Defending jobs

On the day that secret plans for the alleged axing of thousands of crucial tube jobs was leaked by the TSSA union, RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said: “RMT has warned that the Government cuts of 12.5% to TFL budgets would result in thousands of job losses and now the numbers are being confirmed we are prepared to ballot across the Capital for strike action in defence of jobs and services.

Rail union RMT today served notice of a strike ballot following the announcement by Transport for London (TfL) of their plans to introduce Driver Only Operation (DOO) on the whole of the London Overground network with the axing of 130 safety-critical guards posts. Ballot papers will be despatched to affected members on 31st July 2013 and the ballot will close on 15th August 2013.

We note the correspondence from London Underground Ltd dated 17 July 2013. We welcome the assurances given, which are clearer than those given previously. We seek a report from the lead officer before responding to the employer’s question about our ongoing dispute on this matter, and instruct the General Secretary to place this in front of us.

London Transport Regional Council and branches to be advised.

We note the correspondence from London Underground Ltd and the report from our Regional Organiser. We are totally opposed to LUL’s stated intention to reduce night station supervisor cover, and introduce mobile or remote supervision of stations.

We share our RO’s belief that this is an all-out attempt to de-staff and weaken our agreements for all LUL station grades, which we must resist.

We note the correspondence from London Underground Ltd and the report from our Regional Organiser. We are totally opposed to LUL’s stated intention to reduce night station supervisor cover, and introduce mobile or remote supervision of stations. We share our RO’s belief that this is an all-out attempt to de-staff and weaken our agreements for all LUL station grades, which we must resist.

From RMT General Secretary Bob Crow

The General Grades Committee has considered this matter and has taken the following decision:

That further to our previous decision GWW 09th july we note the report from our regional officer and the material from London Overground Rail Operations Ltd. We are appalled that this company is proceeding with scrapping Conductor Guards and contrary to the managements own briefings to employees, led by the Managing Director and Human Resources Director, intends to begin dismissals in October 2013 and complete them in February 2014 which is earlier than the dates quoted in their briefings.

We note the information on file regarding Mayor’s questions and the Early Day Motion on this issue.

We instruct the General Secretary to publish links to these on the union’s website, to email members asking them to encourage their MPs to sign the EDM, and in particular to ask those members of our Parliamentary group who have not yet signed the EDM to do so. We further instruct the General Secretary to ensure that cuts to the LT Museum are highlighted in our campaigning against the 12.5% funding cut to Transport for London.

We note the resolution from our Central Line East branch, which we understand is also supported by our trains representatives in Central Line West branch. We share our branches’ alarm at the deterioration of industrial relations on the Line, including abuses of procedures, safety concerns, and an authoritarian disciplinary regime.

In line with our branches’ request, we instruct the General Secretary to contact London Underground Ltd as a matter of urgency demanding a line meeting, to include all our Central line trains representatives (health & safety and industrial relations).