SOUTHERN BALLOT OVER JOB CUTS AND LONE WORKING

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: may 2016 :: RMTnews 5 Dear editor, In recent weeks I have been put under undue levels of pressure by management of Govia Thameslink Railways, with their bullish attempts to threaten repercussions for taking part in legal industrial action. Having the employer threaten to withdraw an arbitrary amount of funds from my pay should I take part in legal action to protect my job and my ideal of a safe railway is a burden. Management must be aware of the ramifications of their frequent pamphleteering upon their workers. Management should not be running a safety-critical industry by inducing fear in its employees. The proposed changes to the role of station and on-board staff worry me as I view them as another step towards making the railways about the profit margin and not about the safety of those who travel on it. But it is not so much these changes that have caused me physical distress. The manner in which we are being threatened, belittled and punished by those we are supposed to have trust in, all for taking part in a legal process to keep the railways safe, is equivalent to bullying. That there is no apparent means to redress this grievance as it is being performed by management who we should be able turn to for these problems only adds to the struggle. On behalf of many rail staff across all grades concerned by the actions of GTR, I hope there is justice and a resolution to this issue. Yours hopefully, A Conductor R MT is balloting station staff across Southern GTR for industrial action against company plans to close and downgrade ticket offices which threaten jobs and safety. The union has been in discussions with GTR over the company’s proposed changes to ticket office opening hours and the introduction of station hosts. However the removal of ticket machines, a major element of the consultation had been omitted from the main consultation document. This is a very clear threat to services and members jobs and safety. RMT general secretary Mick Cash said that both London Travel Watch and Transport Focus have knocked back the ticket office closure plans on GTR after RMT mobilised a huge public campaign of opposition. “It now appears that not only is GTR planning to ignore the massive opposition to their cuts but the consultation itself was fundamentally flawed and omitted a central aspect on the location of ticket machines that has severe consequences for our members. “RMT is totally opposed to the closure or reduction in opening hours of ticket offices, cuts in station staff jobs and the introduction of lone working at stations and the union will continue our fight against these attacks on our member’s jobs, safety and living standards,” he said. R MT demanded that Scotrail roll back of the introduction of Driver Only Operation after an appalling incident at Dumbarton East when a man fell between the platform and moving train leading to “life changing” injuries. The incident happened on a driver-only operated service at an unstaffed station and is the latest shocking event reinforcing union calls for the retention of the guard on Scotrail trains and the staffing of stations and platforms. RMT general secretary Mick Cash said that it was a shocking incident that that reinforces the union campaign to retain guards. “It shows once again that not only is DOO a permanent safety risk but that it also puts our drivers in an impossible situation. “RMT awaits the outcome of the full investigation into the incident that is now underway but we want clear and immediate assurances from Scotrail on the safety of their trains – assurances that we believe can only be meaningful if they include a rolling back of Driver Only Operation,” he said. SOUTHERN BALLOT OVER JOB CUTS AND LONE WORKING ROLL BACK DOO ON SCOTRAIL BULLYING AT GTR