Network Rail Job Cuts - Rally and Lobby of Parliament 27 January 2010

URGENT MESSAGE

23^rd December 2009

Dear Colleague,

FIGHT NETWORK RAIL JOB CUTS

National Rally and Lobby of Parliament

Wednesday 27th January 2010, Assemble 12.30pm

The RMT Day of Action on 17th December called in protest against Network Rail's threat to axe 1,500 maintenance workers was a great success. RMT members distributed 25,000 postcards to passengers across more than 40 stations nationwide and made a splash in the media – TV, radio and newspapers, right across the Land.

It is essential that we maintain the momentum against the proposed job cuts and your Union has called a National Rally and Lobby of the Westminster Parliament on Wednesday 27th January. Put this date in your diary now. We ask that people arrive promptly for 12.30pm for a demonstration outside Parliament, which will be followed by a rally at 2.15pm and we would like RMT members to lobby their MPs from 3.30pm. A flyer is attached and I would be grateful if you could publicise this throughout your workplace.

RMT rail maintenance members have warned that these job cuts have grave safety implications and there is a serious concern that it will lead to another rail tragedy such as Potters Bar. Therefore these cuts affect all rail workers and we would hope all RMT activists to turn out for the rally, not just Network Rail members.

Our postcard campaign and Lobby is aimed at getting MPs to sign Early Day Motion Number 80 'Network Rail & Safety', tabled by Linda Riordan MP (see below). With the assistance of the RMT Parliamentary Group, this Early Day Motion has been supplemented by a series of regional EDMs detailing where the cuts will fall.

We want individual members to play as active part as possible in this campaign and I recommend that you visit the RMT website to find out how you can participate. You will be able to download model letters, find out who your MP is and it is important that if you wish to meet them on the day of our Lobby, that you contact them in advance. Visit http://www.rmt.org.uk/networkrail for further information.

Yours sincerely,

Bob Crow

General Secretary

How you can get involved

As well as attending the Rally and Lobby of Parliament, via the RMT website http://www.rmt.org.uk/networkrail you can do the following: -

·      Find your MP http://findyourmp.parliament.uk/ and write to them either by email or post:

·         Download a model letter to write to your MP urging him or her to meet you after the RMT Rally (see sample letter 1). Please note that we want you to attend the Lobby even if you do not wish to meet with your MP  http://www.rmt.org.uk/Templates/Internal.asp?NodeId=130197 

·         Download a model letter urging your MP to sign Early Day Motion 80 (see sample letter 2) http://www.rmt.org.uk/Templates/Internal.asp?NodeId=130197  

·         Itinerary for the Lobby on 27th January 2010 and instructions if you wish to lobby your MP http://www.rmt.org.uk/files/130198/FileName/NationalRallyandLobbyofParliamentGuideforRMTMembers_2.pdf  

·         Link to EDM 80 http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=39617&SESSION=903  

Network Rail and Safety, tabled by Linda Riordan MP, 18.11.09

That this House notes the decision of Network Rail to announce the loss of thousands of frontline maintenance jobs by spring 2010; believes that this will mean that in a matter of months there will be a drop of up to20 per cent. in the number of rail workers carrying out essential inspection and maintenance work; further believes that these deep and rapid cuts raise genuine and urgent concerns as to whether Network Rail will be able to ensure the safe and efficient running of the railway, including the adequate inspection and repair of track, signals, overhead lines and other infrastructure; is deeply concerned that Network Rail is failing to consult the trade unions on the safety implications of the proposals; further notes that the cuts are in part due to the fact that the economic rail regulator, the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR), has asked Network Rail to make efficiency savings of 21 per cent. over the next five years; is further concerned that because the ORR is both the safety and economic regulator it will be difficult for an objective view to be taken as to whether the safety of passengers and workers will be put at risk; believes the cuts cannot be justified; and calls on the Government to use its power as the primary funder of Network Rail to intervene to ensure that Network Rail directors put safety first.

Media coverage of RMT Day of Action, 17th December 2009

This is not an exhaustive list, but activists have advised us that news of their efforts leafleting outside their local stations given was carried in the following media outlets, along with interviews with RMT officials: - 

•        Daily Post

•        Liverpool Echo

•        BBC Merseyside

•        BBC Radio Solent

•        Southampton Echo

•        BBC Sussex

•        Brighton Argus

In a show of solidarity, RMT activists out leafleting were supported in some areas comrades from the National Shop Stewards Network and in a number of locations other trade unionists took handfuls of the postcards to distribute in their workplaces.

RMT to ballot for action over Network Rail maintenance job cuts

RAIL UNION RMT confirmed today that it will be balloting members on Network Rail maintenance, and other staff affected by reorganisation plans, for national industrial action over threatened redundancies as part of the proposed axing of nearly 1500 rail maintenance jobs.

The national ballot for action will begin in the New Year with RMT also fighting attempts by Network Rail to rip up existing agreements and to unilaterally impose new working arrangements.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:

"The plan to axe 1500 maintenance jobs across the rail network is a reckless gamble with rail safety which would create the perfect conditions for another Hatfield, Paddington, Potters Bar or Grayrigg disaster.

