk of losing their jobs but thanks to the two days strike action we have safeguarded these members jobs and forced management to abide by negotiated agreements and provide alternative jobs for all displaced staff. This shows what can be done by workers showing solidarity with their colleagues.

“We will now be meeting with ACAS and the other tube unions to discuss the outstanding issues around pay.”

July 10, 2009

RMT warns of £6 billion funding gap for transport in London as new report points to £1.7 billion shortfall from recession

TRANSPORT UNION RMT warned today that services in London are staring down the barrel of a £6 billion funding gap which threatens to wreck modernisation schedules and plans for the 2012 Olympics while leaving thousands of jobs under threat.

The warning comes on the day that a new London Assembly report points to a £1.7 billion transport income gap as a result of the recession which it predicts will open up between now and 2018.

This latest funding bombshell comes on top of TfL’s existing £2.5 billion savings programme and is in addition to a £2 billion finance row between TfL and the Tube Lines consortium. With the costs to the taxpayer from the failure of the Metronet privatisation added in the total cash gap racks up to over £6 billion.

Bob Crow, RMT general secretary, said today:

“This £1.7 billion cuts bombshell takes the total black hole facing transport in London to over £6 billion. In the run up to the Olympics, it puts the entire future of services across the capital on the line.

“RMT have warned repeatedly that the threat to jobs is part of a wider package of savage cuts to the transport budget in London which can all be traced back to the failure of privatisation. These figures prove that point conclusively. The modernisation of the tube is under serious threat and the ability to deliver in time for 2012 is left in serious doubt.

“The solution is simple. Bring Tube Lines back under public control and draw a line under the privatisation disaster and then demand government investment to protect London’s transport services. If the government can find billions to bail out the banks then they can find the cash needed for world-class transport services. The alternative is real cuts in jobs and services and transport chaos.”

Monday 6th July 2009

RMT WARNS OF NEW PPP COLLAPSE ON THE TUBE AS £2 BILLION FUNDING ROW ERUPTS BETWEEN TFL AND TUBE LINES

Tube union RMT warned today of another potential privatisation collapse on the tube as a £2 billion funding row broke out between Tube Lines and Transport for London which could put essential works and thousands of jobs at risk in the run up to the 2012 Olympics.

Tube Lines, which holds the contract for the repairs and refurbishment of the Piccadilly, Northern and Jubilee Lines, has attempted to hack £2 billion from it's estimated costs of £ 7.2 billion on the work programme for the next seven and half years with a significant scaling back of the scope of the planned works.

TfL have estimated that the full scope of the essential upgrading and modernisation programme could be delivered for £4.1 billion and the
government arbiter concluded it should cost no more than between £5.1 billion and £5.5 billion - leaving a £2 billion black hole on the Tube
Lines budget.

Bob Crow, RMT General Secretary, said today:

"It is clear that there is a £2 billion stand off between Tube Lines and TfL on the works programme on the Piccadilly, Northern and Jubilee Lines with tube users and tube workers caught bang, smack in the middle.

"This row all stems from the botched PPP privatisation of the Tube and it is not out of the question that we could see another failure similar to Metronet or National Express on the East Coast with Londoners left to pick up the pieces.

"Meanwhile, jobs and essential works on these lines are left at risk in the run up to the 2012 Olympics. Our advice to Boris Johnson and TfL is to seize this opportunity to get rid of Tube Lines, take these works back into direct public control and work out a funding programme which protects jobs and the upgrade programme in the run up to 2012 and beyond."

June 11, 2009

BRITAIN’S BIGGEST UNION PLEDGES FULL SUPPORT FOR RMT DISPUTE

BRITAIN’S BIGGEST trade union, Unite, which is also one of the four unions on London Underground, has pledged its full support and solidarity with the RMT in its current dispute over jobs, pay and bullying on the tube.

Unite have also joined a growing call for Mayor Boris Johnson to enter into direct talks with RMT which has been supported today by London Labour MP’s, GLA members and former London Mayor Ken Livingstone.

Peter Kavanagh, Unite regional industrial organiser, said:

“We have expressed our solidarity with RMT in their fight for a decent pay settlement and assurances over no compulsory redundancies. We urge management and London mayor, Boris Johnson to intervene constructively so that there will be a settlement.”

Bob Crow, RMT general secretary, said:

“We welcome the support and solidarity from our fellow tube union Unite which has been echoed by support from across the trade union movement proving that traditional union principles still remain strong.

“Despite exaggeration from TfL, and some sections of the media, only a skeleton service is being provided today and RMT members remain solid in their support. We are still pushing for the direct, top level talks that are needed to end this dispute.”

