TUBE CLEANERS WIN MASSIVE PAY VICTORY

RMTnews :: january 2008 :: www.rmt.org.uk 6 T ube cleaners working for contractors Metronet are to receive substantial pay rises when Transport for London takes over the failed privateer’s contracts, marking a huge victory for a two-year RMT campaign. RMT revealed that London mayor Ken Livingstone had agreed that the London Living Wage of £7.20 an hour will become the minimum for over 900 cleaners on Metronet contracts when TfL takes charge. For some cleaners paid only the minimum legal wage of £5.85 it will mean an increase of at least £1.35 an hour - well over 20 per cent. RMT general secretary Bob Crow said it was a significant victory for RMT's campaign, and called on Tubelines to follow suit. "For more than two years RMT cleaners, supported by their colleagues across the Tube network, have been campaigning for the pay justice, dignity and respect due to them,” he said. The union has lodged claims with all the cleaning contractors working on the Tube - including ISS, which is contracted to Tubelines - for £7.20 to be the minimum hourly rate, with a minimum £1 hourly night premium, for all Tube cleaners. It is also calling for the free travel that other Tube workers already get, a minimum of 20 days' holiday over and above bank holidays, sick pay and a pension scheme. "It is nonsense that contractors who make millions cannot afford to pay a living wage to the people who do some of the dirtiest jobs on the Tube, and the time has come to bring cleaning back in-house," Bob added. John McDonnell MP has put down Early Day Motion 485 in parliament calling on Tube Lines to ensure its contractors also pay their cleaners the London Living Wage. See page 18/19. R MT has welcomed progress in negotiations for the best-possible fire- safety regime for sub-surface railway stations by government and unions on the 20th anniversary of the November 17, 1987 King's Cross fire that claimed 31 lives. Fruitful discussions have been taking place on finding the best balance between the 2005 Fire Safety Order and the 1989 'Section 12' regulations introduced in the wake of the fire. RMT general secretary Bob Crow said that he was confident that agreement could be reached that maintained rigorous fire protection. “As we pay our respects to those who lost their lives and suffered injury and trauma at King's Cross it is timely to remind ourselves that we must use the lessons of the past to ensure the best possible fire safety in the future,” he said. Fire Minister Parmjit Dhanda said that the anniversary of the tragic Kings Cross fire provided a timely reminder of the crucial importance of fire safety. “It is important to keep legislation under review to ensure it affords the highest levels of protection for the travelling public,” he said. The 1989 Regulations were made under Section 12 of the Fire Precautions Act 1971, and were added on the recommendation of the Fennell Report into the 1987 King's Cross fire. They cover 'sub-surface stations' throughout Britain, including those on underground systems in Glasgow, Tyne and Wear and London, but also national rail stations which are 'sub-surface', including Birmingham New Street and several in Liverpool. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 was introduced alongside the Section 12 regulations. Since then, discussions have been taking place on what balance should be struck between the Fire Safety Order and the Section 12 regulations. PROGRESS ON SUB-SURFACE STATION FIRE SAFETY TUBE CLEANERS WIN MASSIVE PAY VICTORY