BREAKDOWN IN INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS, TRAIN OPERATORS, CENTRAL LINE – LONDON UNDERGROUND

Further to my previous Circular (IR/15/19, 11th January 2019), Branches will recall that the further strike action scheduled in December was suspended as a result of progress made in talks at ACAS. Due to changes to balloting legislation in the 2016 Trade Union Act, this ballot mandate will expire on Tuesday 9th April 2019 but the previous dispute remains unresolved and other issues are now also in dispute.

As a result of the above, the National Executive Committee has taken the decision to conduct a fresh ballot of all Central Line Train Operators, Night Tube Train Operators and Instructor Operators for strike action and action short of a strike. The issues which now form this dispute are: insufficient driver numbers/chronic understaffing; imposed rosters; undue pressure and bullying of Drivers from Service Control management; obstruction of our representatives’ trade union duties; misuse of the attendance at work and disciplinary policies; inadequate welfare facilities and breaches of local agreements.

The ballot papers will be posted to members on Monday 11th March 2019 and I urge all members to return it to reach the Scrutineer by the closing date of Tuesday 26th March 2019. If any member does not receive their ballot paper, or knows of a colleague who has not received it, please call the freephone helpline on 0800 376 3706, RMT Head Office on 0207 387 4771 to ask for the Industrial Relations Department or e-mail info@rmt.org.uk to request a replacement. I will keep Branches advised of all further developments.

Yours sincerely

Mick Cash 

General Secretary