SUSPEND ON-TRAIN TICKETING

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: march 2021 :: RMTnews 7 RMT is demanding that the government immediately suspends on-train revenue protection and ticket inspection across all train operating companies (TOCs). The call was made after a survey of RMT on-board staff indicates that seven out of 17 TOCs operating through national contracts are putting its staff at increased risk by still requiring them to undertake these non-essential duties in confined spaces such as on board trains, despite the current lockdown, rather than allowing staff to focus on passenger assurance, accessibility and safety. The survey findings indicate that while 10 train operating companies operating under national contracts, including those managed by the Welsh and Scottish governments, had suspended on-train revenue protection and ticket inspection during the current lockdown, seven, which are managed by the Department of Transport, were still putting staff at increased risk of coming into contact with Covid-19 by requiring them to undertake on-train revenue protection or ticket inspection duties, even though social distancing cannot be maintained. This is in contrast to the first UK lockdown in 2020, when all on-train revenue protection and ticket inspection was suspended as a safety measure. The seven TOCs that the survey indicated are currently requiring staff to undertake on-train revenue protection or ticket inspection duties are: CrossCountry; LNER; Northern; GWR; SWR; Avanti West Coast; C2C. Of those workers who are still being required to do on- train revenue protection or ticket inspection, nearly 70 per cent believe these duties should be suspended. And shockingly, fewer than two in 10 are satisfied with the arrangements their employer has put in place to protect them from Covid-19 risks at work. Nearly eight in 10 respondents said that they would be prepared to invoke their employer’s ‘worksafe’ procedure if they had Covid- 19 safety concerns whilst undertaking on-train revenue protection or ticket inspection duties. In light of RMT’s serious concerns, the union has written to the Secretary of State Grant Shapps to demand the immediate suspension of on-train revenue protection and ticket inspection duties for the duration of the current lockdown whilst also allowing staff to focus on safety, assurance and accessibility. RMT general secretary Mick Cash said that the union survey findings revealed an inconsistent and unsafe approach to on-train revenue protection during the current Covid-19 lockdown. “The findings suggest that while the majority of train operating companies have suspended these tasks, a significant minority are putting workers at increased and unnecessary risk by requiring staff to undertake on-train revenue inspection and ticket inspection duties in confined spaces. “This disparity is particularly inexplicable given the DfT is managing all rail franchises in England via Emergency Recovery Measures Agreements. The DfT needs to ensure, as a matter of urgency, that consistent measures are taken across the railway to protect these key workers. “As recent passenger research by Transport Focus found, staff play a central role in helping passengers feel safe and secure on the train, and during the current lockdown, staff should be focusing on the core functions of assurance, accessibility and safety, rather than undertaking non-essential tasks that make it virtually impossible to social distance. “Under no circumstances will RMT allow its members to be put at unnecessary risk of coming into contact with Covid-19 at work,” he said. RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: march 2021 :: RMTnews SUSPEND ON-TRAIN TICKETING RMT survey reveals that train operating companies operating through national contracts are putting staff at risk