Alstom

TRANSPORT UNION RMT has confirmed that industrial action by Alstom-Metro tube maintenance staff over pay and conditions has been suspended following receipt of a significantly improved offer from the company.

RMT will now consult members on the new offer through a referendum ballot with a recommendation to accept.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said;

“It is a testament to the solidarity and determination of our members that their action has enabled our negotiators to secure this new offer which includes a significant uplift for our lowest paid grades.

NEARLY 200 Alstom-Metro train-maintenance workers at depots on London Underground’s Jubilee and Northern lines are to strike again next week over pay and conditions in a concerted bid to force the wealthy company to improve its “insulting” sub-inflation pay offer.

RMT members at the two depots will begin their second 24-hour strike at 19:00 on Monday October 4, with further action scheduled for the same time on Wednesday November 3, and Monday November 29.

Click '1 attachment' / file name to download the new issue of our 'RMT London Calling' newsletter. It features the Alstom pay dispute, the LU overtime ban, messages of support for our fight against job cuts, Royal Mail - not for sale, and more!

An RMT member at Alstom writes ...

Alstom is a multinational engineering company that was invited to supply and then maintain trains on the London Underground Northern and Jubilee Lines under that last Tory government. They were the first private company in the underground and may be the last one. Conditions in Alstom have declined massively in the past year, with the employer using severe disciplinary methods against staff for increasingly minor offences.

Tube union RMT said this morning that a strike of Alstom tube maintenance staff on the Jubilee and Northern Line's that began at 19.00 last night is rock solid. Pickets have been out in force at all three Alstom tube maintenance depots.

RMT has received reports this morning of disruption and delays to south bound Northern Line services on the northern section of the Edgware branch during rush hour.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:

That we congratulate our members for their overwhelming vote for industrial action.

All members are accordingly instructed to take strike action from 19.00 hours on Sunday 5th September until 18.59 hours on Monday 6th September

Nor from 19.00 hours on Saturday 2nd October until 18.59 hours on Sunday 3rd October

Nor from 19.00 hours on Monday 1st November until 18.59 hours on Tuesday 2nd November

Nor from 19.00 hours on Saturday 27th November until 18.59 hours on Sunday 28th November

The new issue of our 'RMT London Calling' newsletter asks how it is that TfL/LUL 'can't afford' frontline jobs and regular maintenance, but can afford massive salaries for directors. It also reports on the Alstom pay dispute, Euston escalator fire, Northern line runaway train and other issues, and replies in detail to last week's London Underground management bulletin about our industrial action ballot result.

Click '1 attachment' / file name to download it.

Are you prepared to take strike action?

• Total Votes Cast...86
• Number Voting Yes...74
• Number Voting No...10
• Spoilt Papers...2
• (Yes vote is 88% of valid vote = 8:1 majority)

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

• Total Votes Cast...86
• Number Voting Yes...81
• Number Voting No...4
• Spoilt Papers...1
• (Yes vote is 95% of valid vote = 22:1 majority)

The Regional Council Secretary wrote to all branches, asking for their assessment of their branch’s work during 2009, and suggesting that they might address the following points:
- whether your membership grew or shrunk during 2009, and why you think this is
- any problems you have had filling reps’ positions within the branch’s area
- how effective your branch was during any industrial action in your area last year
- what recruitment activities you have organised