27 March 2018
RMT Press Office
RMT strike action goes ahead on Docklands Light Railway this week as KAD collapse ACAS talks process
RAIL UNION RMT has confirmed that scheduled strike action on Docklands Light Railway goes ahead as planned this week after the operator, KAD, collapsed the talks process at ACAS by failing wholesale to address the range of issues at the heart of the dispute.
RMT officials have made strenuous efforts throughout two days of last-ditch talks at ACAS today and yesterday to reach a negotiated settlement but have been met by a stone wall thrown up by the company who have shown a total lack of will to move forwards. As a consequence the action goes ahead exactly as planned and the responsibility for the disruption caused will rest wholly with the company and their total intransigence.
The latest ACAS talks, which mean that the company and the union have spent the best part of a week face to face through the conciliation service, were seen as an opportunity by RMT to resolve a raft of issues that amount to a comprehensive breakdown in industrial relations on a number of important fronts including:
• Outsourcing of jobs through the use of contractors, undermining the job security and pay and conditions of DLR permanent staff
• Attacks on rostering agreements that would worsen work/life balance
• Abuse of key policies and procedures, including attendance procedures
• Payroll and taxation failures leaving RMT members to deal with the consequences
The union has confirmed the following dates for action on KAD/DLR.
• 04:00 hours on Wednesday 28th March 2018 and 03:59 hours on Friday 30th March 2018
• 04:00 hours on Friday 20th April 2018 and 03:59 hours on Tuesday 24th April 2018
The second phase of action coincides with the London Marathon which winds its way around the DLR area.
RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said;
“RMT is bitterly disappointed and extremely angry that Keolis Amey Docklands have kicked away a golden opportunity to resolve the issues at the heart of the dispute in the ACAS talks today and yesterday. The strikes go ahead as planned and RMT recognises the impact that our action will have and the responsibility for that will be entirely down to the company.
“This dispute is over the fundamental issues of workplace justice, fairness, the outsourcing of key functions and sticking to agreements and practices that Keolis seem to believe that they can trample all over. RMT members employed by KAD have had enough of being treated like dirt and have made it clear that they are prepared to stand up and fight for their fundamental rights.
“Docklands Light Railway is a key component of the transport network in the Capital City and the way that staff are being treated is a stain on London. The London Mayor, who chairs Transport for London, needs to take full note of the workplace abuses that are happening on his watch and should now step in and help us to achieve a negotiated settlement with the company.”
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