RMT official circulars

from General Secretary Bob Crow - TFL (RT/14/2)

Further to my circular dated 14th December (IR/608/11) I write to update branches on the TfL scheme to introduce Identifier tags from March 2012 for all Taxi driver members (Taxis and Private hire).This would distinguish between those drivers licensed for hire in all of Metropolitan London (green badge) and those who were licensed for particular sectors outside the centre (yellow badge). Yellow badge drivers might be typically licensed for the London Boroughs of Redbridge, Greenwich, Merton, Harrow, Hillingdon and so on.

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

I write to advise members that we have decided to re-run the current referendum of members on this year’s pay award. This decision has been taken because a letter from management advising us of a slight amendment to the Years 2 to 4 offer was not reflected in the paperwork sent to members with the voting papers. The change is significant enough to warrant the referendum being re-run as members are not voting with the full proposal at their disposal.

As you will recall from my previous Circular (No LUL/15/10, 16th May 2011) I highlighted the disparity in regards to the terms and conditions of those employees who were TUPE transferred from Alstom Metro Trains, Stratford Market Depot, to Tube Lines (TL) compared to those former Metronet employees who have been fully integrated into LUL.

from General Secretary Bob Crow

In my Circular No. NP/062/11, 4th April 2011, I sought to establish the views of Branches as to whether an advisory committee and/or conference be established for our member with disabilities. The five responses received were placed before the Council of Executives who noted and adopted the following recommendation:-

From General Secretary Bob Crow

I am pleased to advise you that we will be holding the RMT Young Members’Conference in London. The Conference opens on the evening of the Thursday 23rdFebruary and then continues through Friday 24th and closes no later than 14.00hrs on Saturday the 25th February 2012.

TRANSPORT UNION RMT will be taking a range of motions and amendments to the TUC Congress in London next week aimed at stepping up the union fight to defend jobs, services and workers rights.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said: “The TUC meets this year with the economy on the brink of a double dip recession and with the full impact of the ConDem austerity cuts only just beginning to be felt. While boardroom pay and bonuses are rocketing workers are being threatened with the biggest assault on living conditions since the end of war time rationing.”

RMT, TSSA and ASLEF wrote to the Rail Delivery Group to ask if it was its intention to have representatives from the trade unions. The Unions were advised that this was a matter for Government. We then met the Secretary of State for Transport Philip Hammond MP who told us that union involvement was a matter for the industry.

The trade unions requested a meeting with the Rail Delivery Group and the three General Secretaries from RMT, TSSA and ASLEF met with the Chair of First Group Tim O’Toole and Chair of Network Rail David Higgins who are the Rail Delivery Group Chair and Vice Chair respectively. We put it to them that there should be an opportunity for us to put our viewpoint across and for a passengers’ representative to do the same. We were told that the Rail Delivery Group is in an embryonic stage looking at all issues and that there were a number of other bodies not represented such as the suppliers.

London Underground management have tabled an improved offer for the 2011 pay award. Having considered this offer your General Grades Committee has made the following decision that “we reject the latest pay offer from London Underground."

Read the full circular to see the new offer in full and why the RMT General Grades Committee have rejected it.

The Council of Executives at their meeting of the 20th June 2011 have agreed to increase representation on the RMT Young Members Advisory Committee on the basis of five members per Region. I am therefore seeking nominations from Branches to take up these additional positions.