Rates if Pay & Conditions of Service 2013-South West Trains

Circular No: IR/693/13

Our Ref: BR2/0001/SWT; BR2/0001/IL; BR2/0001/CC; BR2/0001/ATW

27th November 2013

TO ALL BRANCHES, REGIONAL COUNCILS & REGIONAL OFFICES


PAY CIRCULAR

ITEMS CONTAINED WITHIN THIS CIRCULAR:

South West Trains (BR2/0001/SWT)
Island Line (BR2/0001/IL)
Cross Country (BR2/0001/CC)
Arriva Trains Wales (BR2/0001/ATW)

Dear colleague,

Rates of Pay & Conditions of Service 2013 – South West Trains

In line with Union Policy, a pay claim for an increase in pay and improved terms and conditions has been submitted. The Regional Organiser has met with the company and the following offer has been made:-

· A one-year offer of 3% on basic rates of pay or £600, whichever is greater, effective from 7th October 2013.

· London & South East Allowances will remain at the current rates.

The pay offer also includes the former DB Schenker staff transferred to SWT in September 2013. These grades will, receive a pro rata percentage increase relating to the date of their 2014 pay anniversary date (1st January 2014 for Engineering team members, 1st April 2014 for Fitters & OTMs and 1st July 2014 for FAMS assistants).

The next pay review for these grades would then align with other SWT grades in October 2014

The offer is the subject of a referendum which opened on Tuesday 26th November and it closes on Thursday 17th December. If you have any South West Trains members in your branch and they do not receive their voting paper, please ask them to ring the helpline or alternatively, email info@rmt.org.uk

Yours sincerely


Bob Crow
General Secretary

Sunday Leave Arrangements, Guards-South West Trains

 

 

 

 

 

 

Circular No IR/683/13

 

 

To All Branches, Regional Offices & Regional Councils

 

 

Our Ref: BR2/7/1

21st November 2013

 

 

Dear Colleagues

 

SUNDAY LEAVE ARRANGEMENTS, GUARDS – SOUTH WEST TRAINS  

 

Further to my previous circular on the above matter dated 12thSeptember 2013 (IR/535/13), in which I advised you that I had received a resolution from our Wimbledon Branch, informing me that South West Trains were attempting to arbitrarily alter theagreed Sunday Leave Arrangements.

 

I can now confirm that the company has informed me that it is not their intention to change the Sunday Working Agreement and that the abrogation of the Agreement was down to the actions of one manager. The manager in question has now been advised that he was wrong and the agreed arrangements are now being honoured.

 

I would like to take this opportunity to thank our members at Wimbledon for bringing this matter to my attention. I trust this keeps you fully advised on the matter.

 

Yours sincerely

Bob Crow

General Secretary

 

Rates of Pay & Conditions of Service 2011-South West Trains

Circular No: IR/666/13

Our Ref: BR2/0001/SWT; BR4/0001/A(C ); RT/0001/UPS

18th November 2013

TO ALL BRANCHES, REGIONAL COUNCILS & REGIONAL OFFICES

Dear colleague,

Rates of Pay & Conditions of Service 2011 – South West Trains

You may recall that a Joint Working Party to investigate a reduction in the working week for our South West Trains Guard members formed part of the settlement of the 2011 pay claim. However, this issue is still outstanding and the Regional Organiser has advised me that there has been a distinct lack of progress.

The GGC has re-considered the matter and it has instructed me to inform the company that unless genuine improvements are made towards a satisfactory settlement, then a dispute situation will exist between our organisations.

Yours sincerely

Bob Crow
General Secretary

Employment Tribunal Cases-Limitation Warning

To: All Branches and Regional Offices

 

LA/32/13

 

Circular No NP/308/13

 

07 November 2013

 

 

Dear colleague

 

Employment Tribunal Cases – Limitation Warning

 

As you are all aware as from 29th July 2013 fees are now payable in all Employment Tribunal cases. How much is paid will be determined by the type of claim it is. There are two levels.

