Rates of Pay & Conditions of Service - South West Trains 2012/14

 

31st May 2013

 

Comrades,

 

RATES OF PAY & CONDITIONS OF SERVICE - SOUTH WEST TRAINS 2013/14

 

I appreciate we have not yet settled pay for 12/13 but, I feel we should start the debate and campaign to achieve a more successful pay increase than, the previous couple of years.

 

As it looks increasingly likely that we will be accepting the 2.5% offer for the latest round, that will mean, members employed by SWT have fell behind the cost of living in real terms by almost 1% in, the last 18 months alone! This is clearly not an acceptable trend, our members deserve better and we need to adopt a more robust stance in dealing with the company.

 

It is of course difficult to see how we might reverse the apathy currently being experienced amongst our members after some poor ballot results in recent years however, if we do nothing and continue in the present mode of re-acting to the company measures instead of actively pursing improvements for our members we will almost certainly not, get out of the downward spiral.

 

We see now, far too much fragmentation of the grades over a wide range of issues. This assists the company in managing a downtrodden workforce with little or no expections of achieving real respect and dignity from decent pay and conditions.

 

In an attempt to get all our members united and on board to achieve an inflation busting rise for 13/14, we need to start the campaign now. This means notice boards full up with flyers about branch meetings to discuss pay, using every opportunity when speaking to members to seek theirs the views on pay and encourage them to spread the word amongst other members. We should produce a number of posters, stickers, flyers etc locally which, carry the message for better pay and conditions in the lead up to the negotiations this autumn. Lets try and get everybody talking about a REAL increase and the need to be prepared to stand and be counted to achieve this.

 

I am happy to attend your branch meeting's to help build this campaign LETS DO IT!

 

Please bring this correspondence to the attention of your branch and members.

 

NEW IDEAS FRESH APPROACH

 

Mick Tosh

RMT Wessex Regional Organiser

 

 

 

Institute of Employment Rights Conference on Health and Safety at work

 

 

 

 

Our Ref: HSS/2/23

Head Office Circular: NP/124/13

24th May 2013

To: The Secretary

ALL BRANCHES

REGIONAL COUNCILS

 

Dear Colleague,

 

INSTITUTE OF EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS CONFERENCE ON HEALTH & SAFETY AT WORK

 

The Institute of Employment Rights is holding a conference in London on June 12th 2013 and Liverpool on July 03rd 2013 onHealth and Safety at work and the attacks on legislation fought for by unions to protect working men and women.

 

In many workplaces, people still face an unacceptable level of risk and sadly the numbers of injuries, illnesses and fatalities remain unnecessarily high in many industries. This conference will provide opportunities to get the latest information about the progress of deregulating health and safety and the new inspection and enforcement regimes.

 

Institute experts from the law, academia and trade unions will provide opinion and analysis that will help to identify how health and safety is being undermined in the workplace and the best ways in which to fight for workers’ rights.

 

This conference would be particularly beneficial to Health & Safety Reps, Branch Officers and Officials. To book your place:

 

•

Website: go to www.ier.org.uk/events and look for this conference. To get your earlybird discount pay online using paypal.

•

Post: to get your early bird discount send a cheque with your booking form.

Cheques are payable to IER, post to IER, 4th Floor, Jack Jones House, 1 Islington, Liverpool L3 8EG

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Email: office@ier.org.uk to make your booking.

 

Please make the contents of this circular available to all interested members.

 

Yours sincerely,

Bob Crow

General Secretary

 

 

 

New Inflation Rates

  

 

 

 

 

Head Office Circular No. NP/122/13

 

To the Secretary all Branches,

Council of Executive members,

Regional Councils and Regional Offices.

 

Tuesday 21st May 2013

 

 

Dear Colleagues,

 

 

New Inflation Rates

 

The Office for National Statistics has just published new inflation figures for the twelve months to April 2013.

 

The Retail Prices Index (RPI) stood at 2.9% for the year to April 2013, down 0.4% from the 3.3% figure to March2013.

 

The Consumer Prices Index (CPI) stood at 2.4% for the year to April 2013, down 0.4% from the 2.8% figure toMarch 2013.

