ENGINEERING FOR THE FUTURE

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: june 2015 :: RMTnews 10 The 2015 engineering grades conference met in Edinburgh where the fight for safety at work, the Stood Off Agreement and the Network Rail ballot dominated proceedings. Jimmy Brown, Liverpool No 5, slammed Network Rail for its mishandling of the introduction of the Safe Work Leader post which he argued put members’ safety at risk. He told conference how – at an early stage – all area reps had been invited to London to receive a briefing from Network Rail managers about the new post. After the briefing, the reps expressed serious concerns to management and raised numerous questions. “We were left dumbfounded at the inability of management to respond to the questions and concerns that were raised. “Network Rail’s rationale for creating the Safe Work Leaders was to improve safety on infrastructure, but the majority of reps left the brief concerned that this could in fact have the opposite effect and put our members at risk,” Jimmy said. Craig Belowski, Colchester and District, told delegates that he was “extremely concerned at the way that Network Rail has introduced, without agreement, changes to the rule book relating to Safe Work Leaders.” Conference backed a motion expressing concern at the fact that Network Rail has subsequently been sending staff on Safe Work Leader training courses even though the concerns raised at the original briefing meeting have not been addressed. Numerous delegates who had been on the course addressed conference, claiming that when they raised questions instructors were either unable to give them a response, or contradictory responses were given by different instructors. Conference called on the union to contact Network Rail to inform them that members working for the company will be encouraged not to attend further Safe Work Leader training events until the concerns have been addressed. Alec Hogg, Edinburgh and Portobello, led a call for the union to defend the Stood off Agreement. “Do not accept Network Rail’s latest attempts to withdraw the agreement as part of their pay proposals,” Alec said. Greg Hewitt, conference president, argued that Network Rail wanted to get rid of the agreement for financial reasons. “The stood off arrangement costs the company tens of thousands of pounds,” he said. Conference also backed the union establishing legal precedent to enshrine the Stood off Agreement in law. A motion introduced by Jimmy Brown on free days and the misuse of a clause of the ENGINEERING FOR THE FUTURE Engineering grades conference dominated by safety at work and Network Rail pay dispute