RMT Executive decisions

Decisions of RMT's Council of Executives, and of RMT's General Grades Committee (the section of the Council of Executives which deals with industrial matters for railway and other non-shipping grades)

EDF Powerlink pay latest

RMT General Grades Committee decision:

We note the most recent pay offer from UK Power Networks Services (formerly EDF Energy Powerlink). We do not accept the company’s proposal to base an annual pay rise due to be paid on 1 April on June’s RPI figure, as this institutionalises late payment of our members’ annual pay rise. We instruct the General Secretary to ensure that this view is communicated to the company.

Progress on Central Line Asbestos

RMT General Grades Committee decision:

That we note the correspondence from our LU Engineering branch, reporting that major progress has been made in negotiating a safer system of work for track workers in this area, although there are outstanding concerns regarding non-track project staff and the potential of complacency creeping in.

RMT Recommends London Underground Pay Offer

RMT General Grades Committee decision:

That we note the well-attended meeting of our representatives on London Underground on Tuesday 4 October, at which a clear majority indicated that they wish the union to put LU’s offer to a referendum of members recommending acceptance.

Accordingly, we instruct the General Secretary to put in place a referendum ballot of all our members covered by this offer, with a recommendation to accept.

Use of Fingerprint Machines and Vehicle Transport - Emcor Rail (LU Contract)

RMT General Grades Committee decision:

That we note the resolution from our LU Engineering branch and the report from our Regional Organiser, and our members’ strong objection to Emcor Rail’s attempt to undermine their civil liberties by using fingerprint technology for booking in and out and surveillance of our members by vehicle trackers.

Alstom Workers Reject Below-Inflation Pay Offer

That we note the referendum result is as follows:-

Total votes cast 49
Number voting “Yes” 17
Number voting “No” 32
Spoilt Papers 0

We therefore instruct the General Secretary to inform the employer of our rejection of its below-inflation offer, to seek further talks, and to obtain a report from our Regional Organiser.

This matter to be placed back in front of us once the report is received and in the event of any developments.

London Transport Regional Council and relevant branches to be advised.

Justice for James!

RMT General Grades Committee decision:

We note the legal opinion received in this case. Accordingly, we instruct the General Secretary to immediately raise a formal complaint with the Office of the Rail Regulator that London Underground endangered the safety of both its employees and the public, in breach of the Health and Safety Act 1974.

We further instruct the General Secretary to advise Brother Masango as to his rights to pursue a personal injury claim, as outlined in the legal advice.

'SOS: Staff Our Stations' Campaign Goes National

RMT General Grades Committee decision:

We note the successful and well attended meeting of our Station Grades Representatives in Doncaster on Wednesday 21st September 2011 where a multitude of issues was discussed.

Therefore the General Secretary is instructed to establish a General Grades Sub-committee called Special Staff our Stations sub-Committee and we appoint Brother March, Brother Thompson and Sister Booth to this sub-committee and that the matter of Staff Our Stations campaign be referred into this Sub-committee for examination and report.

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Your Rights Transfer With You

RMT General Grades Committee decision:

We note the legal advice, which is supportive of our view that as staff transfer from the employment of London Underground Ltd to TfL, all contractual and non-contractual working arrangements and benefits transfer with them under TUPE.

We instruct the General Secretary, in line with our previous decision of 15 September, to share this legal opinion with TSSA, and to place in front of us a report giving a proposed way forward on this issue jointly with our sister union.

Progress towards Justice for Jayesh?

RMT General Grades Committee decision:

We note the letter from London Underground’s Director of Employee Relations, informing us that he has reviewed Brother Patel’s case and indicating that some progress with the case may be possible. We instruct the General Secretary to seek a meeting with the Director of Employee Relations to seek clarification on the content of the letter and pursue further progress with this case.

London Transport Regional Council and branches to be advised.

RMT Tells London Underground: Withdraw Your Unsafe Procedure for Drivers

RMT General Grades Committee decision:

We note the correspondence from London Underground, asking this union to reconsider our industrial action on this issue [the Operational Effectiveness Programme]. We reaffirm that as London Underground has not withdrawn its plan to impose unsafe working practices for train drivers, our industrial action ballot continues, alongside the publicity campaign outlined in our previous decision.

We instruct the General Secretary to reply to LU, inviting the company to reconsider its imposition of unsafe working practices.