Use Of Agency Staff, Booking Office-South West Trains

 

 

 

 

 

 

Circular No IR/526/13

 

To All Branches, Regional Offices & Regional Councils

 

Our Ref: BR2/13/1

 

9th September 2013

 

 

Dear Colleague

 

USE OF AGENCY STAFF, BOOKING OFFICE – SOUTH WEST TRAINS

 

Further to my Circular No IR/345/13 dated the 11th June 2013with regards to the above matter and where I informed you that the situation at Richmond Ticket Office will continue to be monitored, I can now advise you that I have received a further report from the Regional Organiser clarifying the current position.

 

The matter has been subject to recent consideration by the General Grades Committee who note that South West Trains still have one or two agency workers employed in the Richmond Ticket Office and that the company are currently advertising and seeking to employ two Booking Office staff to remove the use of any agency workers.

 

Therefore, an update report will be placed back before the General Grades Committee when normal working has resumed, for further consideration.

 

I will, of course, keep you fully advised on any further developments.

 

Best wishes.

Bob Crow

General Secretary

 

Travel Facilities -Rail Gourmet

 

 

 

 

 

 

Circular No IR/486/13

 

 

To All Branches, Regional Offices & Regional Councils

 

 

Our Ref: HC/12/1

22nd August 2013

 

 

Dear Colleagues

 

TRAVEL FACILITIES – RAIL GOURMET

 

Further to my previous circular on the above matter dated 5thApril 2013 (IR/205/13), in which, I advised you that the union was pursuing travel facilities for our Rail Gourmet members. I can now report that I have received a response from Rail Gourmet on this matter.

 

The company state that they want travel facilities for all staff;however they are not able to implement this as the costs would be too prohibitive. Rail Gourmet has also indicated that if they incorporated travel facilities into future and existing contracts then it would make them uncompetitive in the tendering process.

 

The General Grades Committee has had opportunity to consider this matter and has instructed me to continue to progress this matter with Rail Gourmet and the Train Operating Companies.The General Grades Committee has also reiterated the union’s policy that all agency ancillary workers should be brought back in-house.  

 

Yours sincerely

Bob Crow

General Secretary

 

 

Reduction in Working Hours for Guards (SWT)

 

 

FOR THE ATTENTION OF ALL GUARDS MEMBERS

 

Reduction in Working Hours for Guards

 

 

The current situation regarding Guards hours is somewhat frustrating.

 

This year began positively enough with a meeting taking place on 7th January where we discussed the principles of moving towards a 35 hour week.

 

We created two small sub groups to look at finance and changes to working arrangements which would assist in achieving the reduction in hours without commitment. We believed this would lead to the Guards considering an offer on reduction of hours by the autumn, indeed the management agreed we should have a timetable to being able to bring the matter back to Company Council for consideration by May.

 

Using every best effort to encourage SWT to progress this matter we have faced a series of cancelled meetings and a number of reasons for not continuing the talks to achieve this goal.

 

We have a full Company Council meeting this month and we will push for these discussions to restart. The success of our progress will ultimately be, in your hands. Should the progress continue to be delayed, ignored or sidelined we will consult with you, our members on the best way forward.

 

Yours Fraternally,

 

 

 

 

Mick Tosh ​

RMT Regional Organiser Wessex

Tel : 07900 877720

Email: m.tosh@rmt.org.uk  

 

PLEASE DISPLAY ON ALL NOTICE BOARDS

 

 

 

August Branch Meeting Cancelled

Hi All

To advise that due to unfortunate circumstances and reasons beyond our control the Branch Meeting on Thursday 22nd August 2013 has had to be cancelled, i have re-arranged the meeting and this will now take place on the 29th August 2013, at 14-45, posters advertising this will be sent out shortly.

On behalf of myself and the Branch Officials we would like to apologise for the cancellation of the meeting.

I have attached a letter outlining the above

Thanks

Regards

Rickey Goodman

Rickey Goodman
Waterloo Branch Secretary

Action for Rail Day

Dear Branch members

To advise that the Waterloo Branch along with Feltham 1 Branch have co-ordinated a date to leaflet the members of public following the announcement of the fare increase for 2014, 

The RMT are keen to engage with the general public in light of the important campaign of National Action for Rail Day, if any Branch members/activists are available on the date below to assist us in this important campaign can you please let myself  know by using the contact details below or John Donovan (Feltham Branch Secretary) feltham1@rmt.org.uk 

To advise that National Officers from the RMT will also be in attendance at this important event 

The location and time and date of this activity is as follows:

Tuesday 13th August 2013 

location Waterloo Station please meet at exit 5 which is located opposite the old Euro Star terminal 

Please meet at 07-45 am at the above location

Thanks

Regards

 

Rickey Goodman

TUPE Update

 Circular No: NP/ 200/13

Our Ref: LA/ 29 /13

 

29th July 2013

 

To: Branches, Regional Councils & Regional Offices

 

Dear Colleague,

 

TUPE UPDATE

Yet another kick in the teeth for Trade Unions comes again from Europe, in a in a case which it had been hoped would change TUPE law in favour of employees. Alemo-Herron vs. Parkwood Leisure was a landmark case with serious implications, particularly for workers being transferred from the public sector to private sector companies.

The case was brought almost three years ago after Parkwood Leisure refused to pay its workers an increase in line with a collective agreement the employees understood to have been transferred as part of their protections under TUPE Regulations.

However, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) on18 July 2013) ruled that industry or sector-wide collective agreements that are incorporated into the contracts of employees should not be protected during a transfer.

The contracts of Parkwood Leisure employees stated that their wages should rise "from time to time" according to collective bargaining agreements, but the Court ruled that such "dynamic" agreements do not need to be adhered to after a transfer has taken place.

However, the collectively-agreed pay rate of workers at the time of their transfer continues to be protected under TUPE regulations.

The decision is a very disappointing one for the trade unionmovement, the ECJ has shifted the traditional interpretation of TUPE as a set of legislation to protect workers, to concentrate on therights of bosses instead.

Yours sincerely

Bob Crow

General Secretary

 

 

FINANCES OF THE UNION – PAY-BASED CONTRIBUTION RATE CONSULTATION

 

 

 

 

 

Circular No MF/72/13

TO: ALL BRANCHES & REGIONAL COUNCILS

 

Our Ref:  FIN/051

 

18th July 2013

 

 

Dear colleague

 

FINANCES OF THE UNION – PAY-BASED CONTRIBUTION RATE CONSULTATION

 

In accordance with Council Executives’ Decision No. CEww, June 2013, an item regarding the Finances of the Union was placed before the 2013 Annual General Meeting.

 

Arising from the adoption of Item No 73 at the 2013 Annual General Meeting, it is necessary to open up a consultation process amongst all Branches and Regional Councils regarding a progressive contributory subscription rate which can be based on member’s pay.

 

The position that a member on low pay has to pay the Full Rate and then claim a rebate is to be ended, which will be put into place on a temporary basis, until the full consultation on subscriptions amongst the membership has been carried out. Any member who is on a basic rate of pay of less than £20,000.00 (inclusive of London Weighting, where applicable) will pay £1.25 per week from January 1st 2014. There will be an increase on the levy of every member who earns above £20,000.00 per year, at the amount of 6 pence per week,which will then be transferred into the new Legal Fund.

 

I should therefore be grateful if you would give this matter your consideration and submit your initial views and suggestions to me by 1st December 2013.

 

Yours sincerely

 

Bob Crow

General Secretary