Campaigning for better pay
Piccadilly & District West branch has produced its latest newsletter.
In this month's edition
View the newsletter here or read the text by clicking 'read more.'
That we note the pay offer from CBS Outdoor and the report from our Regional Organiser.
We accept the Regional Organiser’s view that the pay offer (1.3% backdated to April) is poor, but that we should reluctantly accept it. We note that there has also been some progress on working conditions: negotiations on a new roster pattern, new vans, and better training; and on the MMTA grade which management have now agreed to backdate for all staff qualified or unqualified (through lack of training) for six months.
RMT General Grades Committee decision:
That we note the pay offer from Tube Lines for former Alstom staff at Stratford Market depot, and the report from our Regional Organiser. We accept our Regional Organiser’s recommendation that should the employer agree to proposed amendments to the wording of the offer, then it would be acceptable to us.
RMT General Grades Committee decision:
That we note the latest pay offer from Alstom, of 2.75% for this year and CPI+0.5% for next year, subject to a minimum of 2% and a maximum of just 3%. We note the report from our Regional Organiser, and also note that this is not a final offer.
Accordingly, we reject this offer, as it is below inflation for this year, and is very poor for Year 2, which includes the Olympic Games. The offer is unacceptable to our members.
RMT General Grades Committee decision:
That we note that a number of employers have recently tabled pay offers including an element of applying the average rate of increase of RPI based on the preceding 12 months.
We wish to ensure that our members’ pay rise each year at least matches, and preferably exceeds, the rate at which their costs of living have risen over the previous year. This can be achieved through a pay rise (whether flat-rate or based on a percentage, or a combination of the two) which exceeds an agreed measure of how much costs of living have risen.
RMT General Grades Committee decision:
That we note the correspondence from London Underground.
It is disingenuous of LU to complain that this union has not used the ‘agreed machinery’ when during the period referred to there was no agreed machinery due to LUL’s withdrawal from it. Despite this, our reps have tried to maintain good industrial relations.
Furthermore, despite LUL’s claims, there are no agreed minutes available yet and our representatives have been requesting a director level meeting to discuss this matter.
RMT General Grades Committee decision:
That we note the referendum/ballot result is as follows:-
Total votes cast...................10
Number voting “Yes”............9
Number voting “No”..............1
Spoilt Papers.........................0
We congratulate our members for taking a firm stance and achieving a far better deal than was originally offered.
Therefore we instruct the General Secretary to inform the Company of our acceptance of the improved offer.
Further a personal letter to be sent to all members involved.
RMT General Grades Committee decision:
We note the revised offer from London Underground. Whilst it shows a slight improvement, this offer is still below inflation, does not adequately address our claims for improved conditions, and remains a five-year offer. It therefore falls well short of settlements we have achieved on some other companies, and of our claim for a one-year deal of a substantial increase in pay and improved conditions. We also note that London Underground has confirmed that this is not its final offer.
The following resolution submitted by East Ham branch was carried at the Regional Council meeting on May 26th.
This Regional Council already has policy that RMT should name a figure that the union aspires to achieve for this year’s pay award. We now resolve that this figure should be 6.5% (ie. February RPI+1%) or £2,500 whichever is higher. We feel that this would give greater benefit to the low paid grades whilst still being reasonable for the higher paid Grades.
Here is the latest LUL pay offer, it is not a final offer.
I will keep you advised of all further developments - Steve Hedley, RMT Regional Organiser, London Transport Region