Signal victory

R MT Tube and line-control staff voted by more than two to one to accept a pay and grading offer, finally bringing to an end a four-year dispute over pay rates, pay structures, negotiating procedures, hours and conditions. Following the threat of two days of strike action over Christmas and New Year, management agreed to multi-thousand pound increases and 15 days extra leave. The deal will give signallers and line-control staff a 35-hour week from July, and bring staged increases in pay to between £31,450 for an ordinary signaller and £44,000 at the top end of the line-control scale by July 2007. “This deal, achieved by our members’ solidarity and determi- nation, has put them at the top of the industrial pay league,” RMT general secretary Bob Crow said. “That solidarity also saw an end to the threat of job losses and removed a number of unacceptable strings, including the threatened cut in minimum rest periods between shifts. “This is the deal our members have been waiting for four years to achieve, putting in place a new negotiating framework while protecting local industrial relations,” Bob said. RMT assistant general secretary Pat Sikorski said it was a “solid” deal which finally set down a clear SIGNAL V RMT news – Signal victory 16 VICTORY: Bob Crow with RMT rep John Cott Signalling and service control staff on London Underground have won one of the best improvements to pay, working hours and conditions in the entire rail industry for a decade MEDIA: How the press reported the deal pay structure for all grades (see panel on the right). “Lines of promotion are also protected for grades which, within the next couple of years, will have to start training to fill the new generation of signalling boxes – starting with Highgate,” he said. Pat said that as a result of the deal a new negotiating framework was now in place, which fully protected local industrial relations. “We now have a new, all- embracing, functional committee with a great working majority for this union,” he said. VICTORY RMT news – Signal victory terell (standing up) at Earls Court control room 17 Grade and existing Salary New Salary / Increases Banding All figures are at April 2004 rates of pay Signal Operator 1 £29,008 £30,250 £1,242 (4.3%) - July 2005 Amersham – Hammersmith - £30,850 £1,842 (6.5%) - July 2006 Upminster – New Cross - Waterloo. £31,450 £2,442 (8.5%) - July 2007 Signal Operator 2 £29,008 £31,006 £1,998 (6.9%) - July 2005 Rickmansworth – Harrow on the Hill £31,621 £2,613 (9%) - July 2006 - Rayners Lane – Barking - Whitechapel - Edgware Road – LIA’s (existing AG1) £32,236 £3,231 (11.5%) - July 2007 Relief Signal Operator £29,153 £31,781 £2,628 (9%) - July 2005 £32,412 £3,259 (11%) - July 2006 £33,042 £3,889 (13.5%) - July 2007 Senior Signal Operator £38,427 £39,388 £961 (2.6%) - July 2005 £39,788 £1,361 (3.5%) - July 2006 All Existing Q3 Bands (Con Level 1) £36,149 - £40,327 £37,388 - £40,327 Average £1,958 (3.5%) SCCA’s (Baker Street Met) (for existing SCCA’s DMTM’s (Stratford Market depot) at Date of agreement Min of £935 to Max of £2,939 TMA’s (Neasden Tower) to receive a min of £39,388) All Existing Q2 Bands (Con Level 2) £37,725 - £43 ,953 £41,335 - £43,953 Average £2,159 (5.5%) Train Movements Manager (for existing SDM, Duty Manager Signals LC, TMM, DMS. at Min of £1,239 to Max of £4,476 Line Controller Date of agreement to Service Duty Manger receive a min of £42,201) Existing Q1 Bands (Manager Level 1) £37,725 - £47,725 £45,052 - £47,725 Average £4,606 (11.2%) Duty Line Manager Min of £1,126 to Max of £7,327 Existing Q1a Bands (Manager Level 2) £37,725 - £51,350 £48,918 - £51,350 Duty Line Control Manager Average £3,819 (8.3%) Duty Operations Manager Min of £1,222 to Max of £9,530