Defending jobs

We note the report from our Regional Organiser and the minutes on file.

We instruct the General Secretary to ensure that this union continues to seek updated information from TfL on this process, ensuring full disclosure of information to which we are entitled, and to challenge any resulting attacks on or holding back of our members’ terms and conditions.

Any developments are to be placed in front of us.

London Transport Regional Council and branches to be advised.

WHAT YOU CAN DO to be part of our campaign to defend and improve jobs:

Join RMT

• get a membership form from your RMT rep
• phone 0800-376-3706 or 020-7387-4771
• go to www.rmtlondoncalling.org.uk/join

If you are already a member of RMT, get active and involved:

• talk to your RMT rep
• make sure that RMT has your up-to-date details (address, grade, location, etc)
• make sure that RMT has your email address and mobile number so the union can contact you quickly and easily
• persuade a workmate to join
• get involved in your RMT branch
  

Everyone knows that London Underground is woefully inaccessible to disabled people and others. A major programme of physical improvements to stations would increase access and create jobs. But access also means staff.

For example, RMT supports the continuing use of boarding ramps to enable access for mobility-impaired passengers to London Underground trains. This must be properly risk-assessed and have a safe and effective system of work, and requires adequate numbers of staff on every station to use the ramps.

We note the correspondence from London Underground Ltd regarding TfL market testing. While this offers some reassurance that this is simply a ‘benchmarking activity’ and that no decision has been made to privatise the functions involved, we are well aware that ‘market testing’ is used to keep down pay, conditions and staffing in the public sector body as much as it is used to prepare for privatisation.

We therefore instruct the General Secretary to ensure that this issue continues to be raised with TfL and developments monitored and placed in front of us.

We note the report of the discussion at our representatives’ meeting, and that we may expect an announcement of cuts very soon.

We resolve to step up this union’s campaigning against these cuts, and instruct the General Secretary to ensure a higher-profile RMT presence at protest events.

We oppose any cuts in jobs, and instruct the General Secretary to raise with the employer that vacancies in permanent posts should be filled rather than covered with agency or temporary staff.

Further to our decision Gww 8/1/13, we note the report from our representatives' meeting held on 25 January.

We note that London Underground's Upgrades programme has a significant impact on many of our members, including providing a pretext for LUL management to attack jobs and conditions. It is therefore essential that we mobilise all our relevant representatives to work together in unity to secure the best possible outcome for our members and for the future of London Underground.

Please click this link to take part in our online campaign calling on London Underground to offer permanent employment to the 33 staff left without work when the Trainpeople agency’s contract came to an end:

LabourStart Campaign

Thirty-three agency staff working on London Underground, some for as long as five years, were told just before Christmas that the contract with their agency, Trainpeople, had been ended, and that they would lose their jobs in January.

Here is the latest edition on the Finsbury Park branch newsletter.

In this edition:

• Protect your job, play it safe
• Boxing not so clever
• X-ray specs, anyone?
• Hardship fund - what's it about?
• Stiched up after helping out
• Victoria Line drivers survey

  You may be able to view the newsletter below, otherwise use the 'attachments' link to download it

This report of the February RMT London Transport Regional Council meeting has notes from our Executive Member Janine Booth's report, and the motions passed at the meeting. For more information please use the links to relevant articles where they are provided or speak to your local rep. You can also contact us for more details.