Bogus information is being circulated to Traincrew Staff claiming that RMT has been party to negotiations for a new Traincrew productivity deal and has given its agreement to a proposal document which is being put to a vote of ASLEF members.

This proposal document, if accepted by ASLEF members, will have serious implications for Groundstaff and Engineering Staff members. Many, many more jobs will go in both grades to finance this deal. RMT believes it will also create an untenable and overburdened working environment for Train Drivers at the expense of other workmates' jobs.

RMT has not been party to the said negotiations but naturally we have not and would not agree to the proposal document on offer for the reasons given above.

Drivers are being asked to accept the following additional duties in exchange for a £35,000 salary as the first part of a two-year deal:

· Coupling / Uncoupling of Locomotives and Vehicles

· Operation of Hand-Points

· TOPS Reporting / Train Reporting

· Train Dispatch

· Train Preparation and Disposal including the use of SOLO Brake Testing Equipment

· Operate Remote Control Equipment

· Locomotive / Wagon Minor Repairs (eg Defective / Missing Interior / Exterior Lightbulbs, Brake Rubber Seals, Replenish Detonators, Replace Wiper Blades, Portable Fire Extinguisher, Tail / Portable Headlamps, Break Sticks)

· Enhanced Simplified Brake Continuity Test for all Vehicle/Coupling Types

· Cleaning of Locomotive Cabs and Windows

· Motor Vehicle Driving

· Replacement of Consumables on Locomotives (Sand, Fuel, Water, Coolant, Windscreen Washer Fluid, Lubricating Oil)

· Locomotive Weekly Safety Examinations. Traincrew will if required undertake a weekly safety exam in line with the relevant instructions for each Loco Class.

· Use of IT equipment as deemed appropriate by management.

RMT understands that ASLEF have put, or are about to put, this package to a vote of their EWS membership. As a consequence, RMT has written to the ASLEF General Secretary asking him to seek the sanction of his Executive Committee to postpone any such voting pending a meeting between all interested parties. RMT has also written to EWS seeking urgent talks on this as well as other urgent matters, these being the Yard Masters situation and the Procedural Agreements. Further information on this issue will follow as soon as the situation is clarified.