Opposing cuts in staffing levels and jobs
RMT Senior Assistant General Secretary Mick Lynch said;
"It is outrageous for Boris Johnson to wheel out the dangerous nonsense of driverless trains as a condition of the emergency Covid-19 funding of Transport for London. This is the sort of cheap political stunt that was a hallmark of his time as Mayor and we would have hoped he would have grown up by now.
June 3rd 2020
Some things are so important that drivers just want their reps to put inter-Union rivalry to one side and to work together to obtain the best outcome; and in uncertain times like these it is necessary to do just that. As we said in our first briefing, we want to work with Aslef in achieving job security for NT drivers. It is their choice to issue leaflets denigrating the RMT and our members, our concern is to get the best for you.
RMT warns of strike action if necessary to fight London Transport Austerity imposed by government.
Responding to the government announcement today that it is imposing austerity cuts and direct control over transport in London as part of its conditions for funding as a result of the Covid-19 crisis RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said,
“London Transport workers have been vital to fighting Covid-19 and any attacks on their pay, jobs and conditions arising from this imposed settlement will be a complete betrayal.
RMT Regional Organiser John Leach has written to London Underground Managing Director Andy Lord to seek an 'absolute guarantee' that the jobs of members at TfL / LUL will not be affected by any emergency budget settlement reached with the government.
The letter
Subject: TfL Finances impact on Employees, Jobs and conditions of employment
Dear Andy
REORGANISATION AND JOB CUTS - SODEXHO (LUL) (LUL/15/4)
It was brought to your union's attention that Sodexo had won an extension to its contract to provide catering services across TfL. At the time, your representatives were alerted to a number of rumours circulating which suggested that a reorganisation to include job cuts was the company's plan to take this contract forward.
London Underground has re-tendered the contract to provide catering services at staff canteens to Sodexo, until 2023. The contract tendering process included an explicit request from LU to deliver “efficiency savings”. This means: job cuts.
Sodexo plans to cut a number of jobs across the contract, at every location, equivalent to 18 full-time positions. RMT opposes these cuts. We are fighting to ensure no Sodexo worker loses their job, has their hours cut, or loses any money.
STAFFING LEVELS, REVENUE CONTROL INSPECTORS - LONDON UNDERGROUND (LUL/14/5)
TERMS AND CONDITIONS, STATION STAFF - LONDON UNDERGROUND (LUL/14/2)
REMINDER - Staff our Stations - Reps Campaigning Meeting - Thursday 16th January
Dear colleague,
As part of the Staff Our Stations campaign, the NEC has instructed me to arrange a high profile meeting of station staff reps including Tier 2 and Health and Safety reps and branches that represent station staff.
Violence and assaults against rail workers and members is soaring. Despite this, station staffing is under increasing attack from the private train companies which are attempting to close ticket offices and cut hours and staffing at stations.
Subject: STAFFING LEVELS, REVENUE CONTROL INSPECTORS – LONDON UNDERGROUND
That we note the resolution from our London Transport Regional Council regarding the appalling spike in violence at work against our operational members, the company’s failure or worse intentional non-filling of RCI vacancies which has reduced RCI staff numbers on a massive scale; down from 237 to 140 over 10 years.
To literally add insult to injury; the company are now proposing to replace our RCI grade with an inferior grade of Revenue Control Officer; on £18,000 less salary!
Subject: BREAKDOWN IN INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS, TRAIN OPERATORS, CENTRAL LINE – LONDON UNDERGROUND
That we note the meeting with Drivers Local and Functional Representatives took place, and that it was reported that:
It was reported that progress made at talks is taking a while to filter down due to resistance from local management.