Free Day Payments Guards-South West Trains

TO ALL RAILWAY BRANCHES, REGIONAL OFFICES & REGIONAL COUNCILS


Our Ref: BR2/7/6
8th July 2010


Dear Colleagues

FREE DAY PAYMENTS, GUARDS – SOUTH WEST TRAINS

I write to advise you that voting in the ballot was as follows:

Question: “Are you prepared to take industrial action short of a strike?”

Number of Votes Cast 288
Number found to be spoiled 1
Those Voting YES 177
Those Voting NO 110

The General Grades Committee has now had opportunity to consider this matter and the following decision has been made:

“That we note the ballot result and the wishes of our South West Trains Guard members. South West Trains have clearly reneged on the free day working arrangements and members are to be congratulated for their overwhelming vote. All members are therefore instructed not to work any free days from 00.01 hours on Sunday 25th July 2010 until further notice. A letter to be sent to all Guard Company Council Representatives, all Guard Representatives, all relevant Branches and a personal letter to all South West Trains Guard members. General Grades Committee to be kept informed of all developments. The company to be kept advised of this union’s availability to resolve this issue through the agreed bargaining procedure.”

In line with the General Grades Committee decision all South West Trains Guard members are instructed not to work any free days from 00.01 hours on Sunday 25th July 2010 until further notice.

I am confident that this action will be fully supported by our members. I have informed SWT that we remain available for talks and I hope that management will see sense and take the necessary steps to resolve this dispute. In the meantime, I would like to urge all SWT Guard members to take industrial action short of a strike and stand together with their colleagues to help us achieve justice.

Yours sincerely


Bob Crow
General Secretary