FIGHTING FOR STATION STAFF

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: may 2017 :: RMTnews 18 D elegates to the station staff at the Station and Associated Grades organising conference meeting in Liverpool called for a national campaign to defend members working in the grade. Meeting on the same day as a Northern Rail Guards’ strike, delegates joined the demonstration at Liverpool Lime Street citing the Keep the Guard campaign as being a good model for organising. RMT assistant general secretary Steve Hedley told delegates that for purely ideological reasons nationalisation of the railway was being dismissed out of hand yet the government allowed companies run by foreign states to make a profit from Britain’s railways, effectively subsiding operations abroad. Steve explained that every time a franchise came up for renewal there were attempts to remove more jobs from the industry in the pursuit of profit: “They make money twice over because they get rid of someone selling a ticket and then they use machines that have been proven to overcharge people. “Casualisation of staff is part of the problem. We have to both recruit these workers and bring them in house. We need to educate the public and our members and get a campaign up and running,” he said. Chris Reilly, Reading gave a report of what de-staffing meant in practice with an account of how Great Western Railways had started to remove vacancies from rosters, slashing staffing levels on gatelines. Safety had been put in jeopardy as the company was insisting on the single staffing of gatelines despite the fact that it has been proven to be unsafe, especially when staff also had to sell tickets to passengers. “Despite the protest of our stations divisional council the company are ploughing ahead with their method of working. “We feel this puts our members who work on the gates at more risk of assaults both verbal and physical, as well as a risk to the public, especially if vulnerable or a child. “If they are alone dealing with issues then, as happens quite often, someone is trapped in the gates could be injured quite badly but this is being ignored by GWR. “We want to have full staffing on our gatelines with true and accurate risk assessments to take place and take all factors into account and no less than two members on gatelines,” he said. Jason Humphreys, Jubilee South told delegates of the appalling treatment of three members of stations staff at London Bridge, who were violently assaulted, and in the wake of defending themselves have been disciplined by London Underground management. Conference unanimously backed the campaign for justice for the London Bridge Three and pledged solidarity with any industrial action. Ross Marshall, Central Line West told conference that there had been a rising tide of assaults, abuse and violence against station staff. He explained that he has been seriously assaulted himself during his career. “There is a lack of empathy and support for assaulted staff, and even the move by companies to discipline staff. The union needs to ensure all companies fully support staff and push for the strongest penalties against perpetrators and fight to stop staff victimisation,” he said. Daniel Randall, Bakerloo called for the Keep the Guard campaign to be widened out to demand properly staffed stations as well. Lloyd Griffin, Waltham Cross spoke about the problems that outsourcing cleaning staff had created and the appalling working conditions that it had created. “The conditions we work under are a national disgrace. We are not even allowed heating in our workplace as it is a plastic building,” he said. Daniel Randall explained that not only was cleaning subcontracted on London FIGHTING FOR STATION STAFF