Blogs

At RMT's AGM, I proposed this resolution on behalf of Stratford no.1 branch. Lots of delegates spoke in favour of the resolution, telling stories of management abuse of sick staff in their company and/or area. This relates strongly to one of the three issues of our current Jobs Pay and Justice dispute. The resolution was passed unanimously. This is the text of my speech.

Across our industry, employers are clamping down on sickness absence.

Refusal to work on the grounds of safety - rights for pregnant women and new mothers

At RMT's AGM, the General Secretary presents a written report, and delegates can question and comment on it. These are the two points that I raised:

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There are two issues that are not in the Report, which I think should have been.

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Firstly, refusal to work on the grounds of safety.

Members of the TfL No.1 Branch visited the picket line at Mount Pleasant Sorting Office on friday 10th July to show solidarity with the CWU fight in London. The action was solid with the typical scab managers brought in from other parts of the country to make it look like work was being done.

We donated the RMT flag which we were told would be hung in the Union office.

We have been negotiating with LUL on the new New Ticket Office Procedures Handbooks for over a year now and they have been introduced without due consideration to our comments and concerns. We have real fears that the original TOPH is being watered down to make it easier to reduce ticket office hours, close ticket offices and get rid of SAMF and SS jobs.

I am writing this in a personal capacity but I believe this is the feeling of a lot of TfL members of RMT. We have given 100% to the build up of this dispute/campaign since day one. We have only 4 'recognised' Reps in the whole of TfL unlike other areas of membership. We are part of this dispute because of the possible 3000 job cuts in our area, no pay offer whatsoever from TfL and members being denied the representatives of their choice plus we already have to suffer the disgraceful 'OCP' scenario where we can be made compulsory redundant.

Please see attached press release by TSSA and UNISON. The quotes from Gerry Doherty (TSSA) and Dave Prentis (UNISON) are a bit rich considering that in this area they have been in the process of shedding jobs since September 2008! Hundreds have already gone without a mention from these General Secretaries. Why the interest now?

TSSA News Release 8 June 2009 Tfl wastes millions on consultants while thousands face sack UNISON and the TSSA today slammed TfL for wasting millions on consultants while attempting to fill a £2.4billion budget black hole by sacking thousands of staff.

Was any one else extremely vexed at the content of our new MD's letter, not only does the tosser use public money to send out individual letters to all LU staff but he also has the cheek to slag off this Unions integrity and does this by spouting loads of lies.

Your help can stop the BNPs national billboard campaign.

Clear Channel – an outdoor advertising agency – have sold the BNP adverts on billboards across the country – they’re financially profiting from the BNP’s vicious campaign.

We are asking all our supporters to send a message to Clear Channel – demanding that they take down the BNP’s racist propaganda.

After you send your letter we will keep you up to date with details about this and other campaigns.

Click '1 attachment' / file name to download this leaflet; read the text below.

How will Management Keep London Moving By Cutting Jobs in TFL, LUL / Metronet?

THEY WON’T

Will management get the backing of their Duty Managers?

As part of last years dispute it was agreed that traffic hour supervision would be in place on the Wembley central group by the end of April 2009......well that date has now been and gone and there are no Super's in place yet?

Question to RMT head office what is this Union doing about this?? Surely we are considering at the least to take this to ACAS.

For branch members please come to the next branch to help pass a resolution getting the EC to take some action over LU's lack of progress on this matter.