Ballot for Industrial Action at RfL(i) open

Following your overwhelming vote for strike action and action short of a strike in the recent referendum, TSSA has given notice to RfLi management that we are now formally balloting our members in Network Operations.

Ballot papers are being sent out TODAY to TSSA members in the following grades:

• Incident Response Managers
• Service & Infrastructure Managers
• Traffic Managers

You should receive your ballot paper in the post tomorrow or early next week. If you have not received it by Wednesday morning then please immediately contact your local rep or contact Mel Taylor, TSSA Organiser, by email: taylorm@tssa.org.uk.

If you have any questions or concerns about the ballot or taking industrial action, please also contact your TSSA reps or Mel Taylor.

It is vitally important that we get a YES vote for both Strike Action and Action Short of Strike to create leverage in negotiations with RfLi management and to make them talk to us seriously and to make an improved offer. You will be fully consulted about and involved in any decisions that we make about taking action.

Further talks at ACAS are due to take place on 16 December. As a result of this ballot, RfLi management have already started to take us more seriously. We need to keep up the pressure. Your maintenance colleagues in Prospect are also balloting for industrial action. We are working together to improve and protect your pay and pensions and to ensure the safe working of the Elizabeth Line for staff and passengers.

Please return your ballot paper as soon as possible to make sure that your vote is counted and your voice is heard. Not voting is a NO vote for any form of industrial action..

The closing date to take part in the ballot is 10.00 on Thursday, 22 December 2022.

Vote YES for Strike Action & YES for Action Short of a Strike

Inflation is already in double figures and is expected to keep rising. In an indicative ballot last month you voted 93% in favour of taking strike action and almost 97% in favour of taking action short of strike (ASOS), with a turnout of 90%.

Workers at MTR – the outsourced part of the Elizabeth Line – received an 8.2% increase this year, Docklands Light Railway (DLR) staff received 9.25% and staff at London Overground have been offered 6.5%. Staff at MTR, in similar roles to TSSA members in RfLi, are on salaries up to £30,000 more than their RfLi equivalents. This is not fair.

Talks with RfLi at ACAS have so far failed to make any breakthroughs. To get movement from them we need a clear, strong vote from TSSA members in support of industrial action, including strike action and action short of a strike.

The Elizabeth Line is a brilliant addition to London’s transport services. It is TfL's flagship line, the most modern railway in the country. Despite this, you are paid significantly less than staff doing similar roles across the TfL network, including colleagues on the very same line.

RfLi managing is relying on first class services being provided by first class workers with second class pay. It is time to say NO MORE.

Forward this message to your colleagues

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If you’ve got a friend or colleague who you think might be interested in this update, please forward or pass them a copy. Also, if another member is not receiving their copy it could be that they have unsubscribed from TSSA marketing messages. It's easy to fix but visiting MyTSSA  is a good start. Unfortunately we cannot make the change for members, it has to be done by the member themself.

There's never been a more important time to be a member of a union. Remember, the more members we have, the more effectively we will be able to represent you in discussions with the leadership team at RfLi. So please encourage your colleagues to join today.