Dismissal From Service - Kevin Dobinson, Train Operator, Bakerloo Line

Submitted by Admin on 23 July, 2009 - 23:00

Circular No. IR/222/09

RMT is to ballot all Bakerloo Line Drivers for both strike action and industrial action short of a strike in support of a dismissed colleague, Kevin Dobinson. Ballot papers will dispatched direct to members’ homes on 30th July 2009 with the closing date for returns being Wednesday 12th August 2009.

It seem that our Train Operator members on the Bakerloo are furious at Kevin’s dismissal and over 160 of them have signed a petition telling management exactly that. Kevin was sacked for a SPAD that he owned up to. It was an aggravated SPAD largely caused by Kevin being preoccupied with personal problems. Furthermore it was the sort of incident that had occurred before on the Underground yet other people hadn’t been sacked.

Regional Council meeting - all members invited

Venue: Somers Town Community Centre, Ossulston Street, London NW1

For details of the agenda and resolutions for the Regional Council meeting, please click here.

As usual, all members are welcome to attend the Regional Council meeting. This time, we will have an extended discussion about the current LUL/TfL dispute, so urge members to make a particular effort to come along.

Click '1 attachment' / file name to download a leaflet advertising the meeting.

Vestas Occupation - Rally Tonight

Submitted by Admin on 23 July, 2009 - 20:41

Offshore energy union RMT will this evening fly a plane with messages of support for the Vestas occupation over the factory as Bob Crow and other supporters of the fight for jobs and green energy mass outside the gates for a rally in solidarity with the Vestas workforce at 6pm.

RMT and other trade unionists today managed to get some supplies of food and drink into the occupation. RMT have been working on contingency plans to drop food in by helicopter if necessary to ensure that the Vestas workers are not starved into submission and have called upon the wider trade union movement to ensure that supplies are maintained.

A Manager Should Not Deal With a Grievance against Him/Herself

Submitted by Admin on 23 July, 2009 - 19:00

London Underground seems to think that it is OK for a manager to deal with staff grievances against him/herself! Not only is this self-evidently unfair, it also breaches ACAS rules. If your manager tries this, please use the following quotes to insist that the grievance is dealt with by a different manager.

The ACAS guide to discipline and grievances at work (which you can download in full here), states on page 44 that:

Conference on Reparations

A conference to discuss the issue of slavery, and of reparations to those countries exploited by the slave traders.

Venue: Board Room, Unity House (RMT head office), 39 Chalton Street, London NW1

Invitation and details in attached document.

AGENDA

1200 – 1600hrs AFRIKAN Drummers OPENING CONFERENCE

12:05 Introduction & Welcome by Black & Ethnic Member’s Chair

12:20 Setting the Agenda Judy Richard (UNISON) Delegate to Geneva

12:40 History of Toussaint L’Ouverture and Haiti Brother Omowale Afrikan Teacher

Action Notes from Regional Council Executive 14 July 2009

Submitted by Admin on 22 July, 2009 - 15:09

Present: Carol Foster, Brian Munro, Pat O'Brien, Unjum Mirza, Stefan Melnyk, Dean O'Hanlon, Tony Gandolfi, Becky Crocker, Janine Booth, Vaughan Thomas, Neil Hodgson, Andy Littlechild, John Reid, Paul Jackson, Josie Toussaint-Pinnock, Clara Osagiede

In attendance: Phil Boston (Organising Unit), Kevin Dobinson, Eamonn Lynch (Bakerloo branch), Olly New (Council of Executives), Gary Williams (Camden 3 branch), Steve Hedley (Regional Organiser), Andy Leach (Piccadilly & District West branch)

Apologies: Damian Franklin, Mark Harding, Dave Rayfield

RMT pledges full support to Vestas occupation – Bob Crow to visit factory tomorrow

Submitted by Admin on 22 July, 2009 - 14:26

TRANSPORT UNION RMT today pledged full support to the workers occupying the Vestas wind turbine factory on the Isle of Wight and confirmed that RMT general secretary Bob Crow will be making a solidarity visit to the occupation at 6pm tomorrow evening (Thursday 23rd July).

The Vestas factory is the only unit in England manufacturing wind turbines. The Dutch company which owns it are trying to close the factory down with the loss of 625 jobs blaming the British government’s lack of commitment to renewable energy. The company is reported to have made profits of $56 million in the> first quarter of this year alone – a rise of 70% on last year.

The factory has been under workers occupation since Tuesday. Communication lines into the factory have been cut and deliveries of food and water have been blockaded by private security guards. This morning, those involved in the occupation have been threatened with summary dismissal.

Bob Crow, RMT general secretary, said today:
“Nothing underlines the attack on job and communities that has been unleashed in the UK by greedy bosses and incompetent politicians better than the occupation at Vestas.

Report: ex-Silverlink Joint Working Party, Monday 20 July

Submitted by Joffe on 22 July, 2009 - 12:17

As well as the attack on Core Station Supervisor training outlined here, the following issues were also discussed at Monday's Joint Working Party about the ex-Silverlink stations:

* Staff who failed the Station Supervisor application have been allowed to reapply - 31 of the 34 have done so. The applicants will have 'enhanced coaching'. The three parts of the application - written test, role play and interview - will have a full day each, with coaching prior to assessment.