RMT condemns “death trap” proposals for tube train operation

TUBE UNION RMT today slammed proposed changes to London Underground train operations that the union has warned would turn station platforms into "death traps."

Proposals submitted to RMT safety reps at the Trains Health and Safety Council (THSC), and titled the Operation Effectiveness Programme (OEP), would involve:

• Using the planned cuts to station and platform staff as an excuse for trying to bulldoze through unsafe working practices on drivers.

• Forcing drivers to use trains with defective mirrors and monitors without the assistance of platform staff to ensure that platforms are clear of passengers with the risk that passengers could get dragged under trains.

• Forcing drivers to "detrain" (evacuate) stalled trains without station staff assistance and without the support of station staff carrying emergency lighting and loudhailers. Drivers would be forced to evacuate up to 1000 people, including passengers in wheelchairs and children in buggies, without assistance.

• Forcing drivers to "notch-back" (reverse) in the event of a platform overrun without the current requirement to change ends.

RMT today blamed London Underground and the Tory Mayor Boris Johnson for trying to ram through unsafe working practices as the real consequences for public safety of axing hundreds of station and platform staff to save money become clear.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:

"Boris Johnson is the Tory politician with the most power in this country today and if you want to know what a Cameron government would be all about you only have to look at the attack on passenger safety that is being unleashed on the tube as part of the Mayors multi-billion pound cuts plans.

"We warned that the cuts to station staff would have lethal consequences right across the London Underground and these plans to try and force drivers to accept unsafe working practices ram that point home loud and clear. RMT will fight these proposals all the way."

RMT backs Justice 4 Jarvis Workers lobby of Network Rail over jobs axe scandal

RAIL UNION RMT is backing a lobby by the Justice 4 Jarvis Workers campaign of Network Rail chief Iain Coucher this Wednesday ( 28th April) as the union continues the fight to save 1200 workers from being dumped on the dole following the collapse of the company last month.

 Justice 4 Jarvis workers from across the UK will be taking their case to the doorstep of Network Rail, and it's Chief Executive Iain Coucher, at 1pm on Wednesday 28^th April at Kings Place, 90 York Way, London N1 9AG.

 RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:

 "1200 Jarvis workers, skilled staff who we need out there on the tracks to keep our railways running, have been totally betrayed by Network Rail who admit that these jobs still need doing but have not lifted a finger to keep these men and women in work.

 "In yet another twist of the knife, Network Rail, and the contractor Babcock Rail who are picking up some of the Jarvis work, have said that in their view the Transfer of Undertakings (TUPE) regulations, that protect pay and conditions and length of service, will not apply to any workers they might re-engage. That is a scandal.

 "While the election focuses on personalities and talk of deals to keep politicians in high paid positions after May 6^th, the jobs carnage on Britain's railways continues and is wrecking the lives of key staff that we need to keep the network safe.

 "We are backing the Justice 4 Jarvis Workers campaign and the lobby on Wednesday and are challenging the politicians in the areas hit by these 1200 jobs cuts to cut the spin and the rhetoric and to join the fight to save these workers and their livelihoods."

RMT condemns Network Rail ‘gloating’ over dangerous jobs cull

BRITAIN'S BIGGEST rail union today condemned Network Rail's 'gloating' over its cull of front-line maintenance jobs and demanded a reversal of cuts that would make another rail disaster inevitable.

AS NR boasted that 500 front-line staff would leave by the end of May, RMT charged that its slash-and-burn attack on jobs and conditions had nothing to do with overstaffing, new technology or outdated working practices, but was a dangerous money-saving gamble.

RMT general secretary Bob Crow said:

"NR is trying to con the public into believing that a cost-led jobs cull is safe when we already know that inspections and maintenance frequencies are overstretched and that most safety recommendations made after the Grayrigg crash have not been implemented in full or in part.

"NR knows as well as our skilled members that signalling systems need more maintenance, not less, that there is no widespread introduction of new technology, and that the conditions it wants to rip up have been negotiated in recent years.

"The fact is that NR is under pressure to slash 21 per cent from its budget, wants to axe 1,500 front-line posts, lump maintenance functions onto over-worked signallers, and impose changes that will undermine rail safety and make another disaster inevitable.

