Circular No IR/617/11

To All Branches, Regional Offices & Regional Councils

Our Ref: BR2/14/2

15^th December 2011

Dear Colleagues

PENALTY FARE TARGETS, REVENUE INSPECTORS – SOUTH WEST TRAINS

I have received the following resolution from our Dorset Rail Branch:

“Dorset Rail Branch is very concerned about SWT setting targets according to depot averages for revenue inspectors, contrary to DfT and TOC agreements. This places pressure on Inspectors to achieve targets by reduced use of discretion and will place them in more conflict situations. We already have members on poor performance due to this illegal action by the company. We urge the General Grades Committee to challenge SWT as a matter of urgency.”

The General Grades Committee has considered this matter and has taken the following decision:

“That we note the resolution from our Dorset Rail Branch and the sentiments expressed within. The constant pressure placed on our members by managers who see no further than the bottom line when it comes to penalty fares is unacceptable. Our members are being forced to be more aggressive with the travelling public to achieve ever increasing targets with the threat of disciplinary action as ‘The Big Stick’. This is just wrong. Therefore we instruct the General Secretary to challenge South West Trains on this issue at the earliest opportunity. 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

Rates of Pay & Conditions Of Service 2011-South West Trains

Circular No: IR/603/11

Our Ref: BR2/0001/SWT

13^th December 2011

TO ALL BRANCHES, REGIONAL COUNCILS AND REGIONAL OFFICES

Dear Colleagues,

RATES OF PAY & CONDITIONS OF SERVICE 2011 – SOUTH WEST TRAINS

In line with Union policy, a claim was submitted to the Company for a substantial increase in rates of pay and improvements to conditions of service. An initial meeting between the RMT negotiating team and the Company was held, where an offer of a 3% increase was tabled and immediately rejected.

Following further long discussions with the Company, a ‘full and final’ offer of a 4¹/₄% increase was tabled, dependent upon the Union giving an undertaking of ‘business as usual’ during the 2012 Olympic Games. The Company Council viewed this offer as totally unacceptable and recommended that a ballot for industrial action be conducted.

The General Grades Committee considered the matter and made the decision to prepare a ballot of affected members at South West Trains and also to arrange a meeting at Unity House to discuss Guards’ hours and pay.

The Company then advised that, having further considered its position, it is prepared to improve upon previous offers and the following offer was tabled:-

• A 4.75% increase to basic rates of pay (excluding allowances), effective 3^rd October 2011. This offer applies to all grade groups covered by SWT Procedure Agreement 1 but excludes Driver and Depot Drivers grades which are covered under a separate pay review.

• A Joint Working Group to be set up to discuss Guards’ terms and conditions.

• The offer is on the proviso that the Union gives an undertaking that it will be ‘business as usual’ during the course of the 2012 Olympic Games.

The General Grades Committee has considered this matter and taken the following decision:-

“That we note the report from our Lead Officer and the correspondence from South West Trains on file.

Therefore we instruct the General Secretary to arrange a meeting at Unity House to discuss this matter further.

In attendance should be the Assistant General Secretary, the Regional Organiser, members of the General Grades Committee and the full SWT Company Council.

Relevant Branches and Regional Council to be informed.”

I am currently acting in accordance with the above decision and will keep you informed of all developments.

Yours Sincerely,

Bob Crow

General Secretary

New Inflation Rates

 

Tuesday 13^th December 2011

Circular No. National Policy 236/11/MC

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 October 2011.

The Retail Price Index (RPI) for this twelve monthly period is 5.2%, down from the 5.4% figure for the twelve months to October 2011.

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is 4.8% for the twelve months to November 2011. This is down 0.2% from the figure for the twelve months to October 2011.

The largest downward pressures came from food, petrol, furniture and clothing. Partially offsetting these were upward pressures from wines & spirits off sales and fuel & light.

In pay submissions the RMT will continue to emphasise that your financial commitments have increased at a much greater rate than inflation and your living standards have suffered as a result.

Yours Sincerely

Bob Crow,

General Secretary

Slater News Renovation

Circular No MF/86/11

Our Ref: FIN/C001

24^th November 2011

To All Branches, Regional Offices & Regional Councils

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Slater Mews Renovation

You will be aware that the two flats known as Slater Mews in the rear of Maritime House (one of which was used by former Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott) were redeveloped, turning the two flats into five separate flats where members on Union business can use or rent for £24.00 per night.

The renovation cost was approximately £1,000,000.00 and the flats, when converted, were valued at approximately £2,500,000.00.

We took a loan over 25 years to pay for the renovation in March 2005 and I am pleased to say that we have now paid this loan off completely, which is 19 years early.

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

Yours sincerely

Bob Crow

General Secretary

Special Meeting for all Rail Workers (McNulty Report)

To advise all that a Special Meeting for all Rail Workers has been arranged in light of the McNulty Report, and this meeting will take place on the 01st December 2011 and will start at 17-00pm.

The Special Guests who will be addressing this meeting are:

Bob Crow (RMT General Secretary)

Alex Gordon (RMT National President)

Kate Hoey (Labour Member of Parliament for Vauxhall)

Manuel Courtes (TSSA A ssistant General Secretary)

This important Meeting will take place in the Function room of the Slug and Lettuce Restaurant at Waterloo (London), the venue from Waterloo Main Line Station is from Exit 6 and head for the London Eye and the Venue is on the approach road to this.

If you require further Information please contact 1 of the Branch Secretaries below:

Rickey Goodman( Waterloo Branch Secretary)

Mobile: 07824 410 568

e-mail: waterloo@rmt.org.uk

or

Jeff Slee (Deptford Branch Secretary)

Mobile: 07984 043 543

e-mail: jfslee@btopenworld.com

You can also click on the Links below for more information:

http://www.facebook.com/RMTunion

http://twitter.com/#!/RMTunion

http://www.rmt.org.uk/Templates/Internal.asp?NodeID=151889&int1stParentNodeID=89731&int2ndParentNodeID=89763

http://www.facebook.com/events/#!/events/256340177746879/

 

Hope to see you there.

New Inflation Rates

Tuesday 15^th November 2011

Circular No. National Policy 194/11/MC

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 October 2011.

The Retail Price Index (RPI) for this twelve monthly period is 5.4%, down from the 5.6% figure for the twelve months to September 2011.

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is 5.0% for the twelve months to October 2011. This is down 0.2% from the figure for the twelve months to September 2011.

The largest downward pressures came from falls in the cost of food and petrol. Partially offsetting these were upward pressures from clothing, furniture, electricity and gas.

In pay submissions the RMT will continue to emphasise that your financial commitments have increased at a much greater rate than inflation and your living standards have suffered as a result.

Yours Sincerely

Bob Crow,

General Secretary

JOINT UNION STATEMENT ON RMT/TSSA TALKS – No. 7

Dear Colleagues

RMT & TSSA MERGER

With reference to the above, I can confirm that the following statement was issued by Gerry Doherty and Bob Crow today:

JOINT UNION STATEMENT ON RMT/TSSA TALKS – No. 7

“TSSA and RMT held discussions on 4, 11 and 18 October 2011 concerning the possible merger and creation of a new union.  These discussions have been wide-ranging and constructive as reported in our previous statements.

