RETAIL STAFF AT C2C TAKE STRIKE ACTION

RMT helpline 0800 3763706 :: march 2009 :: RMTnews 7 M ore than 130 members of Britain’s two biggest rail unions working in retail grades for train operator c2c took strike action for 24 hours in early March after intensive talks failed to resolve a dispute over holiday entitlement. RMT and TSSA members took action in a dispute that centres on a company holiday policy that includes paying staff only for bank holidays they work. “We called off a strike two weeks ago to allow further talks, but despite hours of discussions there has been no satisfactory movement from the company and we have no alternative but to reinstate strike action,” RMT general secretary Bob Crow said. “Our members are quite clear that they want an unequivocal commitment to 28 days’ paid leave, and not ever-more complex ways of avoiding it,” Mr Crow added. TSSA general secretary Gerry Doherty said that it beggared belief that National Express are refusing bank holiday pay to staff after announcing profits of £194 million for last year. “National Express pays bank holidays at its three other franchises-but not at c2c. It is unfair and they should admit that fact,” Gerry Doherty said. T he Inland Revenue has just published their final Guidance Notes on eligibility for Seafarers Earnings Deductions. This now updates SED entitlement taking into account the new rules that are being implemented by the Inland Revenue. RMT has been working alongside Nautilus UK and the Chamber of Shipping to try and reduce the negative impact on our members who are employed within the offshore sector of the UK Shipping Industry. The full impact of the regulations are still being digested but it is clear that, despite some concessions, certain members employed in the offshore industry are still likely to be adversely affected. The revised Guidance will apply for the financial year of 2008/09. The Guidelines were meant to be published in December but have been considerably delayed. Guidance Notes, which explain the changes that have been made regarding classification of workplaces and whether or not they are eligible for SED, should now be available on the Inland Revenue website. RETAIL STAFF AT C2C TAKE STRIKE ACTION FINAL GUIDANCE ON SEAFARERS EARNINGS DEDUCTIONS (SED)