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RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: january 2013 :: RMTnews 6 M embers working on First Scotrail have voted overwhelmingly for industrial action against the dismissal of a member whose only “crime” was to ensure a passenger had the correct ticket in line with company policy. All members will being taking 24-hour action before Christmas after RMT member Scott Lewis was dismissed by Scotrail for allegedly making “unwanted contact with the passenger”. Management have not produced a shred of evidence to prove their allegations or that Mr Lewis failed to comply with correct procedures. CCTV evidence seen by the union does not back the management case and, despite requests, the company has refused to release the full tapes. Scott Lewis has worked on the railway for 19 years, earned a number of commendations and has been assaulted by members of the pubic on four occasions. RMT general secretary Bob Crow said that it was clear that Scotrail were using internal procedures to attack and victimise their own staff. “RMT now has support of other unions to either suspend or withdraw from the Scotrail Assaults on Staff policy, on the basis that the statement of a hardworking staff member clearly following the company’s own procedures, is not believed. “RMT is demanding the immediate reinstatement of Scott Lewis in the light of the ballot mandate for action by members in his defence which has shown the strength of feeling across the company,” he said. P roposed strike action by security and safety staff employed by STM Security Group on London Overground services has been suspended after LOROL agreed in principle to take the work in-house. Travel Safe Officers (TSO) staff took 24-hour strike action last month in a dispute over bullying and an attempt to impose new terms and conditions. STM are contracted to provide safety and security services and despite a unanimous vote for action and a rock-solid strike in November, STM management continued to bully and intimidate members and union representatives. The company had been attempting to impose changes to contracts of employment and terms and conditions without any consultation or agreement. London Overground has now agreed that it would be better off to employ staff directly and talks will begin this month to discuss the logistics of bringing the work back in-house. RMT general secretary Bob Crow congratulated all TSO members on their resolve which has led to this outcome. “The bullying and intimidation by STM Security was deplorable and represented an assault on this trade union in a desperate attempt to try and undermine RMT’s growing strength on this contract. “London Overground has done the decent thing by intervening to stop these activities and agreed with us that these key safety services should be brought in-house,” he said. R MT members working on the SERCO Northlink ferry services in Scotland have voted nine to one for strike action after the company reneged on commitments, ripped up consultation procedures and announced a programme of cuts to jobs and services. Despite extensive meetings between SERCO and RMT, the company has confirmed plans to slash jobs triggering the ballot for action. RMT advised Northlink Ferries that a dispute situation existed, a ballot has now been concluded and the members have delivered a massive mandate for action. RMT national secretary Steve Todd said that said that union would not accept attempts to bulldoze through redundancies, cuts to core staffing numbers and the casualisation of skilled shipping grades. “This result shows that RMT members will not stand back while jobs are sacrificed in the middle of this botched privatisation stitch-up. “Staff on Northern Isles routes are threatened with the sack in the dash to maximise SERCO’s profits and that is totally unacceptable. “The public will understand that it is our members’ jobs today and will be cuts to services and increases to fares tomorrow. “SERCO should withdraw this threat immediately and take up the offer of resuming talks through the proper consultation procedure as a way of resolving this dispute,” he said. LONDON OVERGROUND BACKS IN-HOUSE STAFF SCOTRAIL MEMBERS TO STRIKE AGAINST VICTIMISATION STRIKE VOTE AT NORTHLINK FERRIES