YOUR UNION

THE STAFF Kevin Carey Head of Industrial Relations Kevin is the manager of the department and the helpline. He has worked for RMT for nearly 34 years and has been with the union throughout all the upheavals the transport sector has seen including privatisation and re-structuring. Having worked at the union for such a long period of time, he can draw on a wealth of experience to assist members and colleagues in his department with strategies and arguments. Dave Ling Deputy Head of Industrial Relations Dave also oversees the department and having worked for RMT for over 25 years has also built up a wealth of knowledge in relations to members’ terms and conditions. At present Dave’s main area of expertise is Network Rail Operations (Signallers). Chris Philips Industrial Relations Officer Chris’s main area is Network Rail Engineering and Infrastructure matters and all other Engineering, Infrastructure, S&T and Workshop matters. Chris has three years experience and now has a good knowledge of the complicated terms and conditions that exist within this group of grades. Dave and Chris work closely because of the Network Rail Connection. Craig Stewart Senior Industrial Relations Officer As the Senior Industrial Relations officer Craig also has managerial responsibilities and steps in to the breach whenever Kevin or Dave is away. Craig has worked for the union for over 17 years and also has a wealth of experience. Craig’s main areas of expertise are Train Operating Companies, Rail Freight and all ancillary rail employees, eg cleaning, catering, etc. Alex Reid Industrial Relations Officer Alex has nearly four years service and his areas of expertise, along with Craig, is Train Operating Companies, Rail Freight and all ancillary rail employees. Alex’s main area is the Train Operating Companies – a mine field of different terms and conditions. James Murza Industrial Relations Officer James has over four years service and his area of expertise is Docks and Shipping. James works directly with the Shipping Officer Steve Todd. Because legislation is different for our seafaring members and they are away at sea for extended periods of time it can be extremely difficult to service these members. James also deals with pay. Pauline Akrill Industrial Relations Officer Pauline has over three years service and also works on Docks and Shipping. However her main area of expertise is pay. Pauline, who works closely with James, ensures that all offers are placed before the General Grades Committee. Pauline also conducts the referendums on pay and gives the members details of pay settlements. Arthur Richardson Industrial Relations Officer Arthur is a long-time RMT activist who has worked in the bus and rail sectors. He now also has over three years service directly employed by the union and is our London Underground, Docklands Light Railway, Light Rapid Transit Systems and ‘rubber wheels’ man. Arthur deals with all the underground issues including the infrastructure companies, Metronet and Tubelines. He also looks after our bus members and road freight members where necessary. This month RMT News looks at the role of Industrial Relations department and the RMT helpline Your Union Any member that has ever used the union’s freephone helpline will have spoken to a member of Industrial Relations department based at Unity House in London. ‘IR’, as it is commonly known, represents the hub of the union, dealing with issues that effect members on a day- to-day basis. This frontline department will deal with anything to do with a member’s terms and conditions and will give advice on such a multitude of issues that is impossible to list here. Some of the issues the department can assist with includes rosters, rates of pay, leave, disciplinary matters, the difficulties around PT&R (Promotion, Transfer and Redundancies), severance and ill-health severance (an area management are using more and more to get rid of staff). In short, anything that is work-related this department will deal with. It also co-ordinates all pay claims and conducts and counts all referendums. It conducts all industrial action ballots up to the despatch and counting of ballot papers, which is undertaken by an independent scrutineer, the Electoral Reform Society (ERS). HELPLINE The RMT helpline is entirely staffed by the Industrial Relations department and is open 08.00 to 18.00 Monday to Friday and 09.30 to 16.00 on a Saturday. A majority of the questions to the helpline are on work matters and are dealt with by the industrial relations officer who answers the helpline phone. However, where necessary they will pass a member on to the relevant department to deal with questions relating to membership contributions, financial matters, etc. The staff profiles will help members put names to faces and give you an idea of who you are speaking to when you contact the helpline. This is for guidance only as any member of the Industrial Relations Department is more than willing to assist any member irrespective of their grade or company. RMTnews :: july/august 2006 :: www.rmt.org.uk 22