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march2018.qxp RMT 15/03/2018 16:43 Page 1ISSUE NUMBER 2, VOLUME 21MARCH 2018Essential reading for today’s transport workerA CHARTERFOR WOMENINSIDE THIS ISSUEGUARDS STRIKESOS IN ABERDEENPAGE 4PAGE 10DEFEND TICKETOFFICESPAGE 12UNITY IN DIVERSITYPAGE 22www.rmt.org.uk
march2018.qxp RMT 15/03/2018 16:43 Page 2RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: march 2018 ::RMTnewsWORKING FOR YOURMT membership helps you at work and saves you moneyRMT has developed a number of benefits to save members money. This includesnegotiating access to savings and special offers from our approved partners.COLLECTIVE BARGAININGThe union has a dedicatedteam of elected officers andlocal reps to serve yourinterests negotiating withemployers on issues from pay,hours of work, pensions andworking conditions. They aresupported by a team ofresearchers to formulate payclaims to obtain the bestnegotiated terms for you.CAMPAIGNINGThe union has a political fundto run campaigns and providea political voice to benefitmembers’ interests in theworkplace. RMT has a veryactive parliamentary groupwhich raises issues of concernfor members at Westminster,the Scottish Parliament andWelsh Assembly.PERSONAL INJURIESPersonal injury claims cover ifyou suffer an accident in workor outside work. RMTunderwrites settlements thatwould not be provided by nowin, no-fee companies. Call08457 125 495.INDUSTRIAL DISEASESMembers who have sufferedan industrial disease willreceive free legal support tomake a claim. Such claims areunderwritten by the union andmembers will not have anydeduction from theirsettlement unlike claims runby no-win, no-fee companies.Call 08457 125 495EMPLOYMENT TRIBUNALSShould a member findthemselves unfairly dismissed,discriminated against or haveany claim which hasreasonable prospects of2success at an EmploymentTribunal, RMT will providelegal representation and paythe fee. Even if the union isadvised that the claim isunlikely to succeed, memberswho make a claim are eligibleto receive free legal advice.ACCIDENT BENEFITPayable if you have anaccident at work or on theway to or from work. Accidentbenefit is only payable if youhave been off for three days ormore.Accident must be reported tobranch secretary within 26weeks in order to qualify foraccident benefit.RETIREMENT BENEFITPayable to any member whoretires over the age of 60 oraged 55 if retired throughredundancy or resettlement. Illhealth retirement is alsopayable; proof of this must besent with application forretirement benefit.TAX AND WILLPREPARATIONThe union can provide apersonal taxation service andwill preparation service.DEMOTION COMPENSATIONPayable to any member whois experiencing loss of wagesthrough being permanentlydemoted or downgraded as aresult of illness or injury.Payment of 300 providedthat member reports this tobranch secretary within 12weeks.ORPHAN FUNDThe beneficiaries of this fundwould be any child of amember or spouse if themember dies in service or if amembers’ spouse dies andthe member has responsibilityof the children.Benefit is paid while a child isin full-time education up untilthe age of 22. Payment ismade quarterly and the rate is 12.00 per week for childrenup to the age of 16, then 12.75 per week from 16 to 22.RMT CREDIT UNIONAccessible savings andaffordable loans from RMT’sCredit union.www.rmt.org.uk/about/creditunionONLINE SHOPPINGDISCOUNTSShop online withRMTrewards.com and earncashback savings fromhundreds of retailers, like B&Q,Argos and Tesco. It’s free tojoin, plus you’ll get a FREE 10 Welcome Bonus in youronline account! (Terms andconditions apply)www.rmtrewards.comFINES POOLif you drive a company vehicleas part of your job you canjoin the RMT fines pool for 7per year. The Fines Pool willreimburse members for anyspeeding fines, related courtcosts and lost time to attend acourt REAVEMENT BENEFITA Death Grant of 600 ispayable to the nearest relativeor legal representative if amember dies through anycause prior to retirement.CASHBACK PREPAID CARDFancy cashback on youreveryday shopping? Use yourRMT Prepaid Plus Cashbackcard at over 50 partnerretailers, including Sainsbury’s,ASDA and Boots, and earnunlimited cashback! It’sdifferent to a credit or debitcard - you can only spendwhat you load so there’s lesschance of getting carried away.www.rmtprepaid.comFREE 5,000 ACCIDENTALDEATH COVERAs a benefit of your RMTmembership you can registerfor 5,000 Free AccidentalDeath Cover. Cover is for UKresidents aged 18-69.12 months free cover. Annuallyrenewable and always FREE.The Cover is underwritten byAdvent Insurance PCC Ltd –UIB Cell.www.rmtprotect.comHOME INSURANCEGet a 50 Love2Shop Rewardwhen you buy a UIA Home &Contents insurance online.www.uia.co.uk/rmtRMT DRIVERisk Free Car Purchasing forRMT Memberswww.rmtCAR.oco.ukHEALTH CASH PLANFor a small monthly premiumyou can claim cash-back ondental, optical and therapytreatments. Visitwww.bhsf.co.ukJoin RMT by visitingwww.rmt.org.uk