We saw under Railtrack the lethal consequences of cutting back on maintenance and Network Rail now want to turn the clock back to those dark days by forcing staff out of the door in order to hit budget targets. It's outrageous and we have no option but to ballot for action.

The past few days have shown that there are already too few staff to deal with the freezing conditions on the tracks. Many of the problems that have hit the railways have been down to not enough engineers being available to unfreeze points and tracks. The 1500 planned job cuts will hit services and safety with dire consequences for staff and passengers alike."

RMT confirms six days of strike action and overtime ban in SW signallers strike

RAIL UNION RMT today confirmed six more days of signallers strike action and an overtime ban in the dispute over the imposition of new rosters linked to the opening of the new South Wales Control Centre.

Following six days of rock solid action earlier this month RMT said today that members have been instructed to take strike action by not booking on for any shift that commences between 00.01 on Monday 4^th January 2010 and 23.59 on Saturday 9^th January 2010.

Additionally, members are instructed not to work overtime (with the exception of booked/rostered Sunday turns of duty) between 00.01 on Sunday 10^th January 2010 and 23.59 on Saturday 6^th February 2010.

In an escalation of the dispute RMT has also decided to put further pressure on management by arranging urgent ballots for strike action and action short of a strike at the following locations; Radyr, Radyr Relief, Abercynon, Park Junction, St Fagan's Crossing, Little Mill, Lydney Crossing and Caldicott Crossing and this will be done as a matter of extreme urgency.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:

"After six days of rock solid strike action, which saw managers drafted in from England with a few hours training to run the signalling with serious consequences for services and safety, RMT members are even more determined now to stop the ripping up of agreements and the imposition of new rosters that would wreck their work/life balance.

"This dispute is all about money. It's about cutting corners and demanding that staff are at managements beck and call regardless of the impact on home lives. Our members will not be treated as slabs of meat that the management can pull of the shelf when it suits them.

"Senior Network Rail bosses have refused point blank to negotiate a settlement to this dispute. RMT remains available for talks and we will continue to press management to get round the table and negotiate an agreement."

Union anger as BA strike is blocked

Judge issues injunction after hearing of 'serious irregularities' in ballot

The great Christmas getaway was back on for a million air passengers yesterday after a judge ruled that a planned 12-day strike by British Airways cabin crew was illegal.

Union leaders reacted with fury to the ruling, which they described as a "disgraceful day for democracy", but BA executives were exultant at winning a postponement, at least, of industrial action until after the lucrative Christmas and New Year period.

Cabin crews who had been expected to walk out on Tuesday will now be expected to work as normal after Mrs Justice Cox granted an emergency injunction after hearing of "serious and substantial" irregularities in the way the ballot was carried out.

However, union leaders have not yet ruled out the option of going to the Court of Appeal in an effort to overturn yesterday's ruling. "We are studying the judgment in detail and will have to take legal advice. No decision has been made," said a spokesman.

For Unite, the union representing the cabin crews, the decision was a severe blow to its hopes of taking on the airline during a time of maximum financial pain to the company.

It has promised to organise another ballot for strike action but it will be weeks before the poll can be organised and the votes counted.

Derek Simpson, who with Tony Woodley jointly leads the union, said he could understand the "euphoria" of passengers who would have faced travel misery if the strike had gone ahead, but he remained furious at what he described as BA's "macho management" tactics in imposing new working conditions on staff.

"There is something wrong with a law that allows an employer to impose change but prevents a union from fighting back," he said after the hearing at the High Court in London. "We will certainly re-ballot. Our members will be incensed by this.

"The only good thing to come from this is that people will get away for Christmas. It was never our intention to disrupt passengers."

He said the union had been trying to get the company to the negotiating table but feared the airline would use the court ruling as an excuse to refuse to take part in further talks.

At BA the mood was one of jubilation after learning that the strike had been ruled illegal. A company statement said: "It is a decision that will be welcomed by hundreds of thousands of families in the UK and around the world. There was never any need for a strike and we hope that Unite will take this opportunity to reflect before deciding its next steps. We believe the public would want that too. It has also become very clear that our customers do not believe that old-style trade union militancy is relevant to our efforts to move British Airways back towards profitability."

The two sides remain at odds over changes to the way cabin crew work and are recompensed but a narrow hope of a peaceful end to the dispute emerged last night when Ed Sweeney, the chairman of the industrial conciliation service Acas offered to negotiate a deal.

During the court hearing, BA had argued that the ballot, in which 92 per cent of union members voted for industrial action, should be overturned on the grounds of electoral irregularities. In particular, the airline complained that staff taking voluntary redundancy who would have ceased to be employed by the time of any strike had been allowed to vote.

Mrs Justice Cox did not accept Unite's argument that it did what was "reasonably practicable" to comply with its obligations to exclude from the ballot those members who were taking redundancy, but was thwarted by BA's "intransigence".

She said there was no indication that the union had instructed members not to vote if they were leaving, and said: "That would have been a practicable and reasonable step for the union to take but it was not taken, despite the opportunity to do so."

