BAKERLOO LINE STRIKES OVER SAFETY

RMTnews :: august/september 2007 :: www.rmt.org.uk 4 A 24-hour strike by RMT Bakerloo Line drivers and station staff in a safety dispute over lone working was 100 per cent solid. London Underground only ran an emergency service between Elephant and Castle and Queen’s Park and the union renewed its call for the company to take safety concerns seriously and negotiate. The dispute centres on LUL’s attempt to impose lone-working at Queen’s Park, Willesden Junction and Harrow and Wealdstone stations, increasing the risk of assault for station staff and drivers. “Our members have demonstrated how angry they are that LUL is still set on plans that will increase the danger of assault on our members at stations where trains are tipped out,” RMT general secretary Bob Crow said from the picket line. “This is a simple dispute about the safety of our members, and the 95 per cent vote for strike action should have told the company everything they need to know about their plan,” he said. The stations involved are in areas that have more than their fair share of violent crime problems, and RMT argues that it is not unreasonable to expect that there are two station staff on duty to give more security to each other and the public. “It is our members who are out there trying to deliver a service in demanding circumstances, and their employer shouldn’t be attempting to impose changes that make that job harder and more dangerous,” Bob Crow said. T he threat of strike action by more than 400 Network Rail signallers and supervisors in Scotland has forced Network Rail to improve an offer on disputed bonus payments. The dispute centred on the company’s original decision to dock three-quarters of the £400 bonus paid to those who took part in a strike over the company’s failure to honour the implementation of the 35- hour week in Scotland. Network Rail originally insisted that the matter was non-negotiable, but the company then twice tabled increased offers, ultimately halving the amount docked from £150 per shift to £75. A strike originally scheduled for July 6 was suspended after last-minute talks yielded some progress. However, Network Rail then withdrew its offer and paid no bonus at all to the signallers, who made it clear they would not be victimised for taking action aimed at making the company keep to its side of an agreement Delegates at the union’s annual general meeting in Edinburgh had voted unanimously to endorse the action, and to ballot all 15,000 Network Rail members for strike action over the bonus issues. A round 100 catering staff at Virgin West Coast’s Manchester Piccadilly mounted their third day of strike action in support of an unfairly sacked colleague. RMT is demanding the re- instatement of Rachel Tombling, who sustained injuries when her head hit a computer screen in an on-board shop when her train experienced rough riding – but was sacked for wilfully damaging it. “The ludicrous allegation that she deliberately head-butted the screen shows a complete disregard for the welfare of Virgin employees,” RMT general secretary Bob Crow said. He said that Rachel should have been given sympathy and help for her injuries, but Virgin chose instead to discipline her, and upheld the ruling at appeal. “The CCTV evidence the company presented simply does not support their absurd case that this was a deliberate act, but their unwillingness to listen to reason left us with no option but to call strike action. “Our members have responded magnificently once more, and picket lines have been busy with colleagues eager to demonstrate their solidarity with Rachel. “It is time for Virgin to reverse this ridiculous sacking,” Bob Crow said. BAKERLOO LINE STRIKES OVER SAFETY SIGNALLERS IN SCOTLAND WIN BONUS INCREASE VIRGIN CATERING STAFF STRIKE AGAINST UNFAIR SACKING