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RMT is seeking urgent answers from London Underground after it emerged that the points at the centre of last month’s Central Line derailment near White City were among 42 identified as potentially dangerous by the investigation into last October’s Camden Town derailment. RMT general secretary Bob Crow said that the White City points were among 42 sets located on curves and of a similar design to those involved in the Camden derailment. “All 42 were subject to a regulatory notice to the infrastructure companies requiring 24- hourly inspection, with approval by LUL’s chief engineer required for maintenance work done on them. “RMT’s safety reps have asked for detailed information on all 42 sets of those points, including their exact locations,” he said. The union is also demanding that extreme- caution speed restrictions be applied immediately to all of them and want to know if the regulatory notices have been relaxed in any way – and if so why. Regional organiser Bobby Law said that once again it seemed that the absence of any effective accident-prevention plan under the privatised regime had endangered lives. “When the infrastructure was transferred to the private sector there were 15,000 known track-related items which fell below engineering standards – but far from sorting them out the PPP contracts simply exempted the privateers from any responsibility for them. “There have now been six major derailments since September 2002 – how many more do there have to be before someone notices a pattern? “This is what happens when the interests of private profit are put ahead of safety,” Bobby said. RMT seeks answers on Central Line derailment STRIKE action at infrastructure company Tubelines scheduled for June 10 was called off after talks yielded an improved offer on pay, travel facilities and a reduction in the working week. The union has accepted a one year offer increasing the basic rate of pay to 3.1 per cent backdated to April 1 2004 and will work towards the ratification of a deal for 2005 with a view to reaching agreement. The current offer for 2005 includes a 2.5 per cent increase basic rate or RPI with effect April 1 2005. A further increase will be available for a reduction in the absence rate. This will provide an additional 0.575 per cent of pay for each 1 per cent reduction in sickness absence to a maximum of 2.3 per cent. Tube Lines will provide travel benefit for those operational grades that joined the company since 2003, subsidising their travel costs between home and work at the level of 25 per cent immediately, 50 per cent next year and 75 per cent week from 2006. Tube Lines also made a commitment to work towards a 35 hour week. The first reduction of 40 minutes will be implemented in September with another reduction next June. Where this reduction cannot be incorporated in roster patterns, it will be accumulated and taken as additional rest days. Victory at Tubelines 21 AN employment tribunal hearing into the sacking of the Farringdon six by London Underground privateer Metronet will deliver its findings next month. The six RMT members were summarily sacked after empty tins of beer were found in the loft of a hut used by hundreds of people, including around 60 sub- contractors. The six were sacked despite the fact that they all passed alcohol tests and the lack of any evidence linking them to the beer cans. The tins had also been washed by managers to remove months of dust before being presented to the media. RMT London regional organiser Bobby Law said that it was the worst case of victimisation he had seen for years. “These men are quite clearly scapegoats for an incompetent management team,” he said. Metronet’s human resources manager has left the company since the cases of the Farringdon six was taken up by the union. Bobby paid tribute to union lawyers Edward Duthie, particularly Doreen Reeves, for the work put into representing the men. Justice for the Farringdon six JUSTICE: Regional organiser Bobby Law and Bob Crow with the Farringdon six unfairly dismissed by Metronet (left to right) Perry Robinson, Andrew Dobson, Gary Hill, Trevor Trower, Mahari Caleb and Ronald Edwards ....Tube news....Tube news....Tube news....Tube news....Tube news....Tube news....