She added: "A strike of this kind over the 12 days of Christmas is fundamentally more damaging to BA and the wider public than a strike taking place at almost any other time of the year."

RMT announces industrial action in two separate disputes on London Underground

TUBE UNION RMT today confirmed industrial action in two separate disputes with TfL employers:

• EDF Energy Powerlink

EDF RMT members are incensed with a pay offer of around only 1% with productivity. Since the announcement of an overwhelming ballot result in favour of action no improved offer has been forthcoming.

As a result, EDF RMT members have been instructed not to book on for any duty between 19.59 hours on 22^nd December and 07.59 hours on 24^th December nor for any duty between 19.59 hours on 26^th December and 07.59 hours on 27^th December 2009.

In addition to the above stoppages of work a continuous work to rule and overtime ban will be in operation from 20.00 hours on 22^nd December 2009 until further notice.

RMT has also been informed that Unite members have been balloted and will be taking the same action as ourselves at the same times.

• LUL Willesden Green Group Station Staff

RMT members on the Willesden Green Group have returned a magnificent vote in favour of industrial action in support of the reinstatement of their colleague, Colleen Johnston.

RMT had been hoping that management would see sense and reinstate her on appeal, but they have failed to do so.

The union has therefore decided to use the mandate for industrial action and our members on the group have been instructed not to book on for any shifts that commence between 04:59 and 23:59 on Wednesday 23^rd December 2009.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said today:

"Our EDF Powerlink members are furious at the failure of the company to make a meaningful pay offer. Instead of entering into serious talks they have run to the courts and have wheeled out the anti-union laws in an attempt to shackle RMT. Unless we receive a positive offer this action will go ahead and the consequences for the Underground will be serious.

"The strike action on the Willesden Green Group is a response to a straightforward victimisation of RMT member Colleen Johnston who has a well-earned reputation for standing up for her workmates. That is why the company want to get rid of her. The trumped up charges are outrageous and RMT will not tolerate these kind of attacks on our members."

RMT “Cuts Cost Lives” Day of Action against rail maintenance job losses

RAIL UNION RMT will be out in force at railway stations up and down the UK tomorrow (17 December) to launch the "Rail Cuts Cost Lives" campaign against 1500 threatened Network Rail maintenance job losses.

RMT members will be leafleting the public explaining that the threatened jobs cull on the tracks will compromise safety the length and breadth of the country and take us back to exactly the kind of shambolic maintenance conditions that led to the disasters at Paddington, Hatfield, Potters Bar and Grayrigg.

The Network Rail maintenance cuts are driven by money and a dash for billions of pounds of savings at a time when there is increasing demand for rail travel.

RMT members are already reporting cuts and backlogs in the frequency of track, signals, overhead lines and level crossing inspections and the union is compiling a dossier of evidence of the potentially lethal impact as the cuts programme begins to bite.

Bob Crow, RMT General Secretary, said today:

"Network Rail are taking a reckless and cash-driven gamble on rail safety just at the time when we need to be expanding services. When the public realise that important standards are being compromised in the dash for job cuts we know that they will sign up to the RMT's campaign and that's why we are taking our message out to the station forecourts.

"The proposes axing of 1500 rail maintenance jobs will have a devastating impact and will be felt right across the UK. This cuts programme must be stopped before we have another disaster on the tracks."

Costs of safety on new Scotrail service less than the annual pay of top director

RAIL UNION RMT today demanded an immediate reversal of plans to introduce Driver Only Operation (DOO) on the new Glasgow/Edinburgh via Airdie to Bathgate route as company accounts revealed that the top boss at Scotrail earns more than the additional cost of employing guards on the trains to ensure passenger safety.

First Scotrail financial returns show that the highest paid director made £429,274 in the 2008/2009 financial year compared to the £300,000 additional cost of employing guards on the new service.

RMT is continuing the public and political fight to stop the cash-driven plans for Driver Only Operation which the union says will compromise safety and breach contractual agreements to have two members of staff on Scottish rail services at all times.

Bob Crow, RMT General Secretary, said today:

"We now know that the price of safety on Scotrail's new service is less than their highest paid director earned in the last financial year. That is an appalling indictment on the company and a real reflection of their priorities.

"RMT's campaign against Driver Only Operation and in support of guards on the trains is pulling in solid support from politicians and the public alike. This latest news on Scotrail bosses pay will reinforce the widespread anger at the cash-driven moves to an under-staffed and unsafe service."

RMT News Alert - URGENT: Join the RMT protests this Thursday morning

Be Part of RMT's Nationwide Day of Action

 

Dear Colleague,

 

There has been a magnificent response from rank and file RMT members to the Union's Network Rail Day of Action on Thursday 17^th December, called to demonstrate against threat to axe 1,500 rail maintenance jobs. Across the UK, RMT activists will be leafleting passengers outside 37 major stations urging passengers to ask their MPs to sign Early Day Motion 80: 'Network Rail and Safety' (see link) http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=39617

 

Those workers threatened are responsible for inspecting and repairing the track, signals and overhead lines.  They work 365 days a year, seven days a week, day and night in all conditions to keep the railway safe. Now despite their loyalty they are going to be sacked as part of a so called "efficiency" drive. Our message to the public is 'Rail Cuts Cost Lives'.

