CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTRE INFORMATION STRATEGY – SOUTH WEST TRAINS

Circular No IR/61/12

To All Branches, Regional Offices & Regional Councils

Our Ref: BR2/15/1

2nd February 2012

Dear Colleagues

CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTRE INFORMATION STRATEGY – SOUTH WEST TRAINS

I have received proposals from South West Trains to transfer the Customer Service Centre at Southampton into Stagecoach Services Ltd. The company are proposing that all future employees are to be employed on Stagecoach Services Ltd terms and conditions and are asking staff to sign individual acceptance letters. SWT are also unwilling to guarantee recognition for this union and our sister union TSSA at Southampton Customer Service Centre and the company does not recognise this transfer as falling under the TUPE Regulations.

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

“That we note the report on file and the serious implications the company’s proposals could have on our members. The setting up of Stagecoach Service Ltd is clearly a manoeuvre by the company to create a two tier workforce, that has no other remit than to reduce terms and conditions.

Therefore we instruct the General Secretary to take this issue up with SWT immediately and for a full report to be placed back before us at the earliest opportunity. Further we instruct the General Secretary to obtain a legal opinion on the full proposals and for this opinion to be placed back before us within fourteen days. 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