February 4, 2010Circular No IR/42/10
Dear Colleagues
PROTECTION OF TRAIN CREW & SHUNTING GRADE MEMBERS
DEFEND THE ROLE OF THE GUARD
DEFEND THE TRAIN GRADES CHARTER MEETING IN DONCASTER ON
18TH FEBRUARY 2010
18TH FEBRUARY 2010
RMT is fighting tooth and nail to prevent the Scottish
Government and First Scotrail from removing Guards/Conductors and
introducing Driver Only Operation of the new rail service between Glasgow
and Edinburgh via Airdrie to Bathgate. If this happens it would be the
thin edge of the wedge leading to the removal of Guards on other routes
which has major safety implications.Last year Southeast Trains forced
through the partial introduction of DOO on the Channel Tunnel Rail Link.
This followed massive resistance from our Guard/Conductor members which
was thwarted by the anti union laws.Your Union believes that these two
attacks from the TOCs are not just an attack on Guards in Southeast Trains
and First Scotrail but are an attack on the grade as a whole. Both
Southeast Trains and now First Scotrail are insisting that the 2001 Guards
Agreement signed with every existing TOC, no longer applies. We must defend
the 2001 Agreement and the Operational Safety Role of the Guard.We have
called a forum for all Guards, Drivers and Shunters Company Council
Representatives in Doncaster on Thursday 18th February 2010 under the
title 'Protection of Traincrew and Shunting Grade Members' in order to
discuss this very serious situation.Release for these Representatives is
being obtained at the time of writing. Please ensure that all your Company
Councillors are fully aware of this meeting and are released to attend. It
is not for emotional nostalgic reasons that we must make the case for a
Guard in charge. The full safety and operational role of the Guard remains
as necessary today as it has always been. Further copies of the Traincrew
Charter are being printed and will be circulated for use in your Branches
and Regions. Please bring this to the attention of your colleagues. We
must remain vigilant.
Government and First Scotrail from removing Guards/Conductors and
introducing Driver Only Operation of the new rail service between Glasgow
and Edinburgh via Airdrie to Bathgate. If this happens it would be the
thin edge of the wedge leading to the removal of Guards on other routes
which has major safety implications.Last year Southeast Trains forced
through the partial introduction of DOO on the Channel Tunnel Rail Link.
This followed massive resistance from our Guard/Conductor members which
was thwarted by the anti union laws.Your Union believes that these two
attacks from the TOCs are not just an attack on Guards in Southeast Trains
and First Scotrail but are an attack on the grade as a whole. Both
Southeast Trains and now First Scotrail are insisting that the 2001 Guards
Agreement signed with every existing TOC, no longer applies. We must defend
the 2001 Agreement and the Operational Safety Role of the Guard.We have
called a forum for all Guards, Drivers and Shunters Company Council
Representatives in Doncaster on Thursday 18th February 2010 under the
title 'Protection of Traincrew and Shunting Grade Members' in order to
discuss this very serious situation.Release for these Representatives is
being obtained at the time of writing. Please ensure that all your Company
Councillors are fully aware of this meeting and are released to attend. It
is not for emotional nostalgic reasons that we must make the case for a
Guard in charge. The full safety and operational role of the Guard remains
as necessary today as it has always been. Further copies of the Traincrew
Charter are being printed and will be circulated for use in your Branches
and Regions. Please bring this to the attention of your colleagues. We
must remain vigilant.
Best wishes
Bob Crow
General Secretary
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