A number of differences between our two organisations have emerged as a result of these discussions and as previously reported in our last JOINT UNION STATEMENT ON RMT/TSSA TALKS – NO.6 (dated Wednesday 19 October 2011) further discussions are required.

In order to facilitate future discussions it is likely that an informal joint meeting of our respective Executive Committees will take place within the next month prior to the next round of joint talks. We will of course keep you updated on developments as they occur.”

SIGNED:

Gerry Docherty (TSSA)

Bob Crow (RMT)”

RMT Pay Bulletin October 2011

Circular No. NP/200/11/MC

31^st October 2011

H.O. Ref: R14/5

TO: ALL BRANCHES, REGIONAL COUNCILS, REGIONAL OFFICES,

COUNCIL OF EXECUTIVES & HO OFFICERS.

Dear Members,

RMT PAY BULLETIN

October 2011

The Office of National Statistics has just published new inflation figures for the twelve months to September 2011.

The Retail Price Index (RPI) for this twelve monthly period is 5.6%, up from the 5.2% figure for the twelve months to August 2011.

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is 5.2% for the twelve months to September 2011. This is up 4.5% from the figure for the twelve months to August 2011.

The largest upward pressure to annual inflation came from:

Housing & household services where the upward effect was driven by gas and electricity

where average bills rose this year by 13.0 per cent and 7.5 per cent respectively between

August and September but were unchanged a year ago.

In pay submissions the RMT will continue to emphasise that your financial commitments have increased at a much greater rate than inflation and your living standards have suffered as a result.

Recent non-RMT settlements

Company /Sector	Award	Effective From
Sainbury’s	· 2.7% increase to basic pay	4 Sept 2011
Sellafield	· 2% increase in basic pay (in each of 2 years)	1 Apr 2011
Moto	· 2.5 increase to basic pay	1 Oct 2011

Recent RMT Settlements
Company	Award	Effective From
Shipping & Offshore
Offshore Diving Personnel	· 7.1% increase to basic pay	1 Nov 2011
Maersk Supply Vessels	A 4.5% increase to basic pay, effective 1st July 2011. A 4.5% increase to increment scales from £334 to £349 per year per increment on the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th and 9th years of anniversary in the rank	1 Jul 2011
Gulf Offshore	A 3% increase, plus 1% seniority for those members who are entitled to receive it, backdated to 1st July 2011.	1 Jul 2011
Caldedonian MacBrayne	An increase of 2%, effective from 1st October 2011. An increase of 4.25% in 2012. An increase of 4.25% in 2013 with an opportunity to increase this to 4.75% dependant on the achievement of agreed savings being made by year three. It is agreed that if RPI is above 5% in years 2 or 3, the Union reserves the right to reconvene with the employer. A reduction in the method of payment for training days from 2 for 1, to 1.5 for 1 with the understanding that 0.5 must be taken as payment and may not be banked. This would be implemented from 1st January 2012. The Company has set aside £800,000 in year 1 and £100,000 in years 2 and 3. This is to start to resolve existing anomalies in pay and conditions and to work towards a shared objective of consistent, fair and affordable terms and conditions within CalMac.	1 Oct 2011
Clyde Marine (LD Lines)	A 2.7% increase to personnel employed by Clyde Marine Guernsey Ltd employed on the LD Lines vessel Norman Arrow, backdated to 1st August 2011. A £400 bonus for those employed on an ongoing basis for work completed over the winter and during the summer season. A £200 bonus for those employed on a seasonal basis who successfully complete the entire summer season.	1 Aug 2011
DFDS Seaways Short Sea Ratings	A 2% increase, backdated to 1st January 2011.	1 Jan 2011
RFA	A one year award from 1st July 2011 to 30th June 2012. Staff earning £21,000 or below, (including permanent allowances) as at 1st July 2011 will receive a £250 consolidated pay rise. Staff earning £21,000 or above (including permanent allowances) will receive no award in accordance with the Government pay freeze. Staff on incremental pay scales (below the maximum) will receive their incremental pay progression during this pay year. Performance Awards To qualify for a performance award an individual:- Must be in post on 1st July 2011. Must have completed 6 months service with the RFA (contract start date prior to 1st January 2011). Must be performing satisfactorily (an individual on restoring efficiency for performance will not qualify for an award). Performance awards will be paid in relation to substantive grade and staff on sick leave will be paid in accordance with their pay status as at 1st July 2011:- Full Pay – Full Award Half Pay – Half Award Nil Pay – No Award Performance Awards will be paid at the following rates:- CPO (incl. Med Tech Q) £1,000 PO (incl. Med Tech) £900 L/H Rating £800 Trainee £400	1 July 2011
London Transport & Other Metro
London Underground	· Year 1 (2011/12) 5% (with effect from 1st April 2011) · Years 2 to 4 (2012/13 to 2014/15) – February RPI plus 0.5% or 2% whichever is the greater. · The general increase is effective from 1st April for each year of the pay deal (except for staff on Performance Related Pay, where it will be effective 1st July every year).	1 Apr 2011
Train Operating Companies & Freight Operating Companies
Cross Country	· An increase of 4.5%, effective from 28th May 2011. This will cover the grades of Train Manager, Senior Conductor, Revenue Protection and Station Staff. · An increase of 4.5% for all Service Centre Staff, effective from 1st July 2011.	1 May 2011
Workshop & Train Maintenance
Unipart Doncaster	· 2.5% increase to basic pay · Reduction in HGD payments from 10% to 5% Members will not be affected by the reduction in HGD payments contained within the offer as they do not work any Higher Grade Duty.	1 Apr 2011
Road Transport & Bus
Wincanton Enfield Warehouse	· The offer is subject to the acceptance of a new contract on site for new starters, effective immediately. Year One · A 3.4% increase over 7 months, effective from the 1st pay week in September 2011. Year Two · A 2.5% increase, effective from the 1st pay week in April 2012.	September 2011

Yours sincerely,

Bob Crow

General Secretary

Update on 2011 Paytalks

To advise that the RMT Negotiators will be meeting with the Company for the 2nd Meeting on the 01st November to discuss the 2011 Anniversary for Pay for all Grades within South West Trains.

At the first Meeting the Company did not offer a % payrise, the RMT Negotiators have asked the Company to consider a range of items as part of the 2011 Pay award which also include payments for staff through the period of the 2012 Olympics.

We will of course keep you updated on these and future talks on this issue.

Bob Crow's speech at the NO to McNulty rally, October 25, 2011

For those of you who were unable to be there, watch Bob’s speech at the standing-room-only Save Our Railways rally:

please click on the link below:

http://www.rmtv.org.uk/video/video121/index.html

Thanks

New Inflation Rates

Tuesday 18^th October 2011

Circular No. National Policy 194/11/MC

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 September 2011.

The Retail Price Index (RPI) for this twelve monthly period is 5.6%, up from the 5.2% figure for the twelve months to August 2011.

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is 5.2% for the twelve months to September 2011. This is up 4.5% from the figure for the twelve months to August 2011.