"The only part of NR that needs a jobs cull is the boardroom, whose latest wheeze will result in an increase in the ratio of over-paid executives on telephone-number pay and bonuses to front-line skilled staff, at the direct expense of rail safety.

"We have tried to talk Network Rail bosses into some sense, but they went running instead to the high court to overturn a democratic vote for strike action and have played a disgraceful role in refusing to use their powers to save the jobs of another 1,200 Jarvis workers.

"The company's plans are simply dangerous and RMT will continue to resist them, including re-balloting for strike action."

RMT calls on STUC to condemn SNP ‘union-bashing’ over Scotrail

THE SNP government at Holyrood is set today to be accused by the Scottish TUC of "union bashing as shocking as the dark days of Thatcher" – on the very day that its leader addresses delegates in Dundee.

An emergency motion from RMT, Scotland's biggest rail union, to be debated later today, congratulates Scotrail staff who have taken six days of strike action and pledges the STUC to support the campaign against the extension of driver-only operation.

The motion (full text below) condemns the use of public money by the SNP government not only to bankroll losses by Scotrail during a dispute provoked by the company, but also to finance a strike-breaking army of scabs.

It also commits the STUC to back the campaign to see workers who were dumped with the collapse of rail contractor Jarvis to be transferred to new contractors on their existing terms and conditions.

"It is a scandal that the SNP government has abused public funds to bankroll a dispute aimed at undermining rail safety," RMT general secretary Bob Crow said in Dundee today.

"Our members have made clear where they stand, and that imposition of driver-only operation on the Airdrie-Bathgate line would be the thin end of the wedge that would see safety-trained guards removed wholseale.

"I am confident that Scottish trade unionists will put themselves squarely behind RMT's determination to defend rail safety," Bob Crow said.

RMT emergency motion to STUC on Railway Safety

Congress congratulates RMT conductors , drivers and sleeper-train managers who have taken six days strike action against plans to extend Driver Only Operation on Scottish Passenger Services. Congress pledges its full support for this dispute and states its opposition to extension of Driver Only Operation.

Congress also congratulates Elaine Smith MSP for forcing the Scottish Government to publish, on 17^th March 2010, correspondence with First Scotrail which revealed the Scottish Government and Scotrail are negotiating how much tax payer's money should be used to cover loss revenues for the dispute and pay for scab labour. Congress believes this represents a plan and coordinated level of union-bashing from the SNP government as shocking as the dark days of Thatcher.

Congress notes that the safety of the railway is also being undermined by Network Rail overseeing the sacking of hundreds of maintenance and renewals workers. The cuts are increasing the use of poorly supervised agency staff being forced to travel long distances and work long hours to find work and earn a wage. There are insecurities and low morale which in turn will have an adverse impact on how safety critical work is carried out.

Congress also notes that on 31 March 1200 Jarvis rail workers were sacked after the company went into administration and Network Rail and the UK government failed to back a rescue plan.

Congress further notes that at a meeting with the Secretary of State for Transport on 15^th April, RMT and TSSA were informed that former Jarvis work will be re- allocated in a "matter of days". Congress agrees to support the campaign to ensure all former Jarvis employees are transferred under TUPE to the new contractor.

Finally Congress welcomes the STUC's and numerous MSP's support for the recent lobby for rail safety and pledges to continue to support this campaign.

Dumped Jarvis workers to demonstrate in York tomorrow (Wednesday)

RMT rails against 'stitch-up' of skilled engineering workers

JARVIS WORKERS dumped out of work following the collapse of the company will demonstrate in York tomorrow (Wednesday April 14) demanding justice for 1,200 rail engineering workers needlessly made 'redundant' despite the need for essential work.

RMT has pledged full support for the Justice 4 Jarvis Workers campaign and has expressed anger that Network Rail and the government have failed to take the simple steps needed to save the jobs – and which would have saved millions in redundancy and benefits payments.

The demonstration will gather at the Crescent Club, The Crescent, York, at 11:00 before marching to Jarvis's offices at Meridian House, now occupied by administrators Deloitte, and then to NR's offices at George Stephenson House on Toft Green.

The protest will then move back to the Crescent Club for a rally with RMT assistant general secretary Mick Cash and Transport Salaried Staffs Association leader Gerry Doherty.

