UNION CALLS FOR SAFETY PROBE IN TROON STATION FIRE

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: september 2021 :: RMTnews 18 R MT is demanding an "urgent investigation" into the safety risks of unstaffed stations after a major fire at Troon Station in South Ayrshire. The historic station building was extensively damaged by a fire in July, closing the line for several days. RMT has written to chief inspector of railways Ian Prosser about whether the damage and disruption "could have been avoided had Troon station been properly staffed". RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said that the devastating fire shone a light on just how dangerous the rail industry's plans to de-staff our stations are. "Station staff play a vital role in helping deliver a safe, secure and accessible railway. "It is long overdue that this cost-cutting, profit maximising measure of de-staffing our stations and trains was stopped in its tracks due to glaring and serious health and safety risks." Liam Sumpter, Network Rail route director for Scotland, said that engineers were working to make the station safe and that investigations into the cause of the fire were ongoing. Troon station opened in 1892, designed by architect James Miller, whose work includes other west coast stations as well as Glasgow Royal Infirmary. The Railway Heritage Trust has offered £500,000 to help salvage the Victorian structure. The RMT Legal Department recently successfully concluded a claim for one of our members against the employer, a Train Operating Company. They argued that after obtaining an additional competency five years ago, our member was entitled to a pay increase under her terms and conditions of employment. Our member became aware of the issue with pay in early 2021. The employer initially agreed to only implement the pay increase from the date that our member realised the error in pay. Our member submitted a grievance and an L2 - Application for Legal Assistance to the RMT Legal Department for advice regarding a claim for the unlawful deduction from wages in the Employment Tribunal and breach of contract. The RMT Legal Department advised our member that a claim for the unlawful deduction from wages would have reasonable prospects of success. However, losses would be limited to two years at the Employment Tribunal. They advised that instead, the best course of action would be to pursue a claim for breach of contract in the County Court. This would allow our member to claim the full losses. Our Legal Department sent a Letter Before Action to our member’s employer. This is the first stage in bringing a breach of contract claim in the county court. Our Legal Department argued that our member had raised the issue of pay with them as soon as they became aware of it. This was aimed at avoiding an argument by the employer that our member had affirmed a breach of contract by not taking any action sooner. Our Legal Department set out the basis on which they say our member was contractually entitled to receive back pay for full losses arising from the incorrect payment of her wages over five years. Our Legal Department requested a full written response from the employer within 28 days and explained that a failure to comply with this request will result in the RMT having no alternative but to commence proceedings in the County Court for breach of contract. The member then received confirmation from her employer that the grievance had been upheld at Stage 2 of their grievance process, and full back payments would be made to as a result. The matter was therefore resolved at an early stage, and without the need for the union to commence proceedings in the county court for breach of contract. WINNING AT WORK Member wins case for increased pay under the terms and conditions of employment UNION CALLS FOR SAFETY PROBE IN TROON STATION FIRE