ARRIVA CROSS COUNTRY MEMBERS WIN PAY BATTLE

RMT helpline 0800 3763706 :: september 2009 :: RMTnews 4 R MT members at Arriva Cross Country have won their dispute of pay and other issues relating to work conditions after a long campaign of action short of strike action. Following a breakdown in industrial relations at the company members working at the company voted by four-to- one for a month of industrial action, including an overtime ban, no rest-day working and a ban on non-rostered Sunday working. The action had an immediate affect on the franchise, hitting services in and out of Stansted and causing major disruption across the Midlands and into Wales. The level of disruption revealed the extent to which the franchise relied on overtime working and the goodwill of hardworking staff. The planned month-long action was called off after the company agreed to further talks resulting in an improved two- year deal on pay and conditions. The package, backdated to April 1 2009, sees an increase on basic pay rates of 2.25 per cent or £500, whichever is the greater. Then another increase on basic pay of 3.5 per cent or RPI plus 0.75 per cent or £750, again whichever is the greater amount from again on April 1 2010. Members accepted the improved offer in a referendum. RMT general secretary Bob Crow said that the victory highlighted the determination of members at the company to secure a fair deal for hardworking staff. “It was clear from the affects of this campaign that the franchise relies heavily on the goodwill of the staff which keeps the company running. “It is just a pity that we had to go through this dispute to get the deal our members deserve,” he said. Rail privateer London Midland attacked its own staff earlier this month when it suspended train services and claimed that staff had "failed to volunteer" for Sunday working after receiving a 50 per cent cut in pay. However the company reinstated the payments to conductors to maintain services. RMT will be balloting other grades for strike action to ensure parity for Sunday payments is maintained. RMT has already suspended two days of industrial action by conductors earlier this year after stopping the company from introducing compulsory Sunday working. The company also used anti- union laws to prevent industrial action by station, clerical, retail, booking office and supervisory staff after they voted to strike over Sunday working payments. RMT general secretary Bob Crow dismissed the company's latest attack on its own staff to point out that it was London Midland's decision to shut their entire service down. "The firm has just cut the payment for Sunday working from double time to normal time, so it is not surprising that the first day this is to happen, they couldn't get the staff," he said. He also pointed out that asking for volunteers to work on Sundays had always suited management, who can cut services to save money as they see fit. Northampton Labour MP Sally Keeble also ignored the workers' right to fight for extra pay for working unsocial hours and demanded that bosses “forcibly” roster Sunday shifts into staff working hours. “Instead of using anti-union laws, intimidating staff and cutting pay the company should get round the table in order to avoid these kinds of situations,” Bob Crow said. ARRIVA CROSS COUNTRY MEMBERS WIN PAY BATTLE Members win improved pay offer following threat of month-long campaign short of strike action LONDON MIDLAND REINSTATES SUNDAY PAYMENTS FOR CONDUCTORS