RMT DECLARES NATIONAL DISPUTE OVER THREAT TO RAIL CONTROL CENTRE JOBS

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: january 2012 :: RMTnews 4 R MT members at Lorne Stewart working on the Merseyrail Contract took part in a solid 24 hour strike earlier this month in addition to the indefinite ban on overtime and on call, having voted 100 per cent for strike action. Lorne Stewart Services division provides the mechanical, electrical and cleaning services to the Merseyrail Network covering the rail infrastructure for the Liverpool and Merseyside areas. Members launched the protest after the employer offered a below-inflation wage-cut offer of two per cent and further stated there would be a pay freeze in 2012 as well, making it a pay freeze in three of the last five years. Daren Ireland, RMT Council of Executives member for North West, said that it was disgraceful that Merseyrail and Lorne Stewart had cut £500,000 from the contract. “They are now continuing to take it out on our members whilst making massive profits,” he said. S ignallers in Scotland held a 72 hour strike of members working at the West of Scotland Signalling Centre from Christmas Eve onwards last month. The dispute concerns management’s continuing refusal to adhere to a long standing local arrangement where, when a resident post becomes vacant, the senior General Purpose Relief (GPR) is slotted into that position. This has been in place for over three decades but management are suddenly refusing to apply this custom and practice arrangement. RMT members are outraged at the behaviour of local management over this issue and are demanding action. RMT general secretary Bob Crow said that members were furious at this refusal to comply with a local arrangement that offers genuine career progression opportunities. “RMT remains available for talks at any time aimed at resolving this dispute,” he said. R MT, along with sister unions TSSA and Unite, have declared a national dispute with Network Rail over the threat to Electrical Control Room jobs. The dispute centres on plans by Network rail to reduce the number of Electrical Control Room centres. Unions have met with Network Rail and have pressed for an agreement that, whatever happens in the future with regards to the plans to reduce the number of ECRO locations, there would be a guarantee of no compulsory redundancies. Management has failed to provide such a commitment and RMT had no option but to declare a dispute with Network Rail in order to protect jobs. RMT general secretary Bob Crow said that electrical control room operators delivered a critical service in running the nation’s railways and the network could not operate without them. “We have sought through negotiation a perfectly fair and realistic agreement on no compulsory redundancies at this time of major reorganisation, but Network Rail managers have failed to accept that and have plunged us into this dispute as a result. “Early in the New Year the three unions involved will meet to discuss a joint strategy, including the use of industrial action, to protect our members’ jobs and livelihoods and to prevent a wave of compulsory redundancies from being bulldozed through by the company,” Bob said. RMT DECLARES NATIONAL DISPUTE OVER THREAT TO RAIL CONTROL CENTRE JOBS SCOTTISH SIGNALLERS STRIKE ACTION MEMBERS AT LORNE STEWART STRIKE