Branch Nomination-Bob Crow

To advise that following the Branch Meeting on the 25th August 2011, the Branch have agreed to give Bob Crow the supporting Nomination for the General Secretaries Position.

Also to advise that following the Branch Meeting on the 28th July, the Branch agreed to give the Supporting nomination to Peter Skelly for the Relief Regional Organiser position (South)

Circular No IR/380/11

TO ALL RAILWAY BRANCHES, REGIONAL OFFICES & REGIONAL COUNCILS

Our Ref: HC/7/2 26^th August 2011

Dear Colleague

BANK HOLIDAY PAYMENT & LEAVE ARRANGEMENTS, QUEENS DIAMOND JUBILEE, CATERING COMPANIES – SSP & RAIL GOURMET

I write to inform you that I have received written confirmation from Select Service Partner with regards to the bank holiday payment and leave arrangements for next year’s diamond jubilee. The arrangements for our members at SSP and Rail Gourmet are as follows:

Select Service Partners

SSP holiday entitlement is inclusive of bank holidays and will therefore be granting an additional days annual leave (pro rata) in light of the extra bank holiday. Standard bank holiday arrangements will apply.

Rail Gourmet

Rail Gourmet contracts of employment specify the individual entitlement plus ‘statutory bank holidays’ therefore the bank holiday day will be treated as a normal bank holiday day within RG.

The matter has been placed before the General Grades Committee and their decision is as follows:

“That we note the correspondence on file regarding this matter and instruct the General Secretary to inform Select Service Partners and Rail Gourmet of our acceptance of their Queens Diamond Jubilee arrangements which stipulate that our full time members employed at Rail Gourmet and Select Service Partners will receive an additional days leave and all part time members will receive extra leave on a pro-rata basis. The General Secretary is further instructed to inform all our Select Service Partner and Rail Gourmet members of our decision by personal letter, enclosing a membership form to assist in recruitment. Regional Councils and Branches to be informed.”

In accordance with the above, I have notified the company of our acceptance of the proposals and I have informed all our affected members of the GGC decision.

Best wishes.

Bob Crow

General Secretary

Pat Sikorski (Assistant General Secretary is in attendance at the Branch Meeting

Pat Sikorski (Assistant General Secretary) is in attendance at the Branch Meeting on the 25th August 2011, Pat will be addressing the Branch on National Issues being dealt with.

Also updating the Branch on the recent campaign to Organise and Recruit Catering Workers.

Pat will also be available to take questions from the Branch Members

Tuesday 16^th August 2011

Circular No. National Policy 153/11/MC

To the Secretary all Branches,

Council of Executive members,

Regional Councils and Regional Offices.

Dear Colleagues,

New Inflation Rates

The Office of National Statistics has just published new inflation figures for the twelve months to July 2011.

The Retail Price Index (RPI) for this twelve monthly period is 5%, unchanged from the figure for the twelve months to June 2011.

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is 4.4% for the twelve months to July 2011. This is up 0.2% from the figure for the twelve months to June 2011.

Upward pressures on the CPI came from a number of different ‘areas’, the largest being:

• miscellaneous goods & services where the upward pressure came from a wide variety of goods and services but by far the largest contribution came from financial services where, overall, fees rose this year but fell a year ago, particularly for arranging mortgages

• clothing & footwear where prices, overall, as usual fell between June and July due to the summer sales season. Prices this year fell by less (-3.5 per cent), though, than a year ago (-4.9 per cent). The upward effects came from men’s and children’s outerwear

• furniture, household equipment & maintenance where prices also usually fall between June and July due to the sales season. Again, though, prices fell by less this year (-1.1 per cent) than a year ago (-1.9 per cent). The most notable upward effects came from most types of furniture & furnishings and household textiles

• housing & household services where the largest effect was due to increases in housing rent, particularly for social housing provided by registered social landlords

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.

Additionally, rail fares have increased by July RPI + 3%. This means that train operating company regulated fares will increase by 8%.

Please see attached a table which shows the increase in rail fares in the constituencies of DfT Ministers.

