RMT TOC strike action called off

[Snow1964]

6 April 2023
RMT Press Office:
The union has had several meetings with the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) since we suspended our strike action on the 14 train operators, following a proposal made to us on March 22nd.
These meetings were to further discuss the issues of the dispute - in particular Year 2 of the proposal that led to the suspension of strikes and the process of workforce reform.

However, no new document has been produced by the employer.

Members are rightly frustrated by this, and the Tory government is once again absent when it comes to giving the RDG the mandate to produce a new document.

The RDG have agreed to write to us in due course and we will be meeting them next week.

While negotiations continue, we remain in dispute and resolute in our determination to win a further mandate for strike action in the upcoming re-ballot.

Be in no doubt, if further strikes are needed, RMT will not hesitate to act to ensure a negotiated settlement on jobs, pay and working conditions.

Notes: Re-ballot papers for a further 6-month strike mandate go out today with a closing date of May 4.

RMT update on national dispute with 14 train operators

RMT update on national dispute with 14 train operators

www.rmt.org.uk

 

[Sly Old Fox]

The union of the person you replied to is currently negotiating a no strings pay rise.

And how is that going?

 

[Annetts key]

You think that in most other jobs with rostered shifts Sunday is still voluntary? I can't think of any other.

No, I’m saying that the more effective way is to offer an incentive for people to change rather than forcing people to work.

 

[dk1]

And how is that going?

There were meetings this week but nothing has been communicated to members, well those I know & myself so far. No news is good news hopefully.

 

[trainophile]

If the ballot closes on May 4th does that mean we're safe from further strikes until May 18th?

 

[matthewjohnson]

If the ballot closes on May 4th does that mean we're safe from further strikes until May 18th?

No

 

[ainsworth74]

If the ballot closes on May 4th does that mean we're safe from further strikes until May 18th?

No this is the re-ballot to get a fresh mandate for a further six months. The existing one is still live so strikes could be annouced at any time (with the usual two weeks notice requirement).

 

[trainophile]

No this is the re-ballot to get a fresh mandate for a further six months. The existing one is still live so strikes could be annouced at any time (with the usual two weeks notice requirement).

Oh, that's a pity. Thanks for clarifying.

 

[winks]

What’s the proposal on annual leave entitlements ? I heard mention of it and now it’s gone quiet - add this to the fact that T&Cs May be negotiated at a local level …?

(Sounds like a dogs breakfast !?)

 

[InOban]

Oh... and there was me thinking the railways were run for the needs of the paying passengers

The paying passengers ( and freight) are the business.

 

[Robcuk]

What’s the proposal on annual leave entitlements ? I heard mention of it and now it’s gone quiet - add this to the fact that T&Cs May be negotiated at a local level …?

(Sounds like a dogs breakfast !?)

I could be wrong, but I remember reading (think it was the last point) in the RMT offer that accumulating lieu days on public holidays will be a thing of the past. Re. Annual leave entitlement I cannot remember unfortunately

 

[Sly Old Fox]

There were meetings this week but nothing has been communicated to members, well those I know & myself so far. No news is good news hopefully.

So almost a year on and still no offers have been made? How much longer do you think you’ll have to wait?

Meanwhile this series of tweets from somebody who had lunch with DfT and Treasury bods makes it clear where on the priority list sorting the railways is:

https://twitter.com/southeastrailgp/status/1644041715605700608?s=46&t=MnbJYkf65sKE1B7ZXrK0Lg

Highlights from today’s lunch!! Nuneham Viaduct. Ministers are not concerned. Freight can be diverted or better go by road. Passenger services don’t even figure in their consideration.
Treasury Ministers don’t want to commit to tunnels from OOC to Euston. They feel construction if it happens, can commence after OOC becomes operational. Still thinking about cancelling HS2, EWR & NPR.
Rolling stock plan non-existant. Treasury pressing for further reductions in rolling stock even if results in fewer or shorter trains. Electrification off the table.
DfT pressing TOCs to make savings in all areas. DfT Ministers are perversely angry that Elizabeth line is such a success. Determined to resist investment in London Underground.
Ministers determined to resist meaningful investment in all modes of public transport in England except for roads.Ministers determined to resist meaningful investment in all modes of public transport in England except for roads.

So yeah, good luck with that no strings payrise.

