Night Tube dispute ballot papers go out from today

1st June 2021

 

TO ALL LONDON UNDERGROUND TRAIN OPERATORS AND OPERATOR INSTRUCTORS

BALLOT PAPERS TO BE SENT OUT TODAY - DO NOT WASTE YOUR VOTE - MAKE SURE YOU RETURN YOUR PAPER - VOTE 'YES' TO DEFEND EXISTING AGREEMENT

 Dear Colleagues,

 ABOLITION OF NIGHT TUBE TRAIN OPERATOR GRADE - LONDON UNDERGROUND

I am writing further to my letter of 13th May 2021 and concerning London Underground seeking to abolish TO23, the Night Tube Train Operators' Grade. The effect of this means the incorporation of Night Tube Train Operator duties into other Tube Operators' rosters and is in direct breach of a comprehensive dispute settlement we had made with LUL in 2015. RMT cannot stand by and allow this hard-won agreement to be dismantled and the denigration of our members' terms and conditions.

RMT has been dedicated to negotiating a deal that works for all our driver members and allows as many of our Night Tube members to go full-time who wish to. The recent disastrous deal agreed by LUL and another union is poorly thought out and is already having negative impacts on those who took the option to go full-time meaning many are now working under the same fatigue inducing rota as they were on the secondment.

Your union is in favour of members changing grade as they wish and to enjoy the working arrangements that are collectively agreed between RMT and London Underground. That is not the issue at stake here, it is the abolition of a grade and the implications that has for those members who have changed grade and all other Train Operators.

Your union believes that the agreed Night Tube Train Operators grade should exist in accordance with the agreement that had been made and for any proposed changes to be subject to agreement. This is a basic principle of collective bargaining. Instead, LUL have decided to simply tear up an existing agreement.

London Underground's proposed abolition of the TO23 grade is not only a breach of our agreement but will likely affect our Train Operator members in the following ways:

  • The imposition of compulsory night tube duties on all Train Operators
  • The imposition of additional weekend duties for all LUL Train Operators
  • Increased fatigue arising from the addition of night tube duties on full-time rosters and the likely requirement for work rosters to includes nights/non-night shifts/rest days in the same week
  • The loss of a clean salary for Train Operators and the introduction of shift enhancements
  • The negative impact on Train Operator staffing levels from the abolition of TO23

This is wholly unacceptable and following consideration of the matter by your National Executive Committee, I have informed the Company that we are now in dispute with them and that members will be balloted for industrial action.

The ballot opens today, Tuesday 1st June 2021 and close on Tuesday 29th June 2021.

Vote 'Yes' in the upcoming ballot to ensure a fair deal for all drivers and ensure your agreements are defended.

I will keep members informed of all further developments.

Yours sincerely,

Michael Lynch
General Secretary