FBU Strike: Pro forma for refusal to work on safety grounds

Submitted by Janine on 19 October, 2010 - 16:59

This coming Saturday (23 October), FBU members in the London Fire Brigade will be on strike. this will mean that the LFB will not be available to provide its usual fire protection service to London Underground.

Click '1 attachment'/ file name to download a pro forma that you can use to invoke London Underground Ltd's safety procedures in the face of any threat to your health and safety. Please download and submit to your manager should you feel that the absence of fire cover places you and/or others in serious and imminent danger.

Support French rail strikers

Submitted by Admin on 19 October, 2010 - 15:42

Workers in national and local rail services in France are on strike to defend their pensions - and they need our support! All grades on the French railway system have been taking strike action as part of a national, general strike movement to force the government to withdraw its proposed pension reform bill. The pensions reform that Sarkozy's government is planning would see early retirement entitlement be taken away from rail workers with physically demanding jobs, and see other workers' retirement ages pushed up by at least two years.

On eve of savage cuts to transport budget RMT exposes massive increase in top salaries at private operating companies

Submitted by Peter on 19 October, 2010 - 15:07

On the eve of the government’s expected announcement of savage cuts to the transport budget, specialist transport union RMT has produced new figures showing that at a time when passengers are being warned to expect fare increases of up to 40% over the next four years it’s bonanza time in the boardrooms of Britain’s main private transport operators.

London Underground Fleet Maintenance Staff Announce Action Over Safety-Critical Cuts

Submitted by Peter on 19 October, 2010 - 15:05

TUBE UNION RMT confirmed this morning that following a massive vote for action London Underground fleet maintenance staff members have been instructed to work only to process instructions (vehicle maintenance instructions), not to carry out higher grade working and not to cooperate with staff movements away from home locations. This action will commence from 00.01 hours on Tuesday 26th October 2010 and will have a major impact.

ACAS Talks Resume Today

Submitted by Janine on 19 October, 2010 - 09:37

RMT negotiators will today attend ACAS to continue talks about our ongoing dispute with London Underground about job cuts. As talks ended last Tuesday, your union's position was as follows:

RMT accepts the invitation of ACAS to participate in the proposed review, beginning on Monday 18 October for two weeks.

Our industrial action remains on, but we will review it dependant on progress in these talks.

Minutes: Regional Council meeting, 30 September 2010

Submitted by Admin on 18 October, 2010 - 14:36

ATTENDANCE

  • Bakerloo branch – Malcolm Taylor, Jim McDaid
  • Camden No.3 branch – Geoff Palmer, Pat O'Brien
  • Central Line West branch – Vaughan Thomas (meeting chair)
  • DLR –
  • East Ham – Gary Lazell, Clare Reilly, Chris Baillie, Unjum Mirza
  • Finsbury Park branch – Peter Hartshorn, Dave Rayfield, Dean O'Hanlon, John Noonan, Frank Curtis, Chris Matthews
  • Hammersmith & City branch – Dave O'Hare
  • Jubilee South & East London Line branch –
  • London Taxis branch – Dave Vigeon

Young report ‘a hatchet job’ on health and safety, says RMT

Submitted by Peter on 15 October, 2010 - 19:17

LORD YOUNG’S report on health and safety is a hatchet-job based on prejudice that will do nothing to reduce workplace injuries, deaths and industrial disease, transport union RMT says today.

Under cover of simplifying the regime, freeing businesses from ‘unnecessary bureaucratic burdens’ and ending a ‘compensation culture’ that does not exist, the real aim of the report is to pave the way for a slashing of health and safety budgets, the union says.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:

Worn Brake Blocks Show Folly of Maintenance Cuts

Submitted by Janine on 15 October, 2010 - 17:31

These photo is of brake blocks on the District Line that had worn away before train maintainers found them on a scheduled inspection after 14 days. London Underground wants to extend the period between maintenance checks to 28 days so that they can get rid of fleet staff. Trains with brake blocks worn like this could remain in service for a further 14 days, which will almost certainly lead to a serious accident.

RMT has released this picture to the press.