Further to my previous Circular (IR/299/15, 4^th December 2015) there remains a number of areas of concern over London Underground’s Fit for the Future Stations (FFFS) proposals and the Lead Officer has written to LUL seeking assurances that there will be no imposition of a new framework agreement, that staff will not be forced to sign new contracts and that rosters will not be imposed. At the time of writing we have not yet received a response from LUL.  

 

The General Grades Committee has noted the correspondence on file and as a result, has taken the decision to call on all RMT Station Grades to take part in the industrial action detailed below.

 

• NOT TO WORK ANY OVERTIME from 05:30 hours on Sunday 3^rd January 2016 until further notice.

 

Also, members are instructed to refuse to sign any contract or letter regarding working hours or agreements (with the exception of members on Fixed Term Contracts who should sign permanent contracts). 

 

I urge all members to make sure this overtime ban is solidly supported to apply pressure to the Company and to demonstrate loud and clear that there is so much more to resolve on stations specifically. I will of course keep you advised of all further developments.

 

BREAKDOWN IN INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS – KEOLIS AMEY DOCKLANDS (DLR/14/2)

 

Further to my previous Circular (IR/299/15, 4^th December 2015) the negotiating team has held further discussions and negotiations with the Company and these have resulted in some movement from the Company on a number of key issues. These include a commitment to review a number of specific cases; the risk assessment for the use of Managers to cover the CRT has finally been provided and is being reviewed; a review of staffing in the Stores department has been completed and an additional new post has been created.

 

As a result of the above and the commitments already given by KAD on the use of agency staff and the on-going positive discussions regarding a new attendance procedure and machinery of negotiation, the negotiating team recommended that the first two rounds of strike action called are suspended to recognise that progress has been made but also to make sure that these productive discussions continue until all matters are fully resolved.

 

This matter was discussed at a DLR Branch meeting on Friday 18^th December and having considered the correspondence on file, the General Grades Committee has taken the decision to suspend the strike action due to commence on Monday 11^th January and Wednesday 13^thJanuary 2016 – ALL MEMBERS SHOULD THEREFORE BOOK ON AS NORMAL ON THESE DATES. 

 

The other strike action dates, now starting from Monday 8^th February 2016, still remain in place and I will keep you informed of all further developments.

 

RATES OF PAY & CONDITIONS OF SERVICE 2015 – INTERSERVE FACILITIES (KEOLIS AMEY DOCKLANDS CONTRACT) (DLR/0001/I(KAD))

 

Further to my previous Circular (IR/243/15, 13^th October 2015) the RMT negotiating team met the Company on Tuesday 22^nd December and a revised and improved offer was received which includes a payment to address the pay differentials, certain tasks to be performed by Security staff and a commitment from the Company to continue talks with RMT into 2016 to discuss any other matters of concern. 

 

Make no mistake that this movement from the Company is in response to the resolve, determination and unity shown by members throughout this dispute which has made the Company see sense and take steps towards resolving this issue. As a result, the General Grades Committee has taken the decision to SUSPEND ALL INDUSTRIAL ACTION and all members are therefore instructed to work as normal. The Company has also been informed that all industrial action is suspended.

 

The offer will be discussed at the next DLR Branch meeting and the GGC has noted that following this meeting it may be possible to resolve this dispute. I will keep you advised of all further developments.

 

I also wish to take this opportunity to thank all Interserve (KAD) members, our DLR Branch leadership and the Lead Officer for all their hard work and dedication to reach this position.

 

RATES OF PAY & CONDITIONS OF SERVICE 2015 – TUBE LINES AP JNP (LUL/0001/TL)

 

Further to my previous Circular (IR/276/15, 12^th November 2015), members will recall the previous GGC Decision to obtain a report on how negotiations are proceeding and also to update the GGC and membership on what stage we are at with our dispute with Tube Lines. A number of TLL Company Council meetings have since taken place discuss Pay including PRP, Pensions and Night Tube  and the Company again presented the same offer as the one made by LUL, which is as follows:-

 

Pay – 4 year settlement from 1^st April 2015 to 31^st March 2019

 

• A 2% average increase for staff covered by collective bargaining, effective 1^st April 2015. This is made up of 1% (equivalent to RPI) pay increase on base pay for 2015, plus a consolidated flat rate increase of £500 to recognise the transformation to a 24 hour passenger service operation – Night Tube
• An increase of RPI or 1% (whichever is greater), effective from 1^st April 2016
• An increase of RPI or 1% (whichever is greater), effective from 1^st April 2017
• An increase of RPI + 0.25%, effective from 1^st April 2018

 

Night Tube

 

• A £500 non-consolidated launch payment to all working on Night Tube. This will be applied to all AP JNP staff covered by collective bargaining.
• It should be noted that Night Tube Operation will impact on all of our lines and therefore some of our staff will be required to work alternative rosters to enable the business to maintain the infrastructure.

 

At a mass meeting of Tube Lines Reps held last week at Unity house, this offer was unanimously rejected and the General Grades Committee has taken the decision to ballot our Tube Lines members for strike action and action short of strike action.

 

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

 

HEAVY OVERHAUL PROGRAMME LIFT (HOPL), CENTRAL LINE – LONDON UNDERGROUND (LUL/15/4)

 

A proposal was recently received from LUL which has been produced following a series of discussions and negotiations at Fleet Functional Council. It covers those members currently employed on fixed term contracts in Train Maintainer (TM) and Advanced Train Maintainer (ATM) grades on the Central Line Heavy Overhaul Programme Lift (HOPL) Project.

 

The proposals will give the opportunity to transfer 47 fixed term contracts into permanent contracts, all current LU terms and conditions will be applied and the staff will move into the TfL final salary pension scheme.

 

The General Grades Committee has considered this matter and taken the decision to inform the Company of our acceptance of the proposals. I am currently acting in accordance with this decision.

 

RATES OF PAY & CONDITIONS OF SERVICE 2015 – ALSTOM METRO TRAINS (LUL/0001/AMT)

 

In line with Union policy, a claim was submitted for a substantial increase in rates of pay and improvements to conditions of service. Following discussions with the Company, the final offer which was received is as follows:-

 

• A 2% pay increase, backdated to 1^st April 2015.
• A £50 increase to travel costs.

 

Having consulted with affected members, the Lead Officer recommended acceptance of the offer and the General Grades Committee has now taken the decision to inform the Company of our acceptance of the offer. I am currently acting in accordance with the above decision and have asked that the increase, along with backdated monies, is paid to members at the earliest opportunity.

 

Yours sincerely

Mick Cash

General Secretary