FIRST TO AXE GUARDS AND CATERING ON NEW GREAT WESTERN TRAINS

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: may 2015 :: RMTnews 5 R MT is preparing an industrial action ballot on Great Western services after First Group confirmed that it was planning to axe guards and catering services on the new Inter City Express trains being supplied by Hitachi. It confirmed everything that RMT has been warning of since the union first saw the plans for the new trains which make it clear that FGW are seeking to impose Driver Only Operation on Super Express Trains (SETs) which could be operated with the driver as the only member of staff on board. In respect of catering facilities, First Group has confirmed that whilst a full kitchen will be provided on all SET trains the intention is to introduce an at seat trolley service in standard class – the ‘Upstairs/Downstairs’ service that the union has been warning of from the outset. The response from the company completely failed to address the assurances required and RMT has made it clear that it will take all necessary measures to defend the interests of its members from the implications of these proposals and fight tooth and nail for both safety and job security. RMT’s demands in respect of the introduction of the new Inter City trains remain the same: • To keep a safety competent guard on every train • To keep full buffet car facilities and catering services • Maintaining station staffing levels • No job losses or dilution of current roles • To bring depot, turn-around and on-board cleaning in- house. • To maintain the job security g in the current fleet engineering depots RMT general secretary Mick Cash said that the union had been campaigning for months to fight plans that could lead to the axing of buffet cars, on- board staff and maintenance workers on First Great Western. “We warned that FGW were ushering in an ‘Upstairs- Downstairs’ service on Inter-City services while British passengers pay the highest fares in Europe,” he said. Nearly 60 MPs have now signed the Early Day Motion 584 backing RMT’s position and called on the government to reject any contracts for East Coast and Great Western services which propose any such cuts to rail staff. Mick Cash warned that the company were ignoring the protests and pressing ahead with proposals that will allow for driver only operation and the removal of buffet cars and their replacement by a trolley service only catering facility along with the sacking and reducing of the safety critical operational staff. “First Group is working hand in glove with this government to condemn the vast majority to pay through the nose to travel in rammed-out carriages where the catering trolley is jammed at one end while the elite glide through the country like extras from Downton Abbey. “First were recently handed a cash-laden, taxpayer-sponsored contract extension on FGW without any competition and clearly see that as a green light to smash up jobs, safety and working conditions as they milk the deal for all its worth. “RMT is throwing its full industrial and political clout behind the fight to stop this attack on jobs, services and safety arising from the introduction of the Inter-City fleet,” he said. FIRST TO AXE GUARDS AND CATERING ON NEW GREAT WESTERN TRAINS