What is a National Executive Committee decision?

This article is an 'executive decision' which has been written by the RMT National Executive Committee. The National Executive is the union's governing body in between AGMs. Its decisions set out what the union will do on a particular issue.

These decisions can often be brief, and may be one of several passed over a period of time. To get a better understanding or find out more information about what the RMT is doing, speak to your rep or attend your branch or Regional Council meeting.

RMT reiterates opposition to London Underground cuts

EVERY JOB MATTERS- DEFENDING JOBS ON LONDON UNDERGROUND (LUL/14/5)
 
Further to my previous Circular (IR/0051/16, 3rd March 2016), the contents of the resolution I reported to you has highlighted that our members’ concerns and the impact on the machinery of negotiation as a result of “Fit for the Future – Stations” remain very much in evidence. Therefore, the matter was again subject to consideration by your National Executive Committee, which has reiterated this union’s opposition to the concept of Fit for the Future, which the NEC notes has so far resulted in:

  • just under 900 job losses on stations
  • the destruction of ticket offices
  • the re-grading of staff (including a new grade which will be paid at £7,000 less and have three weeks less leave than members they are working beside, doing a near-identical job)
  • the removal of all seated roles from stations working
  • division amongst the workforce, caused by giving disciplinary power to some station staff over others.

The industrial action in 2014 and 2015 beat back some of the attacks and retained some of your hard-won conditions, however the NEC has also noted that our members are angry with management at the worsening of conditions and that a further dispute is inevitable some time this year.
 
To build up the confidence of our members, the NEC has instructed me to produce material including the production of a 4-page broadsheet in conjunction with the London Transport Regional Council, which will be sent out to all London Underground members with RMT News and will include the following: 

  • an outline of the company’s attacks
  • articles from our representatives in each of London Underground’s functions outlining how the attacks will affect their members
  • an explanation of the government’s intention that London Underground becomes self-financing and the catastrophic consequences of this
  • relevant international comparisons
  • a summary of what the industrial action has achieved so far
  • an explanation of the power of all-grades unity and solidarity
  • encouragement and explanation of why and how members can get involved in the union
  • a ‘what to do if’ guide for staff facing particular difficulties due to the company’s attacks

The broadsheet will explain that London Underground carries almost 5 million passenger journeys a day and cannot cope with the job cuts and closure of ticket offices, which has led to dangerous overcrowding on stations and a decrease in services to passengers, especially visually-impaired and other disabled passengers; that assaults have increased, including sexual assaults on women; that de-staffing means a less safe service; and that London is prone to terrorist attacks and staff are the frontline in defending passengers as was shown in the attack at Leytonstone last year. 
 
Yours sincerely

Mick Cash

General Secretary

What is a National Executive Committee decision?

This article is an 'executive decision' which has been written by the RMT National Executive Committee. The National Executive is the union's governing body in between AGMs. Its decisions set out what the union will do on a particular issue.

These decisions can often be brief, and may be one of several passed over a period of time. To get a better understanding or find out more information about what the RMT is doing, speak to your rep or attend your branch or Regional Council meeting.