LETTERS

RMTnews :: december 2005 30 RMT’s Watford branch invited general secretary Bob Crow to a recent branch meeting to present John Clark with his 40-year union membership medallion and badge. John Clark has recently retired but he joined the railway on the January 6 1958 at Somerstown, St Pancras British Rail school of apprentices and ended his career in Watford S&T. He joined the NUR in 1962 and in 1966 on his way to work was involved in a motorcycle accident, with the help of the union and his branch secretary received compensation for his injuries. Reflecting on his career John said: "I have seen a lot of changes over the years but the one of the things I am proud of is the union’s fight for a safer railway and the improvements made with the help of this union to improve safety across the industry”. WATFORD MARKS 40-YEAR MILESTONE Dear editor, I am writing to object to the content of the model letter which RMT is requesting members send to their MPs (October issue). As an HGV driver I always hope my union looks after my interests, however, in this case they are not. In fact, they are going to make my life considerably worse. We are now under a maximum working week of 48 hours (plus PoA.'s), But we now find RMT supporting a maximum driving week of 48 hours. When do we clock on and off, check our vehicles (by law me must do this every time we take a truck out - this counts to the 48 hour working week), wash our vehicles etc? I would also point out that at present the maximum driving is 90 hours a fortnight (that works out at 45 per week) - can you spot where this makes my life worse? The letter also requests a minimum of eight hours daily rest. I was always told that I need eight hours sleep to stay healthy and alert so exactly what part of the eight hours daily rest is for sleep (remembering travelling, breakfast/dinners, time with the family etc). I am up approx one hour in the morning before going to work, I travel 35 minutes to work and 35 minutes back from work, I enjoy a bath for about 20 minutes before having my dinner with my family. I then like one to two hours relaxing before going to bed. This makes a total of approx 3.5hours to 4.5hours out of eight hours rest as supported by RMT. Do you honestly think that 4.5 hours is enough sleep? Do you remember that the person who fell asleep at the wheel and killed all those people on the train? We have 11 hours daily rest now (which can be reduced - but to no less that 9 hours) - can you spot where you are making my life worse? We should be fighting for a minimum 11hrs daily rest with no reduction. We should be fighting for a maximum 48 hours working week including PoA.'s (you are currently fighting for 37 hours weeks on the trains). We should be fighting for a minimum 45 hours rest per week with no reduction. We should be fighting to stop cheap labour. Come on RMT, stop supporting things that make members lives worse and start to look after members interests, check everything out first. Regards Robin Murray From the editor RMT support for the ITF campaign is in respect of international transport standards and is aimed at workers who do not have the same standards as many British workers. The union, as an affiliate of the ITF, supports the campaign to get countries to sign up to International Standards as stipulated on ILO Convention 153. You are right to point out that in some areas, such as the 48 hours maximum working week and daily rest periods, the ILO conventions specify weaker protections than enjoyed by some UK road transport workers. Despite these protections, many UK transport workers do not or are unable to conform to these minimum standards. ILO stipulations for a break after four hours continuous driving and maximum driving times of 9 hours are also superior to some of the existing arrangements. Tellingly, most countries, including the UK have not signed up to the ILO convention because to do so would help prevent road haulage companies exploiting workers internationally and at home Dear editor, After just reading your article on assaults on the rise in RMT News, I would like to draw your attention to something that I can see happening in my place of work. I am currently employed by South West Trains at Woking Station in the revenue department. We have barrier lines at this station. However, we have staff shortages and the company is not employing anymore staff due to the franchise renewal (trying to cash in before they lose it!). We have times when we operate the barriers with no ticket selling machine. These barriers are on-line with no excess duty and we are told by management to send the customer without a ticket to the ticket office window to purchase their ticket. Some go there and some just walk straight out and there is nothing we can do. In relation to the assaults, when we have excess on duty and the member of staff decides to penalty fare a ticketless person at Woking station the customer could get violent and say "well, before I went to the ticket office window to buy my ticket". I think running things this way is asking for trouble and all management are after is there gate line cover not the welfare of staff. Regards Scott Chown Dear comrades, I would like to thank the Harwich shipping branch secretary and the Harwich RMT members, active and retired, for organising my surprise retirement party at the White Horse public house. A special thanks to general secretary Bob Crow for taking the time to attend this occasion, it was a great night. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all Harwich RMT shipping members for the loyal support they have given the former NUS and now the RMT and myself as a union representative over the past thirty seven years, of which I have many memories. I wish the new chairman Dave Payne all the best in the future, and I know that Harwich shipping members will give Dave the same loyal support that they gave me. Regards Bob Stewart LETTERS