Johnson’s at it again. Rather than sit down and have meaningful dialogue with workers’ representatives on the London Underground, he’s been carping about a “lack of mandate” because the RMT’s successful strike ballot came off the back of a 40% turnout. Instead, Johnson believes every ballot for industrial action should meet a 50% threshold to qualify as lawful. Ever keen to mimic the buffoon and curry favour with the wilting Tory grassroots, Dave has intimated that he’d like to see the Underground classed as an essential service, an imposition of a minimum service agreement during stoppages and, of course, a turnout threshold. For both men, it’s about an instinctive hatred of a group of working people who have a record of winning disputes. Continue reading
Tagged with TSSA
The battle to keep ticket offices open on the London Underground
In the next two weeks, members of rail unions RMT and the TSSA are planning two 48-hour strikes, from noon on 4 February and again from 11 February. This video sets out the background: the threats to London Underground ticket offices and staff, and, in the longer run, a fully automated underground system including driverless trains, no-one on the stations to help passengers or to deal with emergencies, and a stripped down flexible workforce on zero hours contracts with no holiday or sick pay.
Video by ReelNews
Staff at Virgin Trains deserve respect
This morning, talks between TSSA and Virgin Trains broke down after Virgin Trains refused to commit to observing their own procedures when addressing concerns regarding staff sickness, capability or discipline.
Virgin Trains management, including Patrick McGrath, HR Director, read a pre-prepared statement and then left. The message that they gave us was: Continue reading
Introducing TSSA General Secretary Manuel Cortes
UnionNews speaks to newly-elected general secretary of the TSSA, Manuel Cortes, on campaigning with community groups, public transport lobby organisations and commuters against unjust rail fare increases, and how the TSSA is helping to build alliances to resist Coalition austerity cuts. Manuel Cortes was elected unopposed having been Assistant General Secretary for seven years.
RMT and TSSA talking of merger
News that rail unions, RMT and TSSA, who between them have about 110000 members are starting talks about a possible future merger is very interesting, and any such move might also drag in the 18000 strong craft union, ASLEF, to create a powerful new transport union. Continue reading