NEW NETWORK RAIL BALLOT

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: april 2015 :: RMTnews 8 T he government is on the verge of dragging Britain back to the lethal days of Railtrack according to reports in The Telegraph newspaper which suggest that there is a move to break up and sell off the current Network Rail organisation. Network Rail, a publicly owned body, was created after a wave of lethal incidents involving the privately owned Railtrack which were driven by the demand for profits at the expense of passenger and staff safety, RMT general secretary Mick Cash said that it was no surprise that the run up to the election has been chosen as the vehicle to flag up the break up and privatisation of Network Rail. “It is a move that would drag us right back to the lethal and chaotic days of Railtrack which led us to a wave of disasters including Hatfield, Potters Bar and Ladbroke Grove. “RMT has warned repeatedly that demands for cuts at Network Rail, alongside the fragmentation of maintenance and renewals and the proliferation of contractors, were being used as a way of undermining the organisation to set it up for privatisation – a scenario which hasn’t been helped by some shocking mismanagement like the shambles at London Bridge. “However, the current problems support the case for public ownership of the entire railway, not a further drive to fragmentation, profiteering and privatisation that would raise the horrific spectre of Railtrack Two. “RMT will fight these moves and will campaign for a People’s Railway – publicly owned and run in the public interest,” he said. R MT is balloting Network Rail members for industrial action following discussions with representatives from around the country which rejected the latest pay proposals that fall well short of what is required to maintain the living standards, job security and the working conditions for nearly 16,000 staff across NR operations and maintenance. The move to a ballot comes after an earlier offer was rejected by a massive 93 per cent on a 56 per cent turn out in a referendum vote. Since then, intensive talks through ACAS have failed to produce enough movement from Network Rail leaving the union with no alternative but to move to a national industrial action vote. It is crucial that we deliver a similar mandate in this ballot and the union is urging all members to play an active part in getting the vote out to ratchet up the pressure on the company. The current pay package proposals which RMT has put into dispute are summarised as follows. 2015 – A £500 non- consolidated lump sum payment. 2016, 2017, 2018 - An RPI level of inflation increase in pay would be applied for each year. The “No Compulsory Redundancy” commitment would be extended until 31st December 2016. . RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said: “Our members have already decisively rejected the initial pay package offered by Network Rail. Despite intensive talks we have not been able to secure enough significant movement and that puts us into dispute and triggers the start of a national industrial action ballot. “As far as we are concerned the one off, non-consolidated, lump-sum payment this year is wholly inadequate and fails to recognise the massive pressures staff are working under to keep services running at a time when the company is generating profits of £1 billion. It is our members battling to keep Britain moving around the clock and they deserve a fair share from Network Rail for their incredible efforts. There is also a real threat to jobs in two years time. “Our rail staff deserve a fair reward for the high-pressure, safety-critical work that they undertake day and night and the last thing that we need is a demoralised, burnt-out workforce living in fear for their futures. “We need a comprehensive YES vote in this ballot to keep the pressure on.” NEW NETWORK RAIL PAY CUT BALLOT RAILTRACK TWO ON THE CARDS?