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Branch Minutes: Thursday 9th July 2009 Branch Secretary: Yvonne Duncan Branch Chair: Peter Heyes

Assistant Secretary: Dave Pitman, Vice Chair: Bill O’Dowd

contact or attend branch for full list of attendees.

Matters Arising from Previous Minutes; Add DP resigning from Ass Secretary. 23 ELL drivers are to leave Leytonstone, 5 are to stay at Leytonstone and 5 to re nominate. Leytonstone to lose 5 drivers off the Roster, a line reps meeting has been asked for.

Minutes moved – AF Seconded – MC

Recruitment and Retention: No paperwork through from head office.

Correspondence : 8 items.

Scab Discussion AF has written out a resolution for the branch to discuss please find attached with attendees list.

Branch secretary to write to head office asking the legalities of the content of the resolution.

RM , isn’t it up to the branch to decide if we accept new members in.

MC, we should suspend rather than expel.

MS, does that include managers every time we have a strike managers keep stations open.

JMcC, is it an all grades strike?

JB, yes everyone.

JL, they always come in. (managers who are rmt)

RM, are we just signing up members for their money, then they just come in anyway.

JB, we can’t expel them from the union as they could get a huge payout.

MC, if we are successful with the resolution to the EC it could maybe be brought in across the board.

SH, Camden branch wrote letters to members to come and explain themselves.

Standing Orders Were Suspended.

RO, gave an update on the strike and told us that unfortunately we are no further forward. We want a 1year deal and jobs for life.

AT, I was at the meeting on Monday and the train side is not strong. This is because of the propaganda that Aslef has put out in the build up and during the strike. Aslef are going around saying its nothing to do with train staff and we are coming out for office staff.

JMcC, Aslef have turned us over.

MS, we have the same problem on the stations with Tessa, members want to settle, what are Tessa doing? We’ve had no leaflets no solidarity; the media are saying it’s all about the pay.

JL, mayor is a disgrace, will he let us strike again. The pay deal is a lot of rubbish its all about the jobs for like. Should we be asking those who are near retirement if they want voluntary redundancies.

RM, is Boris forcing us into another strike so when the next Con government get in they can push through a no strike policy. I think the next strike should be planned over 2 pay dates.

JB, I don’t believe a 48h strike was wrong, 24h are just seen by management as a token gesture. Head office has let us down with regards to a leaflet for the public, but when it comes to the media we don’t have any control over what they print about us. The pay deal is shit and we deserve more. The cost of gas has gone up as has food bills. The pay needs to reflect this.

MC, the feeling at Bank is strong. I have been taking the time to talk to members about long term sickness, something that could happen to any of us and this concerns the members.

MS, on pay slips it says absent, members are scared.

GB, we need more propaganda, the feeling that came from the last meeting was that there was too many issues.

SH, answered question from the floor.

Hardship fund Discussion;

AT, hardship funds have been set up at other branches and people take advantage.

MS, if it stops people crossing the picket line then that’s ok.

MC, the credit union is a good thing if members are having financial trouble.

AT, people at my depot are not skint and their still coming in, if they hear there is a hardship fund they will take the piss.

JMcC, cant the mafia system help people get days off.

JL, because it’s a hardship fund members would have to prove they have lost money, maybe show pay slips if they want it badly enough.

MC, at Bank we work together with S/S to get staff at least 1 day off.

RM, I’m not happy with paying scabs to cross the picket lines.

MS, I’m not saying scab and we will pay you, just an incentive not to cross the picket lines.

JL to look into the practicalities of setting up a Branch hardship Fund.

Reports: JL, Managers getting Station staff to detrain and shut doors in 60 seconds at Woodford.

DM, There is no such timings.

A.O.B, AT, Members are not happy that when they call the RMT helpline the people manning the phones are not that helpful.

MS, MW has not heard anything from Head office about retired membership.

JB, secretary submit an amendment to head office about rule change proposal regarding qualifying period to stand for RMT AGM delegate.

Branch asked for a donation for the RMT Ramblers, They are raising funds for The Railway Children. Branch agreed £100.

Meeting closed 1905

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