Circular No IR/157/12

To All Branches, Regional Offices & Regional Councils

Our Ref: BR2/15/4

29^th March 2012

Dear Colleagues

CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTRE INFORMATION STRATEGY – SOUTH WEST TRAINS 

Further to my previous circular on the above matter dated 2^nd February 2012 (IR/61/12), the General Grades Committee has considered this matter and has taken the following decision:

“That we note the report from our Regional Organiser and the correspondence from South West Trains on file. The challenge from this union on the legality of the proposed secondment of our members based at the Customer Service Centre (Southampton) clearly had the positive effect that we hoped for, as the company have withdrawn their proposals.

Therefore we instruct the General Secretary to send a personal letter by post to all the affected members, reaffirming this union’s opposition to any watering down of our members’ terms and conditions. Further we instruct the General Secretary to place an article covering this matter in the RMT News. Relevant Branches and Regional Councils to be advised.”

I would be obliged if you will bring this to the attention of your members.

Yours sincerely

Bob Crow

General Secretary

AGREEMENTS MADE BY OTHER TRADE UNIONS

Circular No IR/160/12

To All Branches, Regional Offices & Regional Councils

Our Ref: BR2/10/2

29^th March 2012

Dear Colleagues

AGREEMENTS MADE BY OTHER TRADE UNIONS

Further to my previous circular on the above matter dated 20^th September 2012 (IR/414/11), the General Grades Committee has considered this matter and has taken the following decision:

“That we note with disappointment the report from our Regional Organiser and feel that South West Trains have a short sighted view, as the financial detriment Guards will face while training to become Drivers will inevitably lead to less applying. This will impact on the company’s ability to recruit from our Guards members in the future.

Therefore we instruct the General Secretary to write to South West Trains expressing our disappointment and assure them that this matter will be tabled again in the future. Relevant Branches and Regional Councils to be informed.”

I will now be acting on the instructions of this decision and I will keep you advised of any developments.

Yours sincerely

Bob Crow

General Secretary

Special Monitoring of Guards (SWT)

#Circular No IR/159/12

To All Branches, Regional Offices & Regional Councils

Our Ref: BR2/4/7

29^th March 2012

Dear Colleagues

SPECIAL MONITORING OF GUARDS – SOUTH WEST TRAINS

Further to my previous circular on the above matter dated 17^th February 2011 (IR/39/11), the General Grades Committee has considered this matter and has taken the following decision:

“That we note the developments from our Regional Organiser on file, stating that he is unaware of any serious developments regarding this matter. Further we reaffirm our stance as outlined in our previous decision G253, 1^st March 2011 and instruct the General Secretary to write to all relevant Branches requesting feedback on any issues relating to B16 & B22 Special Monitoring of Guards procedures. All relevant Branches and Regional Councils to be informed.”

In line with the above, I would be most grateful if South West Trains Branches could give this matter their earliest attention and report back any outstanding issues they have on the Special Monitoring of Guards procedures to Head Office.

Yours sincerely

Bob Crow

General Secretary

RMT ASSISTANT GENERAL SECRETARY

Waterloo Branch have proudly given Pat Sikorski the Branch Nomination for the Assistant General Secretary position.

Individual Member Ballot opens W/C 28th May 2012

(In the event of an election being necessary)

Individual Ballot Closes First post on Monday 30th July 2012

New Inflation Rates]

Tuesday 14^th February 2012

Head Office Circular No. NP/032/12

To the Secretary all Branches,

Council of Executive members,

Regional Councils and Regional Offices.

Dear Colleagues,

New Inflation Rates

The Office of National Statistics has just published new inflation figures for the twelve months to January 2012. The next release date will be the 20^th March 2012.

The Retail Price Index (RPI) stood at 3.9% for the year to January 2012, down 0.9% from the 4.8% figure to December 2011.

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) stood at 3.6% for the year to January 2012, down 0.6% from the 4.2% figure to December 2011.

RPI has fallen to the lowest rate it has been since February 2010 when it stood at 3.7%. The largest downward pressures to the change in RPI annual inflation between December 2011 and January 2012 came from motoring expenditure, alcoholic drinks, food, and tobacco.

The largest downward pressures to the change in CPI in annual inflation between December 2011 and January 2012 came from fuels & lubricants, products bought in restaurants & cafes, tobacco, vehicle maintenance & repair, the purchase of new vehicles and alcoholic beverages. Annual CPI inflation has fallen by 1.2% since November 2011, the biggest fall over a period of two consecutive months since October and December 2008.

In pay submissions the RMT will continue to emphasise that your financial commitments have increased at a greater rate than inflation and that your living standards are undermined by the current rates of inflation.

Yours Sincerely

Bob Crow,

General Secretary

NETWORK RAIL AND SOUTH WEST TRAINS

TO: THE SECRETARY

ALL BRANCHES & REGIONAL COUNCILS

EXECUTIVE & HO OFFICERS

Circular No. NP/026/12

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

NETWORK RAIL AND SOUTH WEST TRAINS

I write to report on the meeting I attended with Network Rail yesterday. The company outlined their proposal that, as of the 1st April 2012, an alliance will be set up between Network Rail and South West Trains to make the infrastructure and TOCs work in better cooperation.                  

Of course this is McNulty being rolled out.  The company said the employees’ contract would not change and they have not got a safety case yet.  We demanded our representatives are fully consulted and their proposals are not rolled out until fully agreed. 

But quite clearly the foundations are being laid for one of these alliances because the South West Trains’ one is only a trial to be sold off completely to the private sector.                               

We stipulated our policy of full nationalisation but if we could not achieve that then Network Rail should be allowed to run a TOC.  This could then lay the foundations to run all TOCS eventually.      

Yours sincerely,

Bob Crow

General Secretary

Special Meeting for Carlisle Cleaner Members

To advise that a special meeting has been arranged for all Carlisle cleaners members on the 20th February 2012 (Starting at 18-30) at the Windsor Castle Public House at Clapham Junction (3 Minutes Walk from Clapham Junction Station (St Johns Entrance turning right and the venue is ahead)

The reason for this meeting is because Carlisle Cleaning company is being taken over by Churchill and this is planned to happen in April 2012.

Bob Crow (RMT General Secretary) and Pat Sikorski (Assistant General Secretary) will be in attendance to address the members on how this change will affect the members and also will be taking questions from the members about their concerns and issues of this change