RATES OF PAY & CONDITIONS OF SERVICE 2011 - SOUTH WEST TRAINS

Our Ref: BR2/0001/SWT

 

23rd January 2012 

 

Dear Colleagues,

 

RATES OF PAY & CONDITIONS OF SERVICE 2011 - SOUTH WEST TRAINS

 

Further to my letter of 17th January, members will be aware of the
decision taken to conduct a referendum of affected members regarding the
above.

 

Unfortunately, due to problems with the distribution of voting papers in
some areas, it is necessary to rerun this referendum. The new voting
papers will be sent out to members' home address tomorrow and the new
closing date is Tuesday 7th February 2012.

 

All other details will remain the same. Apologies for any inconvenience
caused.    

 

Yours Sincerely,

 

Bob Crow

General Secretary

Ballot for South West Trains 2011 Pay Offer

To advise that the referendum Ballot Papers are being sent to all RMT Members within South West Trains, to vote on the pay offer of 4.75%

For those members who do not receive the ballot papers please call Freephone 0800-376-3706 or e-mail info@rmt.org.uk or contact your local Representative or Branch Secretary.

Ref: O/5/1

Circular No. MF/7/12

20^th January 2012

To: All Branches and Regional Councils

Dear Colleague,

RMT & TSSA Merger

With reference to the above, the following resolution was carried at the December 2011 Statutory Meeting of the Council of Executives following a meeting between RMT and TSSA which took place on December 2^nd 2011.

“That we note that a joint meeting of RMT and TSSA Executives has taken place.

The General Secretary is instructed that our negotiating team is to continue to engage in discussion with the TSSA on the possibility of a merger between our two organisations.

This Council of Executives is of the view that the time is now appropriate to discuss some fundamental items of principle.

Accordingly, our negotiating team and General Secretary in discussions with his counterpart are developed positions obtained on:

1. The annual conference/AGM as the supreme governing body of the new organisation – its defined powers and composition.

2. The role of the Executive body of the new organisation – whether it would be a management and supervisory body or whether it will be responsible for the governance of the Union between AGMs, have complete policy-making powers, control and settle trades disputes and agreements with companies and instruct and oversee the General Secretary;

3. Union officers – whether they will be elected from among the membership and subject to periodic re-election or whether they are to be appointed by the General Secretary;

4. The new organisation’s political framework.

A report from our negotiating team to be placed before the Council of Executives.

Regional Councils and Branches to be advised.”

With reference to the above, the following resolution was carried at the Council of Executives on Thursday 19^th January 2012.

“That we endorse the actions of our General Secretary on this issue. We note that informal discussions have taken place with the TSSA General Secretary and our own. We call upon the TSSA to have another Executive Committee meeting with us to discuss the aspects of the proposed merger. After this meeting we instruct the General Secretary to call a meeting of all Regional Council Presidents and Secretaries to consult on where we are at present with the merger discussions. The General Secretary to send out a circular, e-mail and text to all Branches and Regional Councils with this decision.”

Yours sincerely

Bob Crow

General Secretary

Circular No IR/38/12

To All Branches, Regional Offices & Regional Councils

Our Ref: BR2/7/6

26^th January 2012

Dear Colleagues

USE OF AGENCY STAFF – SOUTH WEST TRAINS

Further to my previous circular on the above matter dated 10^th November 2011 (IR/503/11), this matter has been subject to recent consideration by the General Grades Committee and their decision is as follows:

“That we note the correspondence on file relating to the outsourced cleaning contract currently held by Carlisle Cleaning & Support Services at South West Trains.

From April 2012 Churchill Cleaning Services will be replacing Carlisle and TUPE situation will exist.

Therefore we instruct the General Secretary to ensure full support is available to our members throughout this process.

Further we instruct the General Secretary to organise a recruitment programme as a precursor to demand a recognition agreement, in line with the agreement already achieved with Churchill on the Tyne & Wear Metro, involving Branches, Regional Council and the Organising Unit.

A full report to be placed back before the General Grades Committee. Branches and Regional Councils to be informed.”

I will now be acting on the instructions of this decision and I will keep you advised of any developments.

Yours sincerely

Bob Crow

General Secretary

New Inflation Rates

Tuesday 17^th January 2012

Circular No. National Policy 003/12/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 December 2011. The next release date will be the 14^th February 2012.

The Retail Price Index (RPI) for this twelve monthly period is 4.8%, down from the 5.2% figure for the twelve months to November 2011.

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is 4.2% for the twelve months to December 2011. This is down 0.6% from the figure for the twelve months to November 2011.

The fall in RPI is the largest fall in annual inflation since between May and June 2009. The largest downward pressures to the change in RPI annual inflation between November and December 2011 came from petrol, oil & other fuels, gas and clothing & footwear. Partially offsetting these were upward pressures from car insurance and telephone charges.

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

To update members on the issue of the South West Trains (October 2011) pay talks, as previously advised the RMT Negotiating team had met with the Company on several occasions to discuss the offers that were proposed to us, and the final offer made by the Company was 4.75%.

The RMT have not accepted this offer, and the Full Company Council Representatives met with the Unions Executive/Assistant General Secretary and the Regional Organiser to discuss this offer and the next steps on this.

In a conclusion out of this meeting the Unions Executive will be having a meeting on Wednesday 11th January where the Executive (Unions Governing Body) will make recommendations on this.

More information will be displayed on this site on this issue with further updates.