Bob Crow Explains Tube Lines Pensions And Travel Concessions Dispute As Members Take Industrial Action

From RMT General Secretary Bob Crow

I write to regarding those Tube Lines employees who are being denied access to TfL Pension Fund (TfLPF) and the same travel facilities as other TfL workers. As you will be aware earlier this year union members employed by Tube Lines were balloted for pension and travel equality and as a result returned a massive yes vote in support of industrial action.

So that other RMT members have a full understanding of this dispute please find below an analysis of the issues involved:

When Tube Lines was created as part of Public Private Partnership in 2003, Tube Lines closed its section of the TfLPF to new employees and opened up an inferior “Defined Contribution” (DC) pension scheme in its place. Over the years the numbers of “protected” Tube Lines employees that remained in the Tube Lines section of the TfLPF has dwindled due to the normal routine of retirements. Consequently this has meant that the majority of Tube Lines employees are either in the inferior DC scheme or have no pension provision.

The RMT has been pressing management ever since 2003 to reopen the Tube Lines section to those employees in the DC scheme and to those not presently saving for their retirement but management have continued to refuse this request.

It is important that RMT members know that the TfLPF rules allow staff who are TUPE transferred into TfL, or from a company that becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of TfL, to join the scheme. However, this rule was suspended in 2010 and the RMT have been campaigning to have this decision reversed. As a result of the pressure put on management by the RMT, TfL issued a letter saying that this suspension could be reconsidered in the event of major developments.

Tube Lines has since been bought out by TfL and in the view of the RMT is major development which should allow employees working for Tube Lines to be automatically allowed to join the TfLPF in line with the Trust Deed and Rules of the scheme. Therefore Tube Lines management should have the authority to enrol employees into the fund. Parity would also bring staff free travel within London and 75% of the cost of travel on the mainline railways presently enjoyed by other TfL employees.

Now that the Ex Alstom fleet maintenance staff on the Jubilee Line have been brought into Tube Lines, and therefore into a company owned and controlled by TfL, this issue has once again been highlighted. We believe all Tube Lines staff should be allowed to join the TfL scheme and should receive the same travel passes as for all other TfL employees.

"As a result of the strike ballot mandate a Pension and Travel Working Party was initiated to try and find an acceptable way forward. After months of discussion between management and the RMT a satisfactory conclusion has not been reached" - Bob Crow

As a result of the strike ballot mandate a Pension and Travel Working Party was initiated to try and find an acceptable way forward. After months of discussion between management and the RMT a satisfactory conclusion has not been reached although it acknowledged that some progress has been made on travel facilities.

However, it is clear that management are not going to move on pensions or address the claim in full on travel. I therefore wish to inform you that with effect from 17.30 hours Friday 5th October 2012 until 05.30 hours Monday 8th October 2012 that the RMT General Grades Committee has instructed Tube Lines members not to work any overtime.

It is hoped that management will take this claim more seriously but if not RMT members at Tube Lines are prepared to take further action in support of this claim.

I will keep you informed of developments.