RMT Ballot Avanti West Coast Members For Strike Action

[footprints]

RMT balloting for strike action and action short of a strike on Avanti West Coast over pay, the introduction of standard premium, and other issues. The ballot closes on 18 November.

https://www.rmt.org.uk/news/members...ndustrial-relations--avanti-west-coast211021/

BREAKDOWN IN INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS – AVANTI WEST COAST

Further to my previous correspondence dated 30th September 2021 on the above issue and where I advised you of the serious breakdown in industrial relations with the company. Your negotiating team and Lead Officer have reported on the number of issues that are affecting you and your colleagues. When the issues were first reported to the Union we immediately wrote to the company and advised them of this abhorrent situation. It is clear management have no regard for you and your colleagues and their response to our issues has been lacklustre. A breakdown of the core issues at the heart of this dispute are detailed below:

An Imposition of a Two Year Pay Freeze

Avanti West Coast notified the union of the DfT decision to impose a pay freeze on all staff earning above £24,000 or an increase of £250 for members earning less than £24,000, which accounted for a small number of members.

The company are abhorrently using the global pandemic as a reason not to reward your hard work during the pandemic. Management has outright rejected our pay and benefits claim and fully rejected our claim for a reduction in the base working week without loss of pay – despite this being subject to a previous dispute resolution that has now ended.

It is totally unacceptable that the company can vilify you and your colleague for asking for an improvement to your pay and conditions, despite having praised you during the pandemic. The company has shown their utter contempt for key essential workers and have demonstrated their ‘Hero to Zero’ attitude. The decision is even more profound when you consider First Group received beneficial payments at the expense of the UK Taxpayer to keep train services running for other essential workers.

The company has also reported an increase in profits and dividends and has issued dividend payments to shareholders of £360m. This situation is disgraceful as the company has clearly demonstrated that they have no appreciation of the valuable contribution that you have all made to the business. Avanti West Coast could easily have shared some of their profits with the hardworking key workers, who have served on the frontline during the entire pandemic, enabling other key workers to move around the country, however, they have decided to reward you all with a two year pay freeze.

General Imposition of Items

Management have persistently ignored our serious and consistent representation on the company’s clear failure to honour the agreed collective bargaining machinery and existing procedural agreements. When the Union has raised these issues with the company, they have always responded that they are being implemented due to ‘their committed obligations’. This is clearly something that, in order to win the franchise, the company have promised during the franchise selection process and are now imposing these changes as a result of their underhanded promises.

The company, without any agreement from the Union, has imposed the following: The introduction and the imposition of the Myintegrale app, the Introduction of the ‘3-classes’ and the impact it has on all frontline staff, the disregard of the disciplinary and grievance process and the failure to have these issues dealt with in a timely manner. The issues outlined above are not an exhaustive list of the issues that have been unfairly imposed on you and your colleagues.

Catering Grades Issues

Our On-Board Catering grade members are all too aware of the abject failure of the ‘3-classes’ system that was introduce on the 13th September. There have been countless meetings between our Catering Company Council and management on this issue. However, the company has completely ignored the various comments and representations put forward by your Union Representatives.

Appallingly, it took a whole host of issues before the company finally took members’ concerns seriously. It should not have taken serious service failures due to lack of resources, lack of supplies and stores, breaches to the hygiene regulations in several areas and the unacceptable deterioration in the health, safety and wellbeing of On-Board staff for the company to take matters seriously.

At an Avoidance of Disputes meeting, over the introduction of the ‘3-classes’, your negotiating team presented detailed information, gathered from the staff survey - which received a response from over 50% of catering staff – which compiled of 28 pages of informed feedback for management to consider. The company provided a 15-point ‘quick fix’ agreement to provide members with an immediate and beneficial relief. However, the union is receiving growing reports of management continuing to ignore our concerns. This is a monumental shift from the award winning ‘world class’ service under Virgin West Coast, to the calamity and failure that is the ‘3-classes’ service under Avanti.

There are also additional issues affecting members such as the introduction of the ‘click and serve’ app, without any agreement, the attempts to implement Myintegrale app and the installation of several work-related apps on work phones without agreement. The company has also introduced annualised hours for weekend workers, made changes to the TUPE transferred apprentice scheme and has made various changes to policies that now have a detrimental impact on your employment without you even being made aware of these changes – these have all been done without discussion or agreement with the union.