march2018.qxp RMT 15/03/2018 16:43 Page 3RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: march 2018 ::contentsEDITORIALFORGINGAHEADPage 4SOLID GAURD STRIKE ACTIONPage 6CASH FROM CHAOSPage 7TUBE CLEANERS FIGHT FOR WORKPLACEJUSTICEPage 8NATIONALISE EAST COASTPage 9PARLIAMENTARY COLUMNPage 10SOS2020 IN ABERDEENPages 11RFA CONTRACTS SIGNEDPage 12DEFEND TICKET OFFICESPage 14DEALING WITH MENTAL HEALTH AT WORKPage 16DEALING WITH NEW TECHNOLOGYPage 20RMT WOMEN MEETPage 22UNITY IN DIVERSITYPage 24LETTERSPages 25PRESIDENT’S COLUMNPage 26BOOK REVIEWPage 27STOOD OFF ARRANGEMENTSPage 29AWARDS/LETTERSPage 30LETTERS/CROSSWORDRMT News is compiled and originated by National Union of Rail, Maritime &Transport Workers, Unity House, 39 Chalton Street, London NW1 1JD. Tel:020 7387 4771. Fax: 020 7529 8808. e-mail bdenny@rmt.org.uk Theinformation contained in this publication is believed to be correct but cannotbe guaranteed. All rights reserved. RMT News is designed by BighandCreative and printed by Leycol Printers. General editor: Mick Cash.Managing editor: Brian Denny. No part of this document may be reproducedwithout prior written approval of RMT. No liability is accepted for any errorsor omissions. Copyright RMT 2016RMTnewsRMT is proud to produce twoimportant new publicationsthis month, the updatedWomen’s Charter and a fantasticnew pamphlet marking the 25thanniversary of the Black andEthnic Minority MembersAdvisory Committee. Both are areal measure of the strides thatRMT is making as a progressive,inclusive and forward-lookingorganisation.Over the past few weeks wehave seen some shockingweather, the union hasdemanded that governmentministers who have been quickto get in front of a TV camerapay tribute to the real heroes, thethousands of transport workerswho battled in atrociousconditions to keep Britainmoving.Those with power chose toignore the RMT guard memberwho put in what amounted to a22 hour shift on the train stuckovernight in the New Forest,working to keep passengers calmand safe in the most difficultcircumstances, or the guard whosafely evacuated a train that raninto a snow drift in Cumbria. Wedidn’t hear anything from ChrisGrayling about theirextraordinary professionalismand commitment.You may also have read aboutthe guard who stepped in athuge personal risk to stop aknife and acid attack on SouthWestern Railways. These are thevery people who the greedy traincompanies want to throw off ourtrains. As we say, heroes oneday, axed the next. That fightfor a railway safe and accessiblefor all continues as theMerseyrail and Northern disputesreach their first anniversary andour Southern members mark twoyears in the public eye, battlingto put public safety beforeprivate profit.The East Coast scandalcontinues to rumble on with thelatest suggestion thatVirgin/Stagecoach are in theframe to carry on despite drivingthe operation to the edge ofbankruptcy, that would be areward for failure on an epicscale. RMT continues to push thecase for public ownership as theonly solution that would end theracketeering of the spivs andspeculators and offer stabilityinto the future for bothpassengers and staff alike.In the shipping sector, theunion has stepped up theSOS2020 campaign since thestart of the year with majordemonstrations and meetingssetting out the case for publicownership of Northlink inScotland, a fair deal andworkplace justice for seafarersand offshore workers and an endto the pay scandal on CondorFerries.Another new and timelypublication covering Stood OffArrangements on Network Railalso is out and comes just as thatlong-standing agreement iscoming under threat, a threatthat the union has pledged tofight.I hope that as many of you aspossible with be able to join usin London on Wednesday theApril 25 for the national protestagainst driver-only operationand in defence of the principle ofsafe and accessible railways forall.When you have finished with this magazine give it to aworkmate who is not in your union.3
march2018.qxp RMT 15/03/2018 16:43 Page 4RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: march 2018 ::RMTnewsSOLID GUARD STRIKE ACTIONGuards working on four train operatingcompanies take strike action in defence of safetyRMT members took strike actionthis month in separate disputeswith train operating companiesacross the country over attackson the role of the guard and theextension of driver-onlyoperation.Members took action onNorthern, Merseyrail, SouthWestern Railway and onSouthern Rail, which has now4been running for two years oneof Britain's longest-runningindustrial disputes with 40 daysof strike action.The campaign against DOOon Greater Anglia was alsocontinuing.RMT general secretary MickCash said that the determinationof members on Southern to putpublic safety before privatesprofit over the past two yearswas a credit to the trade unionmovement." We are now receivingregular reports of trains runningwithout a guard or OBS onboard on Southern Rail and ofdisabled passengers beingdenied support and access andthe routine safety of passengersbeing compromised,” he said.Instead of seeking a solutionto the disputes, transportsecretary Chris Grayling thankedthe private train companies fortheir actions during the recentadverse weather, the samecompanies who are set to scoopa bail-out jackpot from thepublic purse as they arecompensated for any loss ofincome under the railfranchising racket.