DB CARGO JOBS CRISIS

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: march 2017 :: RMTnews 20 BRITAIN-CHINA FREIGHT TRAIN: A freight train carrying containers from China, arrived at DB Cargo's London Eurohub rail freight depot in Barking earlier this year after travelling 18 days from the eastern Chinese province of Zhejiang. Since Britain’s largest rail freight operator, DB Cargo UK, announced plans last year to shed almost 900 jobs, more than a quarter of its workforce, and undermine conditions RMT has won a reprieve until this July. The company had also planned to bulldoze through unfair proposals which would have seen a cut to sick pay, ill health severance and redundancy payments. Following the union’s intervention the proposed changes were deferred and RMT will continue to press the company to alter their position. RMT’s negotiating team worked tirelessly to ensure that the effect of these proposed changes would not have a major impact on members. This includes extensive talks with management over their restructuring plans and by insisting on a thorough review of the hubs in these negotiations. As a result RMT has been able to reduce the numbers of staff leaving the business from 200 to 158, thereby securing a further 48 posts. The company has proposed to introduce two new roles, Operations Supervisor and Mobile Operative, with the plan to implement these roles in early July. This raised a number of concerns and issues including the use of personal vehicles to travel between sites. A revised handbook has been sent to members and a number of concerns have been addressed. The National Executive Committee recently considered this matter and acknowledged the vast improvements achieved which are as follows:- • Joint negotiation rights for all Groundstaff employees (including former TS grades). • An increase in pay for all Groundstaff members. • Removed the requirement for personal car use. DB CARGO JOBS CRISIS RMT runs referendum on improvements to proposals made by DB Cargo on job cuts and working conditions