Transport for London

We note the information on file regarding Mayor’s questions and the Early Day Motion on this issue.

We instruct the General Secretary to publish links to these on the union’s website, to email members asking them to encourage their MPs to sign the EDM, and in particular to ask those members of our Parliamentary group who have not yet signed the EDM to do so. We further instruct the General Secretary to ensure that cuts to the LT Museum are highlighted in our campaigning against the 12.5% funding cut to Transport for London.

We note that RMT did not endorse the two-year pay deal accepted by the other trade unions.

We further note the inadequacies of this deal, in particular the non-payment of the 0.5% above-RPI element of the 2012 rise to some grades, and the condition attached to the 0.5% above-inflation element of the 2013 rise that the unions must accept a new performance related pay policy.

We further note that Transport for London cancelled a planned meeting to discuss the new PRP policy.

From General Secretary Bob Crow

Further to my previous circular dated 30th April 2013 (IR/255/13), branches will recall that I wrote to TfL expressing concerns over the lack of consultation over this policy change. The above matter has now been considered by the General Grades Committee and the following decision has been taken:-

We note the report from our Regional Organiser, and the feedback from our branches. We endorse his view that an important principle is at stake and that London Underground members can be convinced to take a stand on this issue.

London Underground's continuing use and abuse of agency staff is seriously detrimental to LUL employees, as it undermines their opportunities to obtain and retain work and creates disruption in the workplace. We therefore declare a trade dispute with London Underground Ltd, demanding that it cease the use of agencies and offer permanent, direct employment to agency workers, including those formerly supplied by Trainpeople.

Admin CDI Note Taking
On Tuesday May 14th the Reps attended a MATS Functional Council meeting. The RMT was the union that put this on the agenda. At the meeting we were able to highlight the pressing issues around CDI note taking. The Reps pointed out how Admin were being told they had to take part in the pilot scheme and we insisted that this was voluntary and was not part of your role or job description.

We welcome the resolution from our London Transport Regional Council, and share its firm opposition to the TfL Pension Fund suspending transfers into the fund. This decision threatens the stability of the Fund and removes important rights from some of our members.

We also agree that ‘suspending’ a rule for six years is an undemocratic manoeuvre to avoid the process of changing the rules.

We note the report, which clearly illustrates the benefits of membership of the TfL Pension Fund as opposed to inferior, defined-contribution pension schemes that have been established by many employers operating under contract or franchise from TfL.

We note that:

• Many companies now offer pension schemes that are significantly inferior to the TfL Fund.
• Many of the workers concerned - eg. cleaners, canteen staff - would have worked for TfL (or its
  predecessor, London Transport) had they been employed prior to contracting-out, so would have been
  members of the TfL Fund.

We note the interim statement from the Law Commission on its consideration of taxi and private hire
legislation.

We welcome the indication that the Commission will recommend retaining the distinction between taxis and
private hire vehicles (PHVs). We are concerned, however, that the replacement of the concept of ‘plying for hire’ with the concept of ‘pre-booking’ may dilute this distinction and allow private hire vehicles to encroach on taxi drivers’ work. (paragraph 5)