 

According to the ONS, food (especially vegetables) and non-alcoholic beverages were up the most. And transportcosts (particularly motor fuels and air fares) dropped significantly.

 

RMT pay submissions will continue to emphasise that your financial commitments have increased at a greater rate than official inflation and that your living standards are undermined by this disparity.

 

Yours sincerely

Bob Crow

General Secretary

 

Rates of Pay & Conditions of Service-South West Trains

 

 

 

 

 

 

Circular No: IR/303/13

 

22nd May 2013

 

TO ALL BRANCHES, REGIONAL COUNCILS AND REGIONAL OFFICES

 

Dear Colleague,

 

RATES OF PAY & CONDITIONS OF SERVICE 2012 – SOUTH WEST TRAINS (BR2/0001/SWT)

 

In line with Union Policy a claim was submitted to the Company for a substantial increase in rates of pay and improvements to conditions of service. Following a series of negotiations with the Company, the improved and final offer which has been tabled is as follows:-  

 

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A 2.5% increase to basic rates of pay, with a minimum annual increase of £500, backdated to 1st October 2012. This also applies to London & South East and associated regional allowances.

 

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The introduction of a family and friends concessionary travel scheme on South West Trains.

 

Having discussed this matter with the Lead Officer and RMT representatives, the General Grades Committee has taken the decision to conduct a referendum of all affected members with a recommendation to vote ‘YES’ to accept the offer.

 

Also, as members will be aware from my previous Circular IR/166/13, 13th March 2013; in respect of the assessable pay for pension contributions and in line with previous years arrangements, it has been agreed that the revised rates of pay based on the 1st October 2012 increase will, once finalised, be applied to pension contributions from 1st July 2013.  

 

The voting papers will be posted out to members today and the closing date is Tuesday 11th June 2013.

 

RATES OF PAY & CONDITIONS OF SERVICE 2012 – ISLAND LINE (BR2/0001/IL)

 

In line with Union Policy a claim was submitted to the Company for a substantial increase in rates of pay and improvements to conditions of service. Following a series of negotiations with the Company, the final offer which has been tabled is as follows:-  

 

•

A 2.5% increase to basic rates of pay, with a minimum annual increase of £500, backdated to 1st October 2012. This also applies to the South East allowance for those grades that qualify.

 

•

The introduction of a family and friends concessionary travel scheme on Island Line Trains (including travel on South West Trains services). This is discretionary on the part of the Company and will only apply during the current South West Trains franchise and while Stagecoach is the franchise holder.

 

Having discussed this matter with the Lead Officer and RMT representative, the General Grades Committee has taken the decision to conduct a referendum of all affected members with a recommendation to vote ‘YES’ to accept the offer.

 

Also, as members will be aware from my previous Circular IR/166/13, 13th March 2013; in respect of the assessable pay for pension contributions and in line with previous years arrangements, it has been agreed that the revised rates of pay based on the 1st October 2012 increase will, once finalised, be applied to pension contributions from 1st July 2013.  

 

The voting papers will be posted out to members today and the closing date is Tuesday 11th June 2013.

 

If any member who is eligible to vote in the above referenda does not receive their voting paper, then please ask them to call the Freephone helpline number on 0800 376 3706 or RMT Head Office on 0207 387 4771. I would be grateful if you could bring the contents of this Circular to the attention of your Branch members and I will of course keep you advised of all developments.

 

Yours Sincerely

Bob Crow

General Secretary

 

 

SWT 2012 Pay Update

To update further that your Company Council Reps and your Regional Organiser met with the Unions Executive and the Assistant General Secretary to discuss the SWT pay offer 

The outcome of the meeting was that the Unions Executive will arrange for a referendum to be sent out to all SWT members.

Pay Update October 2012-SWT

To advise all that the Company have advised is that the offer the originally made to us which is as below, is their final offer. We are currently discussing our next steps on this offer.

2.5% on Rates of Pay
2.5% on Regional Allowances
Family Friendly concession scheme (info not received as yet)

We will keep you posted on further developments on this in due course.