Possible Strike

[hobbayne]

Mess room chatter seems to indicate that after the strike runs out next month, it will quietly be consigned to history as another failed attempt to rally the troops.

[aslefshrugged]

Ballots are valid for 6 months, RMT announced the result 20th December 2021 so they can carry on striking until Thursday 19th May 2022 without having to have another ballot which by a staggering coincidence is the day before Night Tube returns to Jubilee Line

[nig]

Yes 6 months from 20th of December is 19th of June which is when RMT have night tube strikes planned to .

[35b]

Apr 14, 2022 22:48:41 GMT Chris M said:

Apr 14, 2022 22:20:20 GMT xtmw said:

Are there any updates on the night strikes? It's been a long while since they announced the strikes. Anyone know what LU are doing to attempt to come to an agreement with RMT?

As stated earlier, it is not currently possible for TfL to give the RMT the guarantees they want (because the DfT, who hold the cards, will not give TfL those assurances), and I'm not aware that the RMT have changed their demands.

Noting the comment by aslefshrugged, I was however struck reading the latest “Modern Railways” by reference to the terms of the current funding settlement. In particular, the phrase “public sector pay policy” stuck out like a sore thumb.

[aslefshrugged]

Apr 15, 2022 16:32:44 GMT xtmw said:

Apr 15, 2022 12:58:57 GMT aslefshrugged said:

Ballots are valid for 6 months, RMT announced the result 20th December 2021 so they can carry on striking until Thursday 19th May 2022 without having to have another ballot which by a staggering coincidence is the day before Night Tube returns to Jubilee Line

I thought they were striking until mid-June?

And that is why I never went into the ticket office...

[xtmw]

Apr 15, 2022 18:49:57 GMT aslefshrugged said:

Apr 15, 2022 16:32:44 GMT xtmw said:

I thought they were striking until mid-June?

And that is why I never went into the ticket office...

Sorry - got the RMT website saying till 19th June. TfL website says same thing... But here it says mid-may!! Apologies

[bpk]

Apr 15, 2022 12:39:15 GMT hobbayne said:

Mess room chatter seems to indicate that after the strike runs out next month, it will quietly be consigned to history as another failed attempt to rally the troops.

It has saved some people from having to do night shifts, which I believe was another consideration! A few people have brought their retirement forward in the intervening months, and while this isn't directly connected as such (not all, if any of them are RMT members), its funny how it worked out that way.

[aslefshrugged]

ASLEF sending out ballot papers for our 4th strike ballot on potential changes to T&Cs

And we still haven't had one day of strike action

How a ''grown up'' union operates...

[class411]

Apr 18, 2022 14:44:09 GMT aslefshrugged said:

ASLEF sending out ballot papers for our 4th strike ballot on potential changes to T&Cs

And we still haven't had one day of strike action

How a ''grown up'' union operates...

You see, I can't tell whether you are being sarcastic or not.

Without more context it's hard to say.

[Chris M]

Whether the snarky comment was sarcastic or not, it's not really very constructive - even less so if it's a dig at a different union.

[Tom]

Apr 18, 2022 19:17:05 GMT Chris M said:

Whether the snarky comment was sarcastic or not, it's not really very constructive - even less so if it's a dig at a different union.

Indeed so.
Whilst it's not expressly prohibited by our rules, please can we refrain from expressing opinions about rival Trade Unions on here. It's bad enough for those of us who are LU staff when we're at work, let alone outside of work.

Thanks.

[class411]

I'm even more confused, now.

I'd always assumed 'aslefshrugged' was a member of ASLEF.

Also, he said 'for our 4th strike ballot', so I can't quite see how he could be taking a shot at another union.

Unless, of course, the comment was not sarcastic and meant to imply that ASLEF are acting in a 'grown up' way and, maybe, certain other unions don't.

Anyway, as mentioned twice (and once in red) knocking rival unions is not constructive and could well fall into the category of politics.

[aslefshrugged]

Yes, it was sarcastic and yes, I am a member of ASLEF but if you think that is "a dig at a different union" then you should see what that union says about ASLEF

[Chris M]

Apr 19, 2022 12:22:09 GMT aslefshrugged said:

Yes, it was sarcastic and yes, I am a member of ASLEF but if you think that is "a dig at a different union" then you should see what that union says about ASLEF

With apologies to the mods for the digression, but this feels like a childish "but they started it!". Whether that was your intent or not, two wrongs do not make a right and, if you do wish ASLEF to be regarded as a "grown up union", you should be above such things.

[rincew1nd]

Thank you to aslefshrugged for clarifying his meaning.

As Tom has already pointed out though, let's keep the inter-union politics out of this please. Can we move on from this now, please.

[xtmw]

Mods, please move this if this isn't in the correct place as this isn't LU related, but I have just received this email from the RMT.

It's not really LU related, so off-topic for us. Tom.

[aslefshrugged]

This seems to have slipped in under the radar

From the RMT website 22 February 2022

BREAKDOWN IN INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS, GREEN PARK & EUSTON AREAS (VICTORIA CENTRAL GROUP) LONDON UNDERGROUND (LUL/14/2)

A resolution was recently received from Finsbury Park Branch along with a report from the Lead Officer regarding industrial relations affecting members at Green Park and Euston Areas which have deteriorated so far as to be unredeemable. The issues are due to the consistent unacceptable bullying and intimidating behaviour towards members and Representatives such as shouting, using threatening language, placing unreasonable demands on staff and other abuses on power including:-

• Disproportionately high amounts of probationary contracts terminated, usually for trivial reasons and sometimes without any justification whatsoever.
  