"It is absolute nonsense to suggest that 1,200 skilled Jarvis workers suddenly became redundant when the company collapsed, and Network Rail could easily have stepped in to secure their jobs," RMT general secretary Bob Crow said today.

"Jarvis had several lucrative contracts in the pipeline. That work still needs to be done, and it should be done by Jarvis workers on the same terms and conditions under transfer of undertakings rules, which our lawyers have told us should apply.

"We know that since the collapse Jarvis work been done instead by a labour-only agency not only paying rock-bottom rates, but also expecting people to work dangerously long hours on top of several hours' travelling time.

"We have people who have had no money for seven weeks – people who should be out there keeping our railways safe rather than queuing for benefits.

"That is a disgrace and it stinks to high heaven of a stitch-up, the more so when we know that it will cost the taxpayer dearly to make our members redundant rather than save their jobs," Bob Crow said.

RMT gives full support to “Justice 4 Jarvis Workers” campaign

RAIL UNION RMT today pledged full support for the "Justice 4 Jarvis Workers" campaign and gave an assurance that the union will continue to do all that it can to assist the 1200 workers dumped out of work through the collapse of the company.

Jarvis workers and their families will be holding a protest in Doncaster this Friday – 9^th April – marching from the Jarvis depots in Bentley Road and Marchfield and then assembling outside the Mansion House on Doncaster High Street at 11am. RMT will be holding a meeting of the workers at 12 noon in Doncaster Trades and Labour Club.

RMT President Alex Gordon will be speaking at the protest which has the full support of both RMT and TSSA.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:

"The callous and cynical way that the Jarvis workforce have been treated is a national disgrace. There is essential work for these staff to do and we are demanding that their jobs be transferred over to other contractors who are now bidding for the former Jarvis contracts. We have legal advice that the Transfer of Undertakings (TUPE) regulations should apply.

"It is a stain on the reputation of Gordon Brown and his party that Labour did nothing to save the Jarvis workers jobs - a move which would have cost them a tiny fraction of the many billions that was thrown at the bankers to save their skins. That failure to act will cost Labour dear at the ballot box in the towns and cities hit by the Jarvis collapse.

"RMT fully supports the "Justice 4 Jarvis Workers" campaign. These skilled men and women should be out there replacing worn sections of railway track, not queuing up at the benefit office. These 1200 job losses are wholly bound up with the £5 billion Network Rail cuts programme which is ripping apart both the rail industry and the livelihoods of the people we rely on to deliver safe rail travel."

RMT to lobby Scottish Parliament

RAIL UNION RMT announced today that they will be holding a demonstration and lobby of the Scottish Parliament at 11.15am on Thursday April 15th followed by a rally in Committee Room 3 of the Parliament buildings. The protest comes towards the end of the latest phase of RMT strike action in defence of the role of the guard on Scotrail.

More than 550 RMT guards, drivers and sleeper-train managers at First Scotrail will take further strike action spread over a period of four days from Monday 12^th April as the union steps up its action against plans to impose driver-only operation on the new Airdrie-Bathgate line.

RMT guards and drivers will not book on for shifts between 00.01 hours on Monday 12^th April and 23.59 hours on Wednesday 14^th April and sleeper train managers will not book on for shifts between 18.00 hrs on Tuesday 13^th April and 17.59 hours on Thursday 15^th April.

The stepping up of the action comes after a total failure by Scottish Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson to intervene and instruct his contractors, First Scotrail, to comply with existing agreements on driver-only operation.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said today;

"Our member's courage and determination to defend rail safety and the role of the guard on First Scotrail is second to none and if the company, and Transport Scotland, thought that this issue would quietly fade away then they didn't reckon with the grit of RMT members.

"Months into this campaign, First Scotrail and the Scottish Government still refuse to face up to their responsibilities to the travelling public and their staff and are prepared to slash corners on rail safety in the dash for cuts and the drive for profits. That is why we are taking the protest to the doorstep of the Scottish Parliament.

"I repeat my call for a face to face meeting with First Minister Alex Salmond to resolve this issue and to get the company to comply with their obligations in respect of the guards. If First Scotrail and the Transport Minister are not able to bring this dispute to a conclusion then it falls to the First Minister to intervene. We will make sure that safety on Scotrail services is a major public issue throughout the election campaign."

