Category: Network Rail

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Rates of Pay and Conditions of Service 2015 – Network Rail

To All Branches, Regional Offices & Regional Councils

 

Circular No IR.140/15

 

Our Ref: BR1/0001/NR

1st June 2015

 

 

Dear Colleagues

 

Rates of Pay and Conditions of Service 2015 – Network Rail

 

Following intensive discussions under the auspices of ACAS over the weekend a new offer has been put to the unions.

 

Pay

 

For 2015 a 2% increase in rates of pay consolidated into basic rates and backdated to 1st January 2015.

 

For 2016 a consolidated increase equal to November 2015 RPI with effect from 1st January 2016. (Should RPI be in negative figures then RPI will be deemed to be 0%)

 

Redundancies

 

No compulsory redundancies for those members covered by this pay claim until 31st December 2016.

 

Job Security

 

A comprehensive job security package to be agreed by Network Rail and the Unions within the next six months

 

Efficiency and Improvement Project

 

Separately, Network Rail and the Trades Unions agree to participate on the basis of joint working in an Efficiency and Improvement Project (under the auspices of ACAS), to deliver savings. This will not hold up the pay offer for 2015/16

 

Full and complete details of the revised offer are attached to this circular.

 

The matter has been considered by the General Grades Committee and they believe that the improvements are enough to suspend the forthcoming industrial action. The General Grades Committee, as they have done throughout this dispute, are going to seek the views of our representatives before making a decision on the next steps to take. This meeting will be held this Friday, 5th June.

 

For your information I would add that we have agreed a 28 day extension to the ballot mandate which means our ballot remains ‘live’ until 6th July should it be necessary to put action back on.

 

I will write to you again following Friday’s meeting with our representatives.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

NR Pay offer 1.6.2015

 

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Network Rail Strike

INDUSTRIAL ACTION CALLED!

 

RATES OF PAY AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE 2015 – NETWORK RAIL

 

A meeting was held today with our Network Rail Area Council reps to discuss the latest pay proposals from Network Rail. (Copy attached).  The clear view of the meeting was that the new offer was unacceptable and therefore the General Grades Committee has called Network Rail members to take strike action as follows:-

 

Members are instructed Not to Book on for Duty for any shifts that Start between:-

 

  • 17.00 hours on Thursday 4th June 2015 and 16.59 hours Friday 5th June 2015

and

  • 17.00 hours on Tuesday 9th June 2015 and 16.59 hours Thursday 11th June 2015

 

In addition, members are instructed not to work any overtime, additional hours, extended shifts nor carry out any callouts between:

 

  • 00.01 hours on Saturday 6th June 2015 and 23.59 Friday 12th June 2015.

 

There are no exceptions to this instruction, all Network Rail members (excluding Band 1 to 4 staff and Managers who have not been balloted) are instructed to take this action.

 

Detailed information on how this action will affect members in the form of a Frequently asked Questions Document will be circulated to individual members very shortly. As regards picket lines, detailed guidance has already been circulated to Regional Offices for distribution. Picket lines will be coordinated locally.

 

The solidarity and determination of members in this dispute has been incredible and I urge Network Rail members keep up the fight and stand shoulder to shoulder with their colleagues on the days of action. It is abundantly clear from the views of the reps at the meeting that Network Rail’s offer simply isn’t good enough and we demand nothing less than a substantial improvement.

 

I will keep branches fully informed of developments.

 

 

Yours sincerely

Mick Cash

General Secretary

 

Helpline – Operating Hours

 

Due to the forthcoming Network Rail industrial action, the National Helpline (0800 376 3706) will be operating extended operating hours which are as follows:-

 

Monday 1st June 2015 until Wednesday 3rd June 2015 – 08.00 to 20.00

 

08.00 Thursday 4th June 2015 until 20.00 Friday 5th June the Helpline will be open permanently.

 

Please note that these extended hours are to deal with queries from members relating to the Network Rail Dispute. Members are welcome to continue contacting the helpline during office hours for all other matters.

