It has come to our attention that some managers are issuing notices that they require medical certificates from day one of sickness absence over the Christmas and New Year period. RMT believes that they have no right to do this and we will be taking this up with LUL management.

By law, you have the right to self-certify your sickness absence during the first seven days. Under certain circumstances, LUL management can insist that you provide a medical certificate from day one of your absence.

The attached document - the Attendance Support Pack - is LUL's rules for managers implementing the Attendance at Work procedure, and should be read in conjunction with that procedure.

Click on '1 attachment' and/or the file name below to view and download London Underground's Attendance at Work procedure.

It seems that some local managers feel that they can impose "local sickness reporting policies" that are outside LUL's Attendance at Work policy, and which further tighten the screw on sick staff. Your RMT reps want to put a stop to this abuse of staff, and need you to tell us if this happens in your area.

In a few cases, managers have stopped staff's sick pay because Occupational Health says that they are fit to return to work after sickness but their own GP says to stay off work for a while longer.

Employers are not allowed to do this. Case law outlined below explains the legal situation.

CSA Karl Niles having given 19 years service to London Underground was sacked from his job as a CSA at Pimlico for suffering from Asthma and taking some time off to recover from his attacks.The total amount of time that Karl has had off is between 20 and 25 days yet he has fallen foul of LUL's ridiculous Attendance at Work procedure.

The votes have been counted on the East Ham Group. The staff have voted yes with only votes 2 against
action. The result is an indication of the feeling on the group and will be followed by decisive action by the staff. The sacking of Sarah Hutchins and the bullying by management have forced us into a situation where we have no choice but take action to put a stop to this continual torment.

RMT press release, issued today

AROUND 90 RMT Station Staff working at eleven Tube stations between Plaistow and Upminster on London Underground’s District Line are being balloted for industrial action over a breakdown of industrial relations.

The following statement was made jointly by RMT and TSSA following a presentation by management about 'patterns of non-attendance' at today's meeting of the Strategy and Development Forum:

RMT and TSSA believe that LUL management are orchestrating a clampdown on attendance, to such a degree of harshness that it amounts to bullying of our members and denial of their human rights and basic standards of justice.

Management are doing this despite the fact that, by their own admission, LUL has "some of the highest levels of attendance ever".

If you have a medical appointment, how should you and your manager deal with it?