Type A – unpaid wages claims; pay in lieu of notice ; holiday pay and redundancy pay the Issue fee will be £160 and the Hearing fee will be £230

Type B – all other cases , unfair dismissal cases; unfair dismissal and all discrimination cases the Issue Fee will be £250 and the hearing fee will be £950.

 

There are no exemptions and the case will not proceed until a fee has been received or a remission or rebate has been applied for. We are advising all members to apply for a remission of the fee this will require an assessment of the members capital and gross earnings. We want members to apply for a remission as we want to demonstrate that members cannot afford to pay these ridiculous amounts.

 

The Union will pay any fee if our Legal Team has advised that there are reasonable prospects of success and we take up the case. We will not pay any fee until the case has been assessed and considered on its merits. Therefore it is very important that you are vigilant and don’t delay in sending full papers to the team for consideration. Do not delay in sending papers; don’t hang around waiting for an appeal otherwise your delay could entail the member paying out money that they may not get back if we decide there isn’t a case.

 

Please note that the time limit in an Employment Tribunal is 3 months less one day from the date of dismissal in an unfair dismissal case NOT the date of the appeal and from the date of the act of discrimination and not the outcome of the grievance. So for example if the date of dismissal is 7th November 2013 the member will have until 6th February 2014 to lodge an ET1 and pay the fee or apply for a remission.

 

It remains the members’ responsibility to lodge the ET1 and pay the fee until they hear from our legal team that we will take up the case. You must ensure that members know this. The message must be don’t leave seeking advice to the last minute. Also ensure that all the paper work is with our legal team so that a proper assessment is made otherwise the case will not be considered until the papers are with the L2 form.

 

Please pass this on to all members so they know not to delay coming to us for assistance.

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

Robert Crow

General Secretary

 

 

 

 

 

 

COMBINATION OF CLEANING GRADES – SOUTH WEST TRAINS

 

 

 

 

 

 

Circular No IR/639/13

 

To All Branches, Regional Offices & Regional Councils

 

Our Ref: BR2/10/2

 

6th November 2013

 

 

Dear Colleague

 

COMBINATION OF CLEANING GRADES – SOUTH WEST TRAINS

 

Further to my Circular No IR/558/13 dated the 26th September 2013 with regards to the above matter and where I informed you that this matter will be discussed at the next full company council meeting. Further, I asked Branches along the South West Trains line of route if they could provide their opinion on how they would like the union to progress this matter. At the time of writing, no responses have been received.

 

I now write to inform you that a meeting has been held and I have received an update report from the Lead Officer which has beensubject to recent consideration by the General Grades Committee.

 

The Lead Officer reports that South West Trains remain of the opinion that this issue had been reviewed at Director Level and considered there was nothing further to explore at this point.Additionally, without further information as to how we can pursue this matter it would appear that South West Trains will remain unwilling to concede our claim.

 

The General Grades Committee notes the report on file from our Lead Officer. Further, the General Grades Committee has already given an instruction that the fixed rate element in this year’s pay submission must be ‘vigorously championed’ to ensure our lower paid members receive a significant rise in their rates of pay.

 

I trust this keeps you fully advised on the matter.

 

Best wishes.

Bob Crow

General Secretary

 

 

 

 

USE OF AGENCY STAFF, BOOKING OFFICE – SOUTH WEST TRAINS

 

 

 

 

 

 

Circular No: IR/638/13

Our Ref: BR2/13/1

 

6 November 2013

 

 

To: Branches, Regional Councils & Regional Offices

 

 

Dear colleague

 

USE OF AGENCY STAFF, BOOKING OFFICE – SOUTH WEST TRAINS

 

I write further to my previous circular on the above matter (Ref: IR/526/13, 9th September 2013) in which I advised you of the continued use of agency staff in the Richmond Ticket Office.

 

I received a report from our Lead Officer for the company in which he advises that there remains 1 or 2 vacancies at Richmond, but that the company is actively advertising to fill the vacancies.

