Your legal rights

From RMT General Secretary Bob Crow

Further to my Circular No IR/131/13 dated the 25th February 2013 with regards to the above matter and where I informed you of the important court ruling on annual leave under the Working Time Regulations. As you may recall, I again wrote to London Underground raising our concerns over their decision not to update or publish company policies to reflect the changes to case law.

We note the report from our Regional Organiser, and that MJ Quinn is refusing to recognise RMT for those employees transferred from Emcor, despite this union’s recognition for these members when they worked for Emcor.

In accordance with our Regional Organiser’s request, we instruct the General Secretary to obtain and place in front of us legal advice on the collective bargaining and recognition arrangements being transferred from Emcor to MJ Quinn under the TUPE regulations.

London Transport Regional Council and branches to be advised.

For more information about Union Learner Reps in London speak with your branch secretary or contact Sharon Allen.

Interested in becoming a Union Learning Representative?

"RMT takes education very seriously and we know how education empowers people to become activists, to move on in their careers and take control in their personal lives. The ULR role is vital in supporting members in the workplace to take up worthwhile, enjoyable and sometimes life changing learning opportunities." - Bob Crow, General Secretary.

KNOW YOU RIGHTS – USE THEM OR LOSE THEM!

It may not feel like it at times, but you have rights at work! Some are set down in law, some are company policies and agreements fought for by RMT.

These laws and rights cover issues such as:

• working hours
• breaks while you are at work
• rest periods between duties
• where you work
• minimum staffing levels
• time off for leave, sickness, caring responsibilities and other reasons
• health and safety – including your right to refuse to work on the grounds of health and safety concerns
  

From General Secretary Bob Crow

In my circular No NP/185/12 dated 10th August 2012 (Sick Workers and Annual Leave Ref: LA/185/12) I set out members’ entitlement to receive payment or carry over their leave entitlement where they had been unable to take this due to illness.

This was as a result of the decision of the Court of Appeal that, regardless of whether a worker is employed by a public or private employer, if a worker is unable or unwilling to take the four weeks’ annual leave conferred by regulation 13 of the Working Time Regulations owing to sickness (i) he or she must be allowed to take it at another time

We note the correspondence from TfL, and instruct the General Secretary to place this matter back in front of us once it has been discussed at TfL Company Council and/or when the legal advice we sought is received.

London Transport Regional Council and TfL no.1 branch to be advised.

This is a synopsis of the report given by the London Transport Region Executive Member Janine Booth to the London Transport Regional Council Meeting on 29th November 2012.

To get more details please try and attend your branch meeting or regional council - your rep should have more information too. Alternatively this site has lots of information and material for workplaces in the London Region.

LTRC RESOLUTIONS

PMAs

From General Secretary Bob Crow

Further to Circulars NP/269/12 and NP/279/12 dated 2ND and 8TH November 2012 ,you will be aware that the new CICA scheme was voted through on Monday evening in the House of Commons, in spite of opposition by the Labour Party and a campaign by this union and others and victims groups.

The new scheme:

removes injuries in bands 1-5 (£1,000 - £2,000)
significantly reduces (by approximately half) the tariffs in bands 6-12
removes injuries caused by suicide or attempted suicide from the scheme completely.

Yesterday Labour secured an Opposition Day Debate opposing the Government’s attack on the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme. An Opposition Day Debate is an allocated time when the official opposition can put a motion for debate and vote on an issue of its choosing. The debate was also attended by members of the RMT Parliamentary Group.

Following the debate the Government won the vote and there was no sign of any rebellion.