Special Branch Meeting

The Branch has arranged a A special  meeting that will take place on the 10th September 2015, this has been arranged in light of the forth coming nominations for the National Presidents position.

The Branch has received letters from candidates who are seeing the branches nomination, these will be read out at the Branch, where a decision will be made on their preferred candidate. To ensure fairness to all candidates standing for this position, none have been invited to address this branch meeting.

Also at the Branch there will be updates on  the following: 

1. Station Staff Restructuring 

2. Guards Reduction in hours Ballot

Hope to see you there

STAFF FEEDING – SELECT SERVICE PARTNERS

 

 

 

 

 

 

PLEASE RESPOND

 

Circular No IR/198/15

 

To All Branches, Regional Offices & Regional Councils 

 

Our ref: HC/1/1

 

19th August 2015

 

 

Dear Colleague

 

STAFF FEEDING – SELECT SERVICE PARTNERS

 

Further to my Circular No IR/222/14 dated the 28th August 2014with regards to the above matter and where I informed you that I will be raising the union’s objections to the removal of our members free meal vouchers under the staff feeding scheme and replacing it with a new colleague discount scheme from September 2014. Further highlighting the concerns for our members at Waterloo who had no suitable food storage or cooking facilities on site.

 

I can now advise you that I have received an update report from the Lead Officer indicating that the discount scheme has been rolled out company wide and SSP are planning to extend the scheme to Rail Gourmet. Further, the company has stated that ‘staff at Waterloo have access to fridges and a microwave oven.’

 

The matter has again been subject to recent consideration by ourGeneral Grades Committee and I have been instructed to seek information from relevant Branches and Regional Councils as to where this is not being complied with. Additionally, I am in the process of organising a meeting with our Hotel & Catering Grades Liaison Committee where this matter will be added to the agenda for further discussion.

 

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

 

Best wishes.

Mick Cash

General Secretary

 

Reduction in the Working Week – Guards/Commercial Guards – South West Trains

 

 

 

 

 

 

To All Branches, Regional Offices & Regional Councils

 

Circular No IR.191/15

 

 

 

 

Our Ref: BR2/0004

10th August 2015

 

 

Dear Colleagues 

 

Reduction in the Working Week – Guards/Commercial Guards – South West Trains 

 

The union has been negotiating with South West Trains for a while now in an effort to reduce Guards and Commercial Guards working week from 42 hours to 35 hours. In this day and age to have a 42 hour week is just totally unacceptable.

 

Following long and protracted negotiations I am pleased to say that some progress has been made and we have negotiated a reduction of 2 hours making the new working week 40 hours. We will continue negotiating and fighting for a 35 hour week and there has been a commitment from SWT, should they secure the franchise, to set up a joint working group to discuss Guards terms and conditions including working hours.

 

The General Grades Committee has decided to hold a referendum of all our SWT Guards and Commercial Guards members on the proposals with a recommendation to accept.

 

LDC representatives will be available in their depots on the 17th18th and 19th August to answer any questions/concerns members may have. The voting papers and accompanying literature will be despatched on Friday 14th August so as to arrive at members’ home addresses in time for them to read the necessary literature and formulate any questions prior to the LDC representatives being available. The closing date for the referendum is Monday 7th September 2015.

 

I will keep you advised of developments.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

 

Mick Cash

General Secretary