RMT FILMS MAKE IMPACT

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: january 2018 :: RMTnews 5 F ollowing 24-hour strike action on Virgin West Coast and the threat of more action, the company has agreed to an improved pay offer which is being put out to a referendum by the union with a recommendation to accept. RMT general secretary Mick Cash congratulated members involved for the unity, determination and resolve they expressed to fight for a better deal including 24-hour strike action last month. “The enhanced pay offer simply would not have been possible without members taking strike action and being prepared to take further industrial action in order to achieve pay justice. “It goes to show what can be achieved when members stand united,” he said. The revised pay offer includes an increase of 3.2 per cent for the respective grades covered within the agreement, backdated to April 1 2017. There is also an increase to the allocation of Friends and Family tickets from four to six per annum with the additional 2017 entitlement to be carried over to 2018 if necessary. It was also agreed that the base working week for the FTE staff will remain unchanged at 35 hours. There will also be a one-off non-pensionable payment of £500 and a return to the matter of a reduction in the working week in December 2020. R MT’s four new short films in support of the ‘Keep the Guard’ campaign and disputes across the country in defence of rail safety have drawn over a quarter of a million hits on social media platforms so far. The short films -“Unguarded” - weave together stories from individual passengers based on feedback over the past year and was released on social media platforms over the New Year. RMT general secretary Mick Cash said that RMT was committed to using every tool at its disposal to defend the role of the guard and resist profit- driven moves to throw safety- critical staff off our trains. “These films are based on real experiences that have been fed back to us by both passengers and our members who deal with the daily reality of the de-staffing of the railway. “The themes that are a constant throughout are safety, security and accessibility and we will not allow those messages to get shoved aside in the barrage of rhetoric from the private companies, the government and their cheerleaders at the Rail Delivery Group. “RMT is confident that this latest initiative will spark off a new surge in support for the on- going campaign and for members who find themselves at the sharp end. “If you are on Twitter or Facebook you can re-tweet and share the films. “If you are not on social media you can click on RMT's YouTube channel and copy the link and share it with your contact list through email or text,” he said. To view the film please visit the RMT Facebook page, Twitter account or www.rmt.org.uk/unguarded/ VIRGIN WEST COAST IMPROVE OFFER RMT FILMS MAKE IMPACT RMT.ORG.UK/UNGUARDED Carlisle Wigan