SCOTRAIL EQUALITY FIGHT

5 RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: may 2021 :: RMTnews R MT has launched three days of strike action this month following a second well supported industrial action ballot of members on East Midlands Railway. East Midlands Railway imposed different contracts that include a reduction of £5,500 in the first year of employment and are also rostering additional hours expected to be worked that are explicitly against the terms and conditions. RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said that the union had been left with no choice but to call strike action on East Midlands Trains. “Despite clear demands from RMT, East Midlands Railway have refused to stop enforcing these inferior contracts for some train guards which have been resisted for years and the patience of members has now reached its limit,” he said. RMT has launched an on-line petition demanding that the government back pay justice and equality for Scotrail workers following Dutch state- owned operator Abellio’s failure to treat all grades of workers equally in respect of rest day working arrangements. The petition, which can be signed from the RMT website, is calling on Edinburgh to put pressure on Transport Scotland and the ScotRail operators to play fair by their staff out there on the frontline throughout the COVID pandemic. The company has extended an enhanced payment rest day working agreement for one grade of workers, drivers, until October 2021, but has refused to negotiate an equivalent payment for other grades. RMT ScotRail conductor and ticket examiner members have voted to take industrial action, in two separate disputes. Ticket examiners are joining ScotRail conductors in industrial action on Sundays and the union has plans to ballot engineering grades over the same issue of workplace justice on enhanced payments. The union insists that all grades of ScotRail staff are essential workers who deserve pay equality. The ScotRail franchise continues to be full funded by the Scottish government under the terms of its Emergency Measures Agreement and RMT’s petition is calling on the Scottish government to commit itself and Abellio ScotRail to meaningful talks with RMT to address this blatant inequality. RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said that all grades of ScotRail workers are essential workers who have worked tirelessly throughout the Covid-19 pandemic to keep Scotland’s rail services running. “All RMT ScotRail Conductor and Ticket Examiner members are seeking is parity between grades. It is a kick in the teeth for these workers, that despite their commitment throughout the pandemic, Abellio is refusing to treat all grades equally and is instead preoccupied with issuing provocative statements criticising its own workforce. “It is high time that the Scottish government stepped in and committed itself and Abellio to meaningful talks, and this is what RMT’s petition is calling for. “These essential workers deserve pay justice and equality,” he said. EAST MIDLANDS RAILWAY STRIKE ACTION SCOTRAIL EQUALITY FIGHT RMT launches petition demanding action that Scottish government backs pay justice and equality ually and is instead Abellio to meaningful talks