TO ALL RMT MEMBERS AT LONDON UNDERGROUND

Dear Colleagues,

I write to advise members that all strike action that was due to commence next week has been suspended following talks with the company. All RMT Train Operators and Instructor Operators are instructed to work normally. A summary of the agreement reached is as follows: -

RMT members are reminded that the action short of strike involving ‘NO working of overtime’ remains in place and is vitally important that the membership adheres to the Union’s instruction to uphold this action and highlight the fundamental problems with the OSP job cuts.

RMT General Grades Committee decision, 10 February:

That we welcome the reinstatement on appeal of Brother Hartshorn. We congratulate Peter, his representative, his workmates, his branch, and all others who supported him in his successful fight for reinstatement.

Peter Hartshorn, RMT rep on Green Park group, has been reinstated on appeal, with his dismissal suspended for 52 weeks. Well done to Peter and his RMT representative, and thanks to everyone from Peter's branch and the region who supported him through this difficult time.

Extract from the RMT General Grades Committee's decision on Wednesday 19 January, the day that London Underground sacked our Green Park group rep, Peter Hartshorn ...

We are disgusted to hear that London Underground has summarily dismissed our representative Peter Hartshorn on trumped up charges of swearing at a manager despite witnesses stating otherwise. The alleged incident took place while Peter was carrying out trade union duties and it is clear that the company has victimised him for his activities as a representative of this union.

Dear Colleague,

LU VICTIMISED EAMONN LYNCH – VOTE YES FOR ACTION

On October 13th, London Underground sacked RMT trains health and safety rep Eamonn Lynch for
making an operational error. Eamonn made a mistake and LU summarily dismissed him. But the
company gave retraining rather than the sack to the signallers and control room staff who gave
Eamonn instructions to breach the rules; and it gave a 12-month caution to a Piccadilly Line driver who
made the same mistake after Eamonn’s incident. RMT believes that LU victimised Eamonn because of
his trade union activity. Indeed, Simon Jones, the GSM on the sacking panel used Eamonn’s status as
a rep as the basis for this outrageous decision. A Tribunal judge agreed with the RMT.

Below is a copy of the joint collective grievance raised by SAMF's across the network and managements response.

Collective Grievance.

Dear Colleagues,

I am hearing more and more reports of members being called to attend fact-finding interviews whilst being denied RMT representation.

I have recently been given a document which comes with a message from the General Secretary on one side, and a proforma on the other. I have copied the proforma into a word document and attached it below. As soon as I am able I shall attach a pdf document with this blog entry. Please find the attached word document, and use it whenever necessary.

Update: London Underground has upheld Mercy's outrageous sacking at her appeal. Mercy's RMT branch - Finsbury Park - will discuss what action they will organise to demand her reinstatement at their meeting this Friday, 20 November.

Click '1 attachment' / file name to download a special issue of 'RMT Platform'. Read the text below.

London Underground has sacked Green Park SAMF Mercy Odisi, accusing her of failing to account for around £400.

But Mercy wasn’t even told there was a discrepancy on her account until more than three months after it happened!

From then on, there was a catalogue of injustice in how management investigated and prosecuted this case. On 8 October, LUL sacked Mercy. Her appeal was held on 30 October; the result is due by 13 November.

Mercy Odisi is innocent. She has been fitted up, treated like a thief with no evidence to back up such allegations.

Mercy’s sacking is a clear miscarriage of justice.

TUBE UNION RMT today called for direct talks with London Mayor Boris Johnson following the breakdown in industrial relations with London Underground and TfL which is at the heart of the overwhelming votes for industrial action confirmed yesterday.

THE TUBE’S biggest union today declared an overwhelming mandate for strike action in ballots of members across London Underground and Transport for London in two separate disputes centred on jobs, pay and working conditions.

From Bob Crow, RMT General Secretary.

It has come to my notice that LUL management are handing out anti-strike propaganda and asking people to sign for it. This is nothing more than a crude attempt to intimidate people during the current ballot and is both counterproductive and completely unnecessary.

From Steve Hedley, RMT Regional Organiser

Dear Colleagues,

Your RMT representatives and I met with Gerry Duffy and LU management yesterday and sadly very little progress was made. Firstly we even had difficulty getting our representatives released to attend the meeting, which did not indicate a willingness on management's part to solve the issues.

RMT has demanded that London Underground stop its victimisation of Waterloo station staff representative Elaine Holness (pictured).

On 5 March, Elaine went to work at Waterloo and was informed that she was stood down from duties pending an investigation into allegations that she 'racially harassed' a manager. What had she done to warrant this? She had given evidence at an Employment Tribunal in support of sacked RMT member Mo Makhboul which included criticising a manager. When Elaine attended a fact-finding interview, management told her that the investigation would be taken via Route C which could lead to dismissal.

RMT is defending two of its cleaner reps - Clara and Mary - against victimisation by their employer ISS. RMT has successfully prevented ISS taking action against Clara, but Mary has been unjustly sacked and the union is organising to demand her reinstatement. Follow developments and find out about action by visiting the RMT London Calling website here.

During the last two years the call for an amnesty for illegal immigation has become wide spread. Who are those calling for such an amnesty? Surprisingly many are party leaders and others political leaders seeking the UK to adopt similar policies to France, Italy, Greece and Spain.

From your RMT Regional Council

RMT MEETING TO DISCUSS THIS YEAR'S PAY CLAIM AND THE VICTIMISATION OF REPS AND ACTIVISTS

Monday 13 October, 18:30, Friends House, 173 Euston Road (opposite Euston Station).