Starting in March 2009, RMT's industrial action campaign for decent pay, against job cuts, and to stop management persecuting staff and breaking their own policies
In April, RMT members returned a massive YES vote for industrial action to oppose LUL’s pay cuts, job cuts and mistreatment of staff. Over 83% voted for strikes; 94% for action short of a strike. This result sent a clear message: We will not stand by while you cut staff, attack our living standards and bully us into working when we’re sick.
RMT asked for a one-year deal, a substantial pay rise, a minimum of £26k, and improvements to conditions.
LUL has offered a real-terms pay cut of 1% for 2009 and RPI+0.5% for the next four years. LUL is using the recession as a smokescreen to get the Olympics on the cheap. TfL has not even made an offer!
Both employers have refused to even consider our other claims, on issues such as medical redeployment, shorter working hours and family-friendly policies.
Management Say ...
A five-year deal gives us security.
No, it gives us insecurity. It ties us to a set formula regardless of what economic changes lie ahead. It is like committing ourselves to wearing bermuda shorts and flipflops regardless of changeable weather and storms on the way.
The pay rise should be based on RPI: it always has been in the past.
Remember LUL’s ‘Breakout’ campaign? It told us not to be afraid to do things differently if it means doing them better.
The new issue of 'RMT London Calling' urges all members on TfL and London Underground (including ex-Metronet) to vote Yes in the re-ballot for industrial action to defend jobs, pay and justice. It takes an indepth look at the issues and answers management's propaganda.
'RMT London Calling' also reports on the Victoria line dispute, DLR workers' fight against imposed rosters, and other RMT activities in the London Transport region.
Please distribute it widely around workplaces. Click '1 attachment'/file name to download it.
From RMT Regional Organiser Steve Hedley ...
In answer to Gerry Duffys bulletin on the strike I would like to deal with the distortions of the truth that he has made.
1 The pay offer. The offer is one percent this year and rpi plus 0.5 percent for years 2 to 5 .This is right over the Olympic period where Australian rail workers were very well rewarded when the games were in Sydney. This is clearly unacceptable but we have not walked out on talks and will continue to negotiate.
From RMT General Secretary, Bob Crow
Dear Colleague,
LUL: Rates of Pay & Conditions of Service 2009, Redundancies and Breach of Agreements
Further to my earlier letters, I am writing to remind you that the re-ballot in this dispute begins today and you should receive your ballot paper in the next day or so.
You returned a magnificent YES vote for action in the first ballot, but LUL turned to their lawyers and used technicalities that would have made no difference to the outcome to stop your union using that mandate for action.
RMT press release, issued today
THE TUBE’S biggest union today began a re-ballot of nearly 10,000 members across London Underground and Transport for London for strike action in separate disputes centred on jobs, pay and breaches of disciplinary and attendance agreements.
The re-run of the strike ballots follows a provocative legal challenge by LUL to ballots last month, which nonetheless showed a rock-solid five-to-one majority in favour of action.
Up to 3000 jobs are under threat across the Tube and TfL.
RMT members working for LUL recently returned a massive YES vote for industrial action to oppose the company's insulting pay offer, it's job cut proposals, and it's complete disregard of agreements such as the Attendance at Work Policy. With a good turnout, over 83% of members voted for strike action and 94% for action short of a strike. The message sent out by this result could hardly be clearer: We will not stand by while you cut staff, attack our living standards and bully us into working when we're sick.
Click '1 attachment' / file name to download this leaflet. Read the text below.
BALLOT PAPERS GO OUT THURSDAY 14TH MAY
Voting closing on Thursday 28th May
After having a massive democratic YES vote for strike action discounted by management; RMT is to re-ballot nearly 10,000 members across London Underground and Transport for London for strike action around disputes centred on jobs, pay and breaches of disciplinary and attendance agreements.
From RMT official circular IR/152/09, dated 7th May 2009
Dear Colleague,
As with LUL it was decided not to use the ‘YES’ vote returned by members as a result of the challenge we had received. We have now had the opportunity to check the details we send to management and are to re-ballot TfL members.
As with LUL the issues remain the same and I list these below for ease of reference.