END DE-SKILLING AND OUTSOURCING

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: may 2018 :: RMTnews 20 END DE-SKILLING AND OUTSOURCING Engineering grades demand an end to casualisation in the rail industry and for agreements to be respected The industrial organising conference of engineering grades conference met in Wigan recently with a determination to standardise agreed procedures across the network and oppose the deskilling and outsourcing of labour in the industry. David Doyle, London and Orient Engineering called for an investigation into the misuse and implementation of the Managing for Attendance Procedure (MFA). He told delegates that Network Rail OCR (Overhead Condition Renewals) is enforcing a different MFA procedure (GTRM ex Carillion) without agreement with RMT, or consultation, that undermines members’ terms and conditions. “The procedure being enforced is being used to apply pressure on staff to work when sick. “People come to work with broken limbs and the flu because they are scared not to. This is a potential safety risk for our safety critical workers.” he told delegates. “Management are not considering individual circumstances and have been classing serious illness, bereavement, stress and even hospital appointments and special leave as ‘short term sick’. “This then triggers the ‘target’ which leads to unfair hearings, disciplines and potential dismissal. “Our members are being told at stage 1 that this is an informal procedure and nothing to worry about. They are not being made aware of the seriousness of the MFA procedure or being told they are entitled to union representation until a MFA reaches stage 2. At the Stage 2 hearing a formal discipline is issued. “This policy should be used for persistent short-term sickness but is instead being aggressively used to put pressure on staff and undermines Terms and Conditions. This matter has been raised through the machinery of negotiation at local level on more than one occasion without any progress being made,” he added. John Joe Carruthers, Carlisle City told conference that industrial relations within Network Rail maintenance were in an atrocious state. “We are dealing with the constant ignoring of agreed processes and procedures to deal with issues by Network Rail management in terms of both individual and collective matters. “There are also persistent attacks on terms and conditions and an apparent situation where our formally agreed processes fail to deal with issues,” he said. Pat Collins, Birmingham Engineering expressed concern that members within Network Rail are having skills competencies either removed, or not renewed, with management claiming the competencies are no longer required. “Members are then finding that their work is in fact being outsourced. This has mainly applied to welding staff who are finding that contractors are replacing their work, effectively privatising their jobs,” he said. Mark Denny, Wigan highlighted the problem with Network Rail altering agreed contractual rates of pay regarding on the former GTRM contract for Over Head Line Operatives and Technicians within London North Western North. “Network Rail currently are