Harassment and Bullying

RMT General Grades Committee decision:

We note that our LU Engineering branch reports that following our decision to challenge Thales management last year about a bullying culture at Waterloo, the company took the following actions:

• began to investigate the complaints both formally via a grievance and informally
• implemented regular site visits by Human Resources to encourage staff to come forward with complaints etc
• started to implement management training.

Our branch believes that this has led to a sea change and a vast improvement in treatment.

The RMT has launched a website for vulnerable workers.

Vulnerable workers are, according to the Trades Union Congress, people working in an environment where the risk of being denied employment rights is high, and who do not have the capacity or means to protect themselves from abuse.

In 2010 RMT conducted a survey through its magazine, RMT News, to identify where there were vulnerable workers in the transport sector and the problems they face.

The RMT have released a video explaining the recent conference to investigate and defend the needs of vulnerable workers.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said before the conference for vulnerable workers "All of us in the union are familiar with the precarious nature of employment at the present time and the many reasons that engender a real sense of vulnerability amongst workers generally across the UK. It is also fair to say that some workers in the industries that we seek to organise are especially vulnerable and need particular support and assistance from a Trade Union like the RMT and it is important that all our officials and members understand the issues vulnerable workers"

The RMT Vulnerable Workers project has produced this short film to raise awareness of the issues faced by vulnerable workers. For more information visit www.rmt-vulnerable-workers.org.uk.

RMT General Grades Committee decision:

We note the report from our Regional Organiser and that London Underground has agreed to reconvene the Harassment and Bullying Joint Working Party to review the Harassment and Bullying Policy due to have taken place 12 months after its introduction

We instruct the General Secretary to offer full support tour representatives who are taking part in this review and to obtain a progress report following the next JWP meeting on 19th September.