Newsletter: July, 2008

East London Rail Branch News Vol I, Issue 5 July 2008

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‘initial’ Liverpool street - all cleaning grade members

Chair: Glenn Wallis – 07789791224 Secretary: Ed Shine– 07940340128

0626 East London Rail Branch News

National Union of Rail, Maritime, & Transport Workers’ GENERAL SECRETARY: Bob Crow

Email: [email protected]

STAND YOUR GROUND

NEXT BRANCH MEETING: THURSDAY 21st AUGUST 2008, 1700 HOURS: The Railway Tavern Public House (Conservatory room), Angel Lane,

Stratford, London E15… CONTACT THE BRANCH SECRETARY FOR DETAILS

FIGHTING FOR RESPECT AND DIGNITY IN

THE WORKPLACE

AND A LIVING WAGE FOR ALL!

Continued next page

EAST LONDON RAIL BRANCH has recently stepped up the campaign to improve working prac-tices and conditions for all our Cleaning Grade members. This is along-side the RMT’s on going campaign for a Living Wage for all cleaners, and the Branch is par-ticularly focussing its’ en-ergies on those members employed by Initial Transport Services (ITS),

as these members, em-ployed as they are by privateering low-wage h igh-turnover sub-contractors are among the worst offenders for treating staff in a slov-enly and disrespectful fashion whilst paying a bare minimum in wages.

LETTER The Branch Secretary re-cently put a letter in to Liverpool Street ITS management following

complaints from mem-bers there that new working practices and a more aggressive man-agement culture had been introduced to our members’ detriment.

MEETING A meeting was then held b e t w e e n I T S (represented by their Lo-cal, Area, and HR man-agement), and the RMT, represented by the Branch


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Secretary, Ed Shine, and Derrick Marr of the RMT’s governing body, the Council of Executives. The RMT delegation made our position clear from the start: that we expect all members of staff to be treated hu-manely, with respect and understanding for the dif-ficult and often dirty role they perform. Likewise we expect the Company to value its’ staff in the way they claim to; but the RMT, not being satis-fied with mere words, which could be mealy-mouthed at best, de-mands immediate action by ITS to demonstrate their understanding of their duty of care. The Branch has already identified certain issues which need addressing urgently.

INTERFERENCE Local management have been interfering in the role of the Team Leader/ Supervisor, for example, when he has granted breaks, attempting to overrule him and stop the breaks. IF PEOPLE ARE TO PERFORM A ROLE THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO DO SO WITHOUT FEAR OR FAVOUR AND IN THE KNOWLEDGE THEY DO SO WITH THE BACK-ING OF THEIR MANAGE-MENT AND NOT BE UN-DERMINED.

STAFFING

Staffing levels need re-assessing as it is clear to the Branch that ITS are maintaining the bare minimum required by their contract with Net-work Rail. At the mo-ment, if a female mem-ber staff is on leave, sick, or displaced, a male member of staff is re-quired to clean both the male and female toilets. WE BELIEVE THIS IS BOTH UNETHICAL AND POTENTIALLY DANGER-OUS FOR THE STAFF CONCERNED.

OVERTIME When short-staffing oc-curs, there is currently no will amongst the man-agement to provide cover by offering overtime, with the result that those who want overtime (and need it to provide a living wage) are being denied this opportunity and those remaining on shift are having to work even harder to make up the shortfa ll. OVERTIME NEEDS TO BE OFFERED WITHIN THE DEPOT AS A FIRST RESORT TO MAIN-TAIN THE ROSTER NOT JUST WHEN IT SUITS LO-CAL MANAGEMENT.

RESPECT Staff have been shouted at and publicly humiliated in public, in front of pas-sengers and colleagues, even while going beyond the call of duty and pro-viding a high level of cus-tomer service at

the same time as doing there own jobs. THIS BRANCH SERVES NOTICE THAT THIS ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE MUST CEASE IMMEDIATELY.

HEALTH & SAFETY Staff are being encour-aged, if not forced, to carry out dangerous practices as a result of local management’s igno-rance of railway Health & Safety procedures. For example, being told that when skips or the rubbish compactor is full, that rubbish bags must still be removed even though there may not be a place to remove them to. THIS BRANCH REMINDS ALL STAFF OF THEIR LEGAL AND PROCEDURAL RIGHT TO REFUSE TO WORK ON GROUNDS OF HEALTH & SAFETY IF THEY BELIEVE THEY ARE BEING FORCED TO CARRY OUT UNSAFE WORKING PRAC-TICES.

SUCCESSES We are glad to report that some progress al-ready has been made on some of our concerns, but there is much work still to be done. The RMT will continue this cam-paign until ITS bows to the will of its’ staff!



ALL CLEANERS


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The chair, Bro. Glenn Wallis (Network Rail Signaller, South Tot-tenham box) welcomed to the meeting LOROL members John Clarke (Vice Chair) and Mick Klyen (Stratford Guards), Ray Tatum, Lloyd Simpson, Somesh Sharma, Darren Melvin (all RO2), and Ar-nold Randall (Auditor), Gospel Oak RPI; from NXEA were Dave Nubley (Liverpool Street CSL3), Ron Smythe (Trustee) and Ed Shine (Branch Secretary), both Liverpool Street RPI’s. Also welcomed were guests from RMT Head Office Sis-ter Pauline Akrill (Industrial Rela-tions Officer) and Bro Derrick Marr from the Unions’ governing body, the Council of Executives). Apologies were acknowledged from Dan Rouse (Auditor), Tracey Reeve (Trustee), Janice Gill (all Liverpool Street RPI’s), and guest Brian Whitehead (acting London Transport Regional Organiser).

17th July 2008 The Railway Tavern Hotel

The minutes of the last meeting were proposed by Bro. Simpson, seconded by Bro. Melvin, carried unanimously, and agreed a true record. Arising from the minutes, it was noted the toilet facilities are not yet satisfac-tory at smaller LOROL stations (Wanstead Park etc.) The Resolution regarding Liverpool Street Gateline Safety and Staff Welfare has been referred by the General Grades Committee to the Midland Sub for further analysis. There is a lack of Team Leaders on the Gospel Oak- Barking (hereafter the ‘GOB’) line on Sundays, and as such no apparent chain of command. There was no correspondence available to present to the Branch due to techni-cal problems this month. Bro Sharma raised the question of other methods of accessing this information. Bro Wallis reminded the Branch that although spe-cific correspondence is not available, all R.M.T. Industrial Relations and Na-tional Policy circulars are available in the members’ section of the website, and Company-related Circulars can be subscribed to on email.

Bro Marr (RMT Council of Executives) reported that the Driver-Training cases of Bros Klyen and Cooper (LOROL Stratford Guards) are very different, but will still rely at this point on the Individual Grievance Procedure as we have no reason to be able to put our faith in local man-agement that their issues will be re-solved at a local or even H.R. level.

LOROL Management is disputing the Job Description, and the role, of Metro Revenue Assistants. This position was created by Silver-link Trains without RMT negotiation, as a ‘cheaper option’ compared to RPI’s; now the Company claim they have been TUPE’d into LOROL as RPI’s. Their Job Description is still that of MRA’s however; the company seem to want to change them at will.


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Bro Wallis confirmed he had spoken to the Acting London Transport Regional Organ-izer, Bro. Brian Whitehead, who had said he believed the election of Local Rep’s on the Gospel Oak- Barking line was already happening and that the LOROL manager concerned, Richard Garland was setting it up. But the advert for this has not gone to all locations, and as such is unusable as not every member has received one- it seems to be organized on a word-of-mouth basis. The Chair also noted that the staff side meeting this Branch requested be or-ganized some months ago (for relevant Branch Chairs, Secretaries, and Rep’s) still

has not happened. The Secretary suggested merely co-opting the

lot of them, and present the management with a fait accompli. The Chair suggested a similar strategy for Health & Safety Rep’s. Bro Randall reminded the Branch that we have encountered problems with this before- and that we should remember that not only should our nominees actu-ally be in the RMT, but also in benefit. Bro Ray Tatum was elected Health & Safety Rep for the GOB line. (Proposed- Bro Simpson, Seconded- Bro Randall) Bro Lloyd Simpson was elected to be co-opted as Local Stage 1 Rep for the GOB line. (Proposed- Bro Sharma, Seconded- Bro Clarke)



Bro Randall reported that even though the old Risk Assessment on the GOB line is null and void, the new one has not as yet hap-pened. The first joint examination of the line will take place on or after the 23rd July 2008 following the Com-pany Council meeting. As such, there is at this point in time, no safety case for the staffing of these stations. Yet there have been severe as-saults on this line, most recently at Walthamstow Queen’s Road. The Branch noted the FIVE (four fatal) stabbings that occurred in London earlier in the day of the meeting, and condemn LOROL utterly for their arrogant compla-cency. Bro Randall demanded that the Branch, and therefore this Union at all levels, put the utmost pres-sure on LOROL management over the issue of lone working on these stations in the current cli-mate. The Branch pledged its’ support, and it was noted that the safety-wear resolution pre-sented at the meeting applied to all rail companies as well as all Grades.

On the on-going issue on Manguard Agency staff, it was reported that LOROL are apparently now training them in booking-office duties, and since this re-neges on all previous promises, the company do not appear to be taking our concerns seriously; as such the moment they post one such of those staff in a booking-office, we will be in dispute.


