OFFICIAL CIRCULAR Circular No. IR/171/09 - 28th May 2009

TO ALL BRANCHES AND REPRESENTATIVES ALL UNDERGROUND AND FORMER LT EMPLOYERS

• Rates of Pay & Conditions of Service 2009, Redundancies and Breach of Agreements – LUL • Rates of Pay & Conditions of Service 2009, Redundancies – TfL

Dear Colleague,

Below are the personal letters that have been sent to members advising them of the latest position in the two disputes.

“Rates of Pay & Conditions of Service 2009, Redundancies and Breach of Agreements – LUL

I am writing to congratulate members on again returning a magnificent ‘YES’ vote for both strike action and action short of a strike. Members voted by over 5 to 1 to take action despite management’s attempts to bully and intimidate members and their resorting to legislation over negotiation that meant we were unable to use your mandate in the first ballot.

Well, you have let management know in no uncertain terms that you are not willing to let them treat you with contempt. You have voted to take action on all three issues and I will remind you of the disgraceful position management has taken that will see both a worsening of your standard of living and a worsening of your hard won terms and conditions.

Rates of Pay & Conditions of Service 2009 – There won’t be any improvements now and in years to come if LUL have their way. They have failed to respond to our claim for a one year pay deal and other improvements. Their pay offer of 1% for 2009 and RPI plus 0.5% (with a minimum of 0.5% should inflation be negative) for the next 4 years is totally unacceptable to this Union and its members. The day to day outgoings of members are still high especially as you all live and work in the London area. Fuel bills have gone through the roof, council tax is up way above inflation, food and housing costs are still rising and you can do nothing about it but pay up – these are the basics of life. Yet if management has its way, your standard of living over the next 5 years will get worse. This cannot be allowed to happen. LUL must pay a fair increase that recognises the hard work and commitment you give to the company and London as a whole.

Breaches of Agreements – Management have been breaching the agreed disciplinary and attendance procedures and have encouraged aggressive and punitive behaviour by local managers. For example, members are given 52 weeks warnings for a first attendance warning, maximum attendance warnings are given as standard, members are regularly subject to unreasonable pressure while they are ill, members have been refused representation for interviews while they are ill, and have been refused representation at other interviews where these could lead to disciplinary action. Management’s latest stunt is to actually increase the level of management representation at disciplinaries by planting a People Management Advisor at hearings.

Redundancies – LUL are attempting to push through their Organisational Change policy which contains compulsory redundancy proposals despite the agreement made with RMT in the PPP Code of Conduct. This Union will not accept any dilution of the agreement for these members nor will we accept compulsory redundancies for any other LUL employee.

The General Grades Committee, having taken note of the magnificent ‘YES’ vote has decided on the following strike action.

Members are instructed not to book on for any turns of duty that commence between the hours of 18.59 on Tuesday 9th June 2009 and 18.58 on Thursday 11th June 2009.

This means you do not book on for any shifts that start after 18.59 on Tuesday 9th June; the first shift you will book back on for is the shift that starts after 18.58 on Thursday 11th June. If you start a shift before 18.59 on Tuesday 9th June then you should work the whole shift as normal

The General Grades Committee will be meeting with your representatives in the near future to discuss further action. We will also do all we can to get the message across to the public that you are taking this action as a last resort and that the blame lies squarely at management’s door. However, as you know, the press is never sympathetic to the union or its members so don’t be surprised if the same old vitriol is levelled against you and the RMT. Also be aware that management will try to intimidate and pressurise you into working but stand firm and we will win this dispute.

I will be contacting our sister unions advising them of the action you are taking and seeking their assurance that they will do everything in their power to ensure their members do not undermine the strike.

SUPPORT YOUR UNION SUPPORT YOU COLLEAGUES STAND FIRM AND SUPPORT THE STRIKES ON THE 9TH, 10TH AND 11TH June”

“Rates of Pay & Conditions of Service 2009, Redundancies – TfL

I am writing to congratulate members on again returning a magnificent ‘YES’ vote for both strike action and action short of a strike. Members voted by 4 to 1 to take action despite management’s attempts to bully and intimidate members.

Well, you have let management know in no uncertain terms that you are not willing to let them treat you with contempt. You have voted to take action on all three issues and I will remind you of the disgraceful position management has taken that will see both a worsening of your standard of living and a worsening of your hard won terms and conditions.

As you know we are in dispute with the company over the following issues:-

Improvements to Rates of Pay & Conditions of Service 2009 – Despite the union submitting to TfL as long ago as November last year, your employer has failed to make any offer to this Union in relation to our claim for a substantial increase in rates of pay and improvements to conditions of service. In fact as recently as the 18th May the company were still trying to justify their position by stating they are discussing the Operating Cost Reduction program. They can discuss what they want as long as they give you a fair pay rise for all your hard work and commitment.

Redundancies – We have advised the company that we will not accept compulsory redundancies for any TfL employee. In addition, management’s failure to set out in any detail which positions they intend to make redundant is completely unacceptable.

The General Grades Committee, having taken note of the magnificent ‘YES’ vote has decided on the following strike action.

Members are instructed not to book on for any turns of duty that commence between the hours of 18.59 on Tuesday 9th June 2009 and 18.58 on Thursday 11th June 2009.

This means you do not book on for any shifts that start after 18.59 on Tuesday 9th June; the first shift you will book back on for is the shift that starts after 18.58 on Thursday 11th June. If you start a shift before 18.59 on Tuesday 9th June then you should work the whole shift as normal

As ever we remain available for talks with the company but they must make a reasonable offer to reward you for your endeavours.

SUPPORT YOUR UNION SUPPORT YOU COLLEAGUES STAND FIRM AND SUPPORT THE STRIKES ON THE 9TH, 10TH AND 11TH June”

I will keep members and branches advised of developments.

Yours sincerely,

Bob Crow General Secretary