PRESIDENT’S COLUMN

Well comrades how quick has this year gone? So many fights won with victories across industrial issues, health and safety and, of course, pay and conditions. We punch well above our weight and, of course, a lot is still on-going but you can be confident that your union will always fight to support you the members to achieve better conditions and protect what we have. Driver-only operation is a big fight we have been in for over three years protecting the safety of the railways and the future of the second safety critical guard on board. Our union has led this fight with the membership’s full support and we will continue to do so until this greedy, looking after shareholders process, has been removed. The Department of Transport and the Tory government are a disgrace to push this model of operation when so much is wrong on the rail network. There is overwhelming evidence of the increase of crime on our rails which needs urgent investment to make a railway that matches the rail fare rip off they support. I must also mention the general strike that is taking place in France where workers from across all industries fight back on the attacks from the Macron right-wing government and send a message of solidarity from RMT. This is something which will have to be back on the agenda of the TUC as the central point of our trade union movement with the court ruling of the government on the Communications Workers Union outlawing strike action. It was an absolute disgrace of a stitch up where six hours of evidence was dismissed in two minutes with this corrupt government in place which attacks workers’ rights, the old and the poorest of our society. I would also like to thank the National Executive Committee members, your elected voice, for the support shown through a difficult first year and a tough decision made to protect your union. You should feel proud to have such committed members supporting your fights. I also want to say thank you to our collective support from all our staff and legal services. As Christmas approaches, we must dig deep and support our strike fund so we can support South Western Railway traincrew during their courageous decision to take 27 days of action as management play games with their role and livelihoods. It’s a disgrace to put practical methods on the table and withdraw them at the eleventh hour as the support to finance them from government is tabled this is an attack on all of us! Get your branch to do a raffle or collection around mess rooms, anything to raise funds to support those that sacrifice their own wages to fight for a safe secure railway. And lastly but no means least each and every one of you the members, thank you for being brave, vocal, committed and long may it continue because YOU are the union and make what I do matter. Merry Christmas and all the very best for 2020 where we will be leading from the front! MERRY CHRISTMAS & SOLIDARITY FOR 2020 Michelle President’s column HAPPY 2020 RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: november/december 2019 :: RMTnews 23 misconduct on the basis that they failed to ‘stop the job’. A claim for unfair dismissal was lodged on behalf of the member, and this claim was successful at the Employment Tribunal, the member being awarded £10,510.63. The employer appealed the decision to the Employment Appeal Tribunal. The appeal was successfully resisted on behalf of the member. The member eventually received his award, plus more than £1,000 in accrued interest. PERSONAL INJURIES A member was employed by Trump Turnberry as a KP. He had a long history of back problems and had been moved into a role in the staff canteen to accommodate his needs i.e. less heavy lifting. During the renovations of Turnberry back in 2015 the member was instructed to assist colleagues moving furniture out of bedrooms and over a two-day period he sustained a significant back exacerbation injury. However, the hotel refused to admit liability and we had to litigate. No offers were made right up until the PTM at which we rejected an offer of £4,250. BTO then tendered at £6,000 which was accepted. Another member was employed by Caledonian MacBrayne Ferries and he slipped on some loose shells on a gangway while disembarking from the vessel he was working on. The insurers for Calmac made a low ball offer pre- litigation of circa £1,500 which they refused to increase. We proceeded to litigation and the case then settled at PTM for £4,250. Another client’s husband was an RMT member and RMT solicitors took on a PL street tripping case for her against Perth and Kinross Council. Having to proceed to litigation in order to settle matters the union eventually secured compensation in the sum of £8,000. Given the recent case law for these types of cases against local authorities this was a significant success.