‘Resolve this issue now’

An emergency motion on poor industrial relations throughout Transport for London (TfL), calling for the intervention of the Mayor of London to exert greater control over the actions of TfL in the light of recent industrial relations breakdowns, was seconded by Unite delegate Jim Kelly.

Jim opened his contribution by saying, ?Trade union members do not take strike action easily or for no reason. This week RMT members are taking a lead to fight the scourge of outsourcing on London Underground.

?Today it?s called outsourcing, previously it?s been called privatisation, franchising, competitive tendering.

?In all cases the only competition has been to attack workers? terms and conditions, and to boost the profits and dividends of multinational venture capitalists.

?Meanwhile, an outsourced worker on LU with 20 years? service can expect around ?28 a week from their occupational pension. It  leaves them dependent on pension credits to make up the rest.

?Two thousand RMT members on TfL contracts working for ABM deserve better ? these cleaners worked throughout the pandemic. Yet they are still being paid less, with less employers? pension contributions and less job security. And the majority of outsourced workers are BAEM or migrant workers.

?This issue needs to be resolved, and the Mayor and TFL need to do so speedily. The London Mayor has set up ?The Good Work Standard? working alongside the TUC in London,? Jim reported.

He continued, ?The working conditions of LU cleaners falls far below the standards and objectives of that Good Work Charter.

?Cutbacks on staffing levels at stations and ticket office closures impact the most vulnerable passengers disproportionately who, in particular, need a safe, reliable and efficient Underground system. If TFL wants to boost public transport usage, stations need well paid, well trained well paid motivated staff.

?Unite also has similar issues on the bus network with 25,000 members in London buses needing an end to race to the bottom franchising of routes.

?Similarly, Unite bus workers in Firstbus will be striking at the end of the week in a dispute over back pay. We need to get back to a publicly owned bus company in London, integrating bus provision with a common rate of pay and terms and conditions. On this issue the Mayor?s Office has begun discussions with Unite, but the institutional push back on this initiative will be tough.

?The Greater London Assembly opposes cuts to station staffing levels, the London Labour Party Regional Executive supports insourcing.?

Jim concluded, ?Our London Mayor has intervened in previous underground disputes to help facilitate a settlement. He needs to do so again. I stand in solidarity with the strikers.?

The emergency motion was carried.

By Amanda Campbell

Photo by Mark Thomas