EWS (English Welsh & Scottish Railway Ltd) - Industrial Relations
RMT Circular No. IR. 188/05
28th April 2005
I regret that to date, the anticipated meetings on a new partnership agreement as well as this year's pay and conditions claim have not taken place. You will recall that it was hoped that these discussions would have been held earlier this month, but management were unavailable.
I fully appreciate the urgency of the situation, and I am fully confident that the talks will take place in early May. However, some other pressing issues have come to light as a result of negotiations with other trade unions.
I am informed that AMICUS have reached some kind of deal on behalf of Engineering Staff which is to be put to a ballot of their members. I am not in possession of the full details but am given to understand that as part of this year?s pay settlement, Engineering Staff would be expected to accept a restructuring package broadly similar to that rejected by members some two years ago.
As I said, I have not seen full details of the deal, but I can?t imagine it is one that Engineering Staff would consider to be particularly favourable. Whatever the case, any agreement reached with AMICUS will not in my view be binding on RMT members unless they opt for it on an individual basis. I will be making this quite clear to all parties in the event that any agreement is reached. Despite the nonsense that has prevailed for some time, RMT continues to be a recognised Trade Union for both Groundstaff and Engineering Staff on EWS.
I have also received reports that ASLEF have reached a position with the company for a no-strings pay increase in excess of 4%. Again, I do not have any precise details other than that ASLEF are also putting this offer to a referendum ballot of their members. This of course is their prerogative, but I would like to make one other thing abundantly clear.
As I said, RMT has joint recognition rights for Engineering Staff and sole recognition rights for Groundstaff. Consequently, we expect our members to be treated no less favourably than other sections of the workforce. All staff have been subject to restructuring over the last few years and it is a shame that some staff might be expected give even more productivity in exchange for a basic pay increase when others don?t. This is not a situation that this Trade Union will tolerate.
I will report further as soon as I am able.
Yours sincerely
Bob Crow
GENERAL SECRETARY