Jobs/Pay/Justice Dispute

Below - and attached - is the letter from London Underground setting out their objections to RMT's ballot notification. You will notice that nothing in this letter challenges the legitimacy of the ballot itself, only some minor details about the addresses of premises.

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Dear Bob

NOTICE OF BALLOT UNDER SECTION 226A OF THE TRADE UNION AND LABOUR RELATIONS (CONSOLIDATION) ACT 1992

I am writing to you as I am advised that there are serious problems with the ballot, and felt it appropriate to

Following the 13:1 ballot result and LUL's legal threat, the new issue of 'RMT London Calling' explains why members should now vote Yes again, and provides updates on the issues of the dispute, plus other news from the region.

Click '1 attachment' / file name to download it.

Rates of Pay & Conditions of Service 2009, Redundancies and Breach of Agreements – LUL

From Bob Crow, RMT General Secretary

I regret to have to inform you that despite returning a magnificent “yes” vote for both Strike Action and Action Short of a Strike we are unable to use your mandate at this present time.

For your information you voted as follows; for strike action it was 3,165 for and only 619 against and for action short of a strike it was 3,495 for and only 266 against.

RATES OF PAY AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE 2009, REDUNDANCIES AND BREACH OF AGREEMENTS - LUL

Q1 Are you prepared to take strike action?

Number Voting Yes 3,165 Number Voting No 619

Q2 Are you prepared to take industrial action short of a strike?

Number Voting Yes 3,495 Number Voting No 266

RATES OF PAY AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE 2009, REDUNDANCIES -TFL

Q1 Are you prepared to take strike action?

Number Voting Yes 71 Number Voting No 15

Press release

LONDON UNDERGROUND’S biggest union today expressed outrage at a ‘shameful and undemocratic’ legal challenge by Tube bosses that has forced the re-run of a strike ballot of more than 9,000 RMT members – despite it yielding a five-to-one majority for action.

RMT today said it would re-run the ballot on the same issues of jobs and pay as soon as possible after the union received a detailed legal letter designed purely to undermine the ballot and as a preliminary to a court challenge.

Click on '1 attachment' / file name below to download this as a leafelt

DESPITE A MASSIVE DEMOCRATIC MANDATE FOR STRIKE ACTION, RMT MEMBERS ARE BEING DENIED THEIR LEGITIMATE RIGHT TO STRIKE AGAINST A FIVE-YEAR PAY FREEZE, MANAGEMENT BULLYING AND COMPULSORY REDUNDANCIES.

THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF YOU VOTED DEMOCRATICALLY TO TAKE ACTION AS SHOWN BELOW

Q1 Are you prepared to take strike action? Over 83 per cent vote yes Number Voting Yes: 3,165 - Number Voting No: 619

RMT member Neil Hood writes ...

I wrongly thought there was only one 'rate of inflation'; the RPI, and I also wrongly thought that as long as I'm getting a pay rise equal to or greater than that rate I'd be better off.

Then I discovered this link on the BBC News website.

From RMT official circular IR.114/09, dated 1st April 2009

I am writing to advise you that the Union is holding a ballot for strike action and action short of a strike over a number of very important issues.

Yesterday (2 April), RMT and other unions' representatives met with London Underground to discuss your pay. Your representatives at the meeting were Oliver New (Council of Executives), Steve Hedley (Regional Organiser) and Janine Booth (Stations & Revenue Council / Regional Council Secretary).

A full report will follow. In summary:

• LUL did not revise their offer at all.
• With February's RPI at 0%, LUL's offer is 1% this year, followed by RPI only for the next four years.
• All the unions rejected this.
• RMT and TSSA insisted on a one-year deal only.