 

The matter was further considered by the General Grades Committee, which noted this report and instructed me to seek confirmation that the use of agency staff at Richmond has ceased.

 

I am awaiting this report and will keep you advised of any further developments in this matter when they arise.

 

 

Yours sincerely

Bob Crow

General Secretary

Vote Andy Duncombe

Industrial Strategy - McNulty Report

 

 

 

 

 

 

Circular No IR/576/13

 

To All Branches, Regional Offices & Regional Councils

 

Our Ref: BR1/15/9

 

4th October 2013

 

 

Dear Colleague

 

INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY – MCNULTY REPORT

 

Further to my Circular No IR/493/13 dated the 22nd August 2013 with regards to the above matter and in relation to the series of special meetings taking place with our union representatives to discuss our strategy and key demands in response to the McNulty report, I can now advise you that a well attended meeting has been held in Plymouth.

 

The General Grades Committee notes the report on file regarding the successful meeting at Plymouth with regards to the McNulty Report awareness. Further, the Senior Assistant General Secretary, Regional Organiser and National Executive member addressed the very well attended meeting and it was clear from the meeting that the RMT needs to step up its campaign to further highlight to the public and media the critical roles that railway workers perform day in and day out. Therefore, the union will be producing special newsletters for our members and publications for the travelling public to address this.

 

Further, the General Grades Committee notes that an additional South West meeting is taking place in Exeter on Tuesday 22ndOctober 2013 at 18.00 hours in the Barnfield Theatre, Barnfield Road, Exeter.

 

The General Grades Committee has also reiterated its previous decision to hold meetings in Glasgow, London, Doncaster, Newcastle and Norwich as part of the McNulty Strategy and I have been instructed to urgently obtain details of these meetings.

 

In accordance with the above, I would be most grateful if you could bring the content of this circular to the attention of all your members and I will, of course, keep you fully advised on any further developments.            

 

Best wishes.

Bob Crow

General Secretary

 

 

Rates of Pay & Conditions of Service 2013-Rail Gourmet

 

 

 

 

 

 

Circular No: IR/578/13

Our Ref: HC/0001/RG

 

 

5 October 2013

 

 

To: Branches, Regional Councils & Regional Offices

 

 

Dear colleague

 

RATES OF PAY & CONDITIONS OF SERVICE 2013 – RAIL GOURMET

 

It has been brought to my attention that Rail Gourmet has imposed a below-inflation pay increase on our members without any consultations taking place with your union.

 

The matter has been considered by the General Grades Committee which has noted that, despite a recognition agreement having been in place with Rail Gourmet from September 2011, minimal pay negotiations have taken place since.

 

I have therefore been instructed by the GGC to obtain a reportregarding this issue from our Lead Officer for the company and to arrange an urgent meeting with the company.

 

Furthermore, I also bring attention to the GGC decision that Branches and Regional Councils should have a recruitment and retention plan placed on the agenda of their forthcoming meetings.

 

I will keep members advised of developments in this matter.

 

 

Yours sincerely

Bob Crow

General Secretary

Wessex Region Executive Member Nomination

To advise that the Branch has given the supporting nomination for the Wessex Executive members position to Andy Duncombe . 

Good luck to all candidates in there campaign for this position.

Reduction in the Working Week

 

 

 

 

 

 

Circular No IR/559/13

 

 

To All Branches, Regional Offices & Regional Councils

 

 

Our Ref: BR2/0004

26th September 2013

 

 

Dear Colleagues

 

REDUCTION IN THE WORKING WEEK

 

I am sure you are well aware of the long-standing union policy to reduce the working week for all our members. The issue was raised at the 2011 National Conference of Train Crew and Shunting Grades which called for a campaign to reduce the working week for all Traincrew Grades below 35 hours per week,with the ultimate target being for a working week of 32 hours.The matter has recently been reconsidered by the General Grades Committee, which instructed me to write to all Lead Officers for train operating companies asking them to continue to pursue this matter.

