WATERLOO DRIVERS STRIKE OVER TAXI TAX DISPUTE

www.rmt.org.uk :: june 2006 :: RMTnews 15 RMT drivers at South West Trains’ Waterloo depot have taken two days of 24-hour strike action alongside Aslef colleagues over the company’s “absurd” attempt to shift the tax burden for taxi provision to staff. The drivers, who have no other means of getting to early or late shifts other than taking a taxi, delivered solid strike action. RMT regional organiser Brian Whitehead said that the company was simply wrong to try to make its own staff foot a tax bill for providing a train service. “To expect drivers to lose money for the privilege of getting to and from work when there is no transport available other than taxis is frankly absurd, yet this is what the company is trying to do. “We have an agreement with SWT that they will provide taxis for our members to get to work when there is no alternative transport available, and we expect them to stick to it. “Wheeling out managers to work excessively long shifts with only a few hours’ refresher course has served only to anger our members across the company. “SWT should instead spend their time finding a way to resolve this dispute,” Brian said. A well-attended meeting of RMT drivers held in Doncaster recently heard contributions from AGS Pat Sikorski and relief organisers Brian Whitehead and John MacDonald. Train drivers Brian and John are in the forefront of driver recruitment and Pat is the senior officer responsible drivers’ negotiations. John MacDonald reported on activities within various companies. Jarvis Fastline had agreed that RMT would be the only union with whom they would negotiate for train drivers. At the other end of the spectrum, Direct Rail Services had made it quite clear they would not talk to the union at this time. In spite of this, membership within the company was growing. As DRS had refused RMT recruiters’ access to the Depot at Kingmoor, a meeting had been set up in a hotel in Carlisle, so staff could come and meet with the union. John also covered the use of the disciplinary procedures on EWS and the question of rest day working on Northern Rail. Brian Whitehead told the meeting of the tremendous success RMT have had in recruiting drivers employed by First Great Western in Plymouth, Bristol and Paddington. RMT would also, in future, be involved in all negotiations on terms and conditions, rates of pay and harmonisation of the new Greater Western franchise. Progress was also being made regarding negotiations with Arriva Trains Wales, where elections will take place shortly and the union will be fielding candidates for all positions. RMT will be standing candidates for the Company Council elections on South East Trains and this can also be repeated on South West Trains. EWS Pat Sikorski emphasised the need for all RMT drivers to be recruiters in their own workplace. He emphasised the problems currently being experienced within EWS. “ASLEF’s latest deal with the company would, without doubt, cost the jobs of our members, particularly ground staff members. “This is what sets us apart from other organisations as we are not in the business of negotiating away other people’s jobs, in order to obtain pay increases,” he said. He said that RMT was built on mutual cooperation and respect, not sectionalist interests. “We have proved in the past that we are capable of negotiating decent rates of pay and terms and conditions, without selling jobs,” he said. There were many positive contributions from members and there is no doubt that drivers throughout the country are beginning to realise that RMT is the best option. A further national meeting is being planned for October. Waterloo drivers strike over taxi tax dispute TRAIN DRIVERS MEET IN DONCASTER From left to right drivers Vickie Rowbotham, Janet Jallands, Sue Marshall, Kate Smith, Assistant General Secretary Pat Sikorski, drivers Mandy Langdon and Alison Langdon.