RAIL INDUSTRY FORUM

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: april bulletin 1 2020 :: RMTnews 8 The Rail Industry Coronavirus Forum (RICF) emergency working principles acknowledge that the Coronavirus crisis represents the biggest challenge to the UK and the rail industry since the war. The scale of the challenge necessitates emergency but temporary measures to ensure the railway can continue to serve the nation but operate in a sustainable manner all of which will require the industry’s trade unions and employers to work in co-operation. The top priority during this unprecedented period is to protect and safeguard workers and their families and to comply with government guidance and advice from all public health bodies across the UK. PRINCIPLES 1. WORKING TOGETHER Employers and trade unions commit to working together to address the challenges created by the Coronavirus crisis by maintaining good and positive industrial relations in order to provide rail services for other essential workers and for the movement of supplies and resources for the benefit of our communities. Recognising that the sole focus will be on delivering the operational railway and protecting rail workers during this period the following business as usual activities will be deferred: - • Discipline procedure cases (except for cases of potential gross misconduct or where not proceeding would place the welfare of any employee involved at risk, such as instances of, but not limited to, safety violations, bullying, harassment, discrimination, in which case prior notification to the relevant trade union/FTO will be provided) • Grievance procedure cases (except for cases involving instances of, but not limited to, bullying, harassment, discrimination in which case prior notification to the relevant trade union/FTO will be provided) • Absence management procedure meetings • Compulsory redundancies (for Network Rail, Transport Scotland & DfT franchise TOCs only) • Training that is not essential to sustaining efficient on- going railway operations. Traincrew training to retain route and traction competence and to be able to deliver more qualified train crew during this period will continue. All other necessary training will seek to comply wherever practically possible. This could include revised agreed methodologies to undertake training and assessments in order to reduce risk. 2. OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS It is recognised that emergency temporary arrangements need to be put in place that will require all parties to work flexibly together at company level to facilitate rail operations. This shall include: - • Temporary changes to working arrangements including timetables, train services, station staffing, infrastructure and train maintenance arrangements • Temporary changes to the normal place of work • Temporary changes to the allocation of duties where normal activities are not being undertaken Where changes are required these will be discussed at the earliest opportunity at the appropriate level within the respective rail company between management and union representatives whilst recognising where agreement is required this will not be unreasonably withheld. Where there are temporary emergency changes to normal staffing levels and locations or their duties, rail workers will be expected to be flexible in being asked to work at an alternative location or undertake alternative duties within their competence level or be on stand-by. This may reduce the number of rail workers required to operate and maintain the railway safely and at the same time may help to reduce the number of rail workers exposed to infection. In all such circumstances, rail workers will continue to receive their normal basic pay entitlements and any associated contractual allowances that would be normally payable. During this period no changes to rail workers’ terms and conditions will be made other than as above. 3. PROTECTING WORKERS The Industry recognises that the government has designated rail workers involved in the operation of rail services as key workers to keep rail passenger and freight transport services operating during the period of the Coronavirus crisis. This is to enable critical public services to deliver the services required during this period of national importance and so that we can support key workers to be able to travel to and from their place of work, alongside the provision of other essential travel and for the movement of critical freight supplies and resources for the benefit of our communities and the nation. Whilst key workers continue to have access to childcare, the government has asked that we avoid taking up the limited RAIL INDUSTRY FORUM The Rail Industry Coronavirus Forum (RICF), which includes RMT, has adopted emergency working principles