Starting in March 2009, RMT's industrial action campaign for decent pay, against job cuts, and to stop management persecuting staff and breaking their own policies
It was standing room only as nearly 150 workers packed into a meeting yesterday evening to launch RMT's fight for jobs, pay and justice for London Underground and Transport for London staff.
Letters notifying the ballot are being sent today.
Ballot papers will be sent to members from 24 March.
Ballot papers to be returned by 8 April.
Let's all do our best to make sure that everyone votes Yes!
From Steve Hedley, Regional Organiser
Dear brothers sisters and comrades
We are facing several attacks from the employers right now and we have had requests for strike ballots on no compulsory redundancies, pay, breaking of agreements and failure to carry out meaningful consultation. Having discussed the issues the Council of Executives has agreed that a ballot will be conducted on LUL and coordinated with a ballot on TfL.The issues for the LUL ballot are:
Attendance: Janine Booth, Vaughan Thomas, Josie Toussaint-Pinnock, Dean O'Hanlon, Carol Foster, Becky Crocker, Steve Hedley, Olly New, Clara Osageide
Apologies: Brian Haughian, Andy Littlechild, Malcolm Taylor, Joanne Parry, Linda Wiles, Paul Putland, Paul Jackson, Dave Rayfield, Brian Munro, Unjum Mirza, Glenroy Watson, Frank Curtis
CORRESPONDENCE Various correspondence noted and passed round. Agreed to: - arrange for new banner to be made - circularise branches asking if they have banners and recommending that they do!
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.
This emergency resolution from LU Engineering branch was passed unanimously at the February meeting of the Regional Council.
"This branch notes that now Metronet have been brought back into TfL that there is a concerted effort to crush the RMT and end its hard fought agreements. This has involved:
· Attempts to sack/ discipline our reps
· Refusal to talk about pay. We believe that this is based on a deliberate tactic by the bosses in the face falling RPI figures.
· The use of Private Covert Security Teams to monitor staff
This resolution, proposed by TfL no.1 branch, was passed unanimously by the February Regional Council meeting.
This branch believes that TfL/LUL are jumping on the bandwagon of the recession, using it as an excuse to cut jobs. If we let the company get away with cutting admin/non operational grades, it will set a precedent, and have a double negative effect. A) it will make everyone’s life harder as all admin jobs are vital to the safe operating of the railway and the care of the employees themselves and B) it will make it easier for them to slash operational jobs.
The new issue of the 'RMT London Calling' newsletter sets out the case for a fightback in defence of jobs, for a decent pay rise, and that LUL/TfL should open their books to scrutiny by unions, as well as reporting on various issues around the region.
Click on '1 attachment'/file name to download it.
"But other workers are losing their jobs."
Yes, and those workers could be our partners, sons, daughters or other dependants. If they lose their jobs, they will rely on our incomes more than ever.
Workers within TfL face job losses too. If we accept an inadequate pay deal, this will not protect our jobs: rather it will encourage management to attack them.
"But LUL/TfL has no money."
RATES OF PAY AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE 2009:
LONDON UNDERGROUND LTD EDF ENERGY POWERLINK METRONET (BCV AND SSL) TfL ALSTOM METRO TRAINS
I write to confirm that a common claim for improvements to rates of pay and conditions of service in 2009 was formally lodged with all of the above employers last week. The basis of the claim is as follows: