Circular No IR/250/14
To All Branches, Regional Offices & Regional Councils
Our Ref: BR1/14/2
25th September 2014
Dear Colleagues
BREAKDOWN IN INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS – INTERSERVE WATERLOO
I have received correspondence from our Waterloo Branch with regards to the treatment of our members working for Interserve at Waterloo Station. The Branch reports that six of our members have been suspended on spurious charges and that some of ourmembers have also reported that they are being continuallyunderpaid by the company. Furthermore, the Branch has advised that local managers have been using racially offensive language in the workplace; in one instance a member of staff was told by his manager that in their opinion “[Interserve] should not employ black people”. Our members have tried raising these issues through the individual grievance procedures; however, the company seem unwilling or unable to resolve these problems.
The General Grades Committee has considered this matter and notes that there has been an on-going organising campaign at Waterloo to recruit Interserve employees into RMT and that the victimisation of our members has intensified as union participation has increased. The apparent disregard for basic employment rights and the bullying and harassment in the workplace is abhorrent. In this regard, the General Grades Committee has reaffirmed this union’s opposition to all forms of discrimination in the workplace. I am currently seeking an urgent meeting with Interserve to address the issues at Waterloo Station. Additionally, the General Grades Committee has instructed me to prepare a ballot matrix of our affected members at Waterloo.
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 of any further developments.
Yours sincerely
Mick Cash
General Secretary
