LUL Trains, RMT official circulars

From General Secretary Bob Crow

I write to advise you that the ballot for industrial action short of a strike has now closed and the result is as follows: -

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

• Total Votes Cast - 463
• Number Voting Yes - 369
• Number Voting No - 93
• Spoilt - 1

This result is being considered by the General Grades Committee and I shall be in touch with you again shortly.

From General Secretary Bob Crow

As previously advised we are balloting all Train Operators and Instructor Operators for strike action over LUL’s continuing victimisation of our representatives and activists. You should by now have received your ballot papers for strike action at your home addresses. If not you should urgently contact the RMT helpline on 0800 376 3706. I urge you to vote in favour of strike action to send a clear message to LUL that we will not tolerate the victimisation of our reps and activists such as Eamonn Lynch and Arwyn Thomas. The ballot is due to close on Wednesday 27th April 2011.

From Bob Crow, RMT General Secretary

DISMISSAL – K.MORTELL –TRAIN OPERATOR – WHITE CITY, LUL (LUL/4/1)

I write to update Branches that following the unjust economic dismissal of Bro Kevin Mortell and the subsequent industrial action, the General Grades Committee have made the following decision:-

“That we continue to press LUL for a Directors Review and support Brother Mortell in pursuing his Employment Tribunal application”

I will keep all Branches advised of any further developments.

DISMISSAL - RAVI SOORIAH – TRAIN OPERATOR – WEST RUISLIP

From Bob Crow, General Secretary:

I write to advise branches that brother Ravi Sooriah has been dismissed by LUL following an incident of wrong side opening. It is our firm belief that he is being victimised and has been very harshly treated by management. Following a resolution from his branch the General Secretary has decided to ballot all train grade members at West Ruislip for strike action and industrial action short of a strike. Preparations for the ballot are currently taking place and I shall keep branches advised of any further developments.

DISMISSAL- K.MORTELL, TRAIN OPERATOR, WHITE CITY, (LUL/4/1)

Dear Colleague

I regret to advise you that the ballot to reinstate Brother Mortell must be rerun due to an administrative error With the Anti Trade Union laws being so incredibly restrictive we cannot risk the company challenging the previous ballot and declaring any industrial action called from it illegal. Therefore the safest course of action is to re run the ballot and I offer my sincere apologies to for this error.

Statement from General Secretary Bob Crow:

I am pleased to report that the above dispute was resolved and the intended industrial action has since all been suspended.

LUL have confirmed that the cover required for the “fifth rounder” – the fifth return journey on the Victoria Line – will be treated equally with other cover. In the event that the management are unable to cover the fifth rounder, details will be supplied to RMT representatives. Further meetings on new rosters will take place in January and June next year with the threat of imposition lifted.

Circular No. IR/253/09: ROSTERING ISSUES – VICTORIA LINE TRAINCREW, LUL

A dispute situation has arisen on the Victoria Line in respect of our Train Operator members and I am in the process of balloting members for both strike action and industrial action short of a strike. The ballot is due to close on Tuesday 8th September 2009.

Circular No. IR/222/09

RMT is to ballot all Bakerloo Line Drivers for both strike action and industrial action short of a strike in support of a dismissed colleague, Kevin Dobinson. Ballot papers will dispatched direct to members’ homes on 30th July 2009 with the closing date for returns being Wednesday 12th August 2009.

It seem that our Train Operator members on the Bakerloo are furious at Kevin’s dismissal and over 160 of them have signed a petition telling management exactly that. Kevin was sacked for a SPAD that he owned up to. It was an aggravated SPAD largely caused by Kevin being preoccupied with personal problems. Furthermore it was the sort of incident that had occurred before on the Underground yet other people hadn’t been sacked.

From RMT official circular IR/108/09, dated 2nd April 2009

I write to congratulate you on a fantastic show of unity and solidarity that has been shown by the results of the ballot for industrial action. The results are shown below;

ARNOS GROVE ________________________SHORT OF STRIKE____STRIKE ACTION NUMBER VOTING YES______84__________________81 NUMBER VOTING NO_______0___________________3 SPOILT PAPERS__________ 0___________________0 TOTAL VOTES____________84__________________84

ACTON TOWN

From RMT official circular IR/97/09, dated 19th March 2009

I received a report regarding a breakdown in industrial relations at the Seven Sisters Depot, the four main points being;

• The dismissal of train driver Carl Campbell (who should be reinstated immediately)
• A stop to the misuse of attendance and disciplinary procedures
• The lack of proper installation of Correct Side Door Enable equipment as provided on all other lines
• An end to the victimisation of RMT activist Glenroy Watson

From RMT official circular IR/97/09, dated 19th March 2009

I write to confirm the final arrangements for the above ballot. The ballot papers were sent out on 19th March 2009 and the new closing date is Friday 27th March 2009.

Please note that that due to legal reasons Arnos Grove and Acton Town will be balloted separately however, it remains a single dispute

I urge RMT Drivers on the Piccadilly Line to return their ballot papers in the envelopes provided upon receiving them, to show management that the Union and our members will not be trampled on.

Yours Sincerely

From RMT head office circular No. IR/70/09, dated 5th March 2009

BREACH OF DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES – PICCADILLY LINE

In view of the ongoing concerns we have with regard to abuses of the disciplinary procedures on the Piccadilly Line, the ballot of Train Operators will go ahead as we are still in dispute.

For legal reasons two separate ballots will be held, one for Arnos Grove Ash House and the other for Acton Town Bollo House.

The ballot papers will be sent out to members on 10th March 2009 and the closing date will be 25th March 2009.