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

 

Use Of Agency Staff, Booking Office-South West Trains

 

 

 

 

 

 

Circular No IR/526/13

 

To All Branches, Regional Offices & Regional Councils

 

Our Ref: BR2/13/1

 

9th September 2013

 

 

Dear Colleague

 

USE OF AGENCY STAFF, BOOKING OFFICE – SOUTH WEST TRAINS

 

Further to my Circular No IR/345/13 dated the 11th June 2013with regards to the above matter and where I informed you that the situation at Richmond Ticket Office will continue to be monitored, I can now advise you that I have received a further report from the Regional Organiser clarifying the current position.

 

The matter has been subject to recent consideration by the General Grades Committee who note that South West Trains still have one or two agency workers employed in the Richmond Ticket Office and that the company are currently advertising and seeking to employ two Booking Office staff to remove the use of any agency workers.

 

Therefore, an update report will be placed back before the General Grades Committee when normal working has resumed, for further consideration.

 

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

 

Best wishes.

Bob Crow

General Secretary

 

Travel Facilities -Rail Gourmet

 

 

 

 

 

 

Circular No IR/486/13

 

 

To All Branches, Regional Offices & Regional Councils

 

 

Our Ref: HC/12/1

22nd August 2013

 

 

Dear Colleagues

 

TRAVEL FACILITIES – RAIL GOURMET

 

Further to my previous circular on the above matter dated 5thApril 2013 (IR/205/13), in which, I advised you that the union was pursuing travel facilities for our Rail Gourmet members. I can now report that I have received a response from Rail Gourmet on this matter.

 

The company state that they want travel facilities for all staff;however they are not able to implement this as the costs would be too prohibitive. Rail Gourmet has also indicated that if they incorporated travel facilities into future and existing contracts then it would make them uncompetitive in the tendering process.

 

The General Grades Committee has had opportunity to consider this matter and has instructed me to continue to progress this matter with Rail Gourmet and the Train Operating Companies.The General Grades Committee has also reiterated the union’s policy that all agency ancillary workers should be brought back in-house.  

 

Yours sincerely

Bob Crow

General Secretary

 

 

Reduction in Working Hours for Guards (SWT)

 

 

FOR THE ATTENTION OF ALL GUARDS MEMBERS

 

Reduction in Working Hours for Guards

 

 

The current situation regarding Guards hours is somewhat frustrating.

 

This year began positively enough with a meeting taking place on 7th January where we discussed the principles of moving towards a 35 hour week.

 

We created two small sub groups to look at finance and changes to working arrangements which would assist in achieving the reduction in hours without commitment. We believed this would lead to the Guards considering an offer on reduction of hours by the autumn, indeed the management agreed we should have a timetable to being able to bring the matter back to Company Council for consideration by May.

 

Using every best effort to encourage SWT to progress this matter we have faced a series of cancelled meetings and a number of reasons for not continuing the talks to achieve this goal.

 

We have a full Company Council meeting this month and we will push for these discussions to restart. The success of our progress will ultimately be, in your hands. Should the progress continue to be delayed, ignored or sidelined we will consult with you, our members on the best way forward.

 

Yours Fraternally,

 

 

 

 

Mick Tosh ​

RMT Regional Organiser Wessex

Tel : 07900 877720

Email: m.tosh@rmt.org.uk  

 

PLEASE DISPLAY ON ALL NOTICE BOARDS

 

 

 

August Branch Meeting Cancelled

Hi All

To advise that due to unfortunate circumstances and reasons beyond our control the Branch Meeting on Thursday 22nd August 2013 has had to be cancelled, i have re-arranged the meeting and this will now take place on the 29th August 2013, at 14-45, posters advertising this will be sent out shortly.

On behalf of myself and the Branch Officials we would like to apologise for the cancellation of the meeting.

I have attached a letter outlining the above

Thanks

Regards

Rickey Goodman

Rickey Goodman
Waterloo Branch Secretary