LUL Asset Performance Directorate

Following some very unsavory legal advice it now appears that jobs will be under threat when Metronet staff return to London Underground on 8th December. It appears that although all the staff are being tranferred to LUL, the contracts will remain with Metronet. This makes it possible for example that Metronet withdraw the contract from LUL and give it, let's say, to Balfour Beatty leaving the current Metronet employees jobless. The advice is provided in full underneath.

----Original Message-----

Dear Bob,

From Circular No. IR 283, November 27 2008

Dear Colleagues,

TUPE TRANSFER OF METRONET RAIL EMPLOYEES TO LONDON UNDERGROUND

Further to my circular of 30th October 2008, I can confirm that the above consultation process has now commenced and RMT will be making every effort to ensure that jobs and conditions are fully protected. This process will be ongoing up to and beyond the transfer of members back into LUL.

In the meantime, in order to comply with the TUPE regulations, the employers have confirmed the following:

From Circular No. IR 283, November 27 2008

Dear Colleagues,

RATES OF PAY AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE 2009:

• LONDON UNDERGROUND LTD
• EDF ENERGY POWERLINK
• METRONET (BCV AND SSL)
• TfL
• ALSTOM METRO TRAINS

I write to confirm that a common claim for improvements to rates of pay and conditions of service in 2009 was formally lodged with all of the above employers last week. The basis of the claim is as follows:

RATES OF PAY AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE 2009:

LONDON UNDERGROUND LTD EDF ENERGY POWERLINK METRONET (BCV AND SSL) TfL ALSTOM METRO TRAINS

I write to confirm that a common claim for improvements to rates of pay and conditions of service in 2009 was formally lodged with all of the above employers last week. The basis of the claim is as follows:

• A substantial increase in rates of pay for all grades and additional protection for the lowest paid grades in the form of a minimum salary of £26,000
• Improved travel facilities for non-safeguarded employees

RMT press release, issued today

LONDON UNDERGROUND’S biggest union RMT today welcomed plans to transfer the workforce at failed public-private partnership company Metronet back to LUL.

In a letter to RMT general secretary Bob Crow, Metronet Rail chief executive Andie Harper confirmed that a consultation over the TUPE transfer will soon be underway and that he hoped the process would be completed by December.

“RMT has been pressing for this measure all along and welcomes Metronet Rail’s move as a victory for common sense,” Bob Crow said today.

RMT has settled its dispute with Metronet over the victimisation of health & safety rep Andy Littlechild, after Metronet suspended Andy's warning on appeal.

The union would like to thank all Andy's workmates in Metronet, and in other companies in TfL, who gave him such strong support when he was facing possible dismissal.

The highest-paid director’s earnings:

• London Underground £522,123 (2007)
• Metronet £212,947 (2006/7)
• DLR £136,833 (2007/8)
• CBS Outdoor £477,000 (2006)

TfL’s Transport Commissioner Peter Hendy’s salary: £320,000 + up to 50% bonus (2006)

Tube Lines: 15 Directors, average salary £660,000+ (2007)

by Steve Hedley, RMT Regional Council Secretary

An all-grades, all-companies ballot is essential if we want to stop sackings, harassment, victimisation and bullying. The very future of the union is at stake.

It doesn’t matter if you are a driver, station staff, controller, cleaner or engineer, you will know someone who has been harassed back to work when sick, been sacked for attendance or suspended for carrying out union activities.

... & No Cuts in Signals Maintenance or Imposed Rosters

New leaflet for Metronet workers. read the text below, and click on the file name at the bottom to download the leaflet (PDF)

AROUND 2,500 Tube infrastructure workers at Metronet are to be balloted for industrial action over breakdowns in industrial relations following the victimisation of an RMT safety rep, dangerous plans to reduce signals maintenance and attempts to impose rosters.

The following is a report of the organisational conference on 29 August requested by branches and facilitated by the Region.

The day began with a general assessment of some recent disputes, including those involving TfL, Metronet, Tubelines, and the fight against Casualisation within LUL, with a view to establishing what the union did well and where it did badly.

Positives