SIGNALLING PROGRESS

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: march 2013 :: RMTnews 22 The annual Signalling and Operations grades conference meeting in Western Super Mare welcomed the solidarity and determination of the signallers in Stirling in their fight to defend rostering rights and agreements. Opening the conference, conference president Tim Breed also paid tribute to the signallers in the West Hampstead box who had struck and successfully fought off plans to reduce shift signaller manager (SSM) cover. But Tim, an SSM himself, warned that SSM’s remained under threat even though the Cullen Report into the Ladbroke Grove crash had specifically pointed out that the job was essential to the safe operation of the railways. The weekend’s agenda was also dominated by the introduction of the Rail Operating Centres (ROC’s), with their knock on impact on staff numbers and working conditions. “The ROC’s represent a threat to the entire signalling grade and throw down a massive challenge to all of us, the message from this conference is clear, no technological change without reward and protection of signalling staff,” said Tim. General secretary Bob Crow picked up the technology theme in his address. “Never underestimate just what might be coming next , with satellite operated systems who is to say that control couldn’t be outsourced to India and run from the same kind of massive centres that run on-line banking? 2It’s not far-fetched, it’s a genuine scenario and we would be fools to ignore it. “People criticise the Luddites but they weren’t opposed to technology or change, they were opposed to people losing their jobs and those left behind being expected to do more for less. “Advances in technology should benefit us all, not just the bosses, and that should mean shorter working weeks, more holidays and earlier retirement for all,” he said. RMT president Peter Pinkney, a signaller himself, received a warm welcome to the rostrum. “Recently I was at Tebay for the ninth anniversary event marking the totally preventable deaths of four of our colleagues. “Tebay stands out as the marker of just what happens when cuts and profit are the guiding principles on our railways,” he said. Turning to the ROC’s issue, Peter cited examples from international research. “I went to Australia to see the impact of their centralisation projects – signallers sacked, boxes closed and giant centres controlled by administrators and managers, that’s the potential outcome for us if we don’t stand together and fight now,” he said. Phil Boorman, Ashford No 1 and national lay council rep, drew attention to the modular signalling systems being introduced as part of the ROC programme and specifically the radar detection level crossing operation introduced in Ely/Thetford/Norwich and being trialled on the Shrewsbury/Crewe route and the raft of safety issues identified by union reps. As a result of concerns raised in the media and internally by RMT the Shrewsbury/Crewe project, which would see level crossing in Shropshire controlled from Cardiff more than 120 miles away, had been held back. Boxes will remain open but RMT is in no doubt that NR see that as only a short term measure and the union will need to keep the pressure on to avoid the rolling out of a centralised level crossing control system that is so clearly flawed. Phil was followed by Doug Hill, Stirling who took the conference through the history of the Stirling signallers dispute, emphasising the importance for all signallers to take a determined stance in defence of rostering agreements and the SIGNALLING PROGRESS A well-attended Signalling and Operations grades conference welcomes industrial victories at West Hampstead and Stirling