Station Grade Issues

Avanti West Coast are imposing unfavourable rosters on members, that is seriously impacting members work-life balance and management are also bypassing the agreed procedures. The company are unilaterally abrogating the agreed establishment and station T&C’s for shunters, with management also denying individuals the additional points for skills which increase pensionable pay and long-term benefits. This attitude has also been extended to the refusal to provide proper points for added skills on food hygiene which also contribute to an increase in pay and benefits.

Station grades are seeing the effect of changes to the TUPE transfer apprentice scheme. Management has also removed added Sundays and are constantly refusing to fill vacant positions, with the removal of posts within the Euston Ticket office. Again, these have all bypassed the machinery and have been imposed without any agreement with the Union.

Train Manager Grade Issues

Several issues have been registered as a failure to agree by our Train Manager representatives, these include: Mobile Phones and their apps, Devices for all, STP Diagrams with an additional 1 hour extra, the use of ticket scanners – which are used to gather and analyse data on the number of passengers in transit – the introduction of the ‘3-classess’ and the lack of consideration the impact it has had on the Train Manager Grade. The company has also denied commission on some routes and has not agreed the use of Body Cameras and issues with Myintegrale and Integrale connect. It has also been reported that there are concerns over GDPR breaches, with the company not taking concerns seriously.

Unfair Dismissal of Colleagues

The Union has received resolutions from several branches, expressing their disgust and concerns at the unfair dismissal of our colleague Douglas Stanford. Avanti West Coast has breached the disciplinary procedures and ignored natural justice. Management did not reconvene the adjourned hearing and denied your colleague the ability to put forward a full and vigorous defence against the series clause 9 charges.

The actions of Avanti West Coast management have clearly denied Brother Stanford a fair and proper hearing and can only be considered as an unfair dismissal. The actions by management are shocking and seriously puts the risk of all staff being treated with contempt and being denied a fair hearing. It is evident that we must take a stand and protect ourselves from a company who clearly has no respect for staff or the procedural agreements.

Ballot and Industrial Action Timetable

Industrial relations at the company are at an all time low and it is our firm belief that the countless issues are a result of appalling attitude within Human Resources and Employee Relations. The attitude of the company needs to drastically change as the concerns raised are just an outline of the situation and are not limited to what we are in dispute over with regards to this serious breakdown in industrial relations.
Clearly members are despondent at the company’s attitude and the situation is now in the worst possible place it could be. Your union’s National Executive Committee has considered the matter and has expressed their concern at the management and HR’s intent on attacking you and your colleagues.
Therefore, the NEC has instructed me to immediately advise the company that we are now in dispute over the serious breakdown in industrial relations and to ballot you and your colleagues for Industrial Action.

The ballot will open on Thursday 28th October 2021 and will close on Thursday 18th November 2021. The ballot will be for strike action and for action short of a strike in the form of a rest-day working ban, an overtime ban, a refusal to use company phones, a refusal to utilise scanners and the refusal to use Myintegrale and Integrale App.

 

[Kite159]

I see they are confusing profits made by First Group as a whole with what Avanti would have made (if anything) to that pot...

Catering staff not liking the 3 class system, is that solely down to losing coach K as their private mess room?

Also not happy about having to deliver purchases those pesky passengers make using the app?

 

[Horizon22]

Quite a lot of this to me sounds like "how dare they introduce new technology to the railway and expect it to be used". And of course reference to "Brother".

I'm sure there are some understandable concerns and systems not working as you'd expect and training could be better, but it seems to all be a number of relatively trivial and/or vague issues all combined into one. Perhaps the pay freeze isn't so trivial but that's nationwide, although the Scotrail dispute has probably let the cat out of the bag there.

 

[Scotrail314209]

I wonder if the alarm from the catering staff is the prospect that SP could be extended if it proves more popular than First Class, which could result in redundancies of the hosts and chefs.

I always thought SP would make the work load slightly easier for the catering staff, particularly for the hosts as it means they only have to take care of one carriage compared to 3/4.

 

[Starmill]

Curious that one of the things that they want to go into dispute over is the removal of some ticket office staff roles at London Euston in light of the thread currently ongoing about cost saving measures.

 

[DanNCL]

The implementation of Standard Premium has frankly been chaos. Never the same amount of space allocated to it on each train, and where as is often the case one carriage is used for both first and standard premium causes confusion for both the train managers and catering staff. Train managers are struggling with announcing coach letters for standard premium and first given that it’s a different split on nearly every service, and no doubt it must cause some issues with ticket checks too, if someone with a standard premium ticket was reserved in a seat that the train manager thought to be first class. On my trip in standard premium in September the catering crew served the first class complimentaries to everyone in the carriage I was in as they weren’t sure exactly how much of it was being used as first and how much as standard premium - I wasn’t complaining seeing as I got some unexpected free food out of it but it’s not good for those who’ve paid extra for the food and drink nor is it good for the staff to have that extra area of confusion.