The largest upward pressure to annual inflation came from:

Housing & household services where the upward effect was driven by gas and electricity

where average bills rose this year by 13.0 per cent and 7.5 per cent respectively between

August and September but were unchanged a year ago.

In pay submissions the RMT will continue to emphasise that your financial commitments have increased at a much greater rate than inflation and your living standards have suffered as a result.

Yours Sincerely

Bob Crow,

General Secretary

Joint Union Statement on RMT/TSSA Talks-No 6

Dear Colleagues

RMT & TSSA MERGER

With reference to the above, I can confirm that the following statement was issued by Gerry Doherty and Bob Crow today:

JOINT UNION STATEMENT ON RMT/TSSA TALKS – No. 6

“TSSA and RMT met again as planned on Tuesday 18 October 2011 for further friendly and constructive talks concerning the political strategies for a potential new union.

“There was consensus that a political fund is an essential part of a potential future new union.  The role of our current political funds was discussed which include affiliation to the Labour Party, political education of trade union members and support for organisations and campaigns in line with union policies and rule books. It was accepted that in a potential new union it would be important to have clear prohibitions against political funds being used to support fascist or racist organisations, parties and individual candidates. 

“It was understood that it was important to have parliamentary representation in national and regional parliaments and assemblies. 

“However, further discussions are required on a number of unresolved related issues.”

The next meeting will be held on 1 November 2011 to allow both negotiating teams to attend the lobby and rally of Parliament against the proposals in the McNulty Report.  We strongly encourage all members of both unions to attend this very important event on Tuesday 25^th October 2011 at the Methodist Central Hall, Westminster at 12 noon.

SIGNED:

Gerry Doherty (TSSA)

Bob Crow (RMT)

JOINT UNION STATEMENT ON RMT/TSSA TALKS – No. 5

Dear Colleagues

RMT & TSSA MERGER

With reference to the above, I can confirm that the following statement was issued by Gerry Doherty and Bob Crow today:

JOINT UNION STATEMENT ON RMT/TSSA TALKS – No. 5

“TSSA and RMT met again as planned on Tuesday, 11 October 2011 for further friendly and constructive talks concerning the democratic structures of our respective unions.  Our talks focussed on the workings of Annual Conferences, Executive Committees, Regional/Divisional and Branch structures. 

“It is clear that there are a number of similarities in the structures of both organisations for democratic accountability and also a number of areas were identified, which require further more detailed discussion.  These areas include the shape, size and composition of the geographical structures to which branches will be attached; the respective roles of both the Annual Conference and the Executive Committee; and integrating both grades and equalities/diversity representation into democratic structures of a potential new merged union. 

“We recognise that wider consultation will be required once these issues have been further explored. 

“We intend to continue to meet and explore further the organisational and democratic questions raised by a potential merger between our unions, in line with the express decisions of our respective Executive Committees and Conferences.  All developments will be reported to our respective union executives.  In addition we will continue to agree joint statements to members, branches and activists.” 

SIGNED:

Gerry Doherty (TSSA)

Bob Crow (RMT)

JOINT UNION STATEMENT ON RMT/TSSA TALKS – No. 4

Dear Colleagues

RMT & TSSA MERGER

With reference to the above, I can confirm that the following statement was issued by Gerry Doherty and Bob Crow today:

JOINT UNION STATEMENT ON RMT/TSSA TALKS – No. 4

“TSSA and RMT met again as planned on Tuesday, 4 October 2011 for friendly and constructive talks to discuss sectoral and geographical organisation of our respective union memberships and possible future opportunities for trade union organisation in the event of a potential merger in the transport, travel and offshore energy sectors currently represented by the two unions. It is clear that there are very substantial overlaps between our two unions in terms of industrial and sectoral organisation and in our existing structures as well as significant potential areas for growth and new organisational opportunities for a merged trade union in the sectors we organise.

"We discussed a broad range of principles, including that any new union organisation resulting from a merger between us will be based on lay member-led Branches and that every individual union member will be attached to a union Branch. The primary functions of the Branch will be to campaign and to promote the organisation of workers in our sectors into the trade union, the representation of members and to be the foundation of a sound democratic structure in order to ensure accountability of the union to its members.

"Branches will be allocated their own financial resources based on an agreed formula. The spheres of influence and numbers of Branches in a merged union will be a matter for discussion under an agreed process that will fully involve all relevant parts of the merged union organisation at local, regional, divisional and national level.

"We recognise that different members in different sectors may have different aspirations and organisational needs, which will need to be fully considered in the process of branch organisation as part of any merger. Particular groups of members will need to continue to be grouped together in order to maintain a collective identity within a merged union organisation, i.e. shipping and offshore grades, bus workers, management grades, travel trade, etc. Consultation with these groups of union members through their respective union structures to ensure that their identity and their democratic rights are protected is an essential part of the process we have outlined above."

We intend to continue to meet and explore further the organisational and democratic questions raised by a merger between our unions. All developments will be reported to our respective union executives. In addition we will continue to agree joint statements to members, branches and activists.”

SIGNED:

Gerry Doherty (general secretary TSSA)

Bob Crow (general secretary RMT)

RMT PAY BULLETIN September 2011

Circular No. NP/183/11/MC

30^th September 2011

H.O. Ref: R14/5

TO: ALL BRANCHES, REGIONAL COUNCILS, REGIONAL OFFICES,

COUNCIL OF EXECUTIVES & HO OFFICERS.

Dear Members,

RMT PAY BULLETIN

September 2011

The Office of National Statistics has just published new inflation figures for the twelve months to August 2011.

The Retail Price Index (RPI) for this twelve monthly period is 5.2%, up from the 5% figure for the twelve months to July 2011.

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is 4.5% for the twelve months to August 2011. This is up 0.1% from the figure for the twelve months to July 2011.

The main upward pressures to annual inflation came from clothing, fuels & lubricants, furniture & household goods and domestic heating

The main downward pressure to annual inflation came from transport services, particularly passenger transport by air, sea and rail. There was also a downward pressure from recreation & culture, particularly from games, toys & hobbies and, to a lesser extent, recording media and data processing equipment.

In pay submissions the RMT will continue to emphasise that your financial commitments have increased at a much greater rate than inflation and your living standards have suffered as a result.

National Minimum Wage

The rates of the National Minimum Wage have changed. There are three levels of minimum wage, and the rates from 1 October 2011 are:

	Current rate	Oct 2011	% increase
Adults	£5.93	£6.08	2.5
18-2O year olds	£4.92	£4.98	1.2
16 and 17 year olds	£3.64	£3.68	1
Apprentice rate (under the age of 19 plus older apprentices in the first year of their course)	£2.50	£2.6O	4

In submissions to the Low Pay Commission, the RMT will continue to argue that the National Minimum Wage must be set at a significantly higher level to ensure that all workers are kept out of poverty; that the regulations must be extended to all seafarers serving in UK territorial waters to help safeguard minimum standards and that the age-related NMW rates should be abolished and the full adult rate be paid from 16 (until the school leaving age is raised to 17 in 2013 and 18 in 2015). The Union will also continue to campaign for the NMW to be set at half male median earnings as soon as possible, building towards the eventual goal of two-thirds of male median earnings.

