SIGNALLING SUCCESS

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: march 2014 :: RMTnews 12 Delegates to RMT’s annual signalling and operations grades meeting in Buxton pledged to fight to ensure that new technology will mean better pay and conditions for staff and not just profit and redundancies. The issue has come sharply into focus due to ongoing plans for signalling to be carried out from twelve Route Operating Centres (ROCS) across the country. Opening conference, president Tim Breed told delegates that the fact that conference was growing in size year-on-year showed that progress in organising the grade was being made. “We need to make the conference into a tool where we develop policies, Network Rail is dictating their terms and we need to come up with ours. They are looking to make £250 million savings annually,” he said. Ending a five-year term as conference president, Tim thanked delegates for their support over the years, saying that his term of office had been enjoyable in spite of the hard work involved. RMT general secretary Bob Crow began his address by unfurling a banner commemorating the 20th anniversary of the signallers’ strike. Bob told delegates that the union was not opposed to new technology but believed that it should be used to gain better pay and conditions and not just for the company to increase profits. “We say we want better pay and conditions but not at the expense of other grades. “We call for above inflation pay increases because we want to see improvements in living standards. I want to see new technology make a shorter working week, lead to more annual leave and voluntary retirement at an early age,” he said. SIGNALLING SUCCESS Signalling and operations grades vow to defend members at the workplace