 

 

Posted on

Network Rail Break up

General Secretary Mick Cash said today.

 

“We see once again renewed speculation this morning that there are plans under discussion to break up and hive off Network Rail into a series of regional bodies which would fragment, destabilise and cause chaos on our railways in a mirror of the privatised train operation model.

 

“RMT is aware that the train companies are lobbying hard for the “vertical integration” model that would create a series of regional “Railtrack Two’s” with the same lethal threat to infra structure safety as corners are cut in the drive to hit financial and profit targets.

 

“RMT will fight to to defend and expand the principle of a national, publicly owned body running our railways and we are well aware of the renewed threat which has been raised by the Conservative election victory. ”

 

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NETWORK RAIL DISPUTE – SERIOUS AND IMMINENT DANGER

The Secretary

ALL BRANCHES

ALL REGIONAL COUNCILS

 

Dear Colleague

 

NETWORK RAIL DISPUTE – SERIOUS AND IMMINENT DANGER

 

Members of the RMT working for Network Rail will be engaging in industrial action as follows:

 

  • To take 24 hours of industrial action by not booking on for duty on any shift from 1700 hours on 25/05/2015 until 1659 hours on 26/05/2015.
  •  To take industrial action by not working any overtime or additional hours or any extended shifts and by not undertaking any call-outs for 48 hours between 0001 hours on 25/05/2015 and 2359 hours on 26/05/2015.

 

During these periods we believe Network Rail will attempt to run a railway service by using managers to cover safety critical roles and in particular to cover Electrical Control Rooms, signal boxes and signalling centres and train dispatch with managers who we fear may not be fully competent to carry out the safety critical tasks that are so important in protecting staff, passengers and the general public.

 

These cover arrangements will clearly impact on the operational safety of staff working outside of Network Rail but working on the railway infrastructure. Roles that may be affected in this way by the dispute include, but may not be limited to, train drivers, guards, infrastructure workers, other on-board staff and train dispatch staff.

 

Under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (MHSW), Regulation 8(1) employers have a duty to establish procedures to be followed in the event of serious and imminent danger to persons at work such procedures are sometimes known as Worksafe Procedures.

 

A guide to your rights in this regard are contained in the following RMT publication:

http://www.rmt.org.uk/news/publications/serious-and-imminent-dangers/

 

Should you, as an individual, feel that as part of your duties you are placing yourself in serious or imminent danger during the dispute you should comply with your company’s policy as required by the MHSW. Attached to this circular is a pro-forma should you wish to record your concerns in writing to your management.

proforma dispute NR 2015

Please bring the contents of this circular to the attention of all relevant members.

 

Yours sincerely

Mick Cash

General Secretary

www.rmt.org.uk/healthandsafety

Posted on

Network Rail Dispute: Legal Action against TSSA

General secretary Mick Cash said.

 

“It is highly damaging that instead of focusing on the talks process Network Rail have opted instead to threaten a dash to the courts to challenge the democratic decision of rail worker members of one of our sister unions.

 

RMT will not allow this legal manoeuvring to cloud the real issues in this dispute over jobs, safety and pay justice. RMT will continue to engage in talks while we also finalise the preparations for our national industrial action

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Network Rail

General Secretary Mick Cash said.

 

“It is rank hypocrisy for Network Rail executives to be attacking the pay and conditions of the front line workforce when they themselves are soaking up telephone number salaries and jetting round the world business class at public expense.

 

“RMT is proud that we have secured decent pay and conditions for our members on Network Rail and this dispute is all about protecting and advancing those gains and on the eve of crucial talks it is entirely unhelpful for NR to be rubbishing it’s own workforce in this cynical fashion.

 

“We are talking here about men and women who work round the clock in often appalling conditions, being sprayed with excrement from passing trains, to keep Britain moving and our railways safe. We will take no lectures from the NR Boardroom, or from the politicians about to land salary increases of 10%‎, about pay restraint. RMT’s focus is on talks at ACAS aimed at negotiating a settlement while we prepare ourselves for action from next Monday. ”

 

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