I see they are confusing profits made by First Group as a whole with what Avanti would have made (if anything) to that pot...

Why should that make any difference? If First have the money they should be giving all of their staff a pay rise, not just those in subsidiaries that turn a profit.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I wonder if the alarm from the catering staff is the prospect that SP could be extended if it proves more popular than First Class, which could result in redundancies of the hosts and chefs.

I always thought SP would make the work load slightly easier for the catering staff, particularly for the hosts as it means they only have to take care of one carriage compared to 3/4.

Surely striking makes that more likely.

 

[ComUtoR]

And of course reference to "Brother".

Why do you find this term so objectionable ?

 

[daveo]

"How dare managers try to manage without our permission"!!!

 

[seagull]

Given that the majority of Avanti catering staff have had well over a year either sitting at home on full pay or doing limited part time hours on full pay, and that the Train Managers, although having come in to work more, have not largely had to actually do a great deal due to Covid and no ticket checks, I can't help thinking that the timing of this proposed action is regrettable, to say the least.

It will be interesting to see what the ballot results are.

 

[Horizon22]

Why do you find this term so objectionable ?

I just find it rather odd and outdated - any other terms "hardworking colleague" for example come across as modern and more professional. I wouldn't want to be in a cult, which is the first thing that comes to my mind.

 

[43096]

I just find it rather odd and outdated - any other terms "hardworking colleague" for example come across as modern and more professional. I wouldn't want to be in a cult, which is the first thing that comes to my mind.

How do they address a female member of the union?

You do wonder if the union actually has any brains: having stated that the pay freeze is imposed by DfT, why are they banging on about FirstGroup pay and dividends? Pure propaganda.

 

[ComUtoR]

I just find it rather odd and outdated - any other terms "hardworking colleague" for example come across as modern and more professional. I wouldn't want to be in a cult, which is the first thing that comes to my mind.

Not everything needs to be subject to modern parlance and certainly shouldn't be judged on how specific groups refer to each other. Many of the Clergy are still referred to using very archaic nomenclature. Teachers are called Sir/Ma'am. It seems an odd thing to judge someone for.

Does the fact they still refer to each other as Brother/Sister offend you so much that you fail to see the issues at hand or does an internal bias sway your opinion on the issues they may be facing ?

'*What's in a name? That which we call a rose, by any other name would smell as sweet.'




*Unless they were called stench blossoms

 

[DazrahT]

I'm all for it, I said to people when First (Worst) took over the West Coast it'd be trouble, and I've been proved correct. Don't expect Avanti to be the last to announce strike action either.

 

[Horizon22]

Not everything needs to be subject to modern parlance and certainly shouldn't be judged on how specific groups refer to each other. Many of the Clergy are still referred to using very archaic nomenclature. Teachers are called Sir/Ma'am. It seems an odd thing to judge someone for.

Does the fact they still refer to each other as Brother/Sister offend you so much that you fail to see the issues at hand or does an internal bias sway your opinion on the issues they may be facing ?

'*What's in a name? That which we call a rose, by any other name would smell as sweet.'




*Unless they were called stench blossoms

Well I actually read the entire complaint - which mainly seemed to be employees disagreeing with some management decisions & new technology which in my view doesn't really equal a dispute - before I came across the term. It strikes me as very strange and to an outsider would be as well.

Considering the thread is about the RMT dispute though, bringing in other professions - some of which I agree are archaic - is something of a red herring.

 

[DazrahT]

Well I actually read the entire complaint - which mainly seemed to be employees disagreeing with some management decisions & new technology which in my view doesn't really equal a dispute - before I came across the term. It strikes me as very strange and to an outsider would be as well.

Considering the thread is about the RMT dispute though, bringing in other professions - some of which I agree are archaic - is something of a red herring.

It does warrant action if it's dumped on staff with no extra pay for doing so

 

[Sheridan]

Well I actually read the entire complaint - which mainly seemed to be employees disagreeing with some management decisions & new technology which in my view doesn't really equal a dispute - before I came across the term. It strikes me as very strange and to an outsider would be as well.

Considering the thread is about the RMT dispute though, bringing in other professions - some of which I agree are archaic - is something of a red herring.

