DEFENDING STATION STAFF

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: may 2013 :: RMTnews 12 A well-attended station and associated grades conference meeting in Redcar heard that the McNulty report was being implemented by train operating companies which meant attacks on station staff. North East regional organiser Micky Thompson warned that under the McNulty proposals cuts must be made across the rail network. He pointed out the agencies such as Trainpeople were advertising on YouTube that they had cheap agency staff ready to carry out rail work. “This process is already happening by TOCs bringing in agency staff to carry out core duties on the platforms and this needs to be resisted now. “Station, platform and gateline staff are in the frontline and if we need to ballot for industrial action then we will,” he said. Assistant general secretary Steve Hedley said that employment agencies like Trainpeople and G4S were undermining the terms and conditions of full-time rail workers. “They are saying they can provide temporary staff that don’t have pension and holiday rights, get paid less and have less employment rights,” he said. RMT president Peter Pinkney told conference that the launch of the European Union’s fourth rail package represented the privatisation of rail across the continent. “At meetings of trade unions that represent transport workers across Europe your union and the Swedish unions were the most opposed to the proposals. “That is because both countries railways have suffered privatisation already and understand what it means,” he said. Conference agreed that all staff working on the gatelines should be on the same terms and conditions. George Hamilton, Surrey Hants branch said that TOCs were using part-time staff that do not get enhancements for working overtime, rest days or bank holidays or even travel time. Phil Jones, Cardiff Rail branch said that it was “demeaning” for staff carrying out customer service assistant duties not to receive the same pay and conditions. Conference called for the station grades charter to be re- launched as part of the battle against McNulty and in defence of all station staff. Conference noted that the recruitment freeze of London Underground Revenue Control Inspectors over the last two years had resulted in staffing levels drop by over 200 and there are no foreseeable plans to fill these jobs. Ross Marshall, Central Line West branch called on take the matter up with LUL to ensure all jobs are filled and to get guarantees concerning employment levels. Conference called for an end to long-running and dangerous practice of lone working and dual working, ie being expected DEFENDING STATION STAFF Station grades discuss implications of lone working and the McNulty report