RMT General Grades Committee decision:

We note the correspondence from our TfL no.1 branch, and are appalled that this employer intends to severely restrict annual leave over the Olympic period, including banning annual leave during the Games altogether in at least one department. This will make life very difficult, if not impossible, for many of our members, for example those with school-age children. We are similarly appalled at TfL’s totally inadequate financial offer to our members, consisting solely of a £15 payment if a shift is changed.

We instruct the General Secretary to:

1. write to TfL outlining our stance on this issue, copying our letter to the Mayor, GLA members and TfL Board members;
2. immediately organise the ballot for industrial action requested by TfL no.1 branch - this is to be a ballot of all members in departments of TfL where RMT has recognition, for strike action and for action short of strike;
3. send a personal letter by post to all members involved;
4. seek to achieve press coverage of the unacceptable way in which TfL is treating our members.

We further instruct the General Secretary to ascertain from our lead officers whether other employers in the London Transport region are intending to prevent our members taking annual leave during the Olympics, and to place any reports of this in front of us. Should this be the case, we will attempt to co-ordinate campaigns and action on this issue across the companies involved.

We further note the report from our Regional Organiser regarding the lack of progress from London Underground in reaching an acceptable agreement with us about the Olympics. We agree to our Regional Organiser’s recommendation that we declare a dispute with London Underground over this matter, and instruct the General Secretary to write to LUL immediately advising the company of this.

We reiterate our stance that all grades of transport employees are entitled to a decent financial reward for their efforts transporting huge numbers of passengers during the Olympics and are entitled to take leave during the summer, and that working conditions and important agreements should not and need not be attacked in order to facilitate Olympic running.

We note that our London Transport Regional Council is to hold a meeting on 1 March to discuss this and other issues, and instruct the General Secretary to place a report of this meeting in front of us as soon as practical thereafter.

London Transport Regional Council and branches to be advised.