Pensions

Defending and extending your pension rights

RMT Prepares race To The Top For Cubic Workers

We note the report from our Regional Organiser and the correspondence from the employer.

We instruct the General Secretary to tabulate the differences in attendance policies, pension rights and travel benefits for former LUL employees and other employees, in preparation for tabling to this employer a demand that all employees be levelled up to equal rights and benefits in these three areas.

London Transport Regional Council and branches to be advised. LU Engineering branch and our Cubic representative to be advised by personal letter.

Thales Transport And Security Section Of The Railways Pension Scheme

From RMT General Secretary Bob Crow

I refer to my previous Circular NP/205/13, 5th August 2013, please be advised that Thales managements proposal to increase member contributions midway through a triennial valuation has been rejected by the Railways Pension Scheme Trustee Board.

This is clearly good news for all members of the Thales Pension Scheme who were affectively facing a pay cut had managements shameful proposal been accepted by the trustees. In consideration your General Grades Committee made the following decision on 10th October 2013:

Tube Lines Reps Win Increased Time For Pension Dispute Discussions

We note the correspondence from LUL. While we are disappointed that the company has not agreed to our request for better representation at the working party, we note that it has agreed to release all our company council reps for a feedback meeting the day after the first working party meeting, and understand that this will happen after every working party meeting.

RMT London Calling Newsletter September 2013

In this months newsletter:

  • We Will Unite & Fight to Stop Job Cuts
  • Why Can’t LU Keep Ticket Offices Open?
  • RMT Taxi Branch Resists Attempts to Loosen Rules on “Plying for Hire”
  • RMT will Demand Payment for all Staff Working on Boxing Day
  • Tube Lines Pension Dispute
  • Bombardier Pay And Conditions Talks Continue
  • RMT Push For Increased Representation at TfL
  • RMT will Demand Payment for all Staff Working on Boxing Day
  • Back Dated Pay Rises For Cleaners & Security Workers Still Short Of London Living Wage
  • STOP PRESS: CLEANERS VOTE OVERWHELMINGLY to refuse to use fingerprint scanners to book on for Duty

This article and the attached newsletter was updated on the 22nd of September to remove an outdated story about a member facing disciplinary

Tube Lines Joint Working Party Full Decision

We note the report from our lead officer, summarising the views expressed at our representatives’ meeting on 23 August. Accordingly, we instruct the General Secretary to advise the employer that:

  1. trade union representation on the Joint Working Party should be proportional to the membership of the trade unions; that RMT’s delegation should include all our Company Council members; and that all members of the JWP should be either Tube Lines employees or full-time officers;

Tube Lines Joint Working Party

We note the report from our lead officer, summarising the views expressed at our representatives’ meeting on 23 August. Accordingly, we instruct the General Secretary to advise the employer that:

  1. trade union representation on the Joint Working Party should be proportional to the membership of the trade unions; that RMT’s delegation should include all our Company Council members; and that all members of the JWP should be either Tube Lines employees or full-time officers;

Power Services Members Entitled To Transfer To TFL Pension Fund

That we note the latest correspondence on file from the Regional Organiser confirming the assurances sought by the General Grades Committee.

With regards to pensions, it has been agreed that transferring in staff will be entitled to in turn transfer into the TfL Pension Fund bringing with them their contributions.

Any further developments to be placed in front of the GGC.

London Transport Regional Council and Branches to be advised.

Tube Lines Reps To Discuss Further Action In Tube Lines Pension Dispute

We note the report from our lead officer, recommending industrial action in pursuit of this dispute. We instruct the General Secretary to arrange a meeting of our Tube Lines representatives as soon as is practical to discuss what form this action should take and to place a report in front of us.

London Transport Regional Council, branches and Tube Lines representatives to be advised.

RMT Firmly Opposes Suspension Of Transfers Into TfL Pension Fund

We welcome the resolution from our London Transport Regional Council, and share its firm opposition to the TfL Pension Fund suspending transfers into the fund. This decision threatens the stability of the Fund and removes important rights from some of our members.

We also agree that ‘suspending’ a rule for six years is an undemocratic manoeuvre to avoid the process of changing the rules.

RMT Members Agree All Workers Under TfL Umbrella Should Be Admitted To Superior TfL Pension Scheme

We note the report, which clearly illustrates the benefits of membership of the TfL Pension Fund as opposed to inferior, defined-contribution pension schemes that have been established by many employers operating under contract or franchise from TfL.

We note that:

  • Many companies now offer pension schemes that are significantly inferior to the TfL Fund.
  • Many of the workers concerned - eg. cleaners, canteen staff - would have worked for TfL (or its
    predecessor, London Transport) had they been employed prior to contracting-out, so would have been
    members of the TfL Fund.