Recent non-RMT settlements

Company /Sector	Award	Effective From
Vauxhall	· 5% increase to basic pay	1 Sept 2011
Philips Lighting	· 3% increase to basic pay	1 Apr 2011
Jacobs E&C	· 2% increase to basic pay	1 Jul 2011

Recent RMT Settlements
Company	Award	Effective From
Shipping
Isle of Man Steam Packet	· A 3.5% increase to basic rates of pay	1 Jan 2011
Catering
At Seat Catering	Year One · A pay offer of 5% effective. An increase in the commission threshold from £560 to £565 per week. Year Two · A pay offer of either RPI (based on February 2012 figure) or 3% whichever is the greater, effective from pay anniversary of 1st April 2012. Year Three · A pay offer of either RPI (based on February 2013 figure) or 3% whichever is the greater, effective from pay anniversary of 1st April 2013.	1 Apr 2011
Train Operating Companies & Freight Operating Companies
Merseyrail Guards	Year One · An increase of 5.5% Year Two · February RPI 2012 or £25,550 (Equates to 4.1%), whichever is greater. The following additional items were also proposed by the Company as part of the offer:- · Compensatory leave where the rest day falls on either Christmas Day or Boxing Day has been confirmed as a permanent change to guards’ terms and conditions. · An agreement to discuss the feasibility of all committed time being payable post April 2012. · This offer is subject to supporting the implementation of the Integrated Resource Management System. · Guards opted into Smart Pension Salary Sacrifice Scheme with a 28-day opt-out clause. · An agreement with the company to enhance the on-train customer service.	1 Apr 2011
Merseyrail Drivers	Year One · A 5.5% increase to basic pay effective 1st January 2011. Year Two · An increase of November RPI or a ceiling of £39,000, whichever is the greater. The following additional items were also proposed by the Company as part of the offer:- · Where a rest day falls on either Christmas Day or Boxing Day, a compensatory day’s leave will be granted to be taken before the 31st March of the following year. · All committed time will be payable and Merseyrail will engage with Northern Rail to explore the feasibility of an all-line PT&R. · This offer is subject to supporting the implementation of the Integrated Resource Management System.	1 Jan 2011
DB Schenker Groundstaff	· A pay award of a 2.50% increase on basic salaries	1 Apr 2011
DB Schenker Ex-Colas MPV	· A pay award of a 2.50% increase on basic salaries	1 Apr 2011
Chiltern Railways	Year One · a 5% increase on basic pay and allowances. Year Two · With effect from 1st April 2012, an increase of 3.65% or February 2012 RPI (whichever is greater), on basic pay and allowances. Year Three · With effect from 1st April 2013, an increase of 3% or February 2013 RPI + 0.25% (whichever is greater), on basic pay and allowances      Additionally, the company are offering the following elements:- 1. Special Bank Holidays: Any future bank holidays that are granted over and above the normal statutory entitlement will be paid as follows:- Any member of staff who is required to work (rostered or rest day) will receive payment at time and one quarter (t1/4) plus a compensatory day. Staff with a rest day off or annual leave will receive a compensatory day. 2. Olympics: The Company are offering a commitment to convene a meeting with all unions party to the Chiltern Railways Collective Bargaining Agreement to address the service requirements for all operations during the Olympics and Para Olympics scheduled to take place in 2012, with a view to concluding these discussions by 24th December 2011. 3. Travel: The Company are offering a commitment to continue to talk to our colleagues in London Overground, Arriva Trains Wales and Cross Country with a view to agreeing a non-contractual entitlement for reciprocal travel for our staff. 4. Leave: The Company are offering a commitment to enter into meaningful discussions with the unions to review any inconsistencies in the leave arrangements for customer service staff with a view to concluding these discussions prior to commencement of the 2012 annual leave year.	1 Apr 2011

Yours sincerely,

Bob Crow

General Secretary

Re: Learning update

Dear All

Please see below for some info and a couple of events that may be of interest to you.

Open Learning - Please be reminded that the SWT Open Learning Centres are still open and available for your use. For those of you that aren't aware,the centres are based in Waterloo, Basingstoke and Southampton. The SWT Open Learning department offers numerous self-study and online courses in wide array of subjects, including Complimentary Therapies, Supervisory Skills, Counselling and Languages. To make an appointment with an Open Learning Advisor, please call 074-9801 Internal or 01256324413 External.

Maths4us.org - Maths4Us is a joint initiative between unionlearn, NIACE and National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics (NCETM) to encourage people to tackle numeracy, take-up numeracy learning and have fun with maths. There are many reasons people don’t feel confident in maths. Often people have had a bad relationship with maths dating back to their school days, for all sorts of reasons: Link Don’t let this be the reason to stop learning. You can help yourself and others to conquer their fears. Improving maths skills means feeling more confident to: help our children with their homework and encourage them to enjoy maths use everyday maths skills at home such as budgeting understand and use maths at work For further information, visit www.maths4us.org

Unionlearn Learning and Careers Advice Line - It's your call on 08000 92 91 90 or visit www.unionlearn.org.uk/advice - on the 11th September, unionlearn formally launched its new FREE Learning and Careers Advice Line, in partnership with learndirect . In the last month it has received over 700 enquiries, both online and by telephone from Trade Union members seeking advice on how to further their education, available courses and new career directions. There was interest in subjects as diverse as computer programming, skills for life and welding inspection. This new service is open to TU members across England and Wales, information is available on over 900,000 courses delivered by over 10,000 further education providers nationally. Help is also at hand for people with disabilities to make access to learning easier and guidance is available in nine community languages. Call the FREE impartial advice line on 08000 92 91 90 (only free if you call using your landline). And you can get help in nine different languages:

English - 0800 100 900 : 8am - 10 pm every day

Farsi - 0800 093 1116 : 9am - 5pm Mon – Fri

French - 0800 093 1115 : 9am - 5pm Mon – Fri

Gujarati - 0800 093 1119 : 9am - 5pm Mon – Fri

Polish - 0800 093 1114 : 9am - 5pm Mon - Fri Punjabi - 0800 093 1333 : 9am - 8pm Mon – Fri

Somali - 0800 093 1555 : 9am - 5pm Mon - Fri Sylheti - 0800 093 1444 : 9am - 5pm Mon – Fri

Urdu - 0800 093 1118 : 9am - 8pm Mon – Fri

Go ON.....Get started on your online journey - The Go ON website is a great place for you to get started with computers and the internet. It includes lots of FREE and easy courses that will give you the skills and confidence you need. It doesn't matter if you've never touched a mouse or keyboard before, or you just want to learn a little bit more, Go ON is a great place to get started. Get started - This section is full of fun games, inspiring videos and it also gives you the chance to find out more about the mouse and keyboard, and practise using them. Online basics - is the place to get started with the basics. The course includes six modules covering all the essential skills, including emailing, using the internet safely, searching for things online and using online public services - as well as helping you with your mouse and keyboard skills. Learn more - When you're feeling confident with the basics, the Learn more section is a great way to find out more about what you're interested in. From online shopping to using your mobile phone, finding friends on Facebook, there are loads of great things you can do online - and this section will help you to do them. What next? - Your journey doesn't have to finish after completing these courses - there's still lots more you can do! Whether you want to find a job, get an IT qualification or help someone else get online by becoming a Digital Champion, you'll find it all here! Go ON.....make online easy, visit www.go-on.co.uk

Just as a reminder, the next SWT ULR get together is on Weds 16th November at Basingstoke, it would be nice to see you there if you can make it. Please apply locally for your release, any problems please let me know.

