Campaigning for higher health and safety standards at work, and opposing the employers' shortcuts
Tube union RMT today called for an independent inquiry into London Undergrounds disastrous stations job cuts programs " Fit for the Future " after the ORR - the government regulator - issue London Underground with a legal "improvement notice " following the tragic death of a customer at Canning Town on the 29th of January this year .
Dear Colleague,
Further to Head Office Circular NP/111/17 the National Executive Committee instructed that advice be provided to RMT members on LUL's HOT Procedure.
Please also find attached a copy of the advice and a copy of RMT's pamphlet on 'serious and imminent' danger.
If any further assistance or information is needed on this matter please contact your local RMT representative.
Yours sincerely,
Mick Cash
General Secretary
We note the resolution from our Central Line East Branch regarding the breakdown in the reasonable treatment of our members in relation to palatable drinking water, the serious health & safety issue for staff and the travelling public regarding the matter of the air quality which exceeds the expert recognised safety limits, and the appalling disregard for the safety of staff and public in relation to London Undergrounds insistence on introducing a HOT procedure that completely breaks with established and current approaches to dealing with suspect packages.
Further to our decision NWW 11.7.17, and upon further examination; we consider it important to note that there has been no changes to Government guidance around HOT procedures, and instructing staff to open or tamper with suspicious packages is contrary to current guidance and puts staff and the travelling public in severe and imminent danger.
TUBE UNION RMT said today that it is to issue new guidance to members in dealing with suspect devices as the union pledged again to resist attempts by London Underground to water down safety and security procedures.
Proposals by LU bosses to tamper with the existing processes have sparked a furious reaction from RMT members and reps – particularly in light of the North Greenwich bomb incident.
As a result, RMT’s executive has agreed the following:
We note the report from the Lead Officer; and following failed talks with London Underground Management and the significant security situation on Tube network and the strength of concern expressed by our affected Members and their Reps we instruct the General Secretary by the end of this week to:
The RMT has responded to a story in The Sunday Times on the poor air quality on the Tube.
General Secretary Mick Cash said;
"RMT has been raising issues of major concern over the contents of air for a long time . The response given to the Sunday Times is what the union has been fobbed off with before . It is simply not good enough to say it's different because it's underground.
RMT members employed as Train Drivers, Station staff, Track workers,Train Maintaince and other front line staff have been told by LUL that they will no longer be provided with decent drinking water whilst they at work. Instead, the normal standalone drinking water units are being stripped out in a cost cutting exercise.
RMT members are being told do take a mug of water off the tap, warm water which hasn't even been tested as fit for human consumption.
RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said;
RMT Upfront is a newsletter for London Underground drivers, from RMT activists and reps on the Tube.
In this edition:
Please download and distribute the newsletter in your depot, or share it on social media.
RMT London Transport Regional Organiser John Leach has written to London Underground's Head of Security Operations Jill Collis following an important health and safety meeting.
London Underground's 'HOT' procedure and guidelines for dealing with a security incident were discussed at the meeting. The RMT have serious concerns with the responses given to both issues as outlined in John Leach's letter.
If you have any comments or concerns relating to the situation discussed in the letter below, please speak to your local health and safety rep.