ORGANI SI NG FOR CATERI NG

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: march 2016 :: RMTnews 14 The newly-renamed industrial organising conference of hotel, catering and ancillary grades met in Weymouth this month to discuss union recruitment. Assistant general secretary Steve Hedley said that an organising strategy was required for catering staff on- board trains and on the stations. “We have got recognition with SSP and these workers, some of them working in Victorian conditions, desperately need a union. “We have seen attacks on ticket offices on London Underground and now across southern England. “So we are going to need to organise to stop further attacks on this grade,” he said. Steve Conway, Leeds City said that SSP, a company with a £1.8 billion turnover, were not paying meal breaks to new staff and were forcing staff to buy their own uniforms. “We have four different contracts for just 47 staff,” he said. Delegates agreed that staff should not be forced to buy their own uniforms and that the company must provide protective equipment including any form of uniform. Steve Hedley said that any organising strategy must include the branches and regional councils getting out and recruiting these vulnerable workers. He said that many train operating companies franchises were coming up for renewal. “On Great Western Railway (GWR) trains we need to be making the business case for a buffet car on every train. “Trolleys are dangerous and on packed trains passengers often get no service at all. “This is on some of the most expensive rail services in the world,” he said. Steve Harvey, Plymouth No1 said that there had been several incidents on GWR services where injuries have been caused by unstable and poorly designed trolleys. “Risk assessments have been carried out but these do not take into account abnormal jolts and movement that occur every day on the rail network. “We have had trolleys falling over and they are heavy and require a lot of strength particularly between carriages,” he said. Delegates called on all train companies to provide minimum standard of trolley design that will withstand all types of operation. Conference also called the TOCs to provide a safe place of refuge accessible to all members operating trolley provision on all rolling stock. RMT executive committee member Kathy Mazur also warned that the upcoming rail franchising process will lead to more cuts in services in the drive for profit. Derek England, Leeds City called on the union to negotiate with any food- handling employers that staff should not lose money if they are required by law to be absent. “It is unacceptable that staff should incur financial losses due to being infected with a disease which is not their fault. “Such staff must absent themselves from work for a minimum of 48 hours and thus losing their attendance allowance. “Who else losing wages by complying with the law of the land?” he asked. Delegates agreed that the union should take up this issue with the companies involved. ORGANISING FOR CATERING Catering grades meet to discuss strategies to organise workers into the union