Yours Sincerely

Bob Crow,

General Secretary

TSSA & RMT Talks - Statement from Gerry Doherty & Bob Crow

 

Dear Colleagues

 

Please see today’s statement below:

STATEMENT 1 FROM GERRY DOHERTY & BOB CROW

TSSA and RMT historically met today, 12 August 2011, to discuss the possibilities of a merged union.

A series of meetings will be held to discuss key issues and objectives recognising that both unions have separate Rule Books and traditions.

Both unions will use their own democratic structures to consult and agree with members and wish to conclude these discussions as soon as possible as industrial attacks are taking place more intensely on transport and travel workers.

The respective union negotiating teams are:

 

RMT

Alex Gordon, Mick Cash, Malcolm Dunning, Owen Herbert and reserve Mick Thompson

 

TSSA

Harriet Yeo, Mitch Tovey, Manuel Cortes and Frank Ward

RMT & TSSA MERGER

Ref: O/5/ I

Circular No. MF/40/11

l0th  August 201 I

To: All Branches and Regional Councils

Dear Colleague,

RMT & TSSA MERGER

With reference to the above, the following was placed before the Council of Executives for
consideration on Friday 5'h August.

"Discussions have taken place between myself and the General Secretary of TSSA over
proposals for both Unions to come together and merge. We are recommending to
both Executive Committees that there are two teams, RMT and TSSA respectively, and
each team should consist of four members. Obviously TSSA will pick their own team
but I recommend that the RMT team consist of the President, Senior Assistant General
Secretary and two Council of Executive members (one Shipping & Offshore, one
General Grades). lf any disagreements arise from joint discussions both myself and the
General Secretary from TSSA will become part of the committee.

I propose the following. Firstly discussions to commence on l2th August and though not
an exhaustive list of agreement the items will be as follows

• Local Branch Structure
• Local Representative Structure
• Regional Structure
• Executive Committee
• Full Time Officials
• Political Affiliation
• Timetable towards full merger."

My recommendation was adopted by the Council of Executives and discussions will take
place accordingly. I will keep Branches and Regional Councils advised of all developments.

 

Bob Crow
General Secretary

Event Date: August 16 2011

Stop the fare hikes: demo for fair fares

Date: 16th August 2011
Time: 8.30 – 9.30 AM
Place: across from Waterloo station (corner of York Way and Sutton Walk). See the meeting point marked on a map

As part of their austerity cuts, the government is planning to raise fares by 28% by 2015. We want to stop them.

Such massive fare rises will be a disaster for people already struggling with rising costs and frozen wages. People won’t be able to afford to get to work, or will be forced to drive – creating more traffic jams and more carbon emissions. Trains should be an essential public service, not a luxury for the rich.

Join us on the day we’ll find out exactly how high fares will be next January to send a clear message to the government: Affordable public transport is vital – cancel the fare hikes and don’t price us off the train!

We’ll be outside Waterloo station in London with placards, banners and plenty of outrage. Come by for half an hour on your way to work (any time between 8.30 and 9.30 AM) to pop giant balloons to show that it’s time to burst the bubble on inflation-busting fare hikes. Or make it the start of a summer day out in London. Either way, help us show the government that we won’t take their unfair fare hikes lying down!

Invite your friends via the Facebook event

Brought to you by Campaign for Better Transport, with support from Bring Back British Rail, Climate Rush, RMT and TSSA

ELECTION FOR NATIONAL HEALTH & SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE – CASUAL VACANCY REGION 12/WESSEX

Head Office Circular: NP/146/11

Our Ref: HSS 5/8

02^nd August 2011

To: The Secretary

ALL BRANCHES
WESSEX REGION

Dear Colleague

ELECTION FOR NATIONAL HEALTH & SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE – CASUAL VACANCY REGION 12/WESSEX

Further to Head Office circular NP/114/11 and at the close of elections, I am pleased to announce that Rickey Goodman of Waterloo Branch has been elected into the casual vacancy for district 12/Wessex Region of the National Health & Safety Advisory Committee.

The results are as follows:

Rickey Goodman: 1,444 votes and Jim Udale: 751 votes.

Rickey will take up his position immediately.

Please bring the contents of this circular to the attention of all colleagues.

Yours sincerely

General Secretary