Assistant General Secretary Nomination

Waterloo Branch Member

To advise that at the branch meeting on the 23rd October 2013 the branch has the pleasure of giving Alan Pottage the branch nomination for the vacant Assistant General Secretary post, Alan was our candidate that we supported for the General Secretary election where he achieved 2nd in the voting 

with over 4,000 votes.

The branch will be supporting Alan through the campaign and assisting him as much as we can, the ballot timetable is as below : 

Open Nominations Thursday 16th October 2014-10-16

Reminder to nominate Thursday 30th October 2014

(Deadline for circulars Saturday 15th November 2014)

Close nominations Wednesday 7th January 2015

(Deadline for election addresses Wednesday 7th January 2015)

Open individual member ballots week commencing 26th January 2015

Close Ballots First post Monday 30th March 2015

THE WATERLOO BRANCH URGES ALL BRANCH MEMBERS TO VOTE NUMBER 1 FOR ALAN POTTAGE FOR THIS LOYAL AND EXPERIENCED CANDIDATE.

South West Trains Pay Update (2014)

There is not a great deal to report on from the meeting we had with the Company, we was briefed on how the economy is still weak, and that the talks that we will have with them will be challenging, we didn't respond to this, all 3 Trade Unions spoke on their respective pay submissions and the company have advised that they will respond accordingly.

The RMT will always campaign for a reduction in the working week for all grades that the RMT represents and forms part of the pay submission.

To advise that no % pay offer was presented by the company! and that further talks will take place with the next meeting scheduled for the 

Strike ballot opens today over victimisation and bullying of Waterloo Station cleaning staff

 

 

www.rmt.org.uk

 

NEWS RELEASE

 

October 22nd 2014

Immediate

 

Strike ballot opens today over victimisation and bullying of Waterloo Station cleaning staff

 

Cleaners employed by Interserve, looking after the busy and internationally famous Waterloo Station in London, are to be balloted for strike action over a comprehensive breakdown in industrial relations relating to a whole range of fundamental issues including; 

 

·         the unwarranted victimisation and dismissal of RMT members

 

·          ignorance of basic employment rights

 

·          underpayment of wages

 

·         bullying and harassment of staff

 

RMT has also received reports of shocking racism by local Interserve managers that the company has refused point blank to address through agreed procedures. They include one manager telling a member of staff that in their opinion “[Interserve] should not employ black people”.

 

The strike ballot opens today and will close on the 4^th November.

 

RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said ;

 

“The appalling treatment of cleaners at the busy and iconic Waterloo Station is nothing short of a disgrace and has led to a complete breakdown in industrial relations which leaves RMT with no option other than to ballot for strike action.

 

“These staff are doing dirty jobs in often appalling conditions and the very least that they can expect is to be treated with dignity and respect. Not only are our members being denied the most basic levels of fair treatment and workplace rights but they are being subjected to a daily regime of bullying, victimisation and harassment which includes disgraceful incidents of racist abuse.

 

“Interserve cannot sweep this situation under the carpet. RMT is demanding workplace justice for the cleaners at Waterloo and the union remains available for talks aimed at securing that.”

 

 

  ENDS

 

Further information

 

Geoff Martin 07831 465 103

                       0207 255 9146

BREAKDOWN IN INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS -INTERSERVE WATERLOO

 

 

 

 

 

 

Circular No IR/271/14

 

 

To All Branches, Regional Offices & Regional Councils

 

 

Our Ref: BR1/14/2

16th October 2014

 

 

Dear Colleagues 

 

BREAKDOWN IN INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS – INTERSERVE WATERLOO

 

Further to my previous circulars on the above matter dated 25thSeptember and 6th October 2014 (IR/250/14 and IR/264/14), in which I advised you that there has been a comprehensive breakdown in industrial relations with Interserve at Waterloo. I have previously reported that there have been several problems at Waterloo which management are refusing to address. These include the suspension of six RMT members on spurious charges, the disregard of basic employment rights, the underpayment of wages and the continued bullying and harassment in the workplace. 

 

I can now report that following a successful members meeting, it has been agreed that the union should pursue a ballot for strike action in order to force management to address the issues at Waterloo. Accordingly, ballot papers will be despatched to members’ home addresses on Wednesday 22nd October 2014 and the ballot will close on Tuesday 4th November 2014. I have informed Interserve that RMT remains available for talks and I hope that management will see sense and take the necessary steps to resolve this dispute. 

 

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

   

Yours sincerely

Mick Cash

General Secretary

 

Break down in Industrial Relations -Interserve Waterloo

The Rmt Waterloo Branch met this evening for a special meeting for our Interserve members based at Waterloo, this meeting was arranged in light of the break down of industrial relations with Interserve, we have also informed the company that we are now in dispute with them over numerous failures, and this meeting was arranged to enable the Senior Union Representatives to listen to our members concerns and what our next steps will be as a Union.

This meeting was well attending by our Interserve members and the message from them is clear enough is enough...........

UNITY IS STRENGTH.........

BREAKDOWN IN INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS - INTERSERVE WATERLOO

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

New Inflation Rates

Head Office Circular No. NP/185/14

To the Secretary all Branches,

Council of Executive members,

Regional Councils and Regional Offices.

Tuesday 16th September 2014

Dear Colleagues,

New Inflation Rates

The Office for National Statistics has published inflation figures for the twelve months to August.

The Retail Prices Index (RPI) stood at 2.4% for the year toAugust 2014, down from 2.5% for the year to July 2014.

The Consumer Prices Index (CPI) stood at 1.5% for the year to August 2014, down from 1.6% for the year to July 2014.

Further information will follow in the Pay Bulletin presently.

Yours sincerely,

Mick Cash

Acting General Secretary