RMT Register Disagreement With London Underground Over 'Olympic Recognition And Reward'

From General Secretary Bob Crow

I write to advise you that despite London Underground announcing yesterday that a deal has been reached for Train Drivers during the Olympic Games period, RMT has not agreed to this deal; and as such your RMT Representatives’ registered a failure to agree at the Trains Functional Council meeting. I can confirm that RMT reject this dealfor the reasons outlined below:-

  • Nine-Hour hour duties at weekends are not acceptable to our members, who see it as turning back the clock, worsening working conditions, and putting themselves in danger of fatigue.
  • The deal allows management to change Drivers’ rest days, change duties at short notice and allows management to roster Drivers’ working hours longer than the 36-hour week normally worked, up to 42 hours.
  • The changes to the Framework Agreement are presented as ‘temporary’, but RMT has concerns that LUL will use this as an opportunity to make permanent changes to the detriment of drivers’ working conditions.
  • The payments for overtime and longer duties are not clear, and may not be as generous as they are being presented, as being paid overtime rates to do overtime is not a special deal for the Olympics, but a standard practice.

I have advised the company of our rejection of this deal and that we remain available further talks to resolve this matter. I shall of course keep you informed of further developments.