LUL Trains, RMT Executive decisions

The RMT describes London Undergrounds latest Olympic offer as ludicrous as it expects us to co-operate in the implementation of 'agreements' we are not a party to.

We note the request from our Finsbury Park branch, suggesting a joint campaign with ASLEF against the introduction of Automatic Door Opening on the Victoria Line, believing this to be a major component of London Underground’s preparation for the introduction of ‘driverless trains’. We accordingly instruct the General Secretary to contact ASLEF seeking a joint campaign on this issue.

We also encourage our Finsbury Park branch and trains representatives to pursue this with ASLEF at a company and local level.

We note the report from our Regional Organiser. At ACAS yesterday (26 March), RMT made clear that in
order to proceed with talks we need a statement from management that no RMT members will be forced to break Framework Agreements. This has not yet been forthcoming from management, and until it is, all talks are adjourned.

RMT General Grades Committee decision:

We note the correspondence from London Underground Ltd. We instruct the General Secretary to obtain an up-to-date report on the situation with this dispute, with a view to issuing a circular, and information to members, as soon as practical.

London Transport Regional Council and branches with London Underground members to be advised.

RMT General Grades Committee decision:

We note the report from our Regional Organiser and having consulted with our workplace representatives, we note that this issue is now closed.

London Transport Regional Council and relevant branches to be advised.

RMT General Grades Committee decision:

That we note the correspondence on file and that agreement has now been reached that allows James Masango to return to work and that he has accepted the offer from his employers. This has been achieved after protracted negotiations with London Underground that eventually resulted in a satisfactory conclusion to this whole sorry saga. We congratulate our members and all those involved who helped achieve an acceptable conclusion to this matter.

Relevant Branches and Regional Council to be informed.

RMT General Grades Committee decision:

That we note the report from our Regional Organiser on his discussions with London Underground management prior to the result of our ballot for industrial action.

We instruct the General Secretary to obtain a report on the progress of this dispute.

London Transport Regional Council and branches with London Underground members to be advised.

RMT General Grades Committee decision:

We note that Jayesh Patel has accepted reinstatement to his substantive role as a train driver from February 2012. We note that this is a huge reduction in the sanction initially imposed on him by London Underground.

We also note that London Underground has agreed to reinstate James Masango, but that the terms of this reinstatement are still under discussion.

RMT General Grades Committee decision:

That we note the result of our ballot of our London Underground train driver members is as follows:-

RMT General Grades Committee decision:

We note the report from our Regional Organiser and representatives, that London Underground management is commencing training for Victoria Line drivers on automatic door opening. This is despite ongoing problems with door technology on the line, serious concerns about passenger safety, and our continuing, unresolved dispute about safety and training issues related to the Victoria Line upgrade.

RMT General Grades Committee decision:

That we note the report from our Regional Organiser and the views of our Bakerloo branch and our Regional Council that this case be linked to that of James Masango.

We therefore link this file with file LUL/4/1 DISMISSAL – J MASANGO, DRIVER, LONDON UNDERGROUND.

Any developments to be placed in front of us.

RMT General Grades Committee decision:

We note that London Underground is still refusing to reinstate our unfairly-sacked member James Masango. We note the report from our Regional Organiser, that all attempts to resolve this matter through talks – including a face-to-face meeting between our General Secretary and London Underground’s Managing Director – have failed to secure James’ reinstatement, which remains the only acceptable outcome to this case, and therefore recommending that to hold a ballot is our only option.

RMT General Grades Committee decision:

That we are utterly disgusted by London Underground’s continuing refusal to reinstate James Masango despite the Employment Tribunal ruling two months ago that LU had dismissed James unfairly and with the company 100% to blame.

The formal processes have failed to reverse this shocking injustice. We therefore instruct the General Secretary to, without any further delay, implement our previous decisions on this matter, and specifically to:

RMT General Grades Committee decision:

That we note the resolution from our LU Fleet branch, and share the shock and alarm expressed by the branch that London Underground could even consider reducing the frequency of tripcock testing. The tripcock is an essential safety mechanism which stops a train in the event of it passing a signal at danger, therefore preventing crashes and protecting life.

RMT General Grades Committee decision:

We note the legal opinion received in this case. Accordingly, we instruct the General Secretary to immediately raise a formal complaint with the Office of the Rail Regulator that London Underground endangered the safety of both its employees and the public, in breach of the Health and Safety Act 1974.

We further instruct the General Secretary to advise Brother Masango as to his rights to pursue a personal injury claim, as outlined in the legal advice.

RMT General Grades Committee decision:

We note the letter from London Underground’s Director of Employee Relations, informing us that he has reviewed Brother Patel’s case and indicating that some progress with the case may be possible. We instruct the General Secretary to seek a meeting with the Director of Employee Relations to seek clarification on the content of the letter and pursue further progress with this case.

London Transport Regional Council and branches to be advised.

RMT General Grades Committee decision:

We note the correspondence from London Underground, asking this union to reconsider our industrial action on this issue [the Operational Effectiveness Programme]. We reaffirm that as London Underground has not withdrawn its plan to impose unsafe working practices for train drivers, our industrial action ballot continues, alongside the publicity campaign outlined in our previous decision.

We instruct the General Secretary to reply to LU, inviting the company to reconsider its imposition of unsafe working practices.

RMT General Grades Committee decision:

We note the correspondence from London Underground concerning our objections to the ‘deal’ over train drivers’ working conditions during the Olympic and Paralympic Games, and the offer of a meeting between the Chair of the Trains Functional Council and our Regional Organiser to discuss this.

We instruct the General Secretary to ensure that this meeting takes place and to obtain a report of the meeting from our Regional Organiser, which is to be placed in front of us.

RMT General Grades Committee decision:

We note that London Underground management announced yesterday that they have reached a ‘deal’ for train drivers during the Olympic Games period. RMT has not agreed this deal; this union registered our failure to agree at the Trains Functional Council meeting.