SCIOPERI IN INGHILTERRA

Redazione,Dopo il più grande sciopero del dopoguerra in Germania, anche in
Inghilterra i ferrovieri sono sul piede di guerra, chiamati alla prova
di forza. Le due società Northern Rail e Southern Rail proclamano uno
sciopero di 5 giorni, a partire da domenica 12 luglio. Ciò in
concomitanza con l’idea del nuovo governo conservatore di stringere le
maglie per la legge sullo sciopero: Cameron pensa ad un referendum con
maggioranza per il settore privato, ed almeno il 40% per il settore
pubblico.

Ai ferrovieri si aggiunge il sindacato RMT (Rail and Maritime Transport)
che proclama uno sciopero di 24 ore per il prossimo mercoledì 8 luglio
per respingere il piano che vuole introdurre corse della metropolitana
per tutta la notte. I lavoratori iscritti alla RMT dipendenti della
First Great Western votano a maggioranza lo sciopero, temendo per i
propri posti di lavoro a seguito dell’entrata in servizio del nuovo
Hitachi Intercity nel 2017: si fermeranno il 8 luglio dalle 18.30. La
minaccia riguarda anche il preoccupante silenzio di rimando rispetto
alle richieste di mantenimento degli attuali salari.

I membri della RMT che lavorano in Southern Rail si fermeranno dalle 17
di domenica 12 luglio, minacciando inoltre il blocco degli straordinari
in quella fine settimana.

Già lo scorso mese lo sciopero era stato scongiurato con l’offerta
padronale dell’aumento del 2% del salario. Ora tutto è rimesso in
discussione.

A seguire, il comunicato del sindacato RMT inerente ai lavoratori della
metropolitana (“tube”):

2 July 2015

RMT

To all London Underground Station Staff Members

Our Ref: LUL/14/5
2nd July 2015

To all London Underground Station Staff Members

Dear Colleagues

Every Job Matters – Defending Jobs on London Underground

This week you and your colleagues voted massively in favour of
industrial action in our dispute to defend your jobs and conditions. As
you know, we have been in dispute with London Underground since 2014
over their proposals for stations which would see massive job losses and
a wide-ranging restructuring of your grade. Following a sustained period
of industrial action we were able to force LU to put their plans on hold
to allow detailed discussions with your reps. Frankly these discussions
were a sham and LUL are now pressing full steam ahead with a massive
attack on your jobs and conditions.

Over 800 jobs will be lost leaving staff overworked and stations
understaffed. Staffing levels are being cut to the bone with more
weekend and nightworking but they have ignored our real and genuine
concerns about fatigue and unsociable hours so we have strongly rejected
their roster proposals. The increase in lone working in particular has
serious safety implications when, as we all know, assaults on staff are
a serious risk, particularly during late shifts. On top of this their
plans will allow managers to move station staff around almost at will
with only 24 hours notice, all under the banner of “flexibility”. This
“flexibility” would also allow them to force you to cover Higher Grade
work without any enhanced pay, all of which will result in a casualised
workforce.

The reality is that London Underground have rushed headlong into a huge
cuts programme which will leave an exhausted, under resourced workforce
trying to maintain a safe service. The General Grades Committee has
considered the ballot result and the clear will of members and has
decided to call Station Staff members to take strike action and
industrial action short of a strike which is outlined as follows: –

All Station Grades members are instructed not to book on for any shift
that commences between: –

• 18:30 hours on Wednesday 8th July 2015 until 18:29 hours on the
Thursday 9th July 2015.

Also, all Station Grades are instructed not to carry out any overtime
from 21:30 hours on Thursday 9th July 2015 until further notice.

The strong mandate you have delivered sends a clear message to LUL that
their plans are totally unacceptable. I urge you and your colleagues to
stand firm during the industrial action. Management cannot be left in
any doubt that Station Staff are united and determined to fight against
the unacceptable job losses, unacceptable displacements, unacceptable
rosters, and unacceptable changes to your terms and conditions.

STAND FIRM
UNITY IS STRENGTH