SOUTH WEST BUS STRIKE

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: november/december 2017 :: RMTnews 7 All London Underground maintenance staff on the Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly lines, nearly 2,000 workers, were transferred into London Underground under TUPE last month finally ending the disastrous private-public- partnership project which led to Tube Lines company being created. All such AP JNP members will remain on previous rates of pay, contract and terms and conditions and all policies, procedures and agreements will continue to apply. However LUL is seeking to reorganise its maintenance activities under the wider Transformation programme and these discussions are now taking place. RMT regional organiser John Leach will be involved in-depth discussions and negotiations with reps from every affected function in attendance. The process is likely to take some time but the union will remain vigilant and be fully involved throughout. RMT general secretary Mick Cash said that any future proposals would be subject to full consultation and any threat to any member’s job security or hard-fought agreements will be resisted by the union up to and including industrial action. “At this early stage there are few details but as all members will now be back in-house under one public sector company we will be in a strong collective position going forward. “RMT was always opposed to the private-public-partnership which led to Tube Lines being created in the first place and this transition finally brings that chapter to an end,” he said. M embers on Stagecoach South West buses have won an improved pay offer following a successful ballot for strike action. The dispute involved over 800 bus drivers, cleaners and engineering grades at the Exeter, Torquay and Barnstaple garages. Over 78 per cent of RMT members’ voted for strike action whilst nearly 90 per cent voted for action short of a strike in the ballot, highlighting the anger amongst staff and their determination to secure a fairer deal. The improved offer represents a two per cent pay increase over the year and the hourly rate will rise to 2.5 per cent creating a higher base rate for future pay negotiations. RMT general secretary Mick Cash said that bus workers in the South West provided an essential service across a wide geographical area and they deserve a fair deal on pay “The fact that the union has won an improved offer is wholly down to the members being prepared to fight for pay and workplace justice,” he said. Twenty-four hour strike action by train managers and senior conductors on Arriva Cross Country in a dispute over abuse of rostering and Sunday working went ahead in November after management wrecked talks aimed at reaching a solution. The action involved services from Penzance to Aberdeen and points in between on Britain’s most wide-ranging rail operation and more days of action are planned. RMT warned passengers that the company are trying to recruit a scab army of managers, ill- equipped and without the skills and training needed to fulfil the safety-critical role of the guard, and paid a bounty of £250 with luxury hotel accommodation thrown in. Drivers were also being strong- armed by the company with the imposition of compulsory overtime. RMT has warned that these bogus train managers are acting outside of their substantive role and poorly trained, incapable of carrying out the full role and responsibility of a fully competent and safety critical guard on what will be the start of the busiest periods. RMT general secretary Mick Cash said that it was disgraceful that management at Arriva had sabotaged talks and focussed on dishing out cash bungs to try and break the action. “Our members are standing up for the principles of a decent work life balance and against the abuse of rostering and Sunday working by a management that is out of control. “The action goes ahead and the disruption to services will be solely down to Arriva management intransigence,” he said. ARRIVA CROSS COUNTRY STRIKE ACTION PPP OVER AND OUT Tube Lines staff brought back in- house finally ending PPP disaster a scab arm equipped a and trainin safef ty t -crit and paid a luxury r hot thrown in. Drivers armed by imposition overtime. RMT ha bogus train outside of and poorly SOUTH WEST BUS PAY WIN