The fact that it strikes you as strange probably speaks as much to the loss of solidarity in today’s fractured working environments than anything else. It’s sad, but not surprising, that considering a fellow worker as a brother or sister should be seen as odd, and I accept you’re probably in a majority by expressing that view!

 

[Horizon22]

It does warrant action if it's dumped on staff with no extra pay for doing so

Why? Industries far and wide bring in new technology all the time. In fact its happened to me many times in the railway. So long as you are approriately trained and assessed (if required) there really shouldn't be an issue.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 7 Nov 2021 ==

The fact that it strikes you as strange probably speaks as much to the loss of solidarity in today’s fractured working environments than anything else. It’s sad, but not surprising, that considering a fellow worker as a brother or sister should be seen as odd, and I accept you’re probably in a majority by expressing that view!

I don't like the term. I can have 'solidarity' with people and feel like a "railway family" without ncessarily wanted to call people brother or sister.

 

[DazrahT]

Why? Industries far and wide bring in new technology all the time. In fact its happened to me many times in the railway. So long as you are approriately trained and assessed (if required) there really shouldn't be an issue.

In my opinion it depends on the level of "change", if TOCs keep adding more and more technology to the job role, you might as well end up working for free. First it's Avantix machines, then it's QR barcode scanners, then it's an app to measure you for uniform sizes rather than sending someone round with a tape measure. Where does it stop?

 

[Sheridan]

Why? Industries far and wide bring in new technology all the time. In fact its happened to me many times in the railway. So long as you are approriately trained and assessed (if required) there really shouldn't be an issue.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 7 Nov 2021 ==



I don't like the term. I can have 'solidarity' with people and feel like a "railway family" without ncessarily wanted to call people brother or sister.

That’s fair enough, but it seems like a very strong reaction to a particular term. Do you object to people being referred to as ‘mister’ or ‘miss’?

 

[Horizon22]

In my opinion it depends on the level of "change", if TOCs keep adding more and more technology to the job role, you might as well end up working for free. First it's Avantix machines, then it's QR barcode scanners, then it's an app to measure you for uniform sizes rather than sending someone round with a tape measure. Where does it stop?

Then we'll start getting into the "Luddite" phase of things. If there are areas by which we are artifically getting staff to do jobs which can be done via technology, then that is wrong. However technology is there to support these staff, not replace them. All of those things are useful tools that makes staff live easier but feel free to tell me why that should be a concern?

This is of course in general - yes TVMs, e-tickets etc. will lead to a decline in ticket office staff. That is inevitable and some will change roles or leave the industry. But I see nothing in that list in the quote from the OP that sounds like staff are being "replaced" by technology.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 7 Nov 2021 ==

That’s fair enough, but it seems like a very strong reaction to a particular term. Do you object to people being referred to as ‘mister’ or ‘miss’?

No but that is entirely commonplace. Brother and Sister are not. I wouldn't say its strong but it does makes me cringe a little.

 

[DazrahT]

Can I ask a question, do you actually work for the railway Horizon22?

 

[Facing Back]

It does warrant action if it's dumped on staff with no extra pay for doing so

Perhaps that is part of the bone of contention.

I would suggest that a simple change of ways of working from using one application or process to another which requires no more effort, skill or responsibility can reasonably be introduced with no extra pay - the unions of course should take issue if there is insufficient training or support, but I don't understand why they expect to be able to approve or decline the use of a new app on a work phone - perhaps someone can enlighten me?

It is "management's" job to look for ways to make the operation more efficient - new apps, tweaks to rotas, etc and not everyone will like every change - change is however a fact of life for most professions and successful companies tend to embrace it - not fight it tooth and claw.

I agree with whoever said that Virgin's onboard customer experience was brilliant and Avanti's nowhere near as good. I'm not at all surprised and I was saddened slightly when Virgin withdrew from the tender. I don't see that the move to a 3 class system is the cause of this and now standard premium is my default. I'm not suggesting however that it was introduced well or is not without its flaws, but surely that is more of a reason for customer's not to travel than for the catering staff to strike?

I do however respect that the unions should negotiate hard for an increase in pay - that is their job, especially now Scotland seems to have set a precedent. I'm not sure that I support it, but it really has very little to do with me and I would be surprised if they didn't do it.

I do not find the term "brother" objectionable. I am afraid though that I do find it slightly amusing in this day and age. Again it is absolutely nothing to do with me but I suspect it hardens the stereotype of the "left wing union" to outsiders - something I'm aware that the RMT couldn't care less about.

Is there any more information on the dismissal which "ignored natural justice"?

