FIGHTING FOR BUS WORKERS

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: may 2018 :: RMTnews 16 Meeting on the Isle of Wight, delegates to the 2018 national bus workers industrial organising conference called on the union to produce a legal guide for RMT reps on the use of telematics equipment and data in disciplinary cases. Lee Odams Notts and Derby, said that telematics systems were becoming increasingly common in the bus industry under the guise of saving fuel and improving driver performance but they were also being used in disciplinary cases. “The legal position in relation to the use of telematics systems needs to be looked at in a similar way that CCTV use has. “These systems are recording driver’s actions on a second by second basis and then a profile of the driver is being held on their personnel record. “If telematics evidence is gathered using covert surveillance methods, workers should have access to the information, be afforded the opportunity to explain or challenge the data and be allowed to make representations before any disciplinary or other action is taken,” he said. Backing the motion Jason Gosling, Poole said that it was a case of ‘big brother’ coming and advised that it may be worth requesting your personal data to see what it contained. “Managers are seeing black and white in the data while there is actually huge grey areas,” he said. Leroy Tolcher, Camborne called on the union not to accept Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) and other systems which are being used in disciplinary cases. “This has resulted in written warnings, dismissals upheld and significant fear and concerns among bus workers. “These systems operate on the mobile phone networks that are not reliable and signals regularly fail particularly in rural areas. “Managers are trawling this system and using wrong information to discipline members,” he said. Delegates called on the union to campaign for bus workers to have a right to full pay from day one when they have been injured at work. Mark Thomas, South Devon Bus said that this does not mean paying sick pay but 100 per cent pay from day one. “Companies should pay for any specialist treatment which FIGHTING FOR BUS WORKERS RMT bus conference delegates warn unreliable new technology is being used to discipline workers