EUROSTAR CLEANERS WIN IMPROVED PAY OFFER

RMT helpline 0800 3763706 :: november/december 2008 :: RMTnews 5 R MT shift ‘tester’ technicians responsible for finding and fixing faults on the London Tube’s power supply have taken solid 36-hour strike action over their claim for pay parity with non-shift colleagues. The union called on employer EDF Energy Powerlink to negotiate seriously to avoid further action. RMT also raised concerns that managers, some of whom have not worked ‘on the tools’ for many years, were being left to deal with power-supply faults on dozens of different types of high-voltage equipment involving currents of up to 22,000 volts. The 25 highly skilled technicians, responsible for finding and fixing faults at London Underground’s 240 power sub-stations and maintain the power supply, voted for action by a margin of more than ten to one. “Our members have shown EDF Energy Powerlink very clearly how they feel about their claim for pay parity, and it is time for EDF to get off its high horse and talk,” RMT general secretary Bob Crow said. The shift testers are simply seeking parity with non-shift colleagues who received a £3,000 rise for flexibility that is also demanded of shift workers, but whose basic pay is now £4,000 less. “They have already seen their work-life balance turned upside down with a massive change in shift patterns, and now they expect their employer to display some flexibility too. “Rather than recklessly letting loose managers who have been off the job for years on potentially lethal high- voltage kit, the company should be looking for ways to end this dispute,” Bob said. F ollowing two days of strike action in August, RMT cleaners working for OCS on the Eurostar contract have won an overall pay increase, a sick pay scheme and a matched contributory pension scheme at the Temple Mills Depot. Negotiations were hampered due to the re-tendering process which has led to the contract being split and OCS has lost the St Pancras International contract which has been awarded to the Carlisle Group. Carlisle takes over the contract on January 12 2009 so a TUPE consultation will now take place. However, the Temple Mills Engineering depot contract runs until March 2011. As a result two separate agreements were made for the sites as Carlisle group cannot be bound to a longer-term deal at present. ST PANCRAS The pay deal secures significant increases in hourly rates and the most significant increases go to the lowest paid in percentage terms as the offer is structured as a flat rate increase for all grades. Although the proposed rates do not achieve the London Living Wage, they do represent a breakthrough figure in achieving £7.00 per hour, an increase in the cleaner’s rate of 10 per cent, with £100 in back-pay. TEMPLE MILLS DEPOT The pay increase in this deal is the same, including back-pay of £100. The union also negotiated a limited sick pay scheme and a matched contributory pension scheme, matching up to three per cent employee contributions, from next year. Pay rates will also increase by a further 20p per hour in October 2009 for staff that have completed NVQ level 2, taking the cleaner’s rate to £7.20. RMT general secretary Bob Crow congratulated members for holding successful strike action that brought the company back to the table with a significantly enhanced offer. EUROSTAR CLEANERS WIN IMPROVED PAY OFFER TUBE POWER WORKERS’ TAKE STRIKE SOLID STRIKE ACTION