FIGHTING FOR MEMBERS AT LYNX/UPS

RMTnews :: june/july 2007 :: www.rmt.org.uk 8 R oad freight members have remained resilient at UPS despite the company’s failure to uphold assurances to recognise RMT. Despite this setback, the union continues to serve members within the former Lynx sector of the business and will fight to retain the right to serve members as their voice within Lynx/UPS. This is predominantly down to the steadfast manner in which our reps have refused to allow the company to throw away the historical representation the union has held since the days of the British Rail parcel sector prior to being sold off to the private sector. RMT recognition agreements remained throughout this period, until UPS acquired Lynx in August 2006. Solicitors acting on RMT’s behalf have been preparing for a legal challenge to UPS’s conduct throughout the transfer of Lynx, which takes place in September this year. If the legal challenge is successful it would mean that the Tribunal could order the company to compensate each and every RMT member up to a maximum of 13 weeks’ pay. RMT reps have maintained their loyalty along with that of the entire RMT membership by challenging proposed changes through the use of the grievance procedure. Many of these determined reps attended a weekend school in March to look at devising a strategy for maintaining and improving the membership levels. Key reps attended in their own time to discuss matters with the two relief organisers for the North along with AGS Mick Cash, Gerry Hitchen and tutor Paul Goodier. The weekend proved to be a success enabling the reps to identify what training and support was needed to assist them in keeping RMT’s profile high within Lynx/UPS as the largest union. Measures are underway to provide members with constant updates on the legal and industrial position, along with propaganda for the recruitment and retention of members. Training for reps is vital and options are being explored to deliver this during the current difficult period. Support of the regional councils is also required by attention to including Lynx depots into any future organising campaigns. In the meantime, UPS should recognise the determination of local reps and the union to continue to defend and improve member’s terms and conditions against attacks by Lynx/UPS. N etwork Rail workers being scapegoated over the Grayrigg accident in Cumbria and Scottish signallers denied bonus for striking to defend an agreement on working hours are being balloted for strike action. Ballot papers have been sent to Network Rail staff employed in the area that includes the site of the Grayrigg crash who have had their £400 bonus withheld. Papers are also going out to more than 400 signallers and supervisors in Scotland who were docked £300 bonus after striking over the company’s failure to honour a 35-hour week deal. “Network Rail have only their own blatant double standards to blame for creating this situation,” RMT general secretary Bob Crow said. “The company has effectively pointed a scapegoating finger at 119 of our members in Cumbria while the the Grayrigg investigation is still under way, and that is unfair, unjustifiable and unacceptable. The strike threat has already shamed company’s executives into suspending the smaller part of their own large bonuses, but they have still walked away with payments many times the size of the £400 withheld from RMT members. In Scotland signalling members have been docked £300 for taking lawful action they were forced into by the company’s own failure to honour the 35- hour week. “If Network Rail want to avoid this dispute escalating across the network they should simply pay all our members the bonus due to them,” Bob said. W elder members from Liverpool, Crewe and North Wales in dispute with Network Rail over its refusal to implement an agreed pay increase are discussing ways to force the company to pay up. Problems began when the ex- Jarvis maintenance workers were TUPE’d over to Network Rail four years ago. While fellow workers received a pay increase, Network Rail reneged on a verbal agreement for the welders to receive the same award. The workers have been carrying out an overtime ban, yet Network Rail is still refusing to discuss the matter. FIGHTING FOR MEMBERS AT LYNX/UPS WELDERS TO ESCALATE ACTION RMT BALLOTING OVER ‘BONUS SCAPEGOATING’