RMT Steps Up Campaign Against Agency Attacks On Rail Jobs And Conditions

Submitted by rmtlondon on 14 November, 2013 - 11:46

Rail union RMT said today that it is stepping up the campaign against attempts by agencies, notably Trainpeople, to force their way into the rail industry with the express intent of profiteering at the expense of jobs, security and decent pay and conditions.

RMT branches in Wales have alerted the union to the fact that there is a new drive by Trainpeople to try and get a foot in the door through an aggressive marketing approach to railway employers. The union has pledged again to fight off any attempts by Trainpeople, or similar agencies, to downgrade and casualise rail jobs.

Tube Boss Mike Brown Reveals Plans For Tube Cuts To Transport Committee

Submitted by rmtlondon on 12 November, 2013 - 20:06

London Underground Boss Mike Brown has spoken to the Greater London Authority Transport Commitee About plans for cuts at London Underground.

The details are rather vague, but it would appear that changes to staffing will be announced within a month or so, followed by a 90 day consultation period.

You can watch the video here.
You can read full transcript of Mike Brown's submission here.

TfL Announces Reorganisation Which RMT Believes Will Lead To Privatisation & Cuts

Submitted by rmtlondon on 7 November, 2013 - 13:34

We note the correspondence from Transport for London dated 12 September 2013, and instruct the General Secretary to forward this to our TfL reps and our TfL no.1 branch and to post it on our website alongside this decision and our ‘What is Market Testing?’ briefing.

We reaffirm that RMT opposes market testing, a process which is used as a pretext either to privatise services or to make cuts to in-house services. In line with this, we note that TfL’s letter sets out that it is making plans to:

  • either reorganise or outsource Recruitment
  • reorganise Learning and Development

RMT To Ballot For Industrial Action Over Tube Use Of Agency Workers

Submitted by rmtlondon on 7 November, 2013 - 13:27

We note the continuing widespread use of agency labour by London Underground Ltd (and other parts of Transport for London): as of 2 April this year, there were 829 'non-permanent' staff on London Underground Ltd. LUL’s continuing use and abuse of agency staff is seriously detrimental to LUL employees, as it undermines their opportunities to obtain and retain work and creates disruption in the workplace Ltd. We reaffirm our demand that LUL stops using agencies and offers their workers permanent employment - including those of the 33 former Trainpeople employees that it has not yet employed.

RMT Reject Insulting Tube Bosses' Assertion That Station Staff Not Good Enough To Drive Trains

Submitted by rmtlondon on 7 November, 2013 - 13:22

We note the correspondence from London Underground Ltd, advising that it plans to recruit Train Operators from "the open market" and the Military Redeployment Agency.

We reject LUL's assertion that "the agreed internal processes have been exhausted without success". We believe that the implication that internal applicants, primarily Customer Service Assistants, are not good enough to become drivers is inaccurate and insulting. There are very few promotional opportunities for CSAs; this move further reduces those opportunities.

RMT Internal Structure Review - Branch Input Concludes

Submitted by rmtlondon on 7 November, 2013 - 13:07

From RMT General Secretary Bob Crow - 11th July 2013

Under Item No. 41, the 2011 Annual General Meeting adopted a resolution to commission an independent review of our internal structure and to report back to the 2012 Annual General Meeting with any recommendations deemed necessary. Due to the proposals regarding a merger between RMT and the TSSA, this matter was postponed while discussions took place.

WEA Course: Employment Law Update

Submitted by rmtlondon on 7 November, 2013 - 02:36

The WEA is running a one day briefing for all union reps, officers and members who want to get up to date with all the latest employment law changes brought in and planned by the Coalition Government.

The day will be a mix of information and also small group activities. Please see the attached leaflet for details about this course.