The latest meeting of the Equalities strand of the OSP (job cuts) review, on Tuesday 1 March, revealed that London Underground does not consider the needs of equalities groups when calculating its station staffing levels. RMT secured agreement from LU to consider revising these calculations to include equalities considerations.
From RMT General Secretary Bob Crow:
I am delighted to be able to report that this morning in the Court of Appeal RMT has secured a massive landmark victory on the UK strike laws over our dispute on Serco Docklands.
The full details are contained in the press statement below but be under no illusions – this morning RMT has given a huge boost to 7 million trade unionists in the country fighting for jobs, pensions and standards of livings.
Val Barzey of RMT's LU Engineering branch reports on the RMT Health & Safety Advisory Conference held on 16 February:
Greg Hewitt – Chair
Greg commented that the HSE is more an Advisory body than Regulators. The aim of the government is to lift the burden of Employment laws. They intend to reduce the no. of regulations, attacking workers rights. H & S inspections have been cut across the board, inadequately enforcing the law and there has been a reduction in enforcement notices. There were 69% reduction in full inspections and 48% reduction in prosecutions.
There were 2 reviews carried out last year, Vince Cable reducing regulations and the Lord Young Review of the operation of H & S laws and the growth of the compensation culture – Common Sense Common Safety.
Please Find Attached the March 2011 Edition of 'The Neasden Flyer'
Inside this issue
Interviews, Chats, Hearings - Contact your rep
RMT General Grades Committee decision today:
We note that our Regional Council has voted unanimously that it wishes to escalate our battle for the reinstatement of our sacked driver reps Eamonn Lynch and Arwyn Thomas to a strike ballot of all London Underground driver members. Our driver reps and members see these sackings as part of a concerted disciplinary clampdown against drivers across London Underground and as an attempt by LUL to weaken RMT’s organisation among train grades.
Here are some links to information about Egyptian workers and the new independent union federation:
Stonewall is conducting a survey on the health needs of gay and bisexual men.
"This will be the largest ever survey of gay men’s health. We know quite a lot about gay men’s sexual health, but very little is known about the wider health needs of gay and bisexual men." Say Stonewall.
If you'd like to take part in the survey, click this link to go to Stonewall's website.
TUBE UNION RMT warned of more tube chaos for passengers as it emerged that as part of the TfL cuts programme the frequency of safety-critical inspections is being slashed from twice a week to once a week.
In a safety licensing concession requested by LU the twice weekly inspection of track and infrastructure in sidings and depots will be cutback to just once a week. These inspections are in the areas of highest traffic anywhere on the network with fleet constantly being shunted in and out.
There is to be an extra public holiday this year due to the Royal Wedding. RMT has written to all Train Operating Companies asking their intentions for payment and leave arrangements for our members. Replies have been received from London Underground and Serco Docklands, but neither reply explicitly sets out the pay and leave plans.
RMT's General Grades Committee has referred the issues to its Southern Sub-Committee to get more details so we can respond.
RMT's General Grades Committee took this decision today:
That we note and accept the report from our Regional Organiser, and accordingly agree that this matter is now closed.