Keep the Guard on the Train, Keep the Train Safe - Badges

 

 

 

 

 

 

Please Respond

 

Circular No IR/220/14

 

 

To All Branches, Regional Offices & Regional Councils

 

 

Our Ref: BR2/0317

28th August 2014

 

 

Dear Colleagues

 

KEEP THE GUARD ON THE TRAIN, KEEP THE TRAIN SAFE – BADGES

 

The following resolution was adopted at this year’s Annual General Meeting:-

 

 “This Branch has noticed in the last few weeks that many train companies are asking staff members to remove the RMT keep the Guard on the train, keep the guard safe badges using many excuses for them to be removed. Some of our members have been threatened with disciplinary action by managers if they don’t remove them.

 

Train companies have uniform policies which include one union badge. We believe that any company that are asking our members to remove them constitutes anti-union intimidation and harassment.

 

We ask this AGM to instruct the General Secretary to write to all train operating companies requesting their views on this badge and the reasons why, if they have banned them, also asking for commitment to keep the Guard on every train.”

 

The General Grades Committee has now had the opportunity to consider this matter and has instructed me to write to all Branches and Regional Councils seeking examples of RMT members who have been threatened and/or disciplined for wearing official RMT badges.

 

I would be most grateful if you could bring the content of this circular to the attention of all your members and I will keep you advised of any developments.

 

Yours sincerely

Mick Cash

Acting General Secretary

Staff Feeding Scheme - Select Service Partners

 

 

 

 

 

 

To All Branches, Regional Offices & Regional Councils

 

Circular No IR/222/14

Our Ref: HC/1/1

28th August 2014

 

 

Dear Colleague

 

STAFF FEEDING SCHEME – SELECT SERVICE PARTNER

 

I have received a report from the Lead Officer advising me of Select Service Partner’s intention totake away our members’ right to a free meal under the “staff feeding scheme” and to introduce a new“colleague discount scheme” from 24th September.

 

On hearing of the company’s proposal, the Lead Officer sought a meeting at which the company refused to back down.

 

In addition, I have received a resolution from our Waterloo Branch on the matter and this has been considered by the General Grades Committee. The following decision has been taken:-

 

“We note the resolution from Waterloo Branch and agree with the sentiments expressed within. We share their concerns that SSP have imposed a new discount scheme on our Members taking away their right to a free meal under SSP’s staff feeding scheme whilst by-passing agreed procedures in the form of refusing to consult on this issue through the agreed bargaining machinery. We also note that Staff are not permitted to carry cash on SSP premises therefore impinging on their break time whilst having to leave the premises to purchase food.

 

​This we feel is unacceptable and we therefore instruct the General Secretary to write to SSP informing them of our objections to the removal of our members free meal voucher and any changes to current working practices must be agreed through the bargaining machinery, any future consultation should exclude SSP’s “your shout representatives” and only include our elected Representatives through the bargaining machinery. Further we instruct the General Secretary to place any response back in front of the General Grades Committee.”

 

I have written to the company accordingly and will keep you advised of any further developments.

 

 

Yours sincerely

Mick Cash

Acting General Secretary

Changes to Rail Staff Travel Concessions - 12 Months Trial

 

 

 

 

 

 

Circular No IR/213/14

 

 

To All Branches, Regional Offices & Regional Councils

 

 

Our Ref: BR1/12/2

21st August 2014

 

 

Dear Colleagues

 

CHANGES TO RAIL STAFF TRAVEL CONCESSIONS – 12 MONTHS TRIAL

 

I am pleased to bring to your attention an important change to the calculation of privilege fares for eligible railway staff which is to be trialled for a 12 month period from this September. The discount available for eligible rail staff, known as the "Priv" rate has been set at 75% of the full-price fare ever since it was established under British Rail and subsequently incorporated into the Rail Staff Travel Scheme when this was set up. Using the current fare names, this means the Anytime Fare is used to calculate the "Priv" fare.

 

On and from 7th September 2014 (date of sale), a 12 months' trial is to commence and the fare on which a "Priv" fare is to be calculated is being expanded to include day and period walk-up off-peak fares (including super off-peak fares). The time restrictions applying to these tickets will also apply to the "Priv" discounted ticket. "Priv" fares continue to be available at ticket offices and on train (if the ticket office is not open on at the departure station).

 

However, the following fares are not covered under this trial:-

 

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Advance Purchase fares

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Season Tickets

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Any fares that include a London Travelcard

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Non-safeguarded (i.e. TOC staff only) any fares that include London Underground zone fares unless making a through-London journey.

 

This new "Priv" rate fare will be available for leisure travel by:-

 

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Safeguarded staff using their Staff Travel Card (no need to date a box).

