DOCKLANDS LIGHT RAILWAY VICTORY AGAINST OUTSOURCING

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: february 2015 :: RMTnews 7 Docklands Light Railway operators Keolis/Amey have reversed plans to outsource staff following the threat of solid strike action. The union called off the action after securing agreement on all of the key points in dispute. The issues that triggered the ballot included the threat to outsource jobs, undermining working condition and the role of RMT health and safety representatives. On all counts the threatened changes have now been withdrawn after 99 per cent ballot result for strike action. RMT general secretary Mick Cash said that was delighted to announce that the determination and solidarity of members across Docklands Light Railway had forced the pace in head to head talks with the operators Keolis/Amey. “As a result we have secured agreement on all of the issues the union had put into dispute. “That means that the union has been able to call off the strike action that would have led to a total shutdown of the Docklands Light Railway. “RMT members voted overwhelmingly for strike action and have proved that unity and organisation in the workplace can deliver positive outcomes that protect staff and their working conditions,” he said. Regional organiser John Leach said that DLR RMT members were a credit to the trade union movement and a beacon of just what strong industrial trade union organisation, across all grades, can achieve. “RMT now moves forwards with our organisation strong and robust and with good, solid industrial relations on DLR intact,” he said. R MT is balloting staff across Hull Trains for industrial action in a dispute over the unwarranted redundancy of a member. The dispute hinges on entirely bogus claims that the company had recently carried out a ‘necessary minor reorganisation’ which identified an individual as being at risk of redundancy. At the members appeal hearing the company stated that she did not fall under the collective bargaining agreements and therefore existing agreements did not apply. However the company has identified the same member as an employee covered by collective bargaining on acceptance of the 2014 pay award. Last year the same member reprimanded a senior manager at Hull Trains after she witnessed them verbally abuse a colleague. Furthermore, at no time did Hull Trains inform the union, either at locally or nationally, that a reorganisation was taking place and that RMT members were at risk of redundancy. RMT general secretary Mick Cash said that the Hull Trains’ failure to abide by the collective bargaining procedures was unacceptable. “This union will not tolerate any member being removed from employment by underhand means. “The company are riding roughshod over their own procedures and this has to be opposed in the strongest possible terms. “RMT has given Hull Trains plenty of opportunity to reinstate our member but they have chosen instead to adopt a cavalier and confrontational attitude. “As a result of that hard- headed approach our ballot for both strike action and action short of a strike will close February 24,” he said. DOCKLANDS LIGHT RAILWAY VICTORY AGAINST OUTSOURCING Threat of strike action forces employers to ditch plans to farm out workforce HULL TRAINS BALLOT IN REDUNDANCY DISPUTE