ENGINEERING GRADES DEMAND END TO ZERO HOURS

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: april/may 2014 :: RMTnews 18 E ngineering grades conference delegates meeting in Doncaster condemned Network Rail for reducing some maintenance and faulting teams down to two men from the usual three. Conference heard that unfilled vacancies left maintenance and faulting teams understaffed and forced to work in unsafe conditions. Conference deplored the recent announcement by Northern Rail in respect of the “cascade” of three 319 units that are currently maintained at Bedford Cauldwell depot within the First Capital Connect and called on the union to initiate an immediate ballot for industrial action. Delegates also opposed Network Rail’s repeated attempts to force through cross discipline and multi-skilled working. Mark Eastwood, Doncaster said “the union needs to resist all attempts to bring in cross- discipline or multi-skilled working for our Network rail infrastructure members.” Delegates called for an end to the use of labour-only subcontractors and zero-hour contractors and for the issue to be placed as a standing agenda item at future area and company council meetings. Alex Hogg, Edinburgh and Portobello led a call for the union to put measures in place to address the continued threat to the agreement with Network Rail for no compulsory redundancies’. He said that the vacancy gap in Network Rail in Scotland had reached over 11 per cent and the resulting understaffing meant that it would not be possible to implement a no compulsory redundancies’ agreement. “Network Rail is using it as a ploy to create uncertainty, which establishes an unhealthy environment and will certainly be used as a bargaining point to bring in other changes to terms and conditions,” he said. Conference deplored the confusion created by payroll changes. Delegates called on Network Rail to supply the full list of codes used on payslips, pay and deductions to enable members to have a clearer understanding of the new payslips and less need to query their pay. Conference president Greg Hewitt said that engineering had been the late Bob Crow’s grade and that he had cut his teeth as a delegate to the annual gatherings. “He has gone but we are not bereft and bowed. The outpouring of grief shows the respect he was held in. “We should hold on to the fact that he was one of the best union general secretaries and he left us a magnificent legacy and in the vanguard of the movement,” he said. Dai Hobbs, Newport Rail read a statement on behalf of the conference which pledged to continue Bob’s militant tradition. “We vow to honour his memory by continuing to fight with his spirit, his passion and with the same grit and determination. “Our leaders, full time officials, staff, company reps, local reps, health and safety reps and members make these ENGINEERING GRADES DEMAND END TO ZERO HOURS