FAIR TRAVEL FOR ALL

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: october 2016 :: RMTnews 10 RMT has raised concerns with Rail Staff Travel around safeguarded or former BR staff members having their travel facilities reduced if they enter into reduced working hours towards the end of their rail careers. RST responded that it would highlight the impact of certain rules of the scheme which state that the level of benefits held at the point of retirement is the level retained throughout retirement. As a result, if a member scales down to part time prior to retiring, then the scheme could not allow a reversion to full-time after the retirement date. To avoid this, the RST suggested that if an individual thinking of scaling back is already eligible to retire in travel facilities terms then the employer can notify it of that fact while they are still working full-time. Travel facilities are then “banked” at full-time level and will be issued as retired. The individual can then “return” to work and still have active residential facilities, assuming the minimum of 15 hours per week is worked. In this way staff member is protected. TRAVEL FOR ALL All three transport unions have also united against the two tier system where some staff receive travel benefits and some don't. In a joint statement earlier this year the three general secretaries Mick Cash , Mick Whelan of ASLEF and Manuel Cortes of TSSA (above) reiterated their support for staff travel benefits across the board. “We note that rail workers who entered employment in the railways before 1 April 1996 are safeguarded and eligible for the full range of protected rail travel facilities for themselves and their families. “We further note that nearly all those who entered the rail industry after 31 March 1996 are either not entitled to free travel at all or only restricted facilities on an individual company basis if they work for a passenger train operating company. “Travel facilities are clearly an important benefit and we are concerned that despite representations by our unions the employers and government have allowed a damaging two tier system to develop amongst UK rail workers. “Furthermore it is the case that rail workers from other countries such as Spain or France are entitled to free travel across the UK rail network yet a British rail worker employed after 1996 is not. “We believe that all rail workers and their families, irrespective of service, should receive equal, free and improved travel facilities which may be multi-modal. “We call on the government, devolved transport authorities and rail companies to ensure the introduction of a more equal and improved system of travel facilities provision forthwith,” it said. FAIR TRAVEL FOR ALL