I'm not sure if you have received any correspondance regarding two forthcoming events, but just in case you have not, the details are as follows:

4th October - in Doncaster, the RMT ULR National Conference is taking place. This will be held in the Doncaster Trades Club. If you are interested, the contact person for this is Lindsay Rutland, her number is 020-75298820 or l.rutland@rmt.org.uk

The second event is as below:

Event Details Sixth unionlearn Southern and Eastern Annual Conference

Date Tue, 1 Nov 2011 Time to from 09.30 to 3.30 Location Congress House, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3LS Cost Free of charge Description Trade unions are at the forefront of workplace learning and this conference will be an opportunity to find out what is being achieved.

The event will have a range of workshops giving the latest information on a wide range of initiatives including:

•Skills for Life*

•green skills •health, work, and well-being

•working with the community •

importance of equality and diversity

In the afternoon we invite delegates to be take part in a workshop and an activity to exchange experiences on a range of topics.

Contact for more information sdawson@tuc.org.uk

Thanks,

Mark Mark Manwaring

RMT Union Learning Rep Wimbledon - Metro Area

Internal - 00-62379

External - 020-85455379

Mobile - 07921716158

Pay Talks with South West Trains

Dear Colleague

To advise you all that the first meeting has been arranged for your RMT Negotiating to meet with South West Trains to discuss the October 2011 pay review, this meeting has been arranged to take place on the 20th October 2011.

We will keep you posted on developments on this meeting as soon as we have concluded this first meeting

As you can see the date of the meeting is well past the Anniversary date of the 2011 pay award

Your Negotiators for the RMT are as below:

Peter Skelly (Regional Organiser)

Rickey Goodman (Company Council)

Michael Campbell (Company Council)

David Butler (Company Council)

Thanks

JOINT UNION STATEMENT ON RMT/TSSA TALKS - No. 3

Dear colleague,

Proposed RMT/TSSA merger - statement no 3

The following statement has been issued today

JOINT UNION STATEMENT ON RMT/TSSA TALKS - No. 3

"TSSA and RMT met on Saturday/Sunday 17/18 September 2011 to discuss the structures, operations and cultures of both unions. We each delivered presentations on our membership, democratic structures, political affiliations, staff structures, officials and offices and took the opportunity to ask questions and seek clarifications. Talks were positive and will now move onto a series of regular meetings to explore further the possibility of developing a new union.

Regular meetings will begin on 4th October 2011 and developments will be reported to the respective union executives as they occur. In addition we will continue to agree joint statements to members, branches and activists."

SIGNED: Gerry Doherty (general secretary TSSA)

Bob Crow (general secretary RMT)

RMT & TSSA MERGER

Dear Colleagues

RMT & TSSA MERGER

With reference to the above, I can confirm that the following statement was issued by Gerry Doherty and Bob Crow today:

"Colleagues,

Further to our previous joint trade union message (dated Friday, 12 August, 2011) regarding merger talks between RMT and TSSA, our negotiating teams will meet over two days following the TUC Congress next week.

The aim of this meeting is to allow both negotiating teams to better understand each other's unions in terms of our respective structures, operation and culture.

We will of course continue to keep you abreast of developments as they occur."

Gerry Doherty

Bob Crow

New Inflation Rates

Tuesday 16^th August 2011

Circular No. National Policy 153/11/MC

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 July 2011.

The Retail Price Index (RPI) for this twelve monthly period is 5%, unchanged from the figure for the twelve months to June 2011.

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is 4.4% for the twelve months to July 2011. This is up 0.2% from the figure for the twelve months to June 2011.

Upward pressures on the CPI came from a number of different ‘areas’, the largest being:

• miscellaneous goods & services where the upward pressure came from a wide variety of goods and services but by far the largest contribution came from financial services where, overall, fees rose this year but fell a year ago, particularly for arranging mortgages

• clothing & footwear where prices, overall, as usual fell between June and July due to the summer sales season. Prices this year fell by less (-3.5 per cent), though, than a year ago (-4.9 per cent). The upward effects came from men’s and children’s outerwear

• furniture, household equipment & maintenance where prices also usually fall between June and July due to the sales season. Again, though, prices fell by less this year (-1.1 per cent) than a year ago (-1.9 per cent). The most notable upward effects came from most types of furniture & furnishings and household textiles

• housing & household services where the largest effect was due to increases in housing rent, particularly for social housing provided by registered social landlords

In pay submissions the RMT will continue to emphasise that your financial commitments have increased at a much greater rate than inflation and your living standards have suffered as a result.

Additionally, rail fares have increased by July RPI + 3%. This means that train operating company regulated fares will increase by 8%.

Please see attached a table which shows the increase in rail fares in the constituencies of DfT Ministers.

Yours Sincerely

Bob Crow,

General Secretary

TSSA & RMT Talks - Statement from Gerry Doherty & Bob Crow

 

Dear Colleagues

 

Please see today’s statement below:

STATEMENT 1 FROM GERRY DOHERTY & BOB CROW

TSSA and RMT historically met today, 12 August 2011, to discuss the possibilities of a merged union.

A series of meetings will be held to discuss key issues and objectives recognising that both unions have separate Rule Books and traditions.

Both unions will use their own democratic structures to consult and agree with members and wish to conclude these discussions as soon as possible as industrial attacks are taking place more intensely on transport and travel workers.

The respective union negotiating teams are:

 

RMT

Alex Gordon, Mick Cash, Malcolm Dunning, Owen Herbert and reserve Mick Thompson

 

TSSA

Harriet Yeo, Mitch Tovey, Manuel Cortes and Frank Ward

RMT & TSSA MERGER

Ref: O/5/ I

Circular No. MF/40/11

l0th  August 201 I

To: All Branches and Regional Councils

Dear Colleague,

RMT & TSSA MERGER

With reference to the above, the following was placed before the Council of Executives for
consideration on Friday 5'h August.

"Discussions have taken place between myself and the General Secretary of TSSA over
proposals for both Unions to come together and merge. We are recommending to
both Executive Committees that there are two teams, RMT and TSSA respectively, and
each team should consist of four members. Obviously TSSA will pick their own team
but I recommend that the RMT team consist of the President, Senior Assistant General
Secretary and two Council of Executive members (one Shipping & Offshore, one
General Grades). lf any disagreements arise from joint discussions both myself and the
General Secretary from TSSA will become part of the committee.

I propose the following. Firstly discussions to commence on l2th August and though not
an exhaustive list of agreement the items will be as follows

• Local Branch Structure
• Local Representative Structure
• Regional Structure
• Executive Committee
• Full Time Officials
• Political Affiliation
• Timetable towards full merger."

My recommendation was adopted by the Council of Executives and discussions will take
place accordingly. I will keep Branches and Regional Councils advised of all developments.