• Widespread administration of disciplinary hearings, usually for spurious reasons, which has engendered a culture of fear amongst my members.
  
• Routine misapplication of the case conference process with the aim of forcing out members with even very minor working adjustments in place including those who fall within the remit of the Equalities Act. Management is reportedly especially intolerant of those with mental health problems and members who have been the victim of assault.
  
• Confidential medical information is often circulated inappropriately, members are contacted on their private numbers including a recent call to a member on 3 days funeral leave, asking them to return to work early.

Despite these issues having been raised through the machinery, all attempts at conciliation have failed and if anything, management have accelerated their attacks on members and Representatives. The National Executive Committee is alarmed by the conduct of management on the Victoria Line Central station cover group and has taken the decision to declare a dispute with the Company and ballot members for strike action and action short of a strike in the form of an overtime and rest day working ban.

The ballot result was announced Tuesday, of the 85 members eligible to vote 42 voted for strike action, 10 against and 49 voted for action short of a strike, 3 against

Euston and Green Park are both "areas" that consist of a single station, part of the Cover Group with Victoria.  Warren Street is a Northern Line station, Oxford Circus is a Bakerloo Line station so will be unaffected.

[Tom]

I might be wrong, but from memory an employee on probation can be terminated at the end of their probation period without any reason, or without recourse to the disciplinary machinery, though this would usually only happen if the probation period has been extended. It would be interesting to know if those examples were people who had their probation extended beyond the usual six months, or just terminated at six months.

[aslefshrugged]

I didn't even know we had probationary contracts, from my own distant memories back in 1997 once you got through the tests, medical and interview you were on a permanent contract.

[Colin]

Six months probation was certainly a thing when I joined the company in 2001

[hobbayne]

Mrs Hobbayne knows a member of staff with a disability which was recognised by LUL and was interviewed and subsequently offered a position at Green Pk.
The area manager told the staff member that they did not want them working at the station with said disability, and hounded the staff member till they left.

[aslefshrugged]

Never mind "driverless", how much would it cost to make the Tube "managerless"?

[class411]

Apr 22, 2022 12:11:00 GMT hobbayne said:

Mrs Hobbayne knows a member of staff with a disability which was recognised by LUL and was interviewed and subsequently offered a position at Green Pk.
The area manager told the staff member that they did not want them working at the station with said disability, and hounded the staff member till they left.

Could this person's union not help?

Even if not, it sounds as if the have a good case for constructive dismissal.

[d7666]

Apr 22, 2022 12:21:29 GMT aslefshrugged said:

Never mind "driverless", how much would it cost to make the Tube "managerless"?

Headless ..... no, on second thoughts, we have those already (i.e. headless chickens).

[hobbayne]

Apr 22, 2022 13:38:45 GMT class411 said:

Apr 22, 2022 12:11:00 GMT hobbayne said:

Mrs Hobbayne knows a member of staff with a disability which was recognised by LUL and was interviewed and subsequently offered a position at Green Pk.
The area manager told the staff member that they did not want them working at the station with said disability, and hounded the staff member till they left.

Could this person's union not help?

Even if not, it sounds as if the have a good case for constructive dismissal.

Hence the ballot for action Aslefshrugged posted above.

[class411]

Apr 22, 2022 16:51:05 GMT hobbayne said:

Apr 22, 2022 13:38:45 GMT class411 said:

Could this person's union not help?

Even if not, it sounds as if the have a good case for constructive dismissal.

Hence the ballot for action Aslefshrugged posted above.

I was thinking more along the lines of non nuclear options, such as guiding the employee through the complaints procedure (I assume LU has one), encouraging them to keep a diary of bullying, seeking witnesses, and if all else fails, the constructive dismissal claim.

You know, the sort of things a grown up might suggest.

[aslefshrugged]

Apr 23, 2022 7:44:31 GMT class411 said:

Apr 22, 2022 16:51:05 GMT hobbayne said:

Hence the ballot for action Aslefshrugged posted above.

I was thinking more along the lines of non nuclear options, such as guiding the employee through the complaints procedure (I assume LU has one), encouraging them to keep a diary of bullying, seeking witnesses, and if all else fails, the constructive dismissal claim.

You know, the sort of things a grown up might suggest.

From the RMT statement of 22 February, which I posted on Thursday

Despite these issues having been raised through the machinery, all attempts at conciliation have failed and if anything, management have accelerated their attacks on members and Representatives.

[nig]

Apr 15, 2022 12:39:15 GMT hobbayne said:

Mess room chatter seems to indicate that after the strike runs out next month, it will quietly be consigned to history as another failed attempt to rally the troops.

Doesn't look that way RMT are reballoting over night tube

[aslefshrugged]

www.rmtlondoncalling.org.uk/files/rmt_upfront_late_april_2022.pdf

It will certainly be interesting to see how this ballot goes, they only got over the statutory minimum last time


Central Line was running a 15 minute Hainault - Ealing Broadway service the last two nights, not sure how often the Loughton - Leytonstone shuttles were running or how the Victoria Line was doing.

[hobbayne]

Apr 22, 2022 12:11:00 GMT hobbayne said:

Mrs Hobbayne knows a member of staff with a disability which was recognised by LUL and was interviewed and subsequently offered a position at Green Pk.
The area manager told the staff member that they did not want them working at the station with said disability, and hounded the staff member till they left.

Strike called for the 3rd of June. The bank holiday Jubilee weekend.