 

[jon0844]

In a year or so, I think most people expect the Tories to be out of power for a decade at least.

They can pretend nobody cares about rail, but nobody is seriously going to put more lorries on roads (roads that are themselves falling apart more than ever due to cuts) or think that reducing train lengths and service frequency is sustainable and people won't get increasingly angry - just as they did pre-Covid when everything was about boosting capacity.

When you can be standing on a train after midnight coming out of London, there's no way ministers are going to get away with such drastic cuts.

But I get that they're going to try.

 

[Evolution]

In a year or so, I think most people expect the Tories to be out of power for a decade at least.

Agreed and what they seem to be failing to realise is all these people they’ve messed about and screwed over with regards to pay increases (teachers, NHS staff, railway workers and the rest..) won’t be voting for them, as a result they are doomed in the next election. I honestly can’t see them ever getting in again, most of their coffin dodger membership base will be dead in the next 10-20 years and it’s a fact younger people don’t align with the party at all.

They are beyond useless and would never get my vote.

Anyway, back on topic

 

[43066]

I wasn't referring to this bizarre idea of compulsory overtime. I meant a working week spread over all seven days to meet the needs of the business. While Sunday may be quiet on commuter routes it is one of the busiest days on others.

The paying passengers ( and freight) are the business.

So, to clarify, this is the same businesses that has spent years recruiting staff on contracts which specify Sundays outside, and now wants those staff to commit to working overtime on days they have never been required to work. Yet somehow you think this is all the staffs’ fault?

I suppose it’s easy to wish on others what you’ve never had to do yourself.

So almost a year on and still no offers have been made? How much longer do you think you’ll have to wait?

The point being made is that the direction of likely settlement appears to be a no strings (pathetic) 5% increase for the first year under consideration with the second year to be negotiated locally. Hence why strikes have been called off.

You have previously posted:

Thank goodness for train driving allowing me to earn a decent salary

So presumably you want some kind of settlement?

I do get the sense that when a deal is eventually reached there will be some very disappointed people on this forum.

Meanwhile this series of tweets from somebody who had lunch with DfT and Treasury bods makes it clear where on the priority list sorting the railways is:

Yes, it’s clear that the government’s main priorities are culture wars, pension increases for baby boomers and tax cuts for high earners in the city.

 

[yorksrob]

Meanwhile this series of tweets from somebody who had lunch with DfT and Treasury bods makes it clear where on the priority list sorting the railways is:

https://twitter.com/southeastrailgp/status/1644041715605700608?s=46&t=MnbJYkf65sKE1B7ZXrK0Lg

So yeah, good luck with that no strings payrise.

Waste of space the lot of them.

There needs to be a clear out of the dead wood.

 

[43066]

Waste of space the lot of them.

There needs to be a clear out of the dead wood.

Nothing too surprising there!

I’m not sure how much access a railway passenger pressure group would likely be given to senior DfT officials, however.

 

[yorksrob]

Nothing too surprising there!

I’m not sure how much access a railway passenger political group would likely be given to senior DfT officials, however.

He could well be attending in some other capacity.

 

[dk1]

So almost a year on and still no offers have been made? How much longer do you think you’ll have to wait?

Meanwhile this series of tweets from somebody who had lunch with DfT and Treasury bods makes it clear where on the priority list sorting the railways is:

https://twitter.com/southeastrailgp/status/1644041715605700608?s=46&t=MnbJYkf65sKE1B7ZXrK0Lg

No idea. How long is a piece of string?

 

[KJCross1983]

So almost a year on and still no offers have been made? How much longer do you think you’ll have to wait?

Meanwhile this series of tweets from somebody who had lunch with DfT and Treasury bods makes it clear where on the priority list sorting the railways is:

https://twitter.com/southeastrailgp/status/1644041715605700608?s=46&t=MnbJYkf65sKE1B7ZXrK0Lg

If the ministers keep pushing the DfT to keep cost down and make cuts. Maybe they need to look at their own staff wages, or even get rid of some staff within the DfT. For example the Manager Director for Passenger Service - Peter Wilkinson, who receives £300+k a year.