 

Bob Crow
General Secretary

Stop the fare hikes: demo for fair fares

Event Date: August 16 2011

Stop the fare hikes: demo for fair fares

Date: 16th August 2011
Time: 8.30 – 9.30 AM
Place: across from Waterloo station (corner of York Way and Sutton Walk). See the meeting point marked on a map

As part of their austerity cuts, the government is planning to raise fares by 28% by 2015. We want to stop them.

Such massive fare rises will be a disaster for people already struggling with rising costs and frozen wages. People won’t be able to afford to get to work, or will be forced to drive – creating more traffic jams and more carbon emissions. Trains should be an essential public service, not a luxury for the rich.

Join us on the day we’ll find out exactly how high fares will be next January to send a clear message to the government: Affordable public transport is vital – cancel the fare hikes and don’t price us off the train!

We’ll be outside Waterloo station in London with placards, banners and plenty of outrage. Come by for half an hour on your way to work (any time between 8.30 and 9.30 AM) to pop giant balloons to show that it’s time to burst the bubble on inflation-busting fare hikes. Or make it the start of a summer day out in London. Either way, help us show the government that we won’t take their unfair fare hikes lying down!

Invite your friends via the Facebook event

Brought to you by Campaign for Better Transport, with support from Bring Back British Rail, Climate Rush, RMT and TSSA

Circular No IR/314/11

TO ALL BRANCHES, REGIONAL OFFICES & REGIONAL COUNCILS

28^th July 2011

Dear Colleagues

RIGHT TO BE ACCOMPANIED/REPRESENTATION AT FACT FINDING INVESTIGATORY MEETINGS – SOUTH WEST TRAINS (BR2/4/4)

It has come to my attention that South West Trains managers have been initiating disciplinary action at Fact Finding meetings which therefore become the first stage of the disciplinary procedure. Under the employment legislation employees have the right to be accompanied at disciplinary meetings, however informal/investigatory meetings are not covered by this legislation and management can refuse a “request to be accompanied”.

The General Grades Committee has considered this matter and has taken the following decision:

“That we note the correspondence from Thompsons Solicitors outlining their legal opinion regarding the issue. Therefore we instruct the General Secretary to write to South West Trains informing them that any fact finding or other meeting that is convened without the ‘request to be accompanied’ being granted must not result in the following:

· The administration of a formal warning to a worker

· The taking of some other action in respect of a worker

· The confirmation of a warning issued or some other action taken

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

BRITAIN’S TWO LARGEST RAIL UNIONS AGREE TO MERGER TALKS

FROM RAIL UNIONS RMT AND TSSA

PRESS RELEASE

22 July 2011

Immediate

BRITAIN’S TWO LARGEST RAIL UNIONS AGREE TO MERGER TALKS

The TSSA and RMT unions today agreed to commit to formal talks which could ultimately lead to a merger of the two unions. Initial discussions will focus on closer working between both unions initially through a federation structure with a view to moving towards a merger.

Both unions also agreed that the door will remain open for other smaller specialist unions in transport who may be thinking along similar lines to join the discussions at a future date.

Commenting on the decision, TSSA General Secretary Gerry Doherty said :

“Today’s decision will hopefully be the start of a process designed to serve the interests of future generations of transport and travel trade workers. We owe an obligation to our children and our children’s children to leave better organisations that protect workers in the very uncertain future that

they currently face”

Speaking on behalf of the RMT, General Secretary Bob Crow said :

“This is a historical day for the trade union movement. These talks will bring together two unions each with over a hundred years of specialising in the transport industry in the interests of workers.”

RAILWAYS PENSION SCHEMES – 2010 ACTUARIAL VALUATION

#My Ref: MRP: 1/8 15th July 2011

Circular No. NP/132 /11

To: The Secretary All Branches & Regional Councils

Dear Colleague,

RAILWAYS PENSION SCHEMES – 2010 ACTUARIAL VALUATION

As I am sure you are aware the Railways Pension Scheme (RPS) tri-annual actuarial valuation is presently being carried out by the scheme Actuary and as part of this consultation process the RMT, along with other trade unions, has been having discussions with railway management about these results.

The draft valuation results reveal that the majority of RPS sections are in deficit although some are showing a surplus. The Actuary has indicated that like other UK pension schemes which are in deficit this can be contributed to a number of factors, including poor investment returns and improvements in mortality.

As with past valuation, talks between management and the trade unions have centered on the affordability and sustainability of the RPS. The Actuary has outlined a number of options which could be used to reduce each sections deficit, which include further increases in employer and employee pension contributions and benefits changes.

The valuation results for each section are still to be finalised and whilst there has been discussions about reducing future pension liabilities, the RMT’s policy will be to protect existing and future pension benefits.

I would therefore like to remind all RMT representatives that no agreement should be reached on amending contributions or benefits, either through Pensions Committees or in direct discussions with the employer, without prior consent from Head Office. Details of any employer proposals should be forwarded immediately to Head Office.

The RPS 2010 Actuarial Valuation must be completed by 31^st March 2012. If, however, there are any proposed changes to RPS pension arrangements a member consultation period will begin at least 60 days before the 31^st March 2012.

I shall, of course, keep you advised of developments.

Yours sincerely,

Bob Crow,

General Secretary

New Inflation Rates

Tuesday 12^th July 2011

Circular No. National Policy 127/11/MC

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 June 2011.

The Retail Price Index (RPI) for this twelve monthly period is 5%, down 0.2% from the previous figure of 5.2% for the twelve months to May 2011.

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is 4.2% for the twelve months to June 2011. This is down 0.3% from the figure for the twelve months to May 2011.

By far the largest downward pressure to the change in CPI inflation came from recreation and culture where prices, overall, fell by 0.9 per cent between May and June this year compared with a rise of 0.5 per cent between the same two months a year ago. The fall this year was a record for a May to June period. The main downward effects came from games, toys and hobbies, particularly computer games, and from audio-visual equipment and related products, where price discounting this year of items such as digital cameras, DVDs and televisions contributed to the downward movement.
There were also large downward pressures from:

• miscellaneous goods and services where prices, overall, were little changed between May and June this year compared with an increase of 0.6 per cent between the same two months a year ago. The downward effect came from a wide variety of goods and services with the largest contribution coming from insurance where premiums rose by less than a year ago
• communication, driven by telephone equipment and services, particularly mobile phone charges
• second-hand cars which fell in price this year but rose a year ago

By far the largest offsetting upward pressure to the change in CPI inflation came from food and non-alcoholic beverages where prices, overall, rose by 0.9 per cent between May and June this year but fell by 0.1 per cent between the same two months a year ago. The upward effects came from a wide range of product groups, most notably from bread and cereals, meat, and milk, cheese and eggs. In each case, prices rose this year across a range of products compared with falls a year ago.
There was also a large upward pressure from fuels and lubricants where prices fell this year by less than a year ago. Petrol pump prices fell by 0.7 pence per litre between May and June this year to stand at 135.6 pence per litre. This movement compares with a fall of 2.6 pence per litre between the same two months a year ago.

The next publication date will be 16^th August 2011.

In pay submissions the RMT will continue to emphasise that your financial commitments have increased at a much greater rate than inflation and your living standards have suffered as a result.

