NORTHERN RAIL CONDUCTORS STRIKE OVER BANK HOLIDAY WORKING

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: january 2011 :: RMTnews 4 A 24-hour strike by Arriva Trains Wales RMT drivers over pay and conditions last month was rock solid with the Valley Lines totally suspended and services out of major centres like Cardiff reduced to a fraction of normal levels. RMT general secretary Bob Crow said that ATW drivers had sent the clearest possible message to the company that they are sick of poor industrial relations. “It's time for this highly profitable company to reward their staff properly. “Our members are rock solid and are prepared to continue the fight for decent pay and conditions, it is now up to the company to come forward with a decent offer on pay," he said. A thousand RMT conductors on Northern Rail took ‘rock solid’ 48-hour strike action late last month over a failure by the company to make any additional payment for working the extra Christmas bank holidays. Pickets were out in force at major rail terminals across the North including Leeds, Manchester, Liverpool, Carlisle, Doncaster, Hull and Middlesborough. RMT accused Northern Rail of deliberately misleading the public over the extent of the disruption to services, leaving many passengers stranded as they turned up for trains logged on the Northern website but which in reality simply weren't running, Some lines, including the Carlisle to Workington service, were completely closed and the others were running a fraction of their normal trains in what was little more than a skeleton service staffed by poorly trained managers dragged in by the company as a PR stunt. One train that actually originated in Dumfries, via Carlisle to Newcastle, had to be stopped at Carlisle due to a lack of crew with passengers dumped on a freezing cold platform and told to apply for refunds. RMT general secretary Bob Crow said that Northern Rail had deliberately mangled up an agreement that applies to existing arrangements for Christmas Day and Boxing Day to create the bogus impression that it also covers additional public holidays that are added to the national calendar when Christmas falls on a weekend. He said that members had sent a clear message to the ‘Scrooges’ who run the company that they will not accept flat rate money for working the extra Christmas bank holidays this year. “Northern Rail generate tens of millions of pounds in profits and dividends off the backs of their workers and it’s about time they recognised the contribution of their staff in proper Christmas working payments,” he said. While the company was demanding that the workforce accept flat rate payments over Christmas, Northern Rail operating profits on normal activities have shot up by 87.5 per cent between 2007 and 2010 to a total for the four years of £85.9 million. Over the same period the shareholders’ dividends have totaled £80.5 million and have shown a 105 per cent increase between 2007 and 2010. The company’s highest paid director is paid £218,000 a year. R MT members at Merseyrail have won an improved pay offer after station staff, workshop grades, revenue protection, carriage cleaners, clerical and shunting staff overwhelmingly rejected the original offer and moved to ballot for strike action. After the launch of the ballot Merseyrail quickly returned to the negotiating table and met regional organiser Andy Warnock- Smith and the Company Council reps for the grades concerned. Guards and drivers are covered by a separate agreement. At the commencement of the talks, the offer consisted of 3.7 per cent for Year One and RPI in 2011. However, the union argued strongly for including a flat-rate element in the offer. Resulting from the discussions, an improved offer was tabled which included flat- rate elements for both years, together with a percentage protection for the second year of the award. The deal gives an increase of 3.7 per cent backdated to April 2010, or £650, whichever is the greater, and, for year two February RPI, three per cent or £700, whichever is the greater. The company has also given a commitment to hold a review on the subject of compensatory leave, where a rest day falls on Christmas Day, Boxing Day or any day designated as a substitute day. NORTHERN RAIL CONDUCTORS STRIKE OVER BANK HOLIDAY WORKING VICTORY AT MERSEYRAIL ARRIVA TRAINS WALES DRIVERS’ STRIKE ROCK SOLID