The members of staff directly affected by the latest job cuts are all management grades. In 2004 Wessex signed a 'single-union recognition agreement' for management grades with the Transport Salaried Staff Association (TSSA). Wessex Trains continues to refuse formally to recognise RMT's legitimate right to represent our many members in management grades.

Of the staff currently threatened by redundancy two are RMT members - one of whom has opted to accept the redundancy package on offer.

RMT does not ever accept the right of other unions to negotiate on behalf of our members.

TSSA has been silent throughout this process. Wessex claim they carried out consultation with TSSA, but can produce no documentation. When pressed by RMT they admitted it had been done "in a telephone conversation" with the TSSA full-time Officer! What next? Pay talks by CCTV? Disciplinary interviews via mobile phone? If TSSA members are prepared to accept this shoddy disregard of procedure, RMT is not. Our agreement states clearly that changes in the workforce must be discussed with the appropriate Sectional Council, and criteria for selection agreed at that level. If we let this go, then all agreements are at risk. At this crucial time of re-franchising, it is in all our interests to defend our redundancy agreement.

No Compulsory Redundancies:
RMT General Secretary, Bob Crow has written to Wessex Trains seeking an assurance of "no compulsory redundancies and that the full Promotion, Transfer, Redundancy & Resettlement (PT&R) Arrangements will be applied throughout this process". RMT Sectional Council Representative Glen Burrows has represented our remaining member Suzanne Hughes, insisting Wessex offer suitable alternative employment, as per the PT&R. Suzanne has worked for the Company (in its various forms) for 16 years.

An alternative job had already been offered to our member in March, as part of a "family-friendly" arrangement. This was silently withdrawn in April, without consultation, although it was not on the list of redundant posts. An Assistant Ticket Examiner vacancy was not shown on their vacancy list. When the RMT representative enquired about this, she was told the post had been "frozen". Again without consultation! This matter has now been referred to the Wessex Guards? Sectional Council.

Ideas for cost-saving:
If Wessex Trains need ideas to save a few thousand £s, we've got some. Management bonuses, for a start. The uniform fiasco must have cost a few bob, and sponsoring the weather has made us a laughing stock, when you consider jokes about the "wrong kind of rain"! Why aren't top earners and major shareholders asked to make sacrifices? In 2004 National Express Group chief executive, Phil White, joined the corporate millionaires' club with a 38% pay rise taking his remuneration to £1.04m. Despite a fall in profits he was awarded a performance bonus of £330,000. RMT believes the people who do the real work for the Company shouldn't have to pay the price for financial cock-ups.

The current redundancy notices expire on 5th August. A full Staff Side meeting will take place on 6th June. If Wessex Trains fail to come up with an acceptable offer by then, RMT will go to our members to ask them what action they are prepared to take.

RMT WESSEX COMPANY COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES
RMT South West Regional Office Tel. 0117 925 5018)