 

Be part of the massive nationwide day of action by joining the leaflet at the nearest station the RMT is targeting – full list below. Contact your Regional Office for further details or visit the RMT website.

 

Unity is strength.

 

Bob Crow

General Secretary

 

Ps. After the Day of Action, there will be a lobby of the Westminster Parliament in the new year against the Network Rail cuts. Get the date - 27^th January 2010 in your diary now.

 

17^th December Activity around the Country

 

Region	Station, Times, Activity & other information
Midlands	Confirmed Birmingham New Street 08.00 – 09.30 and 16.00 – 18.00 Nottingham 08.00 – 09.30 and 16.00 – 18.00 Derby 08.00 – 09.30 and 16.00 – 18.00 (Ken Usher) To be confirmed Leicester Rugby
South West	Confirmed ·         Cardiff ·         Bristol ·         Reading ·         London Paddington ·         Swindon  (Brendan Kelly)
Scotland	Confirmed Edinburgh Waverley (morning rush hour) Glasgow Queen Street (evening rush hour) Glasgow Central  (evening rush hour) (Ian MacIntyre) Inverkeithing 07.00 – 08.30 Dunfermline 07.00 – 08.30 Kirkcaldy 07.00 – 08.30
North West	Confirmed main focus Lime Street Station in Liverpool, with the Regional Council, Branches, Trades Council, Dockers etc., involved in a noisy and colourful event (perfect for a media visit).  08.00 - 09.30 and 16.00 – 17.30 (Andy Warnock-Smith) Confirmed other locations Carlisle events  4pm -6.3pm on 17th , 6am – 9am on 18th and 10.30am – 2.30pm on 19th (stall in the town centre) Preston 08.00 - 09.30 Manchester Piccadilly 08.00 - 09.30 Liverpool Moorfields 08.00 - 09.30 Wrexham 08.00 - 09.30 Crewe 08.00 - 09.30 Shrewsbury 08.00 - 09.30 Chester 08.00 - 09.30 Stafford 08.00 - 09.30 Blackpool Lancaster (date and time to be decided – will be leafleting after 17th Dec)
North East	Confirmed Newcastle Central 08.00 – 10.00 (Stan Herschel) York (morning rush hour) Leeds (morning rush hour) Doncaster (morning rush hour) Hull (morning rush hour) Newark (morning rush hour) Sheffield (morning rush hour) (Allen Heath)
Wessex	Confirmed Southampton 08.00 – 10.00 (Pete Gale)
South East	Confirmed Kings Cross 08.00 – 09.30 (Bob Crow from 9am) Liverpool Street (morning rush hour) Brighton 08.00 – 09.30   To be confirmed Euston

South Wales signallers’ strike solid – now talk says RMT

STRIKE ACTION by Network Rail signallers against attempts to impose new rosters is rock-solid, Britain's biggest rail union said today.

As RMT members at signalling locations across South Wales and the Marches began the second of six days of strike action, the union announced that general secretary Bob Crow would join the picket line at Newport signal panel at 10:00 tomorrow (Wednesday, December 16).

Bob Crow will be available for interview at Newport Signal Panel, outside Newport Signal Panel on Queensway, adjacent to Newport Railway Station, High Street, Newport, NP20 4AXý – between 10:00 and 11:00 (see below for link to map).

With the strike little more than 24 hours old, RMT revealed that, contrary to NR assertions, the stoppage was already having an effect, with reduced services and bus replacement on some routes (details below), and routine maintenance deferred.

"Our members' action is rock-solid, and they are to be congratulated for taking a principled stand against Network Rail's attempt to rip up agreements and impose new rosters when the South Wales Control Centre opens next year," Bob Crow said today.

"Our members have made it clear that they are not prepared to see their work-life balance wrecked as part of an imposed cost-cutting exercise

"NR said the strike would have a minimal impact, but it is already clear that despite dragging in ill-trained managers from all corners of Britain they are having to curtail and cancel services on some lines in order to keep the mainline open.

"More worryingly we are also hearing from our maintenance members that they are being denied access to the track possessions for some routine maintenance on the South Wales mainline because the scab managers have insufficient knowledge of the job to cope.

"Rather than waste effort trying to undermine our members' solid strike Network Rail should be sitting round the table with us trying to thrash out a resolution to this dispute – the company knows we are ready to talk whenever they are."

RMT to fight plans to scrap East Coast Mainline connection to Glasgow

RAIL UNION RMT today pledged to mobilise an all-out fight to stop plans to close the East Coast Mainline connection between Edinburgh and Glasgow after RMT company reps were briefed by managers that the route will be axed from early 2011. A confirmation of the decision is expected early in the New Year.

The briefing to union reps on the axing of this important Scottish rail connection flies in the face of assurances from the new East Coast company and the transport secretary that no decision has been taken.

