RMT up frontThe newsletter for London Underground drivers Issue 11, May 2011

Drivers vote to stop victimisations on the tube

What a result! Train drivers and In-structor operators on LU were asked“are you prepared to take strike actionover the victimisation of Eamonn Lynchand Arwyn Thomas?” 64% of driversresponded with a resounding yes voteon a turnout of nearly 50%This is a major achievement for the

union and shows that drivers across thewhole of the combine and in everydepot are determined to stop the victim-isation of our fellow drivers. Never be-fore has the union escalated anindividual case across the whole of thetube network. Support for RMT cam-paigns combine wide are normallybased on pay issues, terms and condi-tions or safety. To gain the support ofour driver members the length andbreadth of the combine for these two in-dividuals is a fantastic show of solidarityfor our victimised work mates. This re-sult sends a clear message to LUbosses that drivers have had enough ofthe abuse of procedures and the op-pressive management regime in force. This result also shows that our mem-

bers understand that these unfair dis-missals represent an attack upon us alland that they are not prepared to standaside and allow the company to getaway with it.Eamonn's Employment Tribunal fin-

ished over six weeks ago, but the Tribu-nal judge has still not issued his deci-sion. We expect the judgement verysoon, and the union will be holding apress conference on the day it is deliv-ered. Arwyn's Tribunal will take place

during the week of 23 May. Both Ea-monn and Arwyn have already won 'in-terim relief' at earlier hearings, so weare confident that their Employment Tri-bunals will uphold their complaints ofhaving been sacked unfairly due to theirtrade union activities. However, even ifthe Tribunals order London Under-ground to reinstate them, LU can refuseto do so. That is why the RMT cannotrely on the legal process, but has hadto organise campaigning and industrialaction.RMT has again asked LU manage-

ment for talks aimed at resolving thisdispute by getting our sacked reps backto work, and we await a response fromthem. The union is preparing a leafletfor the public, and is working with ourParliamentary group of MPs and sup-

portive Greater London Assembly members to pursue these cases through po-litical channels.But should management not respondto this lobbying, we will have to holdstrike action.Eamonn and Arwyn’s interim relief

cases show that they have beensacked for their trade union activity andLU have been ordered to pay theirwages, pensions and to maintain all LUprivileges including staff passes. Thisis an absurd situation where two experi-enced drivers are being paid to stay athome when all they want to do is bookon for work as nomal.The RMT General Grades Committee

has considered what action to take toresolve this situation to see Eamonnand Arwyn back on the front of trainswhere they belong. A meeting of driv-ers’ reps and activists on the day theballot result was announced agreed

that a one-day strike would be ineffec-tive as management are prepared toride one-day strikes through. The con-sensus at the meeting was that aprotest strike is simply not goodenough. This dispute will not be wonuntil and unless both men are rein-stated. We therefore need a strategy,carefully thought out and executed tomaximum effect - a strategy to win. The General Grades Committee hascalled 4 days of strike action. Two daysfor early turn drivers - two days for lateturn drivers (see overleaf). This willcause maximum impact and disruptionto LU and will mininmise the financialconsequences to our members.This is of course a last resort as weawait and hope for constructive talkswith London Underground.

IN SOLIDARITY

even if the Tribunals order London Underground toreinstate them, LU can refuse to do so. That is whyRMT can not rely on the legal process, but has had toorganise campaigning and industrial action.

Management Clampdown Coming your way? – We say no way!However much you try to keep yourhead down and get through your shift,the oppressive breath of managementis there, scorching the back of yourneck. Eamonn and Arwyn’s sackingsare not random: they are part of amanagement strategy to remove RMTfrom the workplace and, with it, anyresistance to what they want to do toyou. This can be seen in the latest ini-tiatives such as ‘valuing time’, chasingdrivers for as little as 30-second de-lays, asking for memos for the mosttrivial of things including making PAs,and asking for almost hourly updateswhen you are sick. They are alsobreaking every procedure in the book.This includes their invented and una-greed attendance target of 96% andtheir constant changing of the SPADpolicy to satisfy their latest whim.With big brother looking at you fromCCTVs, black boxes, secret shoppers

and overzealous duty managers, youwill soon need a barcode in your neckto book on! Matters that used to bedealt with locally are sent to CDIs,leading to more and more driversbeing sacked, whilst they cut pool op-erators and make it harder to getspare days’ annual leave, and makeyou go for hospital appointments inyour own time. The list goes on. It istime to show management that what-ever union you are in you want to betreated with respect. Such respect willonly come when they start respectingyour union, so supporting the upcom-ing strikes for Eamonn and Arwyn isnot only right from the point of view offighting two unfair dismissals - in thelong run you will also be helping theunion make your life better at workand make sure you are not the nextvictim.

One union for drivers - All grades united

printed and published by RMT, 39 C

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Management arrogance does not juststop at trying to humiliate and bully you inthe workplace. Whilst they are receivinggongs such as ‘train operator of the year’and boasting that we are moving morepeople in living history, they want to re-ward you with a multiyear pay cut! Withinflation running at over 5%, interest raterises on the way and cost of fuel andother living costs going through the roofall they have offered is 4% for the firstyear and RPI + 0.25% for the following 4.They have rejected all other items in

our claim unless they are ‘cost neutral’. For the first time in living history tube

unions have united in presenting and re-jecting a pay claim offer - that is, with theexception of ASLEF, who seem to be pur-suing a separate agenda which does nothelp in getting the best deal. The latestposition is as follows“ RMT, TSSA and Unite reject LondonUnderground’s pay offer. The offer is notenough in money terms, and constitutesa real-terms pay cut; at five years inlength, it covers too long a period of time;and it fails to address most of our claimsfor improved conditions for our members.We invite London Underground to

make a revised offer, with a pay riseabove RPI (5.5% in February 2011), cov-ering a reduced number of years, andagreeing to discuss all our conditionsclaims, not just the two mentioned in thecurrent offer. We request release for all our represen-tatives to discuss this issue.”Meanwhile in Olympic talks manage-

ment have said there is no money andhave rejected our claim for two weeks’additionally rostered leave and have of-fered two days’ additional leave. But, aswe know, it is becoming increasingly hardto get this leave granted anyway...not ex-actly a place a on the podium for youwhen we are meant to be a world classmetro for a world class city! Talks continue.

Pay cut on the cards andnot even a bronze medalaward for the Olympics!

Decision of the General Grades Committee:All London Underground train driver members are instructed not to book on for any duty that commences:

between 21:01 on Monday 16 May and 11:59 on Tuesday 17 Maybetween 12:00 on Wednesday 18 May and 11:59 on Thursday 19 Maybetween 12:00 on Friday 20 May and 21:00 on Friday 20 May

TRAIN DRIVERS COALITION SOLIDARITYOFBallot result exceeds ‘Boris Test’No doubt our enemies in the Mayor’soffice and the media will tell the worldhow wrong it is that our union can wina mandate for strike action on a 46%turnout. Nice try, but here is the logi-cal conclusion to that line of argu-ment:

The fact is that the turnout in our bal-lot was above average with a majorityof nearly 2 to 1 for strike action. Thatis a sound mandate which, as we haveshown, not only exceeds the ‘BorisTest’, but has far greater democraticlegitimacy than this government of therich and privileged forcing its austerityagenda on the people of this country.

. Boris Johnson should not havebeen allowed to become LondonMayor (turnout for 2008 Mayoralelection was 45%);The Conservatives should not be ina position to form a government(only 36% of those who voted inthe 2010 General Election votedfor them);Local councils would cease to exist(since 1996, the average turnout incouncil elections is 35.4%

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