TRANSPORT FOR LONDON STAFF STRIKE OVER ATTACK ON PAY AND PENSIONS

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: april/may 2014 :: RMTnews 7 R MT, TSSA and Unite members at Transport for London took 24 hours of joint strike action in early May in a dispute over an all-out attack on pay and pensions that would condemn to staff to a life of poverty in retirement. The action is in protest at TfL’s plans to impose their “Pay for Performance” proposals. Over the last six months TfL have point-blank refused to engage in serious negotiations over their plans for what amount to a performance- related pay freeze and savage cuts to pension rights. The savage attacks that TfL are looking to bulldoze through would mean: • lump sum one-off pay rises that would not count towards pensionable pay • A knock on impact that would lead to reduced final salary pensions • An immediate pay freeze – stretching over the next five years - for at least 50 per cent of staff • The annual pay round placed at the discretion of managers and no longer fully negotiated with the recognised staff unions • Pay rises determined by punitive and discriminatory individual “performance” processes that would unleash a tidal-wave of bullying and harassment. The impetus behind management’s proposals is purely and simply cash-led cuts, a situation that will become worse over the forthcoming years as there are further reductions in TFL’s grant and the expectation that further assaults on jobs, pay and pensions are being lined up for the future. RMT acting general secretary Mick Cash said that the attack on pay and pensions had to be seen in the wider context of government austerity cuts to TfL’s funding and once again it is staff who are being lined up to take a hit that would not only whack them in the pocket now but would condemn them to lives of poverty in retirement. “Although RMT and the other unions have continued to meet with the company demanding a decent pay offer and full pensionable pay for all TFL employees they have point blank refused to back away from their aggressive plans to attack wages and pensions across the board. “Their current proposal is nothing less than a concerted attack on the future of the TFL Pensions Fund which affects all its members regardless of grade. “TfL should be in no doubt of about our members determination to defend pay and pensions and they should listening to our case, withdrawing the current plans and talking seriously about pay and pensions plans that protect and enhance the living standards of TFL staff members,” he said. 3 per cent: The number of tickets the Mayor claims are sold by ticket offices. 23 per cent: Total amount of ticket transactions ticket offices actually have responsibility for. 7.577 million: The total transactions at ticket offices in 2013, an increase on the 7.418 million from 2012. 14 per cent: Projected increase in passenger numbers over the next five years. 17 per cent: Cut in the number of frontline station staff proposed by the Mayor. 52 per cent: The number of tube users unable to buy tickets from a machine because it was broken. 56 per cent: The number of voters who said they would not vote for Boris Johnson again for breaking his promise not to close ticket offices. 66 per cent: The number of passengers opposed to ticket officer closures. R MT reiterated its opposition to driverless trains on the Tube network after London Underground sent out an internal bulletin detailing a plan for new trains that "will have the capability to be operated with, or without, a train operator at the front of the train". RMT acting general secretary Mick Cash said that RMT had made its position perfectly clear – we will fight to retain the position of a driver up-front, in the cab, in control on every single tube train. “The idea that tube trains can run safely, rammed full of passengers and passing through crowded stations, without a driver up front able to manually monitor and control emergency situations is just dangerous nonsense. “Without a driver to see what’s ahead on both tracks and platforms you are taking a lethal gamble with life and limb. “RMT is committed to fighting any move that would jeopardise safe operation and which denigrates the role and responsibility of the tube train driver,” he said. TRANSPORT FOR LONDON STAFF STRIKE OVER ATTACK ON PAY AND PENSIONS NO TO DRIVERLESS TUBE TRAINS THE TUBE DISPUTE IN NUMBERS