“Mr Grayling has of coursesaid nothing about the guardwho put in a 22 hour shift,calming and dealing with theappalling situation on the trainthat was stuck overnightbetween Sway and New Miltonin the New Forest or the guardwho evacuated a train that raninto a snowdrift in Cumbria.“Those guards were thecommunications point in thosehorrific circumstances, not thecompany bosses and the RailDelivery Group Mr Grayling isbuttering up who were, ofcourse, well insulated from thatharsh reality.“Chris Grayling is happy toheap praise on the private traincompanies and theirshareholders but he could notgive a damn about the frontline guards out there at thesharp end that he is activelyencouraging the train operatorsto axe,” he said.Protestors also lobbied the
march2018.qxp RMT 15/03/2018 16:43 Page 5RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: march 2018 ::German Embassy in London onthe first anniversary of Northernmembers striking to save therole of the safety critical role ofa guard, handing over a letter tothe ambassador about thedispute.RMT is demanding that theGerman state end theirprofiteering railways herethrough its rail operation Arriva,which runs the Northern Railfranchise, and is helping to drivethe moves to axe guards on theservice.Mick Cash said that it was anational scandal that overseasowned rail companies areexploiting Britain’s railways fortheir own gain and aresacrificing passenger safety inthe name of profits.Regarding the Merseyraildispute, Mick Cash said that ithad also been needlesslydragged on for a year now dueto the fact that it hasn’t cost theemployer a single penny piece.“Liverpool City Regioncouncil tax payers are having tosecretly repay Merseyrail all oftheir losses and costs of the yearlong strike in a public bail outof epic proportions.“Local people are paying tofinance a potentially lethalpolicy that they have made itclear they don't support."The vast majority of LabourRMTnewscouncillors have not even beentold by the senior councilleaders that their localauthorities are bankrolling thisprivate, cash rich train company.“It is an absolute scandal thatjust as councillors are agonisingover budget cuts; all six localauthorities are exposed to anunknown amount of liabilitysimply in order to write theMerseyrail bosses a blankcheque,” he said.RAIL GOURMETDISMISSAL FIGHTRMT members working forRail Gourmet in Manchestertook strike action earlier thismonth in defence of sackedworkmate and union rep NateAndrews.RMT general secretary MickCash said that the unionbelieved that Nate Andrews hadbeen unfairly dismissed as aresult of undertaking tradeunion duties and trying todefend and improve the termsand conditions of members.“I am appalled by the actionsof Rail Gourmet which are adirect attack on the union’sright to organise and protect theworkforce,” he said.5
march2018.qxp RMT 15/03/2018 16:43 Page 6RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: march 2018 ::RMTnewsCASHFROMCHAOSRMT slams rail privateers for having a‘one way ticket to the bank’ for cancellingtrains during bad weatherRMT is demanding to knowhow much Britain's privaterail operators have extractedfrom the taxpayer during theadverse weather earlier thismonth as they continue to milkBritain's rigged rail franchisingsystem at the public’s expense.Under the privatised systemset up by the Tories the railoperators carry no riskthemselves and can fill theirboots with Schedule 8payments dished out by thepublicly-owned Network Rail underwritten by the taxpayer.Recent figures show thatoperators received 181 million6from Network Rail in the lastfinancial year but only paid 74 million doe passengers thatfaced delays of over 30minutes.RMT general secretary MickCash said that the union wasaware that the financialprojections of the privateoperators factor these publiclyfunded payments into theirbusiness models as they knowit's a one way ticket to thebank.“Passengers end up payingtwice- once for tickets, then astaxpayers subsidising thesecompanies.“RMT has long held the viewthat the private traincompanies, most of which areowned by overseas stateoperators, can effectively makemore money by not runningtrains under the bent andtwisted franchise system."RMT is demanding to knowhow much the taxpayer hasshovelled into the pockets ofthe private train companiesduring the adverse weather overthe past week under our rottenrail franchising system."The whole racket on ourrailways was rigged from theoff by the Tories so that theprofits are privatised and therisks are carried by the public.“It's a scandal that has led toa bail out culture on ourrailways which is beingexploited by the train operatorswhile passengers are freezing inluggage racks on broken downtrains."RMT will be raising thisissue with the unions'parliamentary group and we aredemanding answers and not theusual hot air we have come toexpect from Transport SecretaryChris Grayling and thisgovernment," he said.