Scottish Labour MP Katy Clark will be tabling an Early Day Motion condemning the planned closure and calling on the government to confirm without delay that there will continue to be "…regular direct services between London and Glasgow on the East Coast Line."

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:

"It is clear now that there has been a carve up behind closed doors which threatens the future of the important East Coast Mainline connection into Glasgow. We know that MP's and MSP's from all parties will be furious at this attack on a crucial Scottish rail link and RMT will be fighting all out to stop this proposal from being ratified on the 8^th of January.

"Time is short and it is deeply cynical of East Coast to try and bundle this decision through over the Christmas and New Year period.

"We are urging the public to contact their MP's and MSP's urgently to wind up the pressure to block this plan before it is too late. This cash-driven plan would blow a massive hole in rail services through to north and south Lanarkshire with dire social and economic consequences and with an impact that will be felt right along the East Coast route. It must be stopped."

144 ticket offices and 1200 jobs under threat as Boris Johnson rips up manifesto pledge on tube cuts

TUBE AND TfL union RMT today released new information which exposes the full extent of the first wave of cuts under Boris Johnson’s £5 billion tube savings programme with 144 station ticket offices and 1200 jobs under threat of the axe.

In the first phase of LUL’s “Operational Services Review” – management code for the cuts machinery – savage reductions are being proposed across the tube network. Only main terminals will retain a full ticket office function, smaller central stations will have ticket offices open at peak times with the remainder – 144 stations – reduced to ticket machines only.

Station staff numbers will be reduced by up to 1200 with RMT warning that safety and security of the travelling public will be seriously compromised as LU drive towards unmanned operation of stations. An interim report on the planned cuts is expected before Christmas with implementation by April 2010.

In his 2008 manifesto, London Mayor Boris Johnson, who also Chair’s TfL, said that he would make transport more convenient; “By halting the proposed ticket office closures, and ensuring there is always a manned ticket office at every station.”
Boris Johnson was also photographed during the 2008 campaign at a protest against ticket office closures in Harrow and signed the petition organised by Passengers United Against Ticket Office Closures.

Bob Crow, RMT General Secretary, said today:

“The savage cuts to jobs and ticket offices exposed by RMT today show that all the pledges about services to passengers being protected from the £5 billion cuts programme are worthless.

“Boris Johnson, the Chair of TfL, was elected by Londoners on an explicit manifesto pledge to ensure a manned ticket office at every station. RMT challenges the Mayor to stick by that pledge and demand the binning of this cuts plan or stand exposed as a hypocrite who rips up key manifesto commitments to the voters who put him into office.

“The job cuts planned for underground stations would leave passengers dangerously exposed in the event of an emergency and would ratchet up the dangers for the public, particularly women, travelling late at night. It is clear from these plans that LU bosses are pushing towards unmanned operation of stations regardless of the risks.

“RMT will mobilise a campaign to stop these cuts and this union will take whatever action is required to defend our members jobs and a safe and efficient service for the travelling public. The pressure is now on Boris Johnson to stick to his word and ensure that this plan is ditched.”

Navy lifeline under threat in government cuts plan

MARITIME UNION RMT today pledged to mobilise a national political and public fight against any plans to privatise the Royal navy's supplies lifeline – the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) – as a consequence of a reported £200 million cuts demand that the Treasury have imposed on the Ministry of Defence.

Briefings to staff over the past four weeks have confirmed that Treasury demands for 10% cuts in MoD budgets have forced the department to look at plans to privatise the Royal Fleet Auxiliary – which supplies fuel, food stores and ammunition to the naval fleet – and an announcement on a review of the RAF, including the privatisation option, is expected this week as part of the Pre Budget Report.

RMT is warning that the flogging off of the RFA to private companies would threaten the reliability and security of this vital lifeline to our naval vessels around the world as the drive for profits and cuts would override the quality of service. The MoD would also lose direct control of the most essential element of the Royal Navy's support structure.

RMT has also pointed out that a review of the of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary just two years ago concluded that the service was first rate and that there was no need to review it again until 2020.

Bob Crow, RMT General Secretary, said:

"The government should be under no illusions. RMT will mobilise a political and public campaign on a massive scale to fight off any moves to privatise the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. There is no doubt there will be angry backlash against any attempt to compromise national security by embarking on a cash-led sell off of this essential lifeline to our naval crews all around the globe."

Steve Todd, RMT National Maritime Secretary, said:

"Thousands of skilled merchant seafarers, serving the Royal Navy in war zones around the world and here at home, face the possibility of being slung on the scrap heap. That is a disgraceful kick in the teeth to brave seafarers who have played a vital role in conflict after conflict with many paying the ultimate price with their lives. This ill-conceived privatisation proposal must be stopped now."

Scotrail admit they are prepared to breach contract over Driver Only Operation

RAIL UNION RMT today accused Scotrail of openly admitting to MSP's that they are prepared to breach contract terms over train staffing levels as the campaign over the planned introduction of Driver Only Operation (DOO) on the new Ediburgh/Glasgow via Airdrie to Bathgate route intensified.

