STRIKE THREAT WINS RENEWALS JOB SECURITY

www.rmt.org.uk :: may 2007 :: RMTnews 5 R MT called off a ballot of track renewals staff last month following a major victory on job security for thousands of workers in the engineering sector. The union won assurances from the engineering companies over the futures of more than 3,000 plant and renewals staff at a meeting at Unity House with all the employers involved. The dispute arose after Network Rail decided to reorganise plant contracts and reduce the number of renewals contracts from six to four. Initially, contractors Carillion, Balfour Beatty, Jarvis, GrantRail, First Engineering, Amey and Amec failed to provide the union with firm guarantees over job security or terms and conditions. However, after being informed that RMT was in dispute, they quickly delivered the appropriate guarantees. "We are now in receipt of guarantees from all of them that TUPE will apply wherever work is transferred from one company to another, and that the companies will enter into full consultation with RMT at the appropriate time," said RMT general secretary Bob Crow. It was a major improvement on the previous position of each of the companies and it guarantees terms and conditions will be protected and job security enhanced. He said that the union needs to be vigilant as the decisions on the future of both plant and renewals contracts have yet to be made by Network Rail. “RMT will continue to ensure that the companies keep to their agreements, and that workers receive the best possible protection. "This is a great victory, but should jobs be threatened in any way in the future then RMT will not hesitate to ballot for industrial action," Bob said. RMT is satisfied that the companies have provided the following five guarantees: 1. That TUPE will apply 2. If for any reason TUPE does not apply, they will guarantee to take on staff from any company that loses its contract 3. That all terms and conditions will be retained 4. That all pension rights will be retained in full 5. That no staff will be made compulsorily redundant STRIKE THREAT WINS RENEWALS JOB SECURITY RENEWALS:Contractors Jarvis and Network Rail workers renewing worn line on the Great Western Main Line at Slough.