BRING CATERING IN-HOUSE

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: april/may 2014 :: RMTnews 23 attempts and said that ticket offices were a vital service to passengers, particularly to disabled, elderly and foreign travellers. The motion prompted a lively debate with a number of speakers condemning the proposed closures and of how the ticket office staff would likely be replaced by agency staff masquerading as ‘station ambassadors’. Chris Reilly, Reading spoke of how this had already happened in some instances and that the sole purpose of these staff had been to point passengers in the direction of ticket machines rather than to use the ticket office. Caroline Parry, Gloucester proposed a motion concerning platform-train interface safety incidents whereby platform staff were deemed responsible for incidents where train door catches don’t lock, despite other staff grades also being involved. She called for the introduction of a “standard and fair procedure” so that the current disparities in which the incidents are treated can be eradicated and the resultant stresses reduced. Gloucester branch also raised concerns about the disabled assistance procedure. A lack of available platform staff often leads to inadequate provision being available for disabled passengers; however, it is these same platform staff that will then be pressurised to account for any delays to the train of over a minute. The successful resolution called on the union to ask train operating companies to examine the root causes of this problem before requesting platform staff to explain any delays. Chris Reilly called for the union to launch a campaign to protect platform dispatch staff and warned that the introduction of CCTV onto trains would allow the train operating companies to expand, not only, Driver Only Operation but also driver dispatch. Chris feared that this will be a precursor to the dismissal of platform dispatch staff and called for a campaign with the strapline 'keep dispatches on the platform: keep the public safe'. The campaign, Chris said, should be similar in nature to the on-going ‘keep the guards on the train’ action. This resolution was also carried. Deptford branch submitted a motion expressing concern that the current re-franchising model being operated by the government is structured in such a way that only a bidder who is prepared to make the biggest cuts will be awarded the franchise. As a result TOC’s who were prepared to decimate terms and conditions and embrace agency staff and zero-hours contracts, as well as introduce Driver Only Operation, were being awarded new, and longer term, deals. Assistant general secretary, Steve Hedley said that he was pleased that the conference attendance had grown and it was an indication of the current attacks on station grades. “The purpose of these conferences is to organise and to get more people involved in our campaigns. “Management want to impose all these cuts and these conferences must have a real and tangible benefit back in the workplace and for them to become a forum for organising and campaigning,” he said. The number of delegates in attendance and the range of resolutions concerning random drug tests, service announcements, lost property, health protection provision and ticket examiners rest day entitlements amongst others only served to prove that members fully intend to stand and be counted in the on-going fight against McNulty and its cuts-driven agenda. or call the helpline on freephone 0800 376 3706 Visit www.rmt.org.uk to join online JOIN RMT BRITAIN’S SPECIALIST TRANSPORT UNION Problems at work? Call the helpline (Now with two operators) Keep your RMT membership details up-to-date In the light of draconian anti-trade union laws that have been used against the union, members should keep their personal data up to date. It also important to note that in order to keep members informed your union requires your mobile telephone number and email address. Members can do this via the RMT website, telephone the RMT helpline above, or writing to the membership department at RMT head office, Chalton Street, London NW1 1JD.