Congratulations to members of all gradesin all unions who took
strike action lastweek. The support was outstanding, andthe effect
on the service devastating. Weare now firmly in the driving seat
asnegotiations reopen.
Propaganda from LUL, the Mayor, theGovernment and the media
built up to afever pitch in advance of last weeks strike.Pleas to
individual staff members fell ondeaf ears and the press hysteria
only hadthe effect of strengthening our resolve.
The support from all grades has beenfantastic with the overtime
bans alreadycausing a shortage of prepped trains and anumber of
station closures. We have shownthe effectiveness of an all-grades
trade
union, but we need to keep up the pressureto make sure that any
settlement rewardsall grades equally.
Just seventeen drivers - 0.4% - came in towork none of whom
drove trains. Bossesrewarded their loyalty by instructingthem to
put on Hi-Vi vests and pointpassengers in the direction
ofovercrowded buses.
Despite the media referring to the strikebeing about greedy
drivers after moremoney, our message is being heard. We aretrying
to safeguard our work-life balancewhich is being jeopardised by a
companyintent on running more frequent services with more work but
no recompense for us.
Mid July 2015 Issue 43 www.rmtlondoncalling.org.uk
Written for train drivers, by train drivers
Drivers not to book on for any dutiesthat commence between 2100
hours
Wednesday 5th August and 2059hours Thursday 6th Aug
Unions In Unity - TimeFor a Good Deal
It was way back in 1992 that LUL changedthe way we are paid from
an hourly rate,with enhancements for unsocial hours, tothe salaried
system we have today. The keyproblem is that service
increases,especially at weekends and evenings, havenot been taken
into account when we getpay increases. Now bosses expect us towork
through the night with no financialincentive.
Many staff started work when we onlyworked 1 in 4 Sundays and 2
in 4 Saturdayswith regular 4-day long weekends. Ourcurrent rosters
bear no resemblance to
that. On the stations there are staff whoonly get 1 long weekend
a year. Theserosters place incredible stress on therelationships of
all grades but LUL arerefusing to acknowledge this.
With new action called for 5/6th August itis more important than
ever to maintainthis Unity and get a deal that is acceptableto our
members.
Night Tube Extension AlreadyPlanned Tube bosses have already
planned toextend Night Tube to more lines. They havedetailed how
much the night time economyis growing. That'll mean more
trainsrunning on more lines in future, whichmeans more night work
for all of us. Thismeans we have to get the right deal now ifwe are
to allow bosses to change ourframeworks. What comes out of
thisdispute will lay out how we are expected towork for the rest of
our careers.
TfL has a report which evaluates theeconomic effect of running
Night Tube onThursday night. Whilst they think about theeconomy, we
need to think about what thefuture of an extended Night Tube
willmean for us.
Train Grades Meeting 30th JulyHave your say on the dispute and
discussthe next steps. Its your dispute letsget a deal that works
for us Unity House 1430, all drivers welcome.
unions shut down the tubeWhat are we asking for? Night tube
extensions planned Trains grade meeting invite
Industrial reps:Dean O'Hanlon - 07956 342235Will Reid - 07983
958 429Vaughan Thomas - 07720 297657
H&S reps:Jim McDaid - 07917 131692Nigel Eivers- 07961
141924Dave Rayfield- 07719 132161
What are we asking for?
Train drivers are asking for:
A consolidated (pensionable) one offrise to reflect the changes
required toour agreements to facilitate night tube
An immediate freeze on weekendworking levels with a commitment
toreturn to levels prior to company planwith a cap on the maximum
amountworked
Compensation in terms of time off andpayment for night tube
turns
A decent pay rise and commitment tomove to a 32 hour 4 day
week
All other aspects of our claim to beaddressed