 

[Horizon22]

Can I ask a question, do you actually work for the railway Horizon22?

Indeed I do. And I embrace a whole host of new technologies. Sometimes they have issues and you know what? I raise it through the channels - my manager or my union - and generally we come to a resolution. One of the things mentioned in this thread was about how slow the railway is to change and to embrace technology. So here is a company trying to do that and then suddenly the RMT is calling a dispute? Change starts coming and it is an inveitable part of life but this resistance and general slow pace (and sometimes going nuclear about it) is one of the parts I find most frustrating about my own industry.

Most of the things listed people really shouldn't bat an eyelid to - such as "installation of several work-related apps on work phones without agreement" or "the use of ticket scanners – which are used to gather and analyse data on the number of passengers in transit". Honestly baffles me (and probably many others) as to why this would be n issue.

As I said, I'm sure there are some issues with some of the procedures and technologies being introduced. But I would hazard they have been hugely overblown.

 

[DazrahT]

The issue that I am certainly in support of is the dismissal of Brother Stanford, I've known him personally for 22 years, it's just a LOT has been brewing at Avanti as can be seen and some could say it was the straw that broke the camel's back.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 7 Nov 2021 ==

Indeed I do. And I embrace a whole host of new technologies. Sometimes they have issues and you know what? I raise it through the channels - my manager or my union - and generally we come to a resolution. One of the things mentioned in this thread was about how slow the railway is to change and to embrace technology. So here is a company trying to do that and then suddenly the RMT is calling a dispute?

As I said, I'm sure there are some issues with some of the procedures and technologies being introduced. But I would hazard they have been hugely overblown.

Then I'm actually in shock you're not supporting your fellow colleagues, I don't even work for Avanti I agree with their action for ballot, because I know that it could be my job next. Please tell me for the love of god you're not in TSSA.

 

[320320]

I just find it rather odd and outdated - any other terms "hardworking colleague" for example come across as modern and more professional. I wouldn't want to be in a cult, which is the first thing that comes to my mind.

So you’re more concerned about “odd and outdated terms“ than the claims of the unfair dismissal of an employee.

I find it odd that so many people take any opportunity to side with employers over staff on this forum.

 

[Starmill]

In my opinion it depends on the level of "change", if TOCs keep adding more and more technology to the job role, you might as well end up working for free. First it's Avantix machines, then it's QR barcode scanners, then it's an app to measure you for uniform sizes rather than sending someone round with a tape measure. Where does it stop?

It sounds to me like all of these things benefit the staff by making their jobs easier. In what manner is there a need for additional pay because your uniform fits you better?

 

[DazrahT]

So you’re more concerned about “odd and outdated terms“ than the claims of the unfair dismissal of an employee.

I find it odd that so many people take any opportunity to side with employers over staff on this forum.

It happens 320320. Or people that will happily be in the union when it suits them and then cancel their membership when there's the threat of strike action so they can scab. Seen it at my place, I've made a mental note of names.

 

[Horizon22]

The issue that I am certainly in support of is the dismissal of Brother Stanford, I've known him personally for 22 years, it's just a LOT has been brewing at Avanti as can be seen and some could say it was the straw that broke the camel's back.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 7 Nov 2021 ==


Then I'm actually in shock you're not supporting your fellow colleagues, I don't even work for Avanti I agree with their action for ballot, because I know that it could be my job next. Please tell me for the love of god you're not in TSSA.

Why are you in shock? I don't know the ins and outs of the dispute but looking at almost everything in that list, I see very little that would concern me. This dispute doesn't appear to be anything about jobs, so why have you brought that into this? And for the record, whatever Union I'm in is none of your concern.

This is one side of the story and we may not never get the other side of the story (Avanti's), so this is the only thing I've got to go on.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 7 Nov 2021 ==

It happens 320320. Or people that will happily be in the union when it suits them and then cancel their membership when there's the threat of strike action so they can scab. Seen it at my place, I've made a mental note of names.

Charming behaviour - going around marking out people and preparing to call them "scabs". You know you've essentially describing bullying just because someone is (or isn't) in the union and doesn't agree with your particular ideals.

 

[Sheridan]

No but that is entirely commonplace. Brother and Sister are not. I wouldn't say its strong but it does makes me cringe a little.

I agree with you to the extent that it can sound slightly forced sometimes, but as I alluded to earlier, it’s a shame that when we refer to each other as equals it provokes that reaction, whereas other forms of address go unremarked-upon. Perhaps because the railway is one of the few remaining industries with viable unions it stands out (although of course the RMT does represent members in other industries).