The 22nd of August will be a day of celebration for East Ham Branch for many years to come. Our day of action saw the group being staffed by managers on overtime costing the company a fortune. These are the lengths that management will go to try to convince you that they can win against a united workforce. When you need overtime they tell you they can’t afford it. We should show them that we can not be bought so easily and go into an overtime ban next. Write in and let me know what you think

The East Ham Group sent a clear message to management today. Our strike action against the sacking of Sarah Huchins and the intimidation of our staff was a total success. Managers on overtime staffed every station costing the company a fortune. To think the GSM was concerned about his overtime bill. Only a handful of staff turned up for work at Upton Park, East Ham & Plaistow. We will remember them.

Why Train Operators should support striking station staff!
Station staff on East Ham Group will be taking strike action on the 22nd of August for 24 hours. Staff have been advised not to book on for any duty that starts between 04:30 on the 22nd of August and 04:29 on the 23rd of August in a dispute against the unfair sacking of Sarah Huchins, the stopping of pay, intimidation of staff when off sick and the bullying tactics of the local manager.

Everybody out on the 22nd of August!

The staff have spoken, the mandate has been given and East Ham Group are going on strike against oppression and tyranny.

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 East Ham Group are to ballot around 100 members for strike action to secure the re-instatement of their sacked colleague Sarah Huchins and to stop the breaches of agreements local management are becoming famed for.
We want to see Sarah back at work asap and the pay re-instated to several members of staff that have been stopped pay in grossly unfair ways. Ballot papers go out on the 4th of August and must be returned by 13th of August. We urge you all to return a massive yes vote!

East Ham has called an emergency branch meeting to be held at Barking on Friday 26th July at 15:00hrs. Meeting point is 'The Barking Dog', which is the pub next to the station.

Management have now cancelled the 2nd meeting with functional and local reps to discuss the appalling treatment of members and harassment of reps. Its very short notice but please attend if you can.

Also, members from East Ham are to be balloted over Sarah Hutchins sacking, watch this space and give your support.

For more info ring RMT Rep Stephen Philbrick on: 07903 957422 or Brian Haughian on: 07834 117509

This issue of RMT's newsletter for station and revenue staff highlights managers' abuse of the sickness procedure to bully staff, and urges workers to join in RMT's campaign to stop the abuse. We also report on the outcome of the recent casualisation dispute, the forthcoming one-day strike by teachers and others, the 'special requirements team', control room coaching, annual leave for weekend part-timers, the London Mayor election and news from other grades.

View, download and print it here.

RMT is determined to stop London Underground managers mistreating staff who are off sick. You have the right to time off work if injury or ill-health demands it, and management have no right to bully you back to work before you are ready.

Some managers breach the company’s own rules. Contrary to some managers’ views:

• They may not phone you on your emergency contact numbers without your prior agreement.
• If they call you to any meeting when you are off sick, they have to give you reasonable notice and allow you to have a union rep present.