 

Yours sincerely

Bob Crow

General Secretary

 

 

New RMT Website- Request for Feedback

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To: HO Officers, Executive, Regional Organisers, Regional Councils, Branches, Shipping Branches

 

25 September 2013

Circular No. Comms/001/13/AB

 

Dear Colleagues,

 

NEW RMT WEBSITE: REQUEST FOR FEEDBACK

 

As you are aware RMT recently launched a new website designed to bring you the latest news and campaign detailswhilst maintaining the information and features of the old site.

 

We hope that you are enjoying the new site and we would appreciate your feedback. We would be grateful if you could complete the online survey that can be found athttp://www.rmt.org.uk/forms/website-feedback/ .

 

Please let us have your thoughts by October 31st 2013.

 

Yours sincerely,

Bob Crow

General Secretary

 

Combination if Cleaning Grades-South West Trains

 

 

 

 

 

 

Circular No IR/558/13

 

 

To All Branches, Regional Offices & Regional Councils

 

 

Our Ref: BR2/10/2

26th September 2013

 

 

Dear Colleagues

 

COMBINATION OF CLEANING GRADES – SOUTH WEST TRAINS

 

Further to my previous circular on the above matter dated 20thJune 2013 (IR/368/13), in which, I asked Branches on the South West Trains line of route for their opinions on how they would like the union to progress this matter. I can now report that, I have not received any responses from the affected Branches. I have therefore asked the Regional Organiser to have this issue discussed again at the next full Company Council meeting.

 

I am awaiting the outcome of the discussions and will provide members with an update when a report has been considered again by the General Grades Committee.

 

Yours sincerely

Bob Crow

General Secretary

 

 

 

 

Aftermath of Hillsborough Appeal for Witnesses

 

 

 

 

 

Circular No. NP/246/13

 

23rd September 2013

 

H.O. Ref: R14/5

 

TO:  ALL BRANCHES, REGIONAL COUNCILS, REGIONAL OFFICES,

COUNCIL OF EXECUTIVES & HO OFFICERS.

 

 

Dear Colleagues,

Aftermath of Hillsborough – Appeal for witnesses

Following revelations again suggesting Police manipulation of witnesses’ evidence, the Independent Police Complaints Commission launched an inquiry into the aftermath of the 1989Hillsborough disaster.

A year since it was established, the enquiry has begun recovering documents, has set up a database, recruited staff and acquired andfitted out a building. Now the enquiry is progressing with the investigation phase and witnesses are being asked to come forward.

If you were at Hillsborough on 15 April 1989 and gave a statement to Police, please contact the IPCC via this formhttps://secureforms.ipcc.gov.uk/Pages/form15.aspx or by calling 0300 200 0003. If you do make contact with the inquiry,please also inform the Hillsborough campaigner Danny Gordon (dannygordon@btconnect.com) that you have done so.

Yours sincerely,

Bob Crow

General Secretary

 

Free Travel for all Staff

 

 

 

 

 

Circular No IR/542/13

 

 

To All Branches, Regional Offices & Regional Councils

 

 

Our Ref: BR1/0238

12th September 2013

 

 

Dear Colleagues

 

FREE TRAVEL FOR ALL STAFF

 

Further to my previous circular on the above matter dated 22ndAugust 2013 (IR/491/13) in which, I advised you that the General Grades Committee had referred this issue into their National Sub-Committee to establish a full review of travel concessions across the transport industry. 

 

I can now report that this review has now taken place and theGeneral Grades Committee has instructed me to write to all the Train Operating Companies requesting talks to discuss the issue of concessionary travel facilities. Furthermore, I have been instructed to write to TSSA, ASLEF and Unite asking them to support our campaign for free travel for all staff.      

 

I will, of course, keep you fully advised on any further developments.               

 

Yours sincerely

Bob Crow

General Secretary