Inflation Rates Update (June 2010)

Circular No. NP/115/10/MC

15th June 2010


TO: ALL BRANCHES, REGIONAL ORGANISERS, REGIONAL COUNCILS, & COUNCIL OF EXECUTIVES.


Dear Colleagues,

Inflation Rates Circular

The May rates of RPI and CPI were published by the Office for National Statistics on the 15th June 2010. The next publication date is the 13th July 2010. The May 2010 retail prices index rate is 5.1%.

This is down from 5.3% in April. The Government’s preferred measure of inflation, CPI, is at 3.4%, down from 3.7% in April.

There most significant changes came from:
food and non-alcoholic drinks, mainly due to meat and fruit prices which fell between April and May this year but rose between the same two months a year ago
transport where the price of petrol rose by 0.3 pence per litre this year but by 2.8 pence a year ago

• alcoholic drinks and tobacco where prices fell by 0.2 per cent between April and May this year but rose by 1.6 per cent a year ago, mainly reflecting the increase in excise duty announced in last year’s budget. The effect of this year’s budget was mainly seen in the April figures
• recreation and culture where small downward effects were observed across a wide range of these goods and services
• In pay submissions the RMT will continue to emphasise that your financial commitments have increased at a much greater rate than inflation and your living standards have suffered as a result.
  
  Yours sincerely,
• 
  Bob Crow
  General Secretary
  

Ballot For Strike Action-SWT Guards Free Day Payments

Circular No IR/169/10

TO: ALL BRANCHES, REGIONAL COUNCILS & REGIONAL OFFICES

Our Ref: BR2/7/6

17th June 2010


Dear Colleagues

FREE DAY PAYMENTS, GUARDS – SOUTH WEST TRAINS

Further to my Circular dated the 29th April 2010 with regards to the above matter. As you may recall, the ballot for industrial action was suspended to allow further negotiations to take place within the agreed bargaining procedures. Urgent meetings were held between the company and Company Council Representatives and no resolve was reached.

In February 1999 South West Trains gave a commitment that Guards working a free day would be paid time plus one half Monday to Friday and time plus three quarters Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays. The company has now imposed a substandard payment for free day working without a negotiated agreement with this Union.

Therefore, the matter has been placed back before the General Grades Committee and they have taken the decision to re-ballot our Guard members for industrial action short of a strike. In line with the GGC decision, I have now arranged for all our Guard members employed by South West Trains to be balloted for industrial action short of a strike. Ballot papers will be dispatched to all affected members home address on Wednesday 23rd June 2010 and the ballot will close on Wednesday 7th July 2010.

I should be pleased if you could bring this Circular to the attention of all your SWT Guard members and ask that they contact the Union’s Helpline on 0800 376 3706 if they have not received their voting paper by Wednesday 30th June 2010.

Best wishes.

Yours sincerely

Bob Crow
General Secretary

RMT Learning Development Worker is attending the Branch Meeting on the 24th June 2010

Sharon Allen
(RMT Learning Development Worker)

Is attending the Branch Meeting to address the Branch on the Unions learning program for 2010/11.

Sharon will also take question from Branch Members on Union Learning.