RMT TUBE STAFF STRIKE IN SEPARATE DISPUTES

RMT helpline 0800 3763706 :: september 2008 :: RMTnews 5 T ube infrastructure company Tubelines increased its pay- and-conditions offer on the eve of a planned 72-hour strike which has been accepted by a four-to-one margin in a postal ballot. In last-ditch talks, the company raised its offer to over 1,000 RMT members on a two- year deal to 4.99 per cent this year (backdated to April 1), and RPI (February 09 figure, but currently 5 per cent) plus 0.85 per cent from April 2009. The offer includes a minimum £1,000 salary increase for lower paid grades and apprentices, while points technicians will receive an additional increase of £3,000 in their basic salaries in addition to the 4.99 per cent in year one of the deal. The company also offered to increase travel subsidy from home to place of work from 80 to 90 per cent from April 2009, gave a commitment to pursue with Transport for London the provision of Oyster Cards, and agreed to separate discussions on a range of other issues. “RMT members at Tubelines are to be congratulated for the unity and commitment they have displayed during this dispute, not least in the face of hostile media coverage,” RMT general secretary Bob Crow said. R MT Station Staff working at eleven Tube stations between Plaistow and Upminster on London Underground’s District Line and at Elephant and Castle, Charing Cross and Lambeth North on the Bakerloo took 24-hour strike action in two separate disputes. More than 90 staff on the East Ham group voted by a margin of more than 20 to one to take action over a breakdown of industrial relations sparked by local management ignoring procedures, the victimisation and harassment of staff and union reps and the sacking of station assistant Sarah Hutchins who had taken time off for pregnancy-related illnesses and after being assaulted at work. And around 100 station staff at Charing Cross, Elephant and Castle and Lambeth North on the Bakerloo line will be striking for the second time to demand the re-instatement of Jerome Bowes who was unfairly dismissed after defending himself against a violent assault on New Year’s Eve. RMT drivers at Elephant and Castle depot are now also being balloted. “These are separate disputes but there is a pattern emerging of unfair sackings, a rise in complaints about bullying and harassment, and the failure of LUL management to stand by staff who are victims of assault,” RMT general secretary Bob Crow said. He said that the bottom line in both disputes was that members have the right to work in an atmosphere of trust and co-operation and without the fear of being fired without good reason. M embers at CBS Outdoor undertook four days of strike action recently leading to an offer currently being voted on by the workforce. Although there was no direct improvement on the original four per cent increase in pay, management propose sharing with staff all savings made in improvements to advertising sites. Site quality is constantly improving due to the hard work of the workforce and could yield around £100 per year to each fixer and would be payable each December. CBS have agreed to pay each employee £50 in the next paybill with any balance being paid in December. This equates to a 0.4 per cent increase in the current rates of pay on top of the original offer. On the question of travel concessions on London Underground, management gave an assurance that they were lobbying LUL constantly with little success and agreed that an RMT representative could accompany the CBS delegation to its next meeting with LUL on the issue. RMT TUBE STAFF STRIKE IN SEPARATE DISPUTES TUBE BILL- POSTERS STRIKE TUBELINES MEMBERS WIN AFTER STRIKE THREAT