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.

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.

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.

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.

Tripcock Testing to be Cut?!

RMT General Grades Committee decision:

That we note the resolution from our LU Fleet branch, and share the shock and alarm expressed by the branch that London Underground could even consider reducing the frequency of tripcock testing. The tripcock is an essential safety mechanism which stops a train in the event of it passing a signal at danger, therefore preventing crashes and protecting life.

Palestine Meeting

BOYCOTT, DIVESTMENT, SANCTIONS (BDS)

In commemoration of International Workers’ Day, the Palestinian trade union movement formed the: Palestinian Trade Union Coalition for BDS (PTUC-BDS). In July 2011, the London Transport Region RMT voted by 12 branches to 1 (1 abstention) to fully support the PTUC-BDS Statement including the call to sever inks with the Histadrut. While the matter has been referred to our National Union for consideration we offer this meeting as an opportunity to open the debate wider still within the trade union movement. Join the debate at this historic revolutionary juncture in the Middle East and North Africa.

RMT Have Not Agreed To London Underground Pay Deal

The RMT has not agreed to the recent pay offer from London Underground management. There have been widely repeated stories on the media claiming that all unions - RMT, TSSA, ASLEF and Unite have agreed the latest offer, however this is incorrect.

General Secretary Bob Crow said:

"Despite quotes reported to be attributed to LU in the press, and statements on the TFL/LU website, RMT wishes to make it clear that there has been no agreement on the issue of tube pay and that there has been no recommendation from RMT to accept the latest offer."

Damning Report Exposes True Cost Of Rail Privatisation

A Labour conference report revealed that public ownership of rail could save £1.2 billion and that 71% believe train operators are fleecing the public and only 19% believe railways should remain in private hands.

Reuniting the railways under public ownership could save the taxpayer £1.2bn a year according to a briefing from the Transport for Quality of Life Think Tank to be presented at Labour Party conference today - 28th September.