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Non-safeguarded staff using the TOC Privilege Car

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FIP card holders will also now be eligible for discounts on the additional fare types at their prevailing discount rate - typically 50%.

 

Two examples of the new discounts are shown below (standard class return journey):-

 

1. Carmarthen to Abergavenny

 

Current situation

 

£38.40 ​Fare available to the public for this journey (Off-Peak Return).

£17.20 ​"Priv" fare- based on "Anytime" fares

 

From 7th September 2014

 

£38.40 ​Fare available to the public for this journey (Off-Peak Return).

£9.60 ​​New "Priv'' fare based on "Off-Peak" fares

 

Reduction in "Priv'' fare of £7.60 (44%)

 

2. London to Manchester

 

Current situation

 

£79.70 ​Fare available to the public for this journey (Off-Peak Return)

£80.25 ​"Priv'' fare- based on "Anytime" fares

 

From 7th September 2014

 

£79.70 ​Fare available to the public for this journey  (Off-Peak Return)

£19.95 ​New "Priv" fare based on "Off-Peak" fares

 

Reduction in "Priv'' fare of £60.30 (75%)

 

I would be most grateful if you could bring this matter to the attention of your members.

 

Yours sincerely

Mick Cash

Acting General Secretary

 

 

Free Travel for All Staff

 

 

 

 

 

Circular No IR/169/14

 

To All Branches, Regional Offices & Regional Councils

 

Our Ref: BR1/0238

 

19th June 2014

 

Dear Colleague

 

FREE TRAVEL FOR ALL STAFF

 

Further to my Circular No IR/709/13 dated the 5th December 2013 in which I advised you that the General Grades Committeehad instructed me to write to all the Train Operating Companies requesting talks to discuss the issue of concessionary travel facilities. I can now advise you that I have received a response from the following TOCs:

 

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Arriva Trains Wales believe that their current travel facilities are more beneficial for members than the safe guarded rail facilities but could not offer both due to potential crowding issues.

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East Coast believe that their current travel facilities are more beneficial for members than the safe guarded rail facilities but could not offer both as it would sacrifice passenger revenue.

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First Hull Trains state that they are not in a position to provide our travel facility demands as they are an open access operator and are reliant heavily on passenger ticket revenue.

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Abellio Greater Anglia believes that this could only be achieved should the whole industry agree to such a scheme.

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South West Trains do not state their views but request a meeting with the Lead Officer to discuss this matter through the agreed collective procedure.

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Southern state that they are unable to enter into any discussions concerning travel facilities until such time as a decision on the new Thameslink, Southern Great Northern franchise has been made.

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ATOC state that the issue of concessionary travel facilities for all employees on the railway is a matter for employers.

 

Additionally, I am in the process of arranging a meeting with our sister unions in support of our campaign for full privilege travel concessions for all staff and I am seeking legal advice on thefeasibility of a national ballot across all of our membership on the principle of free travel for all. I will, of course, keep you fully advised on any further developments.

 

Best wishes.

Mick Cash

Acting General Secretary

Proposed National Organising Day

TO THE SECRETARY                                                       

ALL BRANCHES                                                     

Circular No MF/59/14

MOM/ORG/OD/PNTORGDY

9^th June 2014

Dear Colleague,

PROPOSED NATIONAL ORGANISING DAY

      Following a resolution submitted by the Wessex Regional Council to hold an annual organising day on Bob Crow’s birthday, the union’s Council of Executives have considered the matter and have made the following decision:

            “That we note the resolution from our Wessex Regional Council and the sentiments within and commend them for their actions.

            We instruct the Acting General Secretary to write to all regions and request that they follow the Wessex example and then send a report back to the Council of Executives with a progress report on their activities.

            Branches are to be advised of the Wessex resolution and to organise activities on the13^th June and feedback to their respective regions in order to continue their organising actions as part of an ongoing Regional Council Organising Plan.

            The Acting General Secretary is instructed to produce commemorative black t-shirts with the photo on the March edition of RMT News and "Don't Mourn           Organise" and to liaise closely with the Organising Unit in order to make these events and t-shirts a success and, in line with the Wessex resolution, make this an annual event on or around the 13th June each year.

            Finally the Council of Executives recognises that organising transport workers should be a daily not an annual event and hopes that all regions/branches will use this as a springboard to enhance their ongoing organising campaigns.

Yours sincerely

M. Cash

Acting General Secretary

General Secretary Election

Waterloo Branch has given Alan Pottage the branch supporting nomination for the RMT General Secretary position 

Vote Number 1 for Alan Pottage 

Alan Pottage for General Secretary