8 June 2009

Steve Hedley, RMT Regional Organiser, writes:

Firstly let me apologise about any disruption to your travel but London Underground and TfL have deliberately provoked the dispute on the tube network:

· On London Underground, bosses are threatening to tear up an agreement aimed at safeguarding jobs, and have refused to rule out compulsory redundancies. 1000 jobs are at risk on LUL and up to 3000 on TfL as part of a £2.4 billion cuts package.

· LUL has also refused to budge from an unprecedented five-year pay offer that gives no real-terms increase for four years, and which could even see a substantial pay cut as it's linked to deflation. Management deliberately made this offer knowing it would be unacceptable.

· There have been so many sackings and complaints of breaches of disciplinary and attendance procedures they appear co-ordinated. Bullying of staff is rife.

· RMT has exposed the hypocrisy of senior tube managers on pay where a 123 of the top bosses are paid over £100,000 plus bonuses. It is those same managers who are attacking RMT members over their campaign for job security and a living wage.

RMT wants this dispute resolved. We have been stonewalled by tube managers at every turn and that's why we have called for direct talks with London Mayor Boris Johnson - we are still waiting for a response.RMT is committed ·to a modern and safe public transport system for Londoners. That cannot be achieved by axing jobs, slashing rates of pay and imposing massive cutbacks while the senior managers scoop the pay and bonuses jackpot.The bankers and the City of London were bailed out to the tune of billions by the Government after they drove the economy over a cliff - RMT is demanding the tube workers and passengers do not pay the bill for the bankers!

Thank you,

Steve Hedley, regional organiser, RMT.

Friday 5th June 2009

From Press Office at RMT

Response from Bob Crow on National Audit Office Report on collapse of Metronet/PPP

“There is no doubt that the collapse of Metronet, and the failure of privatisation, are the root cause of the financial black hole facing the tube today. It’s that £5 billion black hole which in turn is driving the threat to jobs and pay at the heart of RMT’s current dispute.

“Passengers and staff alike are paying a heavy price for the tube privatisation scandal which was bulldozed through by Gordon Brown himself. RMT members are not prepared to bail out the failures of politicians and tube bosses through job losses and cuts in pay and working conditions.” Bob Crow RMT general secretary

June 4, 2009

RMT smokes out tube chiefs – talks on dispute set for noon tomorrow

TUBE UNION RMT have confirmed that talks on the issues at the heart of the dispute on the tube will take place tomorrow – Friday 5th June – at 12 noon.

RMT members at both London Undergound and TfL have voted to strike from 18.59 hrs next Tuesday – 9th June – in separate disputes on pay, job cuts and bullying.

This morning RMT issued a call for talks. The union has been contacted by the management side and the talks are scheduled for tomorrow at noon.

Bob Crow, RMT General Secretary, said:

“It’s taken a while, but RMT are pleased that our efforts to smoke out the London Mayor Boris Johnson and his senior managers have been successful and we can now get down to meaningful talks on the issues at the heart of this dispute.

“We hope that the Mayor, who was full of praise for his transport staff earlier this year when they struggled against the snow to try and keep London moving, will issue a clear mandate to his senior staff to lift the threat of pay cuts and compulsory redundancies and rebuild the industrial relations machinery on the tube.”

June 4, 2009

RMT tells Mayor and TfL to “get out of the bunker” and open talks on tube dispute

TUBE UNION RMT today called on the Mayor of London Boris Johnson, and his senior tube bosses, to “get out of the bunker” and open meaningful talks ahead of the 48 hour tube strikes which will start at 18.59 hours next Tuesday, 9th June.

It is now a week since RMT announced the strikes after receiving a massive mandate for action from members at London Underground and TfL. All preparations for the strikes are now in place and the support is rock solid.

The strikes are over attempts to impose a five year pay deal on London Underground linked to deflation which would mean a real pay cut years into the future. Both TfL and LUL are looking at massive job cuts which could mean the axing of up to 4000 posts with the ripping up of existing agreements on compulsory redundancies. Bullying and victimisation of tube staff is rife.

Bob Crow, RMT general secretary, said today:

“RMT have made it clear that we are available for talks but the silence from the Mayor and his senior managers suggests that they prefer confrontation and disruption. We are telling them today that the time has come to get out of the bunker and start talking to the staff who have been pushed into this strike by the managements outrageous demands on pay cuts and job losses.

“We revealed this week that there are 123 tube bosses earning over £100,000 a year plus bonuses. Instead of attacking our members jobs and pay the senior managers, who pull in over a quarter a million a year, should start earning their money and start talking to RMT.

“More than a year into his term of office, it’s also about time Boris Johnson met face to face with the biggest tube union to deal with the range of issues which have provoked this dispute on the transport system he has responsibility for,” Bob Crow said.