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The vacancy lists are less

than useful as they do not

show the advertised pay- only

the Grade; but no pay scales

seem to exist (or at least, have

ever been seen even by staff

of many years’ service), and

H.R. are resisting requests to

see them. Sister Akrill pointed out that

negotiated pay scales are

available in the members area

of the RMT website, or by

phoning the Helpline.

It was reported General Purpose Re-lief Staff are not being paid their GPR allowances and back payments (since 11th November 2007 when LOROL took over the franchise). Likewise, new starters (post- 22nd November 2007) who have finished their proba-tionary periods have still not received their travel facilities, pay rise, or even a formal letter of acknowledg-ment. The Secretary pointed out that a Form ET1 can be taken out at any time if no Written Statement of Par-ticulars of Employment (contract) is received. Staff have received their Duty/ Residential/ Leisure ‘Oyster’ cards but are still awaiting Priv cards; these, unlike FIP cards for In-ternational travel (which must be ap-plied for) should be distributed auto-matically.

A member of staff at Walthamstow Queen’s Road station was recently very badly assaulted. Bro Marr ex-plained the procedure for members to follow in such an event: At least six weeks off would normally be required for recovery, including at least two doctors’ visits, and possibly even counseling. A minimum payment of £100 could be won from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board. Too of-ten staff get assaulted and injured and return to work too early- even on light duties, and sometimes don’t even inform the RMT until it’s too late. Members should also be aware that Welfare Visits can tend towards coercion to return to work- attempts by the Company to ‘nudge’ you back to work should be resisted. There is no harm in having a Union Rep in at-tendance during a welfare visit, and no requirement at all that the man-agers are allowed house entry.

The Key Performance Indicator (KPI- a pre-requisite of the fran-chise agreement) has signed staff up to something which was never negotiated or discussed. It was questioned whether this put mem-bers in breach of their Job Descrip-tions; and although some staff are effectively- but unofficially working to rule- too many are willing to do anything asked of them without question. RPI KPI checks involve ticket issuing facilities, ‘Oyster’ readers etc; platform staff’s involve checking CCTV cameras/ tapes. Station staff also experience prob-lems when they are moved to an-other station to work (e.g., on overtime) where they do not have acknowledge of the equipment in place. Bro Wallis queried how these sta-tions were unmanned for several years without CCTV being checked and maintained but this has to be done now.




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From: Mark Burgess-Lawrence [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: 16 July 2008 16:43 To: Charlie Cicirello Cc: 'Mark Burgess-Lawrence'; RPITeam Bishops Stortford Station; RPITeam Enfield Town Station; RPITeam Chingford Station; RPITeam Liverpool Street Station; 'East London Rail'; [email protected] Subject: Re: DDM's Charlie 1) I fail to see why this should concern you! 2) What has Peter Dobbin got to do with it? 3) Since when has a manager been required to explain to his staff his actions. 4) I would remind you that I am not required to explain anything to you. 5) If I as a manager I give a reasonable instruction then I fully expect my staff to comply. Regards Mark Burgess-Lawrence Area Revenue Protection Manager (West) National Express East Anglia Liverpool Street Station Telephone/fax 020 7465 9047 Mobile 07825 431753 Internal 0059047

A possibly regular column, depending on how many ag-gressive and offensive emails (such as this one) and diktats are (attempted) to be imposed on Liverpool Street RPI’s...

Bro Steve Campen was elected Liverpool Street Health & Safety Rep (for Retail Grades managed by the London Terminals Manager) (Proposed- Branch Secretary, Seconded- Bro Nubley)

Bro Nubley updated the Branch on the case of Bro. Waller (Liverpool Street platforms) which the Company is attempting to stall over the issue of Risk As-sessments and Job Appraisal.

‘This Branch calls upon the Council of Ex-ecutives to instruct the General Secretary to convene an urgent meeting of the LOROL Company Council, Staff-Side Rep’s, and relevant Branch Chairs and Secretaries of Branches with LOROL members, to dis-cuss organization and representation with the Company.’ (Proposed- Branch Chair, Seconded- Branch Secre-tary)

‘East London Rail Branch demands imme-diate acquisition of ‘anti-stab’ protective working clothing for those Grades that re-quire it for our LOROL and LER members, and that the General Secretary informs this Branch’s employing companies that failure to resolve this request to our imme-diate satisfaction will be automatically con-sidered a dispute situation on the grounds of Health and Safety and that our mem-bers will assert their rights to choose to refuse to work in these conditions.’ (Proposed- Branch Secretary, Seconded- Bro Nubley)


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The Company is not filling vacancies on the ATG Barrier roster but re-employing Agency Staff after prom-ises to the contrary. This reduces

overtime opportunities for employed staff. Both platform and ATG staff have to permanently cover vacancies. They are not recruiting and are reverting to the same situation we were fighting against a