 

[The exile]

Agreed and what they seem to be failing to realise is all these people they’ve messed about and screwed over with regards to pay increases (teachers, NHS staff, railway workers and the rest..) won’t be voting for them, as a result they are doomed in the next election. I honestly can’t see them ever getting in again, most of their coffin dodger membership base will be dead i

I fear exactly the opposite. “We’ve got a year in which to push through all our idealogical hang-ups while hopefully screwing things up so royally that the other lot will take the blame for the long-term consequences.”

 

[12LDA28C]

So almost a year on and still no offers have been made? How much longer do you think you’ll have to wait?

Meanwhile this series of tweets from somebody who had lunch with DfT and Treasury bods makes it clear where on the priority list sorting the railways is:

https://twitter.com/southeastrailgp/status/1644041715605700608?s=46&t=MnbJYkf65sKE1B7ZXrK0Lg

So yeah, good luck with that no strings payrise.

So rail staff are expected to care about passengers when the Government clearly don't give a toss?

 

[Wyrleybart]

In a year or so, I think most people expect the Tories to be out of power for a decade at least.

They can pretend nobody cares about rail, but nobody is seriously going to put more lorries on roads (roads that are themselves falling apart more than ever due to cuts) or think that reducing train lengths and service frequency is sustainable and people won't get increasingly angry - just as they did pre-Covid when everything was about boosting capacity.

When you can be standing on a train after midnight coming out of London, there's no way ministers are going to get away with such drastic cuts.

But I get that they're going to try.

You are forgetting one little detail.
The cuts are being applied by the DfT - although with Treasury sanction. The DfT is not the government, and even if the tories do lose the next GA, which I cannot see with the current Labour leader still in charge, the DfT will still be in charge of running the railways. SoSec are the figureheads at government level, but they only appear to deliver policy. The DFT still control the purse strings.

 

[JonathanH]

For example the Manager Director for Passenger Service - Peter Wilkinson, who receives £300+k a year.

Indeed, it does have to be asked why any civil servant earns more than the prime minister.

 

[Merle Haggard]

If the ministers keep pushing the DfT to keep cost down and make cuts. Maybe they need to look at their own staff wages, or even get rid of some staff within the DfT. For example the Manager Director for Passenger Service - Peter Wilkinson, who receives £300+k a year.

I can't remember the source - possibly Private Eye - but it was alleged he lived in Switzerland and commuted (on expenses) for the working week. Children privately educated there. He was the man expressing strong negative opinions about railway staff and used the term . 'my railway' at a meeting which was filmed and leaked

 

[Peterthegreat]

I can't remember the source - possibly Private Eye - but it was alleged he lived in Switzerland and commuted (on expenses) for the working week. Children privately educated there. He was the man expressing strong negative opinions about railway staff and used the term . 'my railway' at a meeting which was filmed and leaked

I believe his family live in the Vienna area.

 

[yorksrob]

You are forgetting one little detail.
The cuts are being applied by the DfT - although with Treasury sanction. The DfT is not the government, and even if the tories do lose the next GA, which I cannot see with the current Labour leader still in charge, the DfT will still be in charge of running the railways. SoSec are the figureheads at government level, but they only appear to deliver policy. The DFT still control the purse strings.

If the wrong people are at the top of the Department/Treasury/both, a competent Government will arrange a sideways promotion to the Department of paperclips.

 

[alf]

Indeed, it does have to be asked why any civil servant earns more than the prime minister.

Beause Pete Wilkinson & other civil servants do not get the £130,000 a year tax free for life on top of their PM pensions. Even Lizz Truss gets it.

Mind you Mr Wilkinson may be recommended for the Lords & £320 daily attendance allowance by the transport minister.
Lord Wilkinson of Croydon perhaps. Isn’t that where he made his famous anti RMT comment?

 

[Tw99]

You are forgetting one little detail.
The cuts are being applied by the DfT - although with Treasury sanction. The DfT is not the government, and even if the tories do lose the next GA, which I cannot see with the current Labour leader still in charge, the DfT will still be in charge of running the railways. SoSec are the figureheads at government level, but they only appear to deliver policy. The DFT still control the purse strings.

Agreed. There's a lot of misunderstanding about how much "the government" actually does.

The civil service does most of everything in terms of administration, the government tries to influence their actions in a few places, with more or less success.

 

[trainophile]

Re. Sunday working... how would staff feel if it could be guaranteed that they would never be rostered to work both a Saturday and a Sunday? That would overcome the "family time" objection, and treat both weekend days as the same to all intents and purposes.