Yours Sincerely

Bob Crow,

General Secretary

Software available from SWT

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Telephone Lines Unity House

Dear all

Please be advised that BT have now repaired the fault and the telephones at Unity House are now working.

Thank you for your patience.

Unity House: Temporary Phone lines

Unity House: Temporary Phone lines

Due to continuing problems with RMT telephone lines, BT have provided a number of mobile phones which have been allocated to each department at Unity House.

While the main switchboard number (020 7387 4771) is diverted to an additional mobile, the switchboard will be unable to transfer calls and will provide the caller with the number for the relevant department.

The numbers are:

• Industrial Relations...07918 778498
• Membership...07918 778164
• Finance...07918 674146
• Personnel & Constitution...07918 693444
• Press/Communications...07918 674157
• National Policy...07918 767901
• South East Regional Office...07918 77867
• Private Secretary...07918 778456

RMT PAY BULLETIN June 2011

Circular No. NP/107/11/MC

15^th June 2011

H.O. Ref: R14/5

TO: ALL BRANCHES, REGIONAL COUNCILS, REGIONAL OFFICES,

COUNCIL OF EXECUTIVES & HO OFFICERS.

Dear Members,

 

RMT PAY BULLETIN

June 2011

The Office of National Statistics has just published new inflation figures for the twelve months to May 2011.

The Retail Price Index (RPI) for this twelve monthly period is 5.2%, unchanged from the previous figure of 5.2% for the twelve months to April 2011.

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is 4.5% for the twelve months to May 2011. This is unchanged from the figure for the twelve months to April 2011.

The largest upward pressures on the level of CPI inflation came from:

• alcohol and tobacco with the effect coming from wine and beer partially offset by spirits. Prices, overall, of wine and beer rose this year but fell a year ago, particularly for new world wine and lager. Whisky and vodka prices were the main causes of the downward contribution from spirits

• miscellaneous goods and services where prices, overall, rose by 0.6 per cent between April and May this year compared with an increase of 0.2 per cent between the same two months a year ago. The upward effect principally came from appliances and products for personal care

The next publication date will be 12^th July 2011.

In pay submissions the RMT will continue to emphasise that your financial commitments have increased at a much greater rate than inflation and your living standards have suffered as a result.

Recent non-RMT settlements

Company /Sector	Award	Effective From
SKF Bearings	· 4% increase to basic pay	1 Jan 2011
Colt Telecom	· 2% increase to basic pay	1 Jan 2011
Housing 21	· 1% increase to basic pay	1 Apr 2011

Recent RMT Settlements
Company	Award	Effective From
Infrastructure
Volkerail	An increase in annual leave entitlement to 25 days per annum with immediate effect in 2011. A one-year increase in the loyalty bonus of £150 to £425.78. This will apply between 1st April 2011 and 31st March 2012 only.	1 Apr 2011
Babcock	· A basic rate increase of 3% for all employees covered by Procedure Agreement 1 (General Collective Bargaining). This is subject to the following conditions:- Working Away From Home In the first instance, the Company will seek volunteers where working away from home is required. It is expected the existing level of flexibility should resolve most problems. However, in the event there are insufficient volunteers, this will be resolved via discussion with recognised trade unions. Pay Interval All remaining staff that are on full-time employment contracts and currently paid weekly to be paid on a 4-weekly basis as per normal arrangements. The Company will offer the appropriate financial support to allow this small number of employees affected to make the adjustment to 4-weekly pay. Terms and Conditions The Company and Trade Unions will agree an appropriate method for transferring former staff of Jarvis and Carillion and current staff in Plant and Workshop Supervisor grades to standard Babcock Rail terms and conditions of employment. It is recognised that while this transfer will be subject to a positive ballot within each work group, it is a mutual benefit to the Company and the Trade Unions that such a transfer should take place and that every effort will be made to achieve this outcome.	1 Apr 2011
Colas Rail	Two Year Pay Deal · 1st April 2010: 1.5% increase on all base wages · 1st January 2011: 0.5% increase on all base wages · 1st April 2011: 2.0% increase on all base wages ·	1 Apr 2010
Network Rail
Network Rail Operations and Customer Services, Project and Engineering Support Staff and National Functions.	Year One A 5.2% increase (November 2010 RPI + 0.5%) Year Two An increase of November 2011 RPI + 0.5%, with effect from 1st January 2012. General Summary An improvement in travel subsidy facilities to 75%, with a maximum subsidy value of £2250 on all applications from the 1st July 2011 onwards. Olympics Arrangements Summary (Copy attached) · An Olympic premium payment of £3.50 per hour for staff whose duties are affected beyond the normal requirements of their job during the Olympics period. · In certain locations where meal availability is restricted, appropriate meal provision will be made, or Network Rail shall provide a meal allowance of £5 paid net of tax. · Furthermore the union has agreed dispute management procedures for the period of the Olympics and Paralympics. · RMT will participate in an Olympics working group which will discuss the Olympics arrangements in terms of staffing levels, health and safety and explain and discuss the company’s overall plans. More detail can be found in the attached document.	1 Jan 2011
Train Operating Companies & Freight Operating Companies
National Express Baron House Contact Centre Staff	· A one-off payment of £100 (net of tax) to all full time staff with pro rata for part-time staff.	-
First Capital Connect	Year One · Salaries together with dynamic allowances will be increased by 5.5% Year Two · Salaries together with dynamic allowances to be increased by 3% or February 2012 RPI whichever is greater from Sunday 1st April 2012. · Revenue Protection Staff on the GN line of route will be eligible to receive the attendance allowance on the same terms as the allowance is applied to Station Staff on the GN line of route. This allowance will replace the existing revenue protection bonus scheme. The allowance will be dynamic and will be increased in line with the salary review uplift this year. The full year increase available to each member of the Revenue Team will be up to £137.56 taking cognisance of this year’s pay uplift rate. It will be paid pro rata until 31st December and then will be paid on a calendar year basis. · Revenue Control Officers at Luton Airport Parkway who are rostered permanent night shift will receive an allowance of £6.75 per shift and this amount will be back dated to 1st November 2010. · The current attendance allowance paid to Revenue Protection Team (excluding RCOs) on the TL line of route will become dynamic with effect from this year. · An undertaking was given to the Pay Review Committee to consider whether there was any scope for bringing together the terms and conditions of Revenue Protection Staff working on the TL and GN lines of route. · In addition to these matters it was agreed that the use of agency staff will be a standing item on the quarterly Customer Services and Revenue Protection Consultation Committees. · First Capital Connect will undertake to pursue with a medical provider, voluntary health checks such as blood pressure, cholesterol level and weight checks.	3 Apr 2011
Workshop & Train Maintenance
VAE	· An increase of 4% to basic pay, no strings attached.	1 Apr 2011
Bombardier Derby	Year One A 2% increase on the basic rate of pay for Manufacturing Staff, Manufacturing Staff Team Leaders and Manufacturing Staff Trainers. This award to be backdated to 1st January 2011. Year Two A 2% increase on the basic rate of pay for Manufacturing Staff, Manufacturing Staff Team Leaders and Manufacturing Staff Trainers. This award to be effective from 1st January 2012. Plus a further 1% should a contract be signed to supply Thameslink, also awarded from 1st January 2012.	1 Jan 2011
Bus & Road Transport
Stagecoach Eastmidlands, Mansfield & Worksop Drivers	Year One 2nd May 2011 All duties scheduled to take a bus out of depot will be paid 10 minutes to clearly show the first use check. All duties will attract an additional 5 minutes paid allowance at the end of the duty for paying in. 20th November 2011 Grade 1 rate will increase by 15p per hour to £8.85. It should be noted that the paid allowances are in addition to the present arrangements where the time for the task was consolidated into the current rates of pay. Year Two 7th May 2012 Grade 1 rate increased by a further 10p per hour to £8.95. 19th November 2012 Grade 1 rate increased by a further 10p per hour to £9.05. The next pay review would then be due in May 2013.	2 May 2011
Bournemouth Transport	Year One · An increase of 2.7% in all applicable rates Year Two · A further increase of 2.3% in all applicable rates from 1st May 2012.	1 May 2011
Shipping
Hovertravel	A 2.5% increase on basic rates of pay. An additional quarterly bonus payment at 100% which equates to approximately £125 per person.	1 Apr 2011