march2018.qxp RMT 15/03/2018 16:43 Page 7RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: march 2018 ::RMTnewsTUBE CLEANERSFIGHT FORWORKPLACE JUSTICERMT members and theirsupporters protested inLondon last month against thetreatment by outsourcingcompanies - especially newmega contractor ABM - ofcleaners across the Londontransport network.The protests outside City Halland ABM headquarters namedand shamed the peopleresponsible for the poortreatment of cleaners and calledfor a change.RMT is demanding thatcleaners be directly employed byTfL and that they, like theircolleagues, receive free travel,decent sick pay and improvedwages reflecting the often anti-social hours which they work.RMT general secretary MickCash said that cleaners were anintegral part of the transportteam in London and it wasdisgusting that they are beingtreated like second class citizensby these outsourcing companies.“These workers deserveworkplace justice and that canbest be achieved by bringingtheir functions directly in-house.“The London Mayor needs toact now as ABM is already busyripping up the sick pay policy ofworkers who transferred to itfrom outsourcing company“Vinci”,” he said.Activists from more than 60unions in around 40 countriesalso rallied to City Hall on thesame day to discuss the Mayorof London's approach of'productive engagement' withtrade unions.Public transport workers andactivists from around the worldwere in London as part of theInternational Transport Workers'Federation (ITF) urban transportcommittee who are building theITF's Our Public Transportprogramme.Our Public Transport isactively campaigning in dozensof countries for public transportbased on public ownership,public investment, secure jobsand union rights for workers inpublic and private employers.Speakers at the eventincluded RMT general secretaryMick Cash and Val Shawcross,deputy mayor of London.ITF general secretary SteveCotton said that due to strongurbanisation and a key role infighting climate change, publictransport was growing, andwould continue to growconsiderably in the years tocome."We must ensure that thishappens in a way that serves theinterests of workers as well asthe users and society at large.“That can only happen if weare able to keep, or bring back,public transport underdemocratic control,” he said.7
march2018.qxp RMT 15/03/2018 16:43 Page 8RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: march 2018 ::RMTnewsNATIONALISEEAST COASTRMT reveals Tories smashed up publicsector fall-back optionRMT has accused thegovernment of an “act ofmindless industrial vandalism”after it was revealed that thepublic sector rail franchise failsafe option, Directly OperatedRailways, was broken up andoutsourced to a consortium ofconsultants and private sectoroutfits in 2015 after itsuccessfully rescued the EastCoast Mainline from its lastprivate collapse in 2009.RMT said that those actionshave compounded the shamblesthat Transport Secretary ChrisGrayling has already created onthe ECML – leaving him withoutthe fall-back of a publicly-8owned provider of last resort.Up until 2015, DOR, a publicoperation, had shadowed privaterail franchises and was onstandby to pick up the piecesand keep the trains running inthe event of a train operatingcompany failing.That is exactly what DOR didwith huge success when itstepped up to the plate afterNational Express threw back thekeys on the East Coast routes in2009.When the East CoastMainline was re-privatised in2015, ushering in the disastrousVirgin/Stagecoach operationwhich now stands on the brinkof collapse, out of pureideological spite the Torygovernment killed off DOR andoutsourced its functions to apartnership of privateaccountants and managementconsultants Arup Group, Ernst &Young and SNC Lavalin Rail &Transit.RMT general secretary MickCash said that the ToryGovernment had smashed upand outsourced the publiclyowned provider of last resort,Directly Operated Railways, outof sheer spite and that act ofmindless industrial vandalismhas now come back to hauntthem.“DOR was shut down, brokenup and outsourced in 2015simply because it had proved inthe six years it controlled theEast Coast routes that it couldrun a railway better than thespivs and speculators from theprivate sector.“It is now imperative toavoid total chaos that theGovernment re-establish apublicly owned and controlledoperation to take back controlof the East Coast Main Line ona per
ASDA and Boots, and earn unlimited cashback! It's different to a credit or debit card - you can only spend what you load so there's less chance of getting carried away. www.rmtprepaid.com FREE 5,000 ACCIDENTAL DEATH COVER As a benefit of your RMT membership you can register for 5,000 Free Accidental Death Cover. Cover is for UK .