Under their contract with Scottish Ministers the train operator is required to have a second person on the train at all times. However, in a new briefing to MSP's Scotrail admit that "….there may be times when we may choose to operate a train without a second person…"

RMT have pointed out today that with a guard on the crew, rather than a ticket examiner, a train would not be allowed to leave the station without that guard present ensuring at least two members of crew are present at all times to deal with safety and security issues.

Bob Crow, RMT General Secretary, said:

"Scotrail have let the cat out of the bag. We now know that their reason for failing to bring guards onto the new Aidrie/Bathgate service is so that they can run trains with just one member of staff. No guard, no ticket examiner just the driver up in the cab with all of the security and safety risks that such a policy brings with it.

"If there's a shortage of ticket examiners then Scotrail are saying that they will breach the contract with Scottish Ministers and run the trains anyway. When they've done it once we have no doubt that they will try and get away with it over and over again, creating a massive security and safety risk for the travelling public while at the same time jacking up their own profits by saving money on staffing levels.

"The only safe solution is guards on the trains. That guarantees the security of the public and means that Scotrail cannot play fast and loose with their contractual commitments to the Scottish people."

Ambiguity in the execution of criteria for selection of staff for VR.

Below is a good part of an email sent to a colleague, the email was a response to announcement by AmeyColas that they wanted to shed about 19 staff on the LNW. The chief criteria that I'm aware of is that staff live 90 miles or more from Bletchley depot. But it appears that some who got letters about the redundancies from AmeyColas are inside that distance.

 

So it begs some questions, distance alone doesn't seem to be the sole reason that some have been offered the opportunity to go for voluntary redundancy.

 

-----------------------------------------------------------

 

They really don't have a clue about our T+C's! It's actually comical that they believe it will cost the company money if we choose to stay in accommodation nearer Bletchley depot!

 The fact is at the moment we receive £5 a day subsistence allowance and £18 per day mobility allowance this was a payment Grant rail agreed with the unions to encourage us to travel from home to different sites in a large area often more than eighty miles  or we could receive £23 per day lodging allowance If we choose to lodge nearer a depot(we are site based),simple maths states that this is at no extra cost to AmeyColas.

 As for the "safety implications " of us travelling in excess of 80 miles i would like to state that  that we are willing to travel any where we our asked to go! That includes Mansfield last week and Birmingham next week. All in a days work for me.

It seems to me that are terms and conditions don't suit , not our geographical location.

Just for the record my home address to Bletchley is under 80 miles . I think you get the idea

RMT BLASTS METRO PRIVATISATION PLANS

TRANSPORT UNION RMT today blasted confirmation that the door has been opened for Tyne and Wear Metro to be privatised and handed over to a subsidiary of German rail giant Deutsche Bahn from April next year as a "betrayal of the people of the North East and electoral suicide in Labour's heartland."

NEXUS, the publicly controlled Metro operator, will confirm the plans at a press conference today for a takeover by preferred bidder, Deutsche Bahn subsidiary DB Regio, from the 1^st of April 2010 but RMT and local campaigners have pledged to carry on the fight for public ownership of Tyne and Wear Metro.

Bob Crow, RMT General Secretary, said:

"This is the first major privatisation under Gordon Brown's leadership of the Labour Party. It is a betrayal of the people of the North East who overwhelmingly oppose this plan and is electoral suicide for Labour bang, smack in its heartland.

"This is a disaster for Tyne and Wear which will be felt right across the Region. We can expect this essential transport service to be bled dry in the dash for profits by the private company.

"This decision is a kick in the teeth for the vast majority of local people who have supported the campaign against privatisation.

"RMT will continue to fight for public ownership of the Metro in the interests of our members who operate the service and the people of Tyne and Wear who use it. "

RMT announces six days of strike action by South Wales signalling staff

RAIL UNION RMT today announced six days of strike action by a group of signalling staff in the Wales and the Marches Operations area over the imposition of rosters at the new South Wales Control Centre due to open in January 2010.

A ballot for action delivered a two-to-one majority in support of a strike which will run from 00.01 hrs on Monday December 14 through to 23.59 hrs on Saturday December 19.

The action will involve RMT signalling grades members at the following NR signalling locations in the Wales and Marches Operations Area; the new South Wales Control Centre, Newport panel, Vale of Glamorgan (Barry Box, Barry Relief, Aberthaw Box, Cowbridge Road Box), Rhymney Valley (Heath Junction, Ystrad Mynach, Bargoed), Cardiff panel and Port Talbot panel.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:

"Our members are furious at the attempt to bulldoze through rosters at the new South Wales Control Centre which we believe are all about saving money and which unilaterally rip up existing agreements. Their support for strike action in this ballot shows just how determined they are to force a management rethink.

"RMT maintains that the existing 12 hour roster is tried and tested and that the 8 hour roster that Network Rail are trying to impose at the new South Wales Control Centre when it opens in January will have damaging consequences.

"We remain available for talks and would urge Network Rail to get back around the table to negotiate a settlement to this dispute."