Yours sincerely,

Bob Crow

General Secretary

McNulty Review into the Railways

Circular number: NP230//11/JC

Reference: NP/P11

To: - HO Officers, Executive, Regional Organisers, Regional Councils & All Branches

19^th May 2011

Dear Colleague,

McNulty Review into the Railways

As you will be aware the Government has today published the McNulty report into the railways.

The union has made numerous representations into the McNulty review. Predictably however the report is underpinned by the same ideology that led to the disastrous privatisation of the railways and seems designed to appease the vested interests of the privatised train operating companies.

Essentially passengers and rail workers are being asked to pay the price of the privatization of the railways.

If the Government implements the McNulty report the railway could be set back for decades. There would be a massive cull in railway staff and attacks on terms and conditions and an increased structural safety risks.

The railway will become even more fragmented and complex and will see a significant shift of power to the privatised train operators. The cost of running the railways would increase with the tax and fare payer having to pick up the bill. Further fragmentation of the industry and attacks on rail workers jobs and conditions could lead to significant and protracted industrial relations problems.

Key points and RMT initial analysis are as follows,

• The report says our railways are 30% less efficient than European Comparators. It says that this inefficiency is cause by lack of government leadership and fragmentation and that closing this efficiency gap will result in savings of between £740million and £1050 million a year by2018/19.

• The report proposed to do this by breaking up Network Rail, longer franchises and attacking staff conditions and paving the way for an attack on regional railways. The report says 35 % of the total savings should come from staff including cuts in maintenance, DOO being the default position for all trains, a review of station staffing and scrapping regulations that protect ticket offices. (See attached document).

• The report says Network Rail should just a holding company with route level concessions being operated by subsidies or other organizations and there should be early pilots for joint ventures and concessions of rail infrastructure. The report lines up an attack on regional railways by saying they are about six times more expensive to run per mile than long distance and commuter franchises.

• The report has not considered the benefits of re-integrating the railways under public ownership. It has chosen to ignore the fact that billions of pounds is drained from the industry in profits and the evidence that railways in Europe are cheaper for the taxpayer and fare payer because on the whole they are in public ownership and less fragmented. Our research gives a conservative estimate that the cost of privatisation   (high borrowing cost, numerous interfaces and dividend payments) mean privatisation is costing the tax payer a billion a year.

• Instead, while the report rightly identifies fragmentation of the industry as the main cause of high costs, it then inexplicably recommends further fragmentation and privatisation of the railway by arguing for the breakup of Network Rail and the sale or leasing of its assets to the private train operating companies.

• These proposals will increase costs and reduce efficiency leading to poorer services and higher fares. Further fragmentation will also have a significant and adverse impact on the ability of the railways to contribute to strategic objectives such as contributing to economic growth, moving freight to rail and reducing carbon emissions.

• Re-introducing the profit motive coupled with fragmenting signal and track maintenance and signalling operations will create a Railtrack Mark 2 and is inexplicable given the woeful safety record of Railtrack. Following the establishment of Network Rail, maintenance and signalling operations were rightly reintegrated and passed to a not-for-dividend company. McNulty would reverse this.

· As stated previously the report proposes significant cuts in train, ticket office and maintenance workers – a false economy which could result in falling passenger numbers. Research by Passenger Focus and others shows that station and train staff are important to passengers for ticket sales, journey advice and general reassurance.

· The call for an assault on jobs and conditions also ignores the fact that rail workers productivity has increased at a greater rate than labour costs. Unlike the very close correlation between the profits of the privatised railway companies and public subsidy, which the report chooses to ignore, there is no correlation between public subsidy and increasing labour costs. Average earnings in the industry are not in excess of those in the wider economy

• The report proposes greater commercial freedom for the privatised train operating companies, loosening of fare caps and fares tied to market demand. This will see passengers have to pay even higher fares on top of the eye watering increases already announced by the Government. Our research shows that in the last ten years the real cost of motoring has declined by 8%, the cost of flights has declined by 34% but rail fares have increased by 15% in real terms.

I will be providing a more detailed analysis shortly but in the meantime please be assured that the union will be mobilising a major campaign against these proposals.

Yours sincerely,

Bob Crow

General Secretary

Inflation Rates Circular

Circular No. NP/071/11/MC

12^th April 2011

TO: ALL BRANCHES, REGIONAL ORGANISERS, REGIONAL COUNCILS, & EXECUTIVE.

Dear Colleagues,

Inflation Rates Circular

The March rates of RPI and CPI were published by the Office for National Statistics on the 12^th April 2011. The next publication date is the 17^th May 2011.

March 2011 retail prices index rate is 5.3%.This is down from 5.5% in February. The Government’s preferred measure of inflation, CPI, is at 4%, down from 4.4% in February.

By far the largest downward pressure to the change in inflation came from food and non-alcoholic beverages where prices, overall, fell by 1.4 per cent between February and March this year compared with a rise of 0.3 per cent between the same two months a year ago. The 1.4 per cent this year was a record fall for a February to March period. The downward effects were widespread and reflected supermarket led sales this year. The most notable contributions came from fruit where prices fell by 4.7 per cent this year (also a record February to March movement) but rose by 0.7 per cent a year ago, and bread and cereals where prices fell by a record 2.6 per cent this year compared with a fall of 0.2 per cent a year ago.
There were also large downward pressures from:

• recreation and culture, principally from games, toys and hobbies (particularly computer games), recording media and data processing equipment
• air transport, where fares rose by less than a year ago, particularly on European routes

The largest upward pressures to the change in inflation came from:

• housing and household services: prices, overall, rose by 0.4 per cent between February and March this year compared with 0.1 per cent between the same two months a year ago. The main upward effect came from domestic heating costs where average electricity and gas bills rose this year but were unchanged a year ago
• purchase of vehicles, where prices rose this year but fell a year ago, particularly for second-hand cars

In pay submissions the RMT will continue to emphasise that your financial commitments have increased at a much greater rate than inflation and your living standards have suffered as a result.

Yours sincerely,

Bob Crow

General Secretary