TRANSPORT UNION RMT confirmed today that security and safety staff employed by STM Security Group on London Overground services will be taking strike action next week in a dispute over bullying and harassment and an attempt to impose workplace changes without agreement.

Back in December, RMT suspended a campaign of strike action by STM staff to allow the negotiating team to begin talks with London Overground, with a view to bringing the Travel Safe Officer work back in-house. Nearly three months later the fact is that despite the promise of talks, LOROL has refused to meet with RMT on this issue. It is now clear to the union that STM and LOROL deliberately mislead RMT, to stop the strike action in the run up to Christmas.

Meanwhile, management at STM still have a cavalier attitude towards bullying and harassment and are refusing to address the concerns of our members in a proper and professional manner. The Executive of RMT has therefore decided to call further strike action to force management to honour their commitments, call off the campaign of harassment and address the issues in the workplace.

All RMT Travel Safe Officers at STM on London Overground are instructed NOT to book on for any turns of duty that commence between:

00:01 hours and 23:59 hours on Thursday 28th February 2013

In addition, RMT is organising protests to highlight our campaign and build public and political support for the dispute. I can confirm the following protests have been arranged:

• 25th February 2013 - 9am to 11am outside City Hall
• 28th February 2013 - 9am to 11am outside TFL Headquarters
• 6th March 2013 - 9am to 11am outside Palestra House
• 13th March 2013 - 9am to 11am outside Palestra House
• 27th March 2013 - 9am to 11am outside City Hall

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:

“The bullying and intimidation of our members’ representatives by STM Security, the issue at the heart of this long-running dispute, is utterly deplorable and represents a pre-meditated assault on this trade union in a desperate attempt to try and undermine RMT’s growing strength on this contract.

“RMT is demanding that London Overground, which tolerates STM as one of its key contractors, intervene to stop the disgraceful activities of this outfit and we repeat our demand for these key safety services to be brought in-house rather than subbed out to these cowboys. We were given the impression in the run up to Christmas that LOROL were going to do just that but it is now clear that their warm words were just a delaying tactic to buy time during the festive season.

“RMT LOROL safety and security members have shown their determination to stand up to the bullies and union-busters in the unanimous strike vote and in last year and the strike action in November and the whole union stands with them in this struggle for justice. RMT remains available for talks aimed at addressing the range of outstanding issues and it is down to all parties to honour their commitments and take the action required to resolve this dispute.”