JOINT OPERATION – TRAIN OPERATING COMPANIES & NETWORK RAIL

Circular No IR/203/12

TO ALL BRANCHES, REGIONAL OFFICES & REGIONAL COUNCILS

Our Ref: BR2/15/4

19^th April 2012

Dear Colleagues

JOINT OPERATION – TRAIN OPERATING COMPANIES & NETWORK RAIL

Our South West Trains Representatives recently attended a meeting in relation to the formation of an “Alliance” between SWT and Network Rail. The General Grades Committee has had opportunity considered this matter and has taken the following decision:

“This union is appalled at the ‘Alliance’ project between South West Trains and Network Rail. This is a clear attempt to reintroduce the profit motive into track which led to previous railway disasters. We reject this policy and state our total opposition, we reiterate our policy for a publically accountable nationalised network, and that these alliances are part of the introduction of the McNulty report.

We note that Tim Shoveller has been appointed Managing Director of the SWT/NR Alliance Board. The General Secretary is instructed to continue the national campaign of protest against McNulty and to defend all jobs, terms and conditions of our members. We welcome that over 30 Trade Union Councils have responded to our campaign to highlight the devastation on our railway driven by greed infested profiteers, further we note that the TUC joint Trade Union campaign against McNulty is due to meet on the 16^th April 2012.

Further this General Grades Committee instruct the General Secretary to place the following matter before the next General Grades Committee ‘Industrial Strategy – McNulty Report’, this will enable this union to build a united industrial strategy to defend all jobs, pay and conditions in railway industry. The industrial campaign will involve Train Operating Companies, Infrastructure and Operations therefore the General Secretary is instructed to lead this campaign.”

Enclosed for your information purposes is a copy of South West Trains’ paperwork which includes a questions and answers document on the “Alliance” project. I would be obliged if you will bring this to the attention of your members.

Yours sincerely

Bob Crow

General Secretary

New Inflation Rates

Head Office Circular No. NP/089/12

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 March 2012.

The Retail Price Index (RPI) stood at 3.6% for the year to March 2012, down 0.1% from the 3.7% figure to February 2012.

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) stood at 3.5% for the year to March 2012, up 0.1% from the 3.4% figure to February 2011.

The ONS cited the prices of fruit, bread, cereals and meat as all rising slightly this year, whereas last year they had seen large falls.

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

Peter Gale – Wessex Regional Organiser

Ref: 0/9/1

Circular No. MF/29/12

5^th April 2012

To: All Branches and Regional Councils

Dear Colleagues,

Peter Gale – Wessex Regional Organiser

Further to Circular No. MF/16/12, 9^th February 2012, I am pleased to advise that following Peter Gale’s gradual return to work on Monday 13^th February, he will recommence his full duties as Regional Organiser for the Wessex Region on Tuesday 10^th April.

I would like to place on record my thanks to Peter Skelly, Relief Regional Organiser (South), for covering the position and all the work carried out during this period. Following Peter Gale’s full return, Peter Skelly will return to his former post.

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

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

 

NATIONAL UNION OF RAIL, MARITIME & TRANSPORT WORKERS

GENERAL GRADES COMMITTEE

Ref:

Subject

BR2/0001/SWT

Rates Of Pay And Conditions Of Service 2011 – South West Trains

That we note the referendum\ballot result is a s follows:-

Total votes cast                     ...................866

Number voting “Yes”             ..................770.

Number voting “No”              ..................96..

Spoilt Papers                        ....................0

We note the referendum result and accordingly instruct the General Secretary to inform the Company of our acceptance of the offer.

Relevant Branches and Regional Councils to be informed.

Date

Decision

Absentees

7/2/12

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

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

Our Ref: BR2/0001/SWT

 

23rd January 2012 

 

Dear Colleagues,

 

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

 

Further to my letter of 17th January, members will be aware of the
decision taken to conduct a referendum of affected members regarding the
above.

 

Unfortunately, due to problems with the distribution of voting papers in
some areas, it is necessary to rerun this referendum. The new voting
papers will be sent out to members' home address tomorrow and the new
closing date is Tuesday 7th February 2012.

 

All other details will remain the same. Apologies for any inconvenience
caused.    

 

Yours Sincerely,

 

Bob Crow

General Secretary

Ballot for South West Trains 2011 Pay Offer

To advise that the referendum Ballot Papers are being sent to all RMT Members within South West Trains, to vote on the pay offer of 4.75%

For those members who do not receive the ballot papers please call Freephone 0800-376-3706 or e-mail info@rmt.org.uk or contact your local Representative or Branch Secretary.