Ref : Redundancies at AmeyColas

Below is the complete text of a letter sent to me by a colleague, I assume it's the letter that AmeyColas are sending out to affected staff in the current wave of redundancies. From reading it, it gives the impression that AmeyColas have a clear idea of the specific staff they want rid of and are writing only to them to enquire as to their interest in taking voluntary redundancy.

 

Dear

From 2010 our Client is proposing to give us a fixed price for completing our contracts, whereas at the moment our Client underwrites all of our costs, including the costs of directly employing our workforce.  More than ever this will mean that the future of our AmeyColas LNW business is dependent on us managing costs more effectively than our competitors. 

AmeyColas' preference is to maintain a workforce which is directly employed, but to achieve this we must look at solutions to maintain our cost competitiveness, not least to ensure we are able to bid and win new work.

We are writing to all of our 19 LNW track worker employees that live geographically remote from where we perform the majority of our work.  Due to safety limitations on travelling time and the cost of lodging away the company has a concern about the cost viability of continuing to utilise this group of 19 LNW track workers.

Consequently, the company will ask these 19 track workers whether they would be interested in voluntary redundancy (VR).

Therefore the reason for this letter is to ask you whether you would wish to receive a VR quote.  Should you wish to receive a quote please complete and return the slip at the bottom of this letter by 10am on Monday 7^th December 2009:

 

E-mail: Cheryl.smith@ameycolas.co.uk

or

Post: Tracy Fitchett, Amey HR One Gateway, Winchester House, Oxford Science Park, Oxford.  OX4 4GE.

Please be assured that by asking for a quote you will not be obligating yourself in any way to accepting VR.  Please also be aware that the company will retain the right to reject any VR applications.

Should you wish to receive a quote this will be sent to you in the week commencing 7^th December 2009, together with instructions as to what you would need to do next should you wish to accept this quote.

Should you have any questions in the meantime please don't hesitate to discuss these with your line manager or HR representative.

Yours sincerely,

Steve West

Track Director, AmeyColas LNW

By returning this slip I am requesting a voluntary redundancy quote:

Name:________________________________________

Signature:_____________________________________

Employee number:______________________________

Date:_________________________________________

Depot:________________________________________

I would like this quote sent to (please tick one or both):

□ My home address

□ My email address, which is: ______________________________________

RMT to ballot for industrial action on London Midland over pay & Sunday working

RAIL UNION RMT confirmed today that it has begun balloting members for action on London Midland in two separate disputes over pay and conditions of service and Sunday working.

The pay ballot, which will cover all RMT members, follows a rejection of a series of complex staged pay offers for the current financial year and through to April 2011;

· A 1% increase effective 1^st April 2009 and a further 1% effective 1^st November 2009 or an increase of £350 to salary effective from 1^st April 2009.

· An increase of 1.5% or RPI (Feb 2010) whichever is greater, effective 1^st April 2010 and a further 0.5% effective 1^st November 2010 or an increase of £350 (indexed to February 2010 RPI), effective 1^st April 2010.

The ballot for action in a long-standing dispute over Sunday working enhancements on London Midland, for staff excluding conductors and drivers, is being run in parallel following a delay after the company used the full force of the anti-trade union laws to wreck an earlier voting schedule. Voting in both ballots concludes on 17^th December 2009.

Bob Crow, RMT General Secretary, said today:

"RMT reps have worked hard to try and negotiate a fair deal for our members from London Midland on pay but the final offer from the company falls well short of what is required to reach an agreement.

"We know that London Midland have been put under special measures by the government for their failure to deliver a service and we cannot tolerate a situation where the staff are expected to take a hit on their wages and working conditions because of crisis management right at the top.

"RMT remains available for talks aimed at resolving the two disputes on pay and conditions and Sunday working.

RMT slams TfL & Tube Lines, latest cuts hit escalator safety inspections etc.

TUBE UNION RMT today accused TfL and Tube Lines of slashing safety standards to dangerous levels as it emerged that twice weekly inspection of escalators will be cut to just once a week and the 12 week frequency of signal maintenance on the Jubilee Line will be cut to a 16 week cycle.

The latest safety and maintenance cuts on the Tube Lines section of the Underground have come just two weeks after RMT exposed moves to hack back the frequency of track inspections on the Jubilee Line extension.

RMT reps will be raising the issues at a meeting of the Health and Safety forum today – Thursday 3^rd December – with a demand that the cuts be reversed as a matter of urgency.

RMT have pointed out that one of the causes of the Kings Cross fire was a lack of regular escalator inspections. The union are also challenging the failure to consult with health and safety reps before the cuts were implemented, making a mockery of the agreed procedures.

Bob Crow, RMT General Secretary, said today:

"We are demanding the intervention of TfL Chair Boris Johnson to reverse the safety and maintenance cuts programme which is leaking out in dribs and drabs from Tube Lines.

"The Mayor told Londoners that the cuts on London transport would not hit passengers and front line services. These latest cuts, bulldozed through by Tube Lines without consultation, make a nonsense of those assurances. These are dangerous reductions in key maintenance and safety frequencies that will set alarm bells ringing for staff and passengers alike.

