Jarvis Redundancies

To all Jarvis, Network Rail Maintenance, Balfour Beatty, Babcock Rail, Amey, Colas, Carillion members

 Dear Colleague,

REDUNDANCIES – JARVIS

Our Jarvis members put on a magnificent show of solidarity during the strike action they took last weekend. This industrial action had a huge impact on the company as it had to cancel a large number of work it had planned during that time. 

As it stands, there has still been no progress made on our demands for no compulsory redundancies and for a full 90-day consultation period. That is why our Jarvis members will once again be taking strike action next weekend and I am asking them not to book on for any shifts which commence between 06.00 hours on Saturday 11^th July and 06.00 hours on Monday 13^th July 2009.

I would urge everyone to do all they can to support this strike action and to make sure that members at other on-track and renewals companies do not take on the work which our Jarvis members would normally carry out. I would also hope that non-RMT staff at Jarvis would respect their colleagues who are taking industrial action and not carry out the work usually done by RMT members. 

Everything possible should be done to support our Jarvis members through this very troubling time and to help them get the message to management to enter meaningful and constructive discussions with your union. We have to put a stop to the jobs massacre taking place in this company and, by taking industrial action, I am sure our Jarvis members can help to achieve this.

Yours sincerely

Bob Crow

General Secretary

Lodging Away?

I have recently become aware of feeler's being put out from management on the subject of lodging away for work, I beleive it is in connection with work that's likely to be taking place shortly in the Wigan area.

Apparently the driving force behind it is Network Rail, and their reluctance to see continue the high levels of non-allocated time. So it appears that Network Rail are turning the screws abit on AmeyColas, and they are exploring possible solutions to the problem, lodging being one.

I know the PSM staff are in the process of a reorganisation at the present time, and that us in the gangs were unaffected. But these signs would seem to indicate that it could soon be otherwise.

It hasn't taken too much thought to reach a decision upon the matter, for myself it is an enphatic "NO THANK YOU!". Now the downside may not be to my liking whatsoever, but then the prospect of being part of what is effectively a gypsy workforce, working anywhere in the country isn't to my liking either.

I started as a depot based worker, and I wish to remain so, I have no interest whatsoever in becoming a mobile worker. If I had then I would have worked for an agency a long time ago.

Lodging away has always been something that is a rarity for us, not the norm. something you did when you had an ES course or a Crane controller's course. As such the frequency has always been extremely low and tolerable.

The frequency that it looks like it is being envisaged would have a dramatic and major impact on my work-life balance, and as such would be an intolerable scenario.

I remember one former colleague who was classed as a mobile worker, said to me that in some eighteen years on the job, the longest period that he had spent in his own bed at any one time during that eighteen years was about three weeks in total.

So for me it's NO! all the way.

BRIEFING TO ALL AMEYCOLAS EMPLOYEES.

BRIEFING TO ALL AMEYCOLAS EMPLOYEES

Members of the RMT and TSSA unions together with employee representatives and senior management from both Amey and Colas have reached agreement on a voluntary severance package (VR) for the current redundancy proposals within the AmeyColas joint venture business.

The objective of undertaking voluntary redundancy applications is to endeavor to avoid compulsory redundancies within the JV business where possible.

Applications for VR will be sought from anyone who is currently working in the AmeyColas Integrated Management Team (PSM) and invitations to apply will be sent to home addresses in the next few days. All applications for VR will be reviewed by management, and management reserves the right to accept or decline any application(s).

The outline terms agreed are as follows:

For those with enhanced redundancy terms set out in your contract of employment, please find attached a copy of the matrix which sets out the basis for the calculation of VR and which has been agreed by both Unions. Where offered, this would be a solitary payment and no further payments would be applicable.

For those not on enhanced redundancy terms as set out in your contract of employment, we have agreed a payment of £1000 per year worked, calculated as per the statutory redundancy ready reckoner and capped at £20k per person. Your notice period would be in addition to this payment.

* Please note that Inland Revenue guidelines for the application of tax and NI for redundancy payments over £30K will apply as appropriate.

Any annual leave accrued but not taken by the employment end date would be paid in the next available payroll after the end date, subject to tax and NI. If the employee has taken more days annual leave than they have accrued by their employment end date, this amount will be deducted from any final payments owed to the employee

In addition to reaching agreement on the VR package outlined above, Collective and territory specific consultations also continued over the past two weeks, & union representatives and senior management reviewed and finalized in detail the proposed 'at risk' roles. As a result of this, it was also possible to firm up a number of roles which have been designated as 'identified' and therefore are no longer at risk.

On Friday 19^th June, a communication was issued by letter to home addresses for all AmeyColas employees, clarifying whether each individual is at risk or identified.

Individuals who are at risk have been offered a 121 meeting this week with a member of the management team and an HR representative. These meetings will be the start of individual consultations.

Finally, anyone who is currently at risk and requires support is encouraged to speak to a line manager, HR representative or union representative. Arrangements have been made for these people to be available more frequently in the depots across the coming days.

Revised matrix roughly 75% of the previous one.

PSM Reorganization

The following information is as accurate as I can make it based on what little is known of the current position as it stands. It compares the voluntary positions as they stand with what could be the possible complusory positions for both staff covered by PT&R and those not.

OPTION 1


This is the proposed matrix, where your age and length of service converge, you'll see a figure. Multiply your basic weekly rate of pay by this figure and subtract
25%.

The resultant figure should be indicative of what you can expect to receive as a voluntary redundancy payment. This matrix is for staff were PT&R is
applicable.

AmeyColas were originally figuring on a level of about 50% of what is shown in this matrix, but have apparently noved on that original position up until a new position of 75%, where they seem likely not to budge from.

Example is for an SM1 step 7, who is 53 years of age, and has 31 years service in. Under this matrix the initial figure is :

$64,640 = 101 weeks standard pay.
Subtract 25%
£48,480 is the final figure.

____________________________________________________

OPTION 2

For redundancy payments where PT&R is applicable. (NUR Redundancy and resettlement arrangements, Conciliation & Salaried staff British
Railways, September 1985)

Option 2 comes in two parts.

Part 1

A = Basic weekly rate of pay multiplied by B = completed number years of service up to a maximum of 25 years. Multiply this by 2.5 which will give you the first part of the redundancy payment for option 1.
........A
....x B
= sub-total
...x 2.5
= total

Example is for an SM1 step 7, who is 53 years of age, and has 31 years service in.

A = £640
B = 25
£16,000
x 2.5
£40,000

PLUS

Part 2

A supplementary payment equal to one weeks standard pay (A) for every completed year of service after 40 years of age (B).

......A
....x B
=

Example is for an SM1 step 7, who is 53 years of age, and has 31 years service in.

A = £640
B = x 13
= £8,320

Add the two totals from part 1 and 2 together, this is the amount you can expect under option 2

Example is for an SM1 step 7, who is 53 years of age, and has 31 years service in.

Part 1 = £40,000
Part 2 = £8,320
Total £48,320

____________________________________________________

OPTION 3

Part 1
Use the statutory matrix below to calculate the number of weeks pay depending on your age and length of service up to a maximum of 20 years. £350 is the current statutory maximum of a weeks pay. The resultant figure forms the first part of your redundancy pay under option 3.

Statutory redundundancy matrix. Click on image to enlarge.

Example is for an SM1 step 7, who is 53 years of age, and has 31 years service in.

£350
x 26
= £9,100

PLUS

Part 2

A supplementary payment of one weeks standard pay (A) for each completed year of service in excess or 15 years (B) or the age of 45 ( C), whichever
is the greater.

A
x B or C
= total

Example is for an SM1 step 7, who is 53 years of age, and has 31 years service in.

A= £640
B = x 16
= £10,240

PLUS

Part 3

An amount equal to 40 per cent of part 1 and part 2

Example is for an SM1 step 7, who is 53 years of age, and has 31 years service in.

40% of part 1 = £3,640
40% of part 2 = £4,096
Combined total = £7,736

Add the three totals from part 1 and 2 and 3 together, this is the amount you can expect under option 3

Example is for an SM1 step 7, who is 53 years of age, and has 31 years service in.

Part 1 = £9,100
Part 2 = £10,240
Part 3 = £7,736
Combined total = £27,076

____________________________________________________

OPTION 4

Option 4 is Voluntary Redundancy for staff not covered by PT&R.

For each year of completed service up to a maximum of 20 years, £1,000 for each year.

Years service / Amount
1 / £1,000
2 / £2,000
3 / £3,000
4 / £4,000
5 / £5,000
6 / £6,000
7 / £7,000
8 / £8,000
9 / £9,000
10 / £10,000
11 / £11,000
12 / £12,000
13 / £13,000
14 / £14,000
15 / £15,000
16 / £16,000
17 / £17,000
18 / £18,000
19 / £19,000
20 / £20,000

___________________________________________________

Option 5

Option 5 is for staff not covered by PT&R in the event of compulsory redundancy.

Use the statutory matrix below to calculate the number of weeks pay depending on your age and length of service up to a maximum of 20 years. £350 is the current statutory maximum of a weeks pay. The resultant figure forms the first part of your redundancy pay under option 5.

Statutory redundundancy matrix. Click on image to enlarge.

Example is for an individual, who is 53 years of age, and has 31 years service in.

£350
x 26
= £9,100

Proposed Matrix

Above is the proposed matrix for voluntary redundancy. Click on image to enlarge it.

Response to Lobbying my MP on Job loses in the Rail Industry.

Below are the pages of a letter that I received from my local MP, Mr Philip Hollobone. It is a reply to a letter that hes sent to the Minister of Transport on my behalf, raising concerns over a number of issues within the rail industry, chief amongst them being a avalanche of job losses for no really good reason other than that Network Rail can please their political master's. I'd like to say thankyou to my Brother for publishing my earlier item, and letting us become an author.
Click to enlarge images.


Page 1 of letter.


Page 2 of letter.


Page 3 of letter.

Special meeting at Unity House, 23rd of May 2009

A special meeting was called today at Unity House, with union representatives present from the various renewals companies that were balloted earlier on in the month for industrial action.

Present were Mick Cash and a number of other members of the union's executive council, the principal topic was what were we going to do as the next step. The ballot results had been in awhile and the deadline for acting was upon us.

The decision was for action, whether it be strike action or action short of striking which was determined by the ballot at each compny.

This fact will be conveyed to all concerned, the dates and times of any action.

Our full time union officer wasn't able to be present, as he was elsewhere at a meeting with company management discussing the subject of pending job losses, etc. One of our union representative was able to attend this meeting, but I can't say much more than that until we hear from him about it.

That's pretty much it at present, nothing particularly promising at all, especially with the announcement on the high output work being put back apparently till January next year by Network Rail.

Ballot Results

JOB CUTS – ON TRACK MACHINES and TRACK RENEWALS, AMEY

Question: Are you prepared to take strike action?
Total votes cast 128
Number voting YES 50
Number voting NO 77
Spoilt papers 1

Question: Are you prepared to take industrial action short of a strike?
Total votes cast 128
Number voting YES 75
Number voting NO 53
Spoilt papers 0

JOB CUTS – ON TRACK MACHINES and TRACK RENEWALS, BABCOCK RAIL

Question: Are you prepared to take strike action?
Total votes cast 210
Number voting YES 98
Number voting NO 108
Spoilt papers 4

Question: Are you prepared to take industrial action short of a strike?
Total votes cast 210
Number voting YES 127
Number voting NO 80
Spoilt papers 3

JOB CUTS – ON TRACK MACHINES and TRACK RENEWALS, BALFOUR BEATTY RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES

Question: Are you prepared to take strike action?
Total votes cast 125
Number voting YES 79
Number voting NO 44
Spoilt papers 2

Question: Are you prepared to take industrial action short of a strike?
Total votes cast 125
Number voting YES 113
Number voting NO 11
Spoilt papers 1

JOB CUTS – ON TRACK MACHINES & TRACK RENEWALS, BALFOUR BEATTY RAIL PLANT

Question: Are you prepared to take strike action?
Total votes cast 43
Number voting YES 19
Number voting NO 24
Spoilt papers 0

Question: Are you prepared to take industrial action short of a strike?
Total votes cast 43
Number voting YES 39
Number voting NO 3
Spoilt papers 1

JOB CUTS – ON TRACK MACHINES & TRACK RENEWALS, COLAS RAIL

Question: Are you prepared to take strike action?
Total votes cast 85
Number voting YES 22
Number voting NO 60
Spoilt papers 3

Question: Are you prepared to take industrial action short of a strike?
Total votes cast 85
Number voting YES 46
Number voting NO 38
Spoilt papers 1

JOB CUTS – ON TRACK MACHINES & TRACK RENEWALS, VOLKERRAIL PLANT LTD

Question: Are you prepared to take strike action?
Total votes cast 2
Number voting YES 0
Number voting NO 2
Spoilt papers 0

Question: Are you prepared to take industrial action short of a strike?
Total votes cast 2
Number voting YES 2
Number voting NO 0
Spoilt papers 0

May the 5th 2009 RMT Rally at Westminster.

"People's Railway" Campaign Rally 05/05/09

Following the announcement by Network Rail on work bank deferral's, an extraordinary meeting was called and held at the RMT's headquarters at Unity House in Chalton Street in London. Union representatives from all of the renewals companies were present at the meeting.

RMT Headquarters Unity House, 39 Chalton Street, London, NW1 1JD

The main topic was how the union would respond to the announcement of a 28% cut in the work bank. By this stage 450 jobs were to go at Jarvis and 350 were going at Babcock, and that was just for starters.

Banners against the Lisbon Treaty and Job Cuts in London Transport adorning Unity House.

It was agreed that urgent action was required and sooner than later, it was announced that the union would be balloting all of its member's within the renewals companies on industrial action on this issue. And it was agreed to combined it with the existing campaign against rail privatisation, using what ever methods were available to publicise the plight of rail workers. A rally on the 5th of May was organised.

RMT activist's setting up banners in preparation for the rally.

The rally was due to start at around 1330, with participants forming up at "old Palace Yard" at Westminster at 1300.

Cardiff RMT activist's setting up banners in preparation for the rally.

From 1300 until about 1430 we noisily demonstrated, with horns, pacards, and flags. When demonstrator's got a positive indication from a member of the public, or a passing motorist it resulted in a flurry of horn blowing.

Demonstrator's at the Old Palace Yard forming up for the Rally.

Just after 1430, the rally moved of towards the visitor's entrance. Here we had to give up our placards, banners, and horns before entering. We all had to pass through the security screen, being photographed, then pass through metal detector's, personal effects passing through an xray machine. All before being finally admitted into parliament.

The visitor's entrance is near the base of the tower, with an access ramp leading down to the security suite where everyone had to pass through before being allowed into parliament.

From the security suite we made our way around to the main entrance of Westminster Hall. An imposing space, which certainly has a humbling feel, you can feel the weight of the centuries. We crossed to the far end and up the stairs turning left down a shortish corridor into the central lobby. We were in parliament proper.


Short video clip of Westminster Hall.

From the Central Lobby area, we made our way to Committee Room 14. Once everyone had filed in and were seated, a number a speakers addressed those that were gathered.

"The Gladstone Room" Committee Room 14.

Amongst notable figures there were Bob Crow General Secretary of the RMT, Mick Cash Assistant General Secretary of the RMT, Rt Hon John McDonald MP, Rt Hon Kelvin Hopkins MP for Luton North, Rt Hon Jim Dobbin MP for Heywood and Middleton, Rt Hon Alan Simpson MP for Nottingham South, and Stephen Joseph from the Campaign for Transport were just some.

Kelvin Hopkins

"It is time that industries like transport were brought back into the common ownership. Rather than continuing with privateers running the show and robbing the public of this country blind."

Jim Dobbin

"Rail jobs are green jobs! Transport in its many forms in this country accounts for something like twenty five percent of the UK's carbon dioxide emission's. Rail transport itself produces around only a third of the level of emission's that road haulage and private cars produce."

John McDanald

"Even after tkaing into account the difference in the value of money today as compared to twelve to fifteen years ago. It cost's four to five time's the amount of money to relay a mile of track now as it did under BR"

Alan Simpson

"Many of the companies within the Rail Industry are starting to actively seek to renegotiate their contracts, threatening that they will just walk away if they dont get more favourable terms. More and bigger subsidies from the Government, and the Taxpayer to bear more of the burden if things take a downturn. Rail Transport should be taken back into public ownership, it doesnt need to cost the taxpayer a penny. When the contracts, and franchises come up for rernewal, we just take them back."

Bob Crow

"Remember when you lobby your MP, that many MP's rediscover their political principles when it comes round to an election. But if they wont listen and deliver what the people want then its perhaps time that we set up a new political party that truely represents the working class people of this country, we did it once, and we can do it again. MP's ignore us at their peril, what goes around, comes around."


Committee Room 14

After the meeting in Committee Room 14 closed, everyone retired to the Central Lobby of Parliament to undertake the important business of lobbying their MP's. Those that hadn't already obtained an appointment to see their MP's, filled out Green cards to their MP's and had to wait to see if they were available.


Central Lobby.

Images of Westminster.

May the 5th, RMT Rally for a "People's Railway"

Below are the scanned pages from a booklet produced for the rally on May 5th and the lobbying of parliament.

Click on images below to enlarge them.

RMT News Alert - Your Job. Your conditions. Your Safety. Please support your union's demonstration and lobby of Parliament on 5th May

Dear Colleague

Your Job. Your conditions. Your Safety. Please support your union’s demonstration and lobby of Parliament on 5th May

This week I met with Secretary of Transport, Geoff Hoon, to urge him to intervene to stop the huge jobs losses that are taking place on the railways.

He was told that in last few months almost 4,000 job losses have been announced in every sector of the railways. These jobs are under threat despite the rail companies receiving big government subsidies and continuing to make huge profits.

Thousands of more jobs are under attack and rail bosses will also be using to recession to have a go at pay, conditions and pensions.

The cuts mean safety is also under threat. Network Rail is cutting back on the frequency of track inspections and has postponed a third of its planned track renewals. I have warned Geoff Hoon that conditions are being created for a serious derailment. There is the real danger of another Hatfield Potters Bar or Grayrigg.

We have now twice asked Network Rail to publish their report on whether the postponement of the track renewals programme raises safety risks and they have refused. What are they hiding?

And as the Train Operating companies cut back there will be less staff at stations and on trains with passengers, especially women more vulnerable. And we know all too well that the cuts will leave the public feeling angry and frustrated and when that happens it is often rail workers who end up as the punch bag.

Please support the demonstration and lobby of parliament on 5th May

If you want to make an appointment with your MP on 5 May, it is not too late. You can email them at http://findyourmp.parliament.uk/commons/l/ or call the House of Commons on 020 7219 3000.

Remember, if your MP is not free to meet you on 5 May it will be just as effective to ask to meet your MP in their constituency office. More information on the campaign can be found at, www.rmt.org.uk/peoplesrailway

I hope to see you on 5 May

Yours sincerely

Bob Crow

General Secretary

May Day for rail and tube as RMT steps up jobs figures campaign

As RMT rail engineering members at one of Network Rail’s key contractors, Jarvis, prepare to take industrial action next Tuesday May 5 2009 in response to plans by the company to axe 450 jobs, the union has sent out an eve of May Day pledge to defend jobs and services across the industry.

RMT members at Jarvis will refuse to carry out overtime for all shifts on Tuesday May 5 and will strike on the same day between 12.00 and 13.00hrs. May 5 has also been designated as a Day of Action by RMT and hundreds of rail workers and their supporters will descend on parliament to lobby MP’s over the planned jobs cull hitting rail and tube.


In a May Day message to members, RMT general secretary Bob Crow has sent out a clear warning to the government and the private companies in the rail industry that the union will step up the campaign against the growing attacks on jobs, services, safety and pay and conditions.


“On International Workers Day we salute RMT members at Jarvis who have joined with thousands of their brothers and sisters across the country in the fight for the right to work,” RMT general secretary Bob Crow said.


“We are calling again on the government to intervene to stop the attack on jobs and working conditions on the railways and to call to account the private companies who are jacking up fares by as much as 11% with one hand while hitting their staff with the other.


“And on Boris Johnsons first anniversary as London Mayor we’ve got a message for him as well – call off the planned cuts in jobs on the Tube and at TfL and pay our cleaners on the Underground the London Living Wage of £7.45 a hour that you have promised them,” Bob Crow said.

Model letter to your member of Parliament

Above is a model letter that can be used by members to lobby their MP's on the matter of the workbank deferral's. It ask's them to meet you at the lobby of the Houses of Parliament on the afternoon of 5th, or alternately at the local consituency office at a time convenient to them. Also it asks them to sign and support Early Day Motion 1271.

Network Rail letter to TOC's and FOC's

Letter from Robin Grisby to Train Operating Companies(TOC's) and Freight Operating Companies(FOC's)giving Network Rail's reasoning behind their decision on workbank deferrals. Click on images to enlarge.

Tuesday 5th May 2009

Click on image to enlarge.

Strike action is balloted for!

MORE THAN 3,000 rail engineering workers at six of Network Rail’s key contractors are to be balloted for industrial action by Britain’s biggest rail union over jobs after each failed to give assurances that there would be no compulsory redundancies.

Around 1,000 RMT members at Jarvis have already begun voting on action after the company announced plans to axe 450 jobs, blaming NR’s decision to shelve 28 per cent of track renewals this year. The Jarvis ballot will close on April 21.

The union has also now informed bosses at Balfour Beatty (rail plant and infrastructure divisions), Babcock, Colas, Amey Infrastructure and Volker Rail Plant that it is in dispute after each failed to provide assurances that there would be no forced job losses, or that any transfers would come under ‘TUPE’ transfer of undertakings rules that protect conditions.

The Jarvis ballot is also over the company’s failure to observe the legal requirement for a 90-day consultation period over its plans.

“It is absolutely crazy that hundreds, maybe thousands of skilled rail engineering workers are facing redundancy when Network Rail will spend nearly £3.5 billion on this type of work over the next five years,” RMT general secretary Bob Crow said today.

“NR’s decision to defer nearly a third of this year’s renewals is senseless and reckless, but the contractors should be looking at the long-term picture rather than the short-term effect on shareholder dividends.

“These companies have made tens of millions out of the railways, and they should be taking a hit on their profits rather than cutting jobs. But they have failed to give us simple assurances that there will be no compulsory job losses, and we are urging our members in all six firms to vote for action to defend their jobs.

“For months we have been asking the government to step in and save essential rail jobs.

“If the government is serious about bringing forward transport and green projects to help ride out the recession it cannot stand aside and allow skilled rail workers to be thrown onto the dole – not least in an industry already dependent on government subsidy.

“That is why our members across the rail and Tube industry will lobby parliament on May 5 to demand a moratorium on job cuts, a freeze on dividends and a regime for the industry that will help to stimulate the economy rather than subsidise redundancies,” Bob Crow said.

Notes to editors: The ballot of RMT members at Jarvis will close on April 21, and a timetable for the other ballots will be set shortly.

Rally and Lobby to save rail jobs and services and for a People’s Railway

RMT members from across the rail and Tube networks will be lobbying parliament on May 5 to save green rail jobs and services, and for a people’s railway.

RMT general secretary Bob Crow has written to MPs asking for their support for:

1. The government and Mayor of London to impose a moratorium on job cuts on the railways and London Underground and a freeze on shareholder dividends with profits instead invested to protect jobs and services.

2. An industry-wide programme so our railways can provide a stimulus to the economy to help fight the recession.

3. A wholly integrated, publicly-owned and accountable People’s Railway and London Underground which puts people before profit and where passengers and workers have a real voice.

The full text of the letter follows after the EDM below:

Early Day Motion 794

NETWORK RAIL AND THE ECONOMIC DOWNTURN

Tabled by David Drew (Stroud) and signed by April 9 by 50 others

That this House welcomes efforts by the Government to lessen the impact of the recession and save jobs by intervening in the private sector industries, such as the car industry; notes with concern that Network Rail, which is heavily reliant on billions of pounds of Government subsidy is deferring 28 per cent. of rail renewals work, such as track and signals replacements; notes that Network Rail has confirmed in its 2009-10 business plan that this huge reduction in track renewals expenditure will have a major impact on the supply chain with 20 to 30 per cent. less heavy materials resulting in supply chain redundancies; is appalled that this will mean massive job cuts and supports the view of the rail unions that Network Rail's actions undermine the Government's stated intentions to use infrastructure projects to boost employment; further notes with concern that Network Rail is cutting the frequency of track inspections and routine signals maintenance which, combined with the reduction in renewals work, will significantly raise safety risks to passengers and workers; urges the Government to use its power as funder of Network Rail immediately to intervene to ensure that this essential rail renewals work is not deferred, to introduce a moratorium on job cuts and to develop an industry-wide strategy to ensure that railways can be managed in a way which mitigates rather than exacerbates the effects of the economic downturn.

For the latest list of signatories please visit:

http://webmail.rmt.org.uk/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=37854%26SESSION=899

Letter from RMT General Secretary Bob Crow to all MPs, April 9, 2009

Thousands of rail and tube jobs lost or under threat – Tuesday 5 May, Rail Union National Lobby of Parliament and Rally.

I am writing to ask you to support the rally and lobby called by RMT on Tuesday 5th May 2009 to defend rail services and rail jobs.

Rail transport is green transport. Rail jobs are green jobs. Our railways and London Underground should be a powerhouse for a green stimulus to the economy to help beat the recession. Instead thousands of jobs on the railways and London Underground are being threatened or have already been lost.

Today we have been forced to announce a national ballot to fight against rail workers being made redundant at companies who are contracted to Network Rail to renew the rail network. Such renewals work includes laying new track and ballast.

These jobs are in part under threat because Network Rail has decided to make short term “efficiency savings” by deferring almost thirty percent of its renewals work for the next year. Network Rail is subsidised to the tune of £4 billion a year and is in effect controlled by the government. For months we have been imploring the government to intervene and defend these rail jobs. Yet for all the talk of bringing forward transport projects and green projects to help beat the recession the fact is the government is standing aside while skilled rail workers are being thrown on the dole.

This is a pattern being repeated across the industry affecting passenger services, rail infrastructure and rail freight. Despite the railways being heavily reliant on billions of pounds of government subsidy we are seeing a paralysis in government while job losses in the industry are being announced on an almost daily basis.

The job cuts will of course impact on services and significantly raise safety risks. This is all happening while many rail companies continue to rake in big profits and pay big bonuses while charging the most expensive fares in Europe.

Our lobby therefore has three demands and I hope you can support all or some of these.

1. For the government and Mayor of London to impose a moratorium on job cuts on the railways and London Underground and a freeze on shareholder dividends with profits instead invested to protect jobs and services.

2. An industry-wide programme so our railways can provide a stimulus to the economy to help fight the recession.

3. A wholly integrated, publicly-owned and accountable People’s Railway and London Underground which puts people before profit and where passengers and workers have a real voice.

Rail and tube workers will be demonstrating outside Parliament from 1pm to 2pm. There will then be a rally in Committee Room 14 from 2pm - 3.30 and then workers will be available to meet from 3.30 onwards in Central Lobby.

I do hope you can attend the rally and Lobby on 5 May and I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely

Bob Crow

General Secretary

RMT demands end to cuts after rail that should have been replaced breaks!

BRITAIN’S BIGGEST rail union today demanded immediate reversal of cuts to a third of essential track renewals after a broken a rail was discovered on the mainline near Swindon – a month after the stretch of line should have been replaced.

RMT said the incident highlighted Network Rail’s recklessness in allowing pressure to save money to dictate the shelving of essential works, including rail replacement, and demanded the re-instatement of all deferred work.

According to NR’s own log (attached), a ‘near vertical break’ was discovered on February 14 by a maintenance team at Knighton, near Swindon on a stretch of line that was scheduled for renewal in January, but had been put off at least until next year in a bid to save cash.

The log, known as the Safety Environment Assurance Report, reveals that the line was immediately blocked while an emergency repair was carried out – and that NR’s track maintenance engineer is now awaiting confirmation of a “revised date for renewal to take place”.

Renewing its call on Network Rail to reinstate the 28 per cent of planned renewals it has deferred, RMT also demanded to see risk assessments for every location that has seen work shelved and the reversal of cuts in frequencies of track inspections.
“A broken rail is a potential derailment and rail workers and passengers alike have every reason to demand that Network Rail stop this madness,” RMT general secretary Bob Crow said today.

“When we highlighted the scale of these cuts, Network Rail accused us of scaremongering, but if you put off essential work and then inspect the track less often you are lowering safety standards and increasing risk, and there can be no excuse for it, least of all saving money.

“Railways are the safest form of transport, but we need to keep them that way. We know to our tragic cost that corner-cutting is potentially lethal, and no-one wants to see another Hatfield, Potters Bar or Grayrigg”.
“At the same time as undermining safety Network Rail is jeopardising jobs, and that cannot be acceptable in the current economic climate, not least when the government says it will fund public works to help ride out the recession,” Bob Crow said.

ends – notes and early day motion follow.

For further information contact Derek Kotz on 020 7529 8803 or 07939 595 092

Note to editors: Earlier this month RMT revealed nearly 200 locations in three NR regions where essential renewals, including works to replace rails, sleepers and ballast, have been deferred in order to save money, despite having been agreed and placed with contractors last year. The locations are only a part of the 28 per cent of work that NR has postponed.

On May 5 rail workers will lobby parliament against cuts in jobs and services in the industry.

Early Day Motion 794, tabled by David Drew MP on February 11:

NETWORK RAIL AND THE ECONOMIC DOWNTURN

Tabled by David Drew and signed by 36 others at March 26

That this House welcomes efforts by the Government to lessen the impact of the recession and save jobs by intervening in the private sector industries, such as the car industry; notes with concern that Network Rail, which is heavily reliant on billions of pounds of Government subsidy is deferring 28 per cent. of rail renewals work, such as track and signals replacements; notes that Network Rail has confirmed in its 2009-10 business plan that this huge reduction in track renewals expenditure will have a major impact on the supply chain with 20 to 30 per cent. less heavy materials resulting in supply chain redundancies; is appalled that this will mean massive job cuts and supports the view of the rail unions that Network Rail's actions undermine the Government's stated intentions to use infrastructure projects to boost employment; further notes with concern that Network Rail is cutting the frequency of track inspections and routine signals maintenance which, combined with the reduction in renewals work, will significantly raise safety risks to passengers and workers; urges the Government to use its power as funder of Network Rail immediately to intervene to ensure that this essential rail renewals work is not deferred, to introduce a moratorium on job cuts and to develop an industry-wide strategy to ensure that railways can be managed in a way which mitigates rather than exacerbates the effects of the economic downturn.

http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=37854&SESSION=899