RMT Amey pay update march 2010

  

AMEY PAY NEGOTIATIONS 2010

We have now had three meetings with the Company to consider the RMT pay claim for 2010.

Key elements of RMT claim:

Ø      Substantial rise in Basic Pay, including allowances. Special attention to the lowest paid.

Ø      All members to have access to a 'Final Salary Pension Scheme'

Ø      Progress on Family Friendly agreements, Travel Facilities, Shorter working week,  London and south East allowances.

First Meeting, February 18:

RMT Presented our Claim. The company informed us of the work situation across AMEY and that they were only in a position to offer 0% on pay but they asked us that we come back with suggested ways of saving money for the company.

Second meeting, March 25:

RMT responded that 0% would not be acceptable to our members and that the RMT claim was for a cost of living increase "without strings". However once we have reached a satisfactory outcome to pay discussions we would then be prepared to enter into meaningful 'Restructuring negotiations' with AMEY with the intention of achieving a mutually acceptable package which we could put to our members.

After much discussion we persuaded the company to make a no strings offer.  This offer was 0.5% on basic rates of pay but not allowances. AMEY have said they have "no money" to pay any more and that this is their final offer on Pay. They offered a further meeting on Wednesday 31 March to respond on other aspects of the claim.

RMT Reps made absolutely clear to the company thier view that this offer was very poor considering that AMEY had a 'record year in 2009' with their financial results, that the staff had been hard working, flexible and committed and this is why AMEY has been very successful (In fact Award winning !) in winning Rail contracts. A very significant point of principle to the reps was that senior managers have reportedly received attractive performance bonuses but were now declining staff a decent cost of living increase.

Third and final meeting: March 31st.

We met with the company as they said they wanted to respond on the other parts of our claim. At this meeting they told us that "after discussions across the business they were now in a position to put a revised offer of 1% on basic salaries (not allowances) as a final no strings offer". Your RMT negotiation team still do not feel this is a good offer. We will now report the position to the RMT Executive and we will let you know our position as soon as possible.

RMT Commitment:                               

RMT is absolutely dedicated to achieving a fair result for all of our AMEY members this year.

RMT is willing to be involved in Restructuring Negotiations once we have achieved a fair outcome with pay. We acknowledge that the company have aspirations as do our members. Any outcome of restructuring negotiations would go to the RMT Executive and our members will always have the final say in a referendum ballot before any changes.

Only members of the Union will be consulted on pay and any restructuring.

RMT calls on Government to act to save 1200 Jarvis rail jobs

RAIL UNION RMT today called on the Government to launch a last-ditch rescue package to save 1200 skilled jobs at rail contractor Jarvis

Jarvis and its two rail companies, Jarvis Rail and Jarvis Fastline were last week placed in administration. This is in part due to the decision of the government backed Network Rail to defer thirty per cent of rail renewals work last year.

RMT understands that under the terms of the Railways Act, Jarvis is a protected industry which means that the government, if it so wishes, can be a guarantor of last resort and protect the jobs, wages and pensions of the Jarvis workers. RMT has been advised that the administrator had approached the Department for Transport to discuss what support could be made available. No response has been received from the Government.

RMT has also been advised that Deloitte yesterday met Network Rail seeking assurances on the continuation of existing Jarvis contracts. We have been advised that Network Rail have rejected this approach from the administrator.

Appallingly, Network Rail have even rejected a request for a four week breathing space and instead informed the administrator that they will instead be asking other companies to bid for the work undertaken by Jarvis.

Bob Crow, RMT General Secretary said:

"The total cost of the administrators' Jarvis rescue package would be a tiny fraction of the many billions used to bail out the banks and it would be money that would be easily recouped by the Government and Network Rail. That perfectly viable rescue plan has been thrown out with callous disregard for the livelihoods of the Jarvis workforce.

"Instead, as a result of the government refusing to use its legal powers to intervene and ignoring the administrator's proposals, 1200 workers will be sacked in a matter of days and their pensions destroyed. That is a scandal

"But there is still time to act. We have written to the Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Transport to ask them to use the Government's legal powers to intervene to protect the Jarvis rail workers. They cannot sit back and watch while these jobs are wiped out."