"There is a growing suspicion that the Tube Lines cuts are tied in closely with the financial turmoil facing the company and the massive gap between them and TfL on the value of the next phase of their contract. With the chaotic overruns on the Jubilee Line upgrade the time has come for TfL to pull the plugs on Tube Lines before we end up plunged into a re-run of the Metronet privatisation disaster."

RMT officially launches campaign against Driver Only Operation on Scotrail

RAIL UNION RMT will be formally launching the "Keep The Guard On My Train" campaign, in response to First Scotrail's plans for Driver Only Operation on the new Glasgow/Edinburgh via Airdrie to Bathgate route, at Edinburgh's Waverley Station tomorrow – December 3rd:

Official launch of RMT's Scotrail "Keep The Guard On My Train" campaign

Thursday 3^rd December 2009 – 3.30pm

Edinburgh Waverley Station – Main Entrance – top of Waverley Bridge ramp

With Elaine Smith MSP and Phil McGarry RMT Scottish Regional Organiser

The campaign, aimed at mobilising public opposition to the extension of driver only train operation in Scotland, will focus on the increased safety risks of removing guards which were highlighted in the Cullen Inquiry following the Ladbroke Grove rail crash. Guards are fully trained in operational safety and emergency procedures including dealing with derailments.

Elaine Smith MSP has tabled a motion in the Scottish Parliament backing the RMT's arguments and seconded by former First Minister Jack McConnell and Transport Minister Sarah Boyack.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:

"The launch of our "Keep The Guard On My Train" campaign in Scotland will give the public a real chance to find out what Driver Only Operation on the new Scotrail service, and across the rest of the network, really means for passenger safety and security.

"We cannot have a situation where travellers are left vulnerable because corners are being cut on staffing levels in order to maximise profits. RMT will be mobilising public and political support with the objective of making sure that passengers have the reassurance of having a trained guard close at hand when they are using Scotrail's new service."

 

Scottish Parliament motion tabled by Elaine Smith MSP

"That the Parliament welcomes the new rail service between Glasgow and Edinburgh via the Airdrie to Bathgate route and the continued electrification of the railway in Scotland; is alarmed, however, that proposals to remove the guards from this service and introduce driver only operation (DOO) are coupled with the reopening of this route; is deeply concerned that this will increase safety risks because passengers will not benefit from the protection of having a guard responsible for the safe running of the train, including controlling the doors and emergencies such as driver incapacity, failure of train safety systems and derailments; further shares the view of the STUC Women's Conference that the proposed introduction of DOO on the service demonstrates that the safety concerns of women passengers have not been adequately addressed; is further concerned that this decision breaches previous assurances to the trade unions that there would be no extension of DOO in Scotland and believes that this could be the thin end of the wedge leading to the removal of guards on other routes; considers that retaining the guards would cost less than the salary of First ScotRail's highest-paid director and less than 5% of the company's most recent post-tax profits, and therefore urges the Scottish Government and First ScotRail to put safety and passengers before profit and keep guards on these services."

NR bosses book a five star hotel while 1500 safety maintenance staff face sack!

RAIL UNION RMT today blasted senior Network Rail chiefs as it emerged that they are holding meetings in the five star opulence of London's Langham Hotel while multi-billion pound cuts have left 1500 essential safety maintenance staff facing the sack.

The Network Rail board will be meeting at the Langham Hotel on Wednesday – 2^nd December – with the job cuts package expected to be one of the items under discussion.

On the hotels website it describes itself as "…a sublime choice among London luxury hotels…." and…. "impeccable 5-star luxury accommodation…" stating that …."this luxury London hotel is the epitome of elegance and poise".

Bob Crow, RMT general secretary, said

"While 1500 emergency track maintenance staff face the prospect of being slung on the dole this Christmas, their Network Rail bosses are strutting around in the five star luxury of the Langham Hotel.

"The top bosses at Network Rail are making multi-billion cuts to the rail infrastructure with the maintenance jobs of RMT members in the firing line. At the same time they are paying out wads of cash to enjoy the opulence of the Langham Hotel. Our members are furious and will not take this insult without a real fight."

RMT confirms ballot for strike action on Southern rail franchise over Christmas

RAIL UNION RMT confirmed today that they will be balloting members on the Southern rail franchise for strike action after the company refused to offer any extra payments or additional leave for working on the 28th December – a recognised bank holiday across the whole of the UK.

Southern have told RMT that they do not recognise Monday 28^th December as a bank holiday and their stubborn refusal to engage in any meaningful talks with the union on the issue has forced RMT to initiate a strike ballot.

The ballot will close on Monday 21^st December and RMT are calling for a massive yes vote for strike action.

Bob Crow, RMT general secretary, said today:

"It is our clear view that our members on Southern should be properly rewarded for having to work on a public holiday in line with agreements in place across the rest of the rail network.

"Southern should be recognising the hard work and dedication of their staff over the year by offering a gesture of goodwill over the festive season. Instead, they are playing the role of Scrooge and demanding Christmas bank holiday working for flat rate pay.

"That is an insult to our members and that is why we are balloting for strike action."