Signal workers

Safety or assessment? Safety briefing days are being used as a way of attacking RMT members, conference agreed. Tim Breed from Staffs branch pointed out that examinations on rules and regulations should be carried out by signal managers and supervisors not on safety briefing days. “Safety days were not for testing and putting staff under pressure. “What qualifications have these people firing questions at you on safety briefing days?” he said. Conference agreed that the original concept was to advise staff of changes to rules and regulations to raise awareness to problems. However, now they were being changed into an extension of the continuous assessment programmes. Steve Riggot from Bridgend branch said that questionnaires had been introduced regarding different matters. “I refused to take part and pointed out that that was not what safety briefing days were for,” he said. Conference agreed to call on the union to demand that any continual assessment element is withdrawn from safety day briefings. Increased pressures Conference was appalled by the ever increasing pressures put on staff in signalling centres, which is feeding an environment for stress and ill-health. Delegates backed a motion calling on the union to set up a joint risk assessment working party to look at the high mortality and illness rates using all available data. Kelvin Eastham from Three Bridges branch said that staff were being forced to fill in forms for every wrong route despite the fact that it was not their fault. “These are busy routes and the company is clearly trying to save money and bring down delays. “However, these forms are asking staff to put down their age and other intrusive questions,” he said. He said that increasingly such mechanisms were being used to intimidate and target trade union activists. “Stress levels are growing due to the introduction of this paper trail and we are literally losing signal staff as a result,” he said. William Dickson from Deptford branch said the motion was a “wake- up call”. He said that some managers were using the procedures to target senior staff in order to get rid of them. Teeside delegate Peter Pinkney reminded delegates that signallers that worked in small signal boxes also suffered similar stress levels . Medical mayhem Abuse, misuse and a disciplinary weapon were just some of the terms given to describe the medical procedures used by Network Rail. Three Bridges Branch delegate Dave Crawford info of recent incidents branch members su hands of Network R option of using outs company AXA PPP instead of keeping welfare issues ‘in h Delegates were to who attended such then returned to wo removed from his s days later and hand healthcare report w ‘PROGNOSIS – run of imminent death’ believe that this ma anywhere near mee fitness requirement laid down by Netwo Both statements others regarding th appeared on the ex report that was sub PPP healthcare, the report, stated ‘I do needs any restrictio his current employm be able to render sa attendance and per In a further case, sent on a medical, clearly showing “ha suffering from temp loss and lack of co Despite the serious implications ‘implie was left ‘on duty’. W was assessed by th found to be a total signaller, still at wor AFTER ten years in the job, conference secretary Dave Gott said it was time to hand over the baton to someone else. Dave said that he had enjoyed his time as secretary and had made good friends over the years. He said that every year seemed to throw up its own set of prob- lems and this year the issue facing mem- bers was clearly the threat to the final salary pension scheme. “Following the magnificent victory in forcing Network Rail to re-open the pen- sion scheme it needs to be hammered home to the membership the dire consequences of allowing Network Rail to shut it down. “We need to keep members up to speed about the workings of the fund to combat the attitude that it’s just one of life’s little mysteries we just pay in to each month - this money is deferred wages” he said. This included the need to continue with the production of newslet- ters and information from Unity House to educate members on the benefits of a decent pension fund. “One day management may come for us again and we need to be ready for them,” he warned. Dave welcomed the fact that conference attendance had increased in recent years and said that it needed to continue if signal workers were to defend their interests and build the union. Dave wished new conference secretary Julian Tansell of Worchester branch all the best. “Ten years ago when I took over from Ken Armson he said to me you can’t relax until the last presentation is done at end of conference. Never a truer word was said: good luck,” he said. Conference secretary says farewell Fairness not victim Buoyed by their success in keeping the Network Rail pension scheme open to new members, the well-attended signallers conference focused on how staff can be open to victimisation and abuse RMT news – Signallers conference 2004 18 ormed conference involving local uffering at the Rail’s preferred side medical P healthcare all health and ouse’. old of one signaller a medical and ork only to be signal box some 13 ded the AXA PPP which stated ns a very real risk and ‘I do not an comes eting the minimum for signallers as ork Rail’. along with many is medical never xamining doctors bmitted to AXA e real unaltered not feel that he on to be applied to ment. He should atisfactory rformance’. a signaller was the referral form as apparently been porary memory ncentration”. s nature of the d’ the signaller When the accused he doctor it was fabrication. The rk is now seeking legal redress. Many other delegates reported similar problems with one being forced to take early retirement even though his own GP and consultant could find no reason for him not to continue working and yet another who was only recently removed from his signal box due to a five-year-old medical problem from which he had fully recovered. Dave pointed out “if a signaller is unfit to continue then he/she should be removed from duty immediately and not two weeks after the medical. “Just as important ‘the real doctors report’ should be used when assessing the fitness of signallers for duty and not the fairy story issued by AXA PPP healthcare as at present,” he said. Organise John Milligan of the RMT organising unit outlined how all members can help build the union by organising and recruiting in the workplace. He asked branches to draw up a plan for recruitment. “We need to get facility time to allow local RMT reps to attend induction courses. “RMT needs to strike home the message that it is the only union with negotiating rights for signal workers and not allow other organisations to mislead new staff,” he said. John also pointed out that Network Rail had agreed to an RMT request for four full-time union convenors and the union plans to lay down a minimum threshold of organisation across the company. In brief G Conference called for pay slips to be made easier to understand, clearly showing the number of hours worked, including night-shift allowances, in order to tackle widespread mistakes in calculating wages. G Conference agreed that the union should pursue a claim for a substantial increase to the south east and London allowances to rectify differences in the cost of living in these regions while accepting that it was not an argument for regional pay. G Conference agreed that the union should pursue a claim in recognition of the additional responsibility for members carrying out COSS track duties. G Conference recognised the reasons why a two-year pay deal was agreed this year, given the threat to the pension fund, but reiterated a policy of supporting single-year deals with no strings. G Delegates stood for two minutes silence in memory of Willie McGee of Glasgow No 5 branch and Charlie Eager of Great Northern branch. misation WITHOUT the steadfast determination shown by RMT members the Network Rail pension fund would not be open today, RMT general secretary Bob Crow told conference. “The sole reason that the company re-opened the pension scheme, after closing it for new entrants in April, was because RMT members were prepared to take strike action. “It was not due to great research or a sly strategy devised at Unity House, it was down to you the members,” he said. Bob said that it had also sent a message to the employers about the risks of ditching pension schemes. North east executive representative Peter Pinkney agreed and warned that if the final-salary pension scheme had been closed it would have disappeared altogether within a decade. “Members should understand that without new blood there is no new money and there is only money going out to an ageing membership. “You should be proud of what you have achieved,” he said. Bob said that the following two-year deal, which included the re- opening of the scheme to staff with five years service and a 25 per cent discount on travel, was massively endorsed by an 89 per cent yes vote on a 70 per cent turn-out. “That is the biggest endorsement in the history of the union and formed the basis for further advances” he said. “It is proof that the employers only listen to the union from a position of strength,” Bob said. Bob said that taking maintenance infrastructure back in-house was also a step forward and the union was also campaigning to get renewals taken out of the hands of the privateers. Your pension victory RMT news – Signallers conference 2004 19 North East representative Peter Pinkney Three Bridges Branch delegate Dave Crawford Tim Breed from Staffs branch