SIGNALLING GRADES MEET

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: march 2015 :: RMTnews 10 The annual signalling and operations grades’ conference meeting in Llandudno discussed some of the key issues facing the fast changing sector of the rail industry. Conference president Phil Boorman welcomed delegates and thanked North Wales, Holyhead and Wrexham branches for their organisation of the event. He also thanked Alan Aitkenhead, conference secretary who was unable to attend and is stepping down from the role, for the hard work that he had put in for the grade over the years. Delegates called for an end to the unfair signaller recruitment selection policy which means that the existing workforce is at a disadvantage when applying for new jobs. They also called for all existing agreements to be amalgamated into one common agreement book and an end to anomalies with the rest of the industry over annual leave. Nathan Gill, Wakefield and Healey Mills called for the union to raise the issue of signalling recruitment selection policy with Network Rail as a matter of urgency. “It is perverse that at a stroke your natural career progression has been culled because of a test that Network Rail will not give you your score or feedback, so you can never improve upon it and your existing experience is effectively made worthless. “The union should pursue an agreement with Network Rail to make provision within the selection process for a measure of seniority to be introduced, as recognition of a candidate’s experience. “As jobs are relocated to Rail Operations Centres, this measure along with PTR&R will give security to existing members of staff. “Such a move will enhance the safety of our members who work on the trains and on the track as inexperienced new starters will not be placed in high graded, busy signalling locations on the results of one test alone,” he said. Nicola Williams, Three Bridges, led a call for all existing agreements for signalling grades to be amalgamated into one common agreement book. “Now that Network Rail’s re- signalling scheme is in full flow and promotion, transfer and redundancy for these nationwide schemes is being applied, it has become apparent that there has been much confusion amongst both trained reps and the membership as a whole over the disparate number of books and agreements which may or may not apply under modern employment and equality law. “We need our lead officers to sit down and compile one common book of agreements, without weakening or watering down any existing agreements whilst bringing them in line with current legal requirements. “One clear guide will reduce future confusion and be an easy point of reference for all members to view and use, and would be easy to link to the RMT website for quick reference,” she said. Kelvin Eastham, Three Bridges, moved a resolution condemning the annual leave matrix that signallers currently have to work under. “We want to see Network Rail bring the signalling grades in line with other grades by replacing the unfair annual leave matrix that leaves our grade feeling like second class SIGNALLING GRADES MEET Conference condemns unfair recruitment selection policy which leaves existing workforce at a disadvantage