Circulars from RMT head office about issues in our region
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.
From RMT General Secretary Bob Crow to RMT Fleet members at Northumberland Park depot:
Dear Colleagues,
I write to advise you that the ballot for industrial action has now been suspended as an agreement has now been reached on this matter. As you will recall three of your colleagues were being disciplined following allegations that they breached LUL (TFL) Internet and Email policy back in 2008 and faced serious sanctions. Your Union argued that as TFL were not the employer at the time and due to the timescale involved it was unreasonable to go down this route.
Branches will be aware that we are now in the third year of TFL’s three-year pay settlement. We agreed for this year that increase for the ‘Achieved’ rating would be February RPI + 0.5%. The February RPI figure has now been confirmed as 5.5%. Therefore for those who receive the ‘Achieved’ rating, the award is 6% effective as of 1st April 2011, which is payable in July 2011. This applies to members who working in TFL Corporate, Surface Transport and Rail for London Limited who are in Pay bands 1-3, as well as those who TUPED into TFL from other organisations.
Dear Colleagues,
NECESSARY LEAVE TO LOOK AFTER DEPENDENTS
In view of the strikes next Thursday 30 June 2011, I felt a reminder on the legal position regarding necessary leave to look after children or other dependents may be of assistance.
Under S.57A Employment Rights Act 1996 (“ERA 1996”), employees have the right to take unpaid time off work, in certain circumstances, to care for or make arrangements in respect of a ‘dependant’. In order for the right to apply, the employee must:
(a) tell the employer the reason for his or her absence as soon as reasonably practicable; and