Olympics and Paralympics 2012

After TfL rejected the Trades Unions (TUs) request for urgent talks at ACAS, another Special Company Council (SCC) was held on Tuesday 15th May, with TfL and the TUs to discuss the Olympics.

All TUs agree the following:

• They want the Olympics to be a success, and for its transport workers to play a full and rewarding role in delivering a world class spectacle for London.
• That staff in TfL should be paid the same for doing the same job as their colleagues in LU (for current offer, please see separate table). We believe this is only fair.
• That TfL should not – under any circumstances – bully or intimidate staff to “volunteer”. If you feel you are being pressured to do so, please contact your local TU rep immediately.
• That TfL should recognise (as they have done in LU) the huge contribution that “core” staff, who they have banned from volunteering as they are vital to running TfL during the Games will make. Without ALL our hard work, the Games will not be a success.

Pro forma is attached below

By now most of you will have received a copy of an expression of interest form circulated by LUL asking Drivers to give their preferences for working additional shifts over the Olympic period, in breach of our framework agreements. This form claims its distribution has been agreed with the Trade Unions whereas only ASLEF has agreed. RMT continues to be in discussions with LUL over our claims for Olympic recognition and reward.

Bob Crow has sent this letter on behalf of RMT to London Underground, which has promised to reply on Monday.

Your General Grades Committee has met to discuss the latest situation in our discussions over the Olympics and the following decision has been taken: -

We note the report from our Regional Organiser, outlining the proposal for Powerlink (formerly EDF), summarised as follows:

• seeking an unlimited number of volunteers for duties
• slightly changing shift patterns
• volunteers for restricted leave during the Olympics period
• a bonus of £900.

Our Regional Organiser reports that our local representatives and members welcome this offer.

We note the latest developments in talks at ACAS. Unfortunately, instead of going forward from the last wording agreed, London Underground management tried to change it, to add qualifications that appeared designed to tie us to agreements made by other unions and which we could not accept. In response to RMT’s claim for a £1,000 lump sum reward for all grades, LU offered £100 CSS bonus (dependant on targets); £20 per shift attendance for the four weeks of the Games events only; plus £500 for drivers, £350 for other grades, and no extra for admin staff.

From RMT General Secretary Bob Crow

RMT attended talks at ACAS with London Underground yesterday about Olympics working. Unfortunately, instead of going forward from the last wording agreed, management tried to change it by adding qualifications that appeared designed to tie us to agreements made by other unions. RMT could not accept this.

Click on the attachment to download advice for RMT drivers. Main body of text follows...

All RMT members please be aware that an ‘expression of interest’ document is circulating in depots asking all drivers to state what shifts and or breaches of framework agreements you are prepared to work during the Olympics and Paralympics.

PLEASE NOTE THE RMT HAS NOT SIGNED UP TO OR AGREED THAT THIS DOCUMENT SHOULD BE CIRCULATED!

THERE IS STILL NO AGREEMENT WITH THE RMT DURING THE
OLYMPIC PERIOD!

Please download and distribute Stratford branch newsletter using the link below. You can view it by clicking here.

Exceptionally Busy

This summer will see Tube staff of all grades working really hard to transport Londoners and visitors during the Olympic period. With the main venue being in Stratford, the Olympic Games Live Sites in Victoria Park and Hyde Park, and Marathon Swimming and Triathlon event in Hyde Park, the Central Line -our RMT branch’s area -is right at the heart of it.

That we note the offer from CBS Outdoor of a 1.5% pay rise and a £500 Olympics bonus.

We support our Regional Organiser’s view that this offer is derisory and comes nowhere near meeting our aspirations. We therefore instruct the General Secretary to:

• Immediately conduct a ballot of all our CBS Outdoor members for strike action andaction short of strike