May 29, 2009

RMT calls for direct talks with Boris Johnson to resolve Underground and TfL dispute

TUBE UNION RMT today called for direct talks with London Mayor Boris Johnson following the breakdown in industrial relations with London Underground and TfL which is at the heart of the overwhelming votes for industrial action confirmed yesterday.

RMT members voted by huge majorities for strike action in separate disputes with LUL and TfL over pay, job losses and working conditions. The union has announced 48 hours of strike action commencing at 18.59 hrs on Tuesday 9th June through to 18.58 hrs on Thursday 11th June.

RMT have slammed a total failure to engage in meaningful negotiations on the part of LUL and TfL management. Tube bosses have stonewalled on pay since last November and instead have sought to impose a five year deal which would be likely to result in a pay cut in real terms. The management have also suggested that they have “no mandate” to negotiate on pay, leaving open the suggestion that they are waiting for a steer from London Mayor Boris Johnson.

“RMT are in no doubt that this dispute has been deliberately provoked by managers who have gone out of their way to engineer confrontation. They will have known very well that RMT would never agree to pay cuts and compulsory redundancies and they have made a mockery of the negotiating process,” RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said.

“There has been a total breakdown of industrial relations and that’s why RMT are calling for direct talks with London Mayor Boris Johnson in an effort to resolve the current dispute. ”

May 28, 2009

RMT announces strike dates as Tube and TfL workers vote overwhelmingly for action over pay and job cuts

THE TUBE’S biggest union today declared an overwhelming mandate for strike action in ballots of members across London Underground and Transport for London in two separate disputes centred on jobs, pay and working conditions.

On London Underground the result was 2810 for strike action and 488 against. On TfL the result was 75 in favour and 15 against. Separate ballots on action short of a strike showed even higher numbers in favour.

RMT have announced strike action which will commence at 18.59 hours on Tuesday 9th June through to 18.58 hours on Thursday 11th June 2009.

RMT have accused London Underground and TfL of deliberately provoking the dispute

On London Underground, bosses are threatening to tear up an agreement aimed at safeguarding jobs, and has refused to rule out compulsory redundancies. 3000 jobs are at risk.

LUL has also refused to budge from an unacceptable five-year pay offer that gives no real-terms increase for four years, and which could even see pay cut, and there have been so many complaints of breaches of disciplinary and attendance procedures they appear co-ordinated.

TfL is also threatening compulsory redundancies as part of a £2.4 billion cuts package.

“This is a magnificent result which underlines the anger that has been provoked by management in their confrontational approach on pay and job security. London Underground seems to think that observing agreements is optional, and its plan to cut jobs is simply unacceptable,” RMT general secretary Bob Crow said today.

“After months of stonewalling LUL has also tabled what is at best a five-year pay freeze which it knows full well could never be accepted, and its managers appear to have been given the nod to unleash a fresh round of bullying.

“We said from the start that our members, whether in LUL or TfL, would not be made to pay for the failure and greed of bankers and privateers, and that any attempt to impose compulsory redundancies would be met with a ballot for industrial action

“If LUL and TfL want to avoid confrontation they should start talking seriously about pay, withdraw their plans to slash jobs, guarantee there will be no forced redundancies and call off the bully managers,” Bob Crow said.

May 21, 2009

Victoria line strike “100% solid” in dispute over door safety and bullying

RMT said this morning that train operators working out of the Seven Sisters depot, covering the Victoria Line, are rock solid in their support for a 24 hour strike which started at 9pm last night.

RMT paid tribute to its members who have been prepared to give up a second days pay in a fight to get correct door side operating equipment installed on the Victoria Line, a failsafe safety system that operates on every other line on the Underground, and in a stand against bullying and victimisation of RMT members and activists.

RMT have hit out at London Underground and TfL bosses who have said that the strike is “nothing to do with safety.”

"It's dangerous nonsense for TfL and London Underground to say this strike isn't about safety. That's an insult to the intelligence of the travelling public. Every other tube line has correct door safety systems fitted other than the Victoria Line. It's been fitted everywhere else on the Underground because it's a life saver. “ Bob Crow RMT general secretary said today.

“The management of the Victoria Line run the daily risk of having the blood on their hands from a fatality because they have ignored the RMT's warnings. That's why our members have been forced to strike today and LU and TfL should be ashamed of themselves." Bob Crow said.

Ends

Note to editors:

RMT is currently re-balloting nearly 10,000 members across London Underground and Transport for London for strike action in separate disputes centred on jobs, pay and breaches of disciplinary and attendance agreements. The ballots close on Thursday 28th May.

May19, 2009

RMT announces a 24 hour strike on the Victoria Line this week over door-opening safety issues and bullying of staff

RMT train operators working out of the Seven Sisters depot, covering the Victoria Line, will be on strike from 21.00 hours Wednesday 20 May to 20.59 hours Thursday 21 May in a second day of action in a dispute over the failure to install Correct Door Side Enabling Equipment and the continuing bullying, harassment and victimisation of RMT members.

The strike follows on from a rock-solid day of action last month which shut down the entire Victoria Line for 24 hours. RMT expects the same solid response this week as London Underground has failed to respond positively on any of the core issues;

The failure to install the Correct Door Side Enabling Equipment on the Victoria Line which is operational on all other lines on the Underground.

A demand for the reinstatement of sacked train driver Carl Campbell whose dismissal was confirmed this week.

An end to management misuse of attendance and disciplinary procedures.

An end to the victimisation of RMT activist Glenroy Watson

“The intransigence of Underground management has forced our members on the Victoria Line to take another 24 hours of strike action. We know very well the disruption that the action will cause but we will not sit back while managers play fast and loose with train safety and while our members and activists are subjected to intimidation, bullying and victimisation,” RMT general secretary Bob Crow said today

“There can be no excuse for the failure to install Correct Door Side Enabling Equipment. It is operational on all other sections of the Underground and this dangerous penny-pinching on the Victoria Line puts both our members and the general public at risk. We’ve got no option but to strike to force this issue up the agenda and we expect the travelling public will understand that it’s better to face up to another day of disruption than to wait for the first fatality.

“RMT remains available for talks and we hope that management will see sense and take the necessary steps to resolve this dispute,” Bob Crow said.

Ends

Note to editors:

RMT is currently re-balloting nearly 10,000 members across London Underground and Transport for London for strike action in separate disputes centred on jobs, pay and breaches of disciplinary and attendance agreements. The ballots close on Thursday 28th May.

May 14, 2009

RMT re-ballot of 10,000 Tube and TfL workers over jobs, pay and breaches of agreements starts today

THE TUBE’S biggest union today began a re-ballot of nearly 10,000 members across London Underground and Transport for London for strike action in separate disputes centred on jobs, pay and breaches of disciplinary and attendance agreements.

The re-run of the strike ballots follows a provocative legal challenge by LUL to ballots last month, which nonetheless showed a rock-solid five-to-one majority in favour of action.

Up to 3000 jobs are under threat across the Tube and TfL.

Balloting begins today, Thursday 14th May and closes on Thursday 28th May

There are three areas of dispute:

On London Underground, bosses are threatening to tear up an agreement aimed at safeguarding jobs, and has refused to rule out compulsory redundancies. TfL is also threatening compulsory redundancies as part of a £2.4 billion cuts package.

LUL has also refused to budge from an unacceptable five-year pay offer that gives no real-terms increase for four years, and which could even see pay cut, and there have been so many complaints of breaches of disciplinary and attendance procedures they appear co-ordinated. TfL has so far failed to table any pay offer at all.

LUL management have been breaching the agreed disciplinary and attendance procedures and have encouraged aggressive and punitive behavior by local managers.

“Our members are furious that a democratic vote for action just over a month ago was sabotaged by a shameful legal challenge aimed at undermining the internal democracy of our trade union. Tube bosses have wasted time and money on lawyers when they knew very well that RMT would never tolerate this attack on our members and our organisation. The re-ballot gives our members a chance to express the depth of their anger, ” RMT general secretary Bob Crow said today.

“If LUL and TfL want to avoid confrontation they should withdraw the threat to jobs, take the pay issue seriously and start treating staff with the respect that they deserve,” Bob Crow said.

April 20, 2009

RMT to strike on Victoria Line this week over door-opening safety issues and bullying of staff

RMT train operators working out of the Seven Sisters depot, covering the Victoria Line, will be on strike from 21.00 hours Tuesday 21 April to 20.59 hours Wednesday 22 April in a dispute over the failure to install Correct Door Side Enabling Equipment and the continuing bullying, harassment and victimization of RMT members.

RMT members voted overwhelmingly for the 24 hours of action on four key areas of dispute:

The failure to install the Correct Door Side Enabling Equipment on the Victoria Line which is operational on all other lines on the Underground.

A demand for the reinstatement of sacked train driver Carl Campbell.

An end to management misuse of attendance and disciplinary procedures.

An end to the victimisation of RMT activist Glenroy Watson

“There can be no excuse for the failure to install Correct Door Side Enabling Equipment. It is operational on all other sections of the Underground and this dangerous penny-pinching on the Victoria Line puts both our members and the general public at risk,” RMT general secretary Bob Crow said today.

“There is a culture of bullying and harassment of our members and representatives on the Victoria Line which is reflected in the sacking of Carl Campbell and the continued victimisation of Glenroy Watson and we are determined to put a stop to it.

“RMT remains available for talks and we hope that management will see sense and take the necessary steps to resolve this dispute,” Bob Crow said.