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."

Xmas working update!

After some frantic last minute talks upon the subject of Xmas working with Amey management, it looks like there are no significant improvements forthcoming on the matter. Not a great surprise, but you'll never know until you have tried.

One concession, that I can't confirm yet because I have not seen it in black and white, is the apparent removal of the link between the payment of the £350 bonus and the eventual outcome of the job. It correct, it marks a small victory in a otherwise sorry state of affairs.

Amey were clearly unwilling to commit themselves to anything that didn't stand a chance of their being reimbursed by Network Rail for it. Network Rail are again the key factor in the equation, and Amey like all the other companies are not willing to rock the boat and incur their displeasure on the matter.

Network Rail seem clearly to be on a continuing path of getting things done on the cheap, continuing their philosophy of driving costs down at every opportunity. I dont think there is anyone in Network Rail senior management who would even get out of bed for what they are asking our blokes to get out of bed for on Christmas Day.

Xmas working counter proposals

It looks likely that there will be a failure to agree to the proposals from Amey on Xmas working, a number of union reps have some major issues with it, which inevitably calls for counter proposals on the subject.

Below are a set of counter proposals that I have submitted to our lead officer, I know other union reps have chipped in with a number of suggestions and points. What the eventual form of counter proposals that will be submitted to Amey will be is not clear, but it is hoped that there will be some improvement in a number of areas. One is the question in connection with lieu days, another is the strings attached to the bonus payment. So hopefully, that counter proposal will be revealed shortly, and we'll know what Amey's response is to it shortly after that. And then we'll know where we stand.

CHRISTMAS 2009 AND NEW YEAR 2010

WORKING AND PAYMENT ARRANGEMENTS

Please see below the proposed working and payment arrangements for Amey staff working or required to be on 'contingency cover' over the Christmas 2009 and New Year 2010 bank holiday period:

The following outline the working and payment arrangements over the period for those employee who volunteer to work:-

1. CHRISTMAS

· Friday 25th December 2009 - 'Rostered and not required'
· Saturday 26th December 2009 - 'Rostered and not required'
· Monday 1st January 2007 - 'Rostered and not required'
· For turns commencing during the period 17:00 hours on Thursday 24th December 2009 to 05:59 hours on Sunday 27th December 2009 and also where the majority of time worked fall within this period:-
· £350 (taxable) bonus.
· plus appropriate enhancement (double time).
· plus compensation day off in lieu.

CONTINGENCY COVER

· Employees required to be on 'contingency cover' (on-call) between 12:00 hours on Thursday 24th December 2009 to 12:00 hours on Sunday 27th December 2009 to receive a lump sum of £175 for each period of such commitment where the majority of the 'contingency cover' (on-call) falls within this period. If required to work, a minimum of 3 hours payment at the appropriate enhanced rate will be paid. In addition, a compensation day off in lieu is granted after 3.5 hours.
· It should be noted that in the event of being required to attend work and they complete 50% or more of what would be deemed a normal shift, the bonus payment will be £350 and NOT £175.

2. NEW YEAR

· Friday the 1st of January 2010- 'Rostered and not required'
· For turns commencing during the period 17:00 hours on Thursday the 31st of December 2009 and 05:59 on Saturday the 2nd of January 2010 and also where the majority of time worked falls within this period:-
· £350 (taxable) bonus.
· plus appropriate enhancement (double time).
· plus compensation day off in lieu.

CONTINGENCY COVER

· Employees required to be on 'contingency cover, (on-call) between 12:00 hours on Thursday the 31st of December 2009 to 12:00 hours on Saturday 1st December 2010 to receive a lump sum of £175 for each period of such commitment where the majority of the 'contingency cover' (on-call) falls within this period. If required to work, a minimum of 3 hours payment at the appropriate enhanced rate will be paid. In addition, a compensation day off in lieu is granted after 3.5 hours.
· It should be noted that in the event of being required to attend work and they complete 50% or more of what would be deemed a normal shift, bonus payment payable will be £350 (taxable) bonus and NOT £175.

Future

To facilitate speedy conclusion of negotiations in future situations, it is proposed that the basic points of the above remain pretty much unchanged, with only the bonus payments increasing by whatever percentage was agreed in the annual payrise talks any given year.

Amey and Xmas working

Click on image to enlarge.

Click on image to enlarge.

Click on image to enlarge.

Above is the circular that has come out from Amey on the subject of Xmas working, nothing radical, and nothing particularly different from what Network Rail has indicated on the matter.

Some questions spring to mind. They say double time, £350 bonus plus a day in lieu. Does that mean double time + £350 + day in lieu, or double time + £350 - day in lieu?

The payments for on-call staff leave a lot to be desired, £75 a day plus doulbe time.

The move away from established formula's for Xmas working in past years has led to a bit of a pot luck approach every year. This has resulted in a marginally higher bonus and for some a marginally higher shift premium but not everyone. But for others it hasn't quite worked out so well, on-call being an example.

One other point that I always dislike, is the condition that they always attach to the bonus. If you turn in, work your socks off, and the job goes belly up it's all for nought. Maybe it's me, I just dislike strings.

So there isn't anything in it that would make me say it's good or great. More a case of that this is "what's on the table", and if it ticks your boxes then you'll be working, if not the you wont. The choice is yours at the end of the day.

Any comments appreciated.

Xmas working

Click on image to enlarge.

The above is a letter from Network Rail dated the 6th of October, sent out by Peter Williams, Head of Commercial, Infrastructure Investments at Network Rail. On the subject of Xmas working.

I heard from a colleague who attended the Amey company council on the 21st of October, that Amey had stated that Network Rail hadn't given them any firm details as to what they'd be paying over the Xmas period and so were unable to say what Amey would be offering.

One has to assume someone is telling a porkie somewhere.