Defending jobs

Opposing cuts in staffing levels and jobs

G20 Demonstration

This resolution, proposed by LU Fleet branch, was passed unanimously by the February meeting of the Regional Council.

The leaders of the world’s most powerful nations will meet in London in April.

They come together against a backdrop of world slump, war and rising anger at the nightmare they have created.

The point of the G20 is meant to be to find solutions – but world leaders are running out of ideas. They aim to make workers pay for the crisis.

Metronet Redundancies

This emergency resolution, submitted by LU Fleet branch, was passed unanimously by the February meeting of the Regional Council.

This Branch calls upon the RMT Executive to call a strike ballot of all members in Metronet (London Underground) if the following demand is not met.

We require a written guarantee from Metronet (London Underground) that they recognise and accept that we have a no compulsory redundancy agreement under the PPP Code of Practice and therefore will not impose any compulsory redundancies on Metronet (London Underground) staff.

March for Jobs, Justice and Climate, 28 March, London

Tell the G20 to PUT PEOPLE FIRST

In April 2009 the leaders of 20 of the world’s biggest economies meet in London against a backdrop of recession and global financial crisis.

On Saturday March 28, thousands of people will march through London as part of a global challenge to the G20 leaders to ‘put people first’.

Trade unions, environmental groups and charities have come together for this mobilisation and the message will be:

From The Horse's Mouth ...

TfL Commissioner Peter Hendy's circular to all TfL staff on 2 December 2008 spelt out the company's cost-cutting agenda and plans to slash jobs ...

"Our 10-year Business Plan sets out our plans for multi-billion pound transport investment. This year, the Operating Cost Review team has been working with the business to identify opportunities to make the £2.4 billion savings we need to deliver our commitments within the available funding levels.

Job Cuts: LUL's question-and-answer; RMT's comments

Below you can read a question-and-answer briefing produced by London Underground management about their 'Organisational Change Process'.

RMT would like to point out that:

  • Whatever soft-soap and jargon it uses, this is a document announcing around 1,000 job cuts.
  • Despite the claim in this document, your union has not agreed to this process.

Emcor Rail: Success as Workers Fight Back Wtih RMT

By Paul Jackson, Secretary, RMT LU Engineering branch

Times are hard, companies are cutting back and by and large workers are paying the price of other people's mistakes or cynical moves by companies to maximise profits. One such example was Emcor Rail, which help to maintain station infrastructure on behalf of TubeLines.

The 'Jobs for Life' Deal

Below is the text of the 'Jobs for Life' deal. This was an agreement made in 2001 between trade unions RMT and ASLEF, and employers London Underground Ltd, the PPP infracos and their subsidiaries. It followed strike action prompted by the impending imposition of the Public-Private Partnership.

The press coined the term 'Jobs for Life deal'. As you can see, it applies to all the above-named employers, and includes a guarantee of no compulsory redundancies.

-----

Details of Settlement between London Underground and the Trades Unions

Union prepares for strike ballot as London Underground plans to scrap ‘jobs for life’ deal

In recent meetings with London Underground over the proposed 1,000 job cuts, it has become apparent that management is not carrying out meaningful consultation.

London Underground is trying to force through job cuts, which amount to the first stage in plans by TfL to cut its budget by £2.5 billion. TfL inherited a debt worth over £2 billion from failed privateer Metronet. Instead of cutting our senior managers’ inflated salaries, getting rid of parasitical private contractors and opening the books to public scrutiny, TfL/LUL are attempting to do away with thousands of jobs.