London Underground Ltd

Upfront is the RMT newsletter for drivers on the London Underground.  Please share it online and distribute it at your depot.

In this edition:

• Pay & Night Tube ballot result: it's a YES

• Stay safe - make sure traction current is switched off

• Central line incident exposes danger of driverless trains

• Union action sees rules for filming in cabs established

• Breaches of agreements lead to second Piccadilly Line ballot

Following a recent safety related incident incurred by a Train Operator whilst being filmed for 'the tube' programme, the issue of filming in cabs was brought into sharp focus. You may recall this is the same programme which in an earlier series filmed and aired footage of a Train Operator in obvious discomfort following a person under the train incident.

We have raised concerns with LUL and the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) about Train Operators leaving trains in tunnel sidings and being expected to leave the sidings with traction current still on.

The ORR has confirmed that the default position as outlined in law, is that traction current should be off in these circumstances.

The ORR further added that it is not for the Train Operator to request traction current off or for the controller to tell the Train Operator to come out with traction current still on.

Tube union RMT has confirmed today that a referendum ballot of members across London Underground over the most recent offer from the company on pay and night tube has recorded an overwhelming vote for acceptance.

The ballot recorded a vote of  84 % in favour.

General Secretary Mick Cash said:

“I want to pay tribute to RMT’s members across London Underground who have stood rock solid throughout the long campaign of industrial pressure to secure a fair deal from the company over pay and night tube operation.

TEST TRAIN OPERATORS WORKING WITH NIRTs – LONDON UNDERGROUND (LUL/14/1)
 
The Lead Officer has recently submitted a report regarding LUL’s proposal to roster Test Train Operators (TTOs) to support the Network Incident Response Teams (NIRTs), with TTOs driving trains involved with incidents attended by the NIRTs to a depot or sidings location to aid timely resumption of normal passenger service.
 

DISCIPLINARY, GLEN HART – LONDON UNDERGROUND (LUL/4/4)

Further to my previous Circular (IR/029/16, 5th February 2016) and following the recent ballot result where RMT members voted ‘YES’ in favour of taking strike action and industrial action short of a strike this matter has been considered by the National Executive Committee, which has taken the decision to call an OVERTIME BAN:-

ALL LUL MEMBERS are therefore instructed NOT TO WORK ANY OVERTIME between 18:00 hours on Wednesday 2nd March and 17:59 hours on Thursday 3rd March 2016.

Following the recent ballot result where RMT members voted ‘YES’ in favour of taking strike action and industrial action short of a strike this matter has been considered by the National Executive Committee, who have taken the decision to call an OVERTIME BAN:-

You are therefore instructed NOT TO WORK ANY OVERTIME between 18:00 hours on Wednesday 2nd March and 17:59 hours on Thursday 3rd March 2016.

RMT says that Central Line falling concrete incident reinforces case against driverless trains and for protecting track patrols.

General Secretary Mick Cash said;

"This incident of falling concrete from development works above the Central Line is not the first of its kind and with whole swathes of London now a building site it rams home the dangers for the tube network as developers rush ahead with their projects. 

There are many questions regarding the changes that have been going on, Here are a few of the more common ones with some answers and the contact details of the Central Line East RMT Reps for help with the ones not answered here. Click the Link for the Attached Doccument to download, print,save ETC.

LU SAYS: GET SICK, GET SACKED

A former CSA, who "failed" their probation (i.e., was sacked) got their appeal decision last week; sacking upheld.