DEAL IN THE SKY

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: june 2017 :: RMTnews 7 The Emirates Air Line crosses the River Thames from the Greenwich Peninsula to the Royal Docks in London RMT has won a union recognition deal at the Emirates Air Line cable car link across the River Thames in London representing technicians and passenger hosts who keep the service running. The employer is Doppelmayr Cable Car (DCC) an Austrian- based global supplier of cable- propelled shuttles used in airports, cities, park and ride facilities and amusement parks. The service is a greenfield site for trade unions so workers contacted RMT some time ago after changes were made to their contracts without their agreement. Dave Marshall from the organising unit and RMT regional organiser Peter Skelly began prolonged negotiations to win collective bargaining rights for them. Peter Skelly explained that they met with the workers to explain the advantages of recognition, they then organised their workmates into the union to give us over 50 per cent membership of the bargaining units. “We registered the recognition claim with the Central Arbitration Committee and the employers initially resisted. “The employer did agree to meet with us at ACAS to discuss the claim and they accepted that we were carrying out the legitimate wishes of their employees. “Finally they agreed to give RMT voluntary recognition for collective bargaining and have now signed recognition agreements. “We are now in the process of electing local reps and will be submitting wage claims,” he said. Dave Marshall pointed out that it was one of the smallest bargaining units on record with just 14 or so employees. “We made it clear to workers that even though they were a small unit they were just as important as anyone working on London Underground,” he said. RMT finally won recognition earlier this year but the service first opened in June 2012 and is operated by Transport for London. The duration of a single crossing is ten minutes which is reduced to five minutes in rush hour as the service speed is increased. The eastern end of the cable car line is at the Royal Docks, home to the ExCeL Centre and the closest interchange to the Docklands Light Railway is at Royal Victoria station. The western end of the cable car line is within walking distance of The O2 arena and the closest interchange with London Underground is at North Greenwich. DEAL IN THE SKY RMT wins recognition at Emirates Air Line cable car link across the Thames