TRAINCREW AND SHUNTERS

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: may 2011 :: RMTnews 18 T his year’s Train Crew and Shunters conference held in Nottingham discussed the McNulty report into rail “efficiency” which promises new and savage wave of cuts right across the industry It was fitting that the opening address should come from the current Sheriff of Nottingham - Councillor Penny Griggs - with a message a far cry from her predecessor of legend. Councillor Griggs received a warm welcome as she explained to delegates that she is a railwayman’s daughter and that her dad is a former shunter who joined the NUR in August 1941. She went on to outline the City’s commitment to an integrated and publicly owned transport system, with the bus services under elected local authority control, making the point that there is no excuse for the trains to be run by private operators for private profit. Craig Johnson gave the report back to the conference on behalf of the Council of Executives. Craig opened by homing in on the abuse of CCTV by the employers in disciplinary cases: “Why is it that CCTV is always available to punish our members but never available to exonerate them? It has become a tool in the bosses arsenal to harass and bully satff and the executive are issuing clear guidance to branches in an effort to stop this abuse.” Craig took the conference through the range of issues flowing from last years meeting and ended with the message that “...piles of work has been done but there’s still plenty more for us to do.” General Secretary Bob Crow warned the delegates that the McNulty report into rail “efficiency” would be the starting pistol for a new and savage wave of cuts right across the board with no-one safe from the axe; “I am putting this conference on alert, there is a real battle to come on the back of McNulty that will impact on everyone in the rail industry regardless of grade or employer. The need for unity amongst rail workers across our industry has never been greater.” Conference had a packed agenda covering issues from the working week to violence, train dispatch and support for victimised tube drivers Eamon Lynch and Arwyn Thomas. Blackpool and Fylde Coast’s motion on the abuse of the Avantix machines was carried unanimously with the mover warning that “...the machines are riddled with faults and staff end up getting the blame when something goes wrong.” The motion calls on the union to make sure that all disciplinary matters relating to the failures of the Avantix machinery are defended vigorously. A timely emergency motion on the use of anonymous social media to attack members sparked off a debate that shone a light into the murky recesses of just how dodgy employers can abuse something as seemingly innocuous as Facebook and Twitter. London Midland had even gone as far as setting up a specific Twitter account where anonymous and unfounded allegations against individual members of staff could be TRAINCREW AND SHUNTERS