GREATER ANGLIA BALLOT OVER GUARD THREAT

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: july/august 2017 :: RMTnews 5 R MT is balloting guards on Greater Anglia, for both strike action and action short of a strike, over the potential extension of Driver-Only Operation following the company's continuing refusal to give a guarantee on the role of the guard throughout the length of the franchise. A meeting had been held between Greater Anglia and RMT reps, including general secretary Mick Cash. At that meeting management failed to provide union reps with the assurances they had been seeking with respect to the role and responsibilities of the guards now and for the length of the franchise. That failure has left RMT with no option but to serve notice on the company and press ahead with the balloting process for Greater Anglia Guards members. RMT general secretary Mick Cash said that the company had been given every opportunity to give a guarantee on the future role of the guard on their services and failed to do so. “RMT will not sit back and wait for the company any longer and we have no option but to proceed to ballot in order to protect safety and access on Greater Anglia services. “The union remains available for further talks around the crucial issue of the guard guarantee,” he said. Dutch state-owned company Abellio which runs the franchise also plans to remove the vast majority of ticket offices across the franchise. The company, which currently holds the franchise until 2026, has informed the union that it plans to remove 57 of the currently 64 ticket offices across the Greater Anglia network threatening hundreds of ticket office jobs. It intends to only have seven remaining traditional ticket offices located at London Liverpool Street, Colchester, Norwich, Cambridge, Chelmsford, Ipswich and Stansted Airport. That means closing the bulk of the remainder of their station-based services during the next year in three stages, with seven ticket offices to close by this summer. Greater Anglia has also revealed that its intends to introduce revenue staff and place ticket vending machines (TVMs) at all stations with major implications for jobs and services. RMT is completely opposed to any closures or reduction in opening hours of ticket offices, to any cuts in station staff jobs and the potential introduction of lone working at stations. As a result the union is planning a campaign of opposition designed at engaging the public, passenger groups and campaign groups and politicians right across the area in an all-out drive to halt the ticket office massacre. “This is all part and parcel of a national drive to de-staff our trains and stations as the private train companies look to smuggle in a faceless railway in a dash to fatten up their own profit margins,” he said. GREATER ANGLIA BALLOT OVER GUARD THREAT