FREIGHTLINER PENSION VICTORY

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: april 2019 :: RMTnews 8 RMT has warned that the privatised bus system was still failing Britain’s communities as new figures from the latest bus Passenger Survey and the Department for Transport highlighted the problems of Britain’s costly buses. Figures from the survey published last month show that passenger satisfaction is consistently lowest when they are asked about the cost of fares, with some areas showing decreasing satisfaction since 2017. The Bus Passenger Survey for 2018 shows that passenger satisfaction is consistently lowest in relation to value for money. The overall average figures for satisfaction with value for money are unchanged from 2017 at 67 per cent, but the range reveals that some areas are now doing worse on value for money than they were last year. Within these figures satisfaction with value for money was worst among those commuting to work and those aged 16-34 which are those within Labour’s target constituency for the free travel. In his foreword, Jeff Halliwell acknowledges this problem: “It is apparent from the value for money ratings of some bus operators/groups that many passengers are reacting to fare increases and the way that extra cost is hitting their pockets. Are some passengers so sensitive to the absolute cost and any fare increases that they are voting with their feet?”. DfT quarterly stats published separately show that fares outside London have risen faster than wages over the last year. In metropolitan areas they rose by 3.3 per cent between December 2017 and December 2018 and in non- metropolitan areas they rose by a whopping 9.7 per cent. This might also help to explain why there were five million fewer bus journeys in non-metropolitan areas in the last quarter of 2018 than over the same time the previous year. RMT general secretary Mick cash said that the survey results confirmed that passengers were being hit hard by the cost of Britain’s buses, with commuters and young people feeling it most. "The Department of Transport’s own figures show fares rising faster than wages everywhere and by a whopping 9.7 per cent in non- metropolitan areas, while passenger journeys are falling. "We also need to remember that bus services are being wiped out in some areas due to cuts and cherry-picking by the private operators and that of course is missing from this survey. You can't ask people for their opinions on bus services where they simply don't exist. "It’s time for a new approach to Britain’s bus service which puts the needs of its people and its workers ahead of profits,” he said. PRIVATISED BUSES FAILING THE NATION New figures reveal falling passenger satisfaction when asked about the costs of travelling by bus RMT claimed victory in the Freightliner Ltd and Freightliner Heavy Haul pension dispute last month following an Avoidance of Disputes process which led to the company withdrawing proposals to close the pension scheme to new staff. RMT cancelled planned strike action for last month and members worked as usual. The union had been in dispute with the company over its failure to commit to maintaining the current scheme. The company had proposed to deny entry to the defined benefit Railways Pension Scheme for new starters and place them in to an inferior defined contribution scheme. Defined benefit (DB) schemes are based on earnings and funded as a promise to the employee, defining the benefits they will receive in retirement. Defined contribution (DC) schemes are an investment scheme with no guarantee as to what the employee will receive as retirement benefits. The proposal would have also affected existing staff and scheme members adversely as DB schemes need new entrants and the employer paying contributions to make sure funding levels remain healthy. This would have inevitably led to higher contributions and cuts to benefits for existing members. The strike ballot and members willingness to take strike action forced Freightliner to back down and stating that “there will be no changes to eligibility to join the RPS for existing employees or new starters". RMT general secretary Mick Cash said that it was a massive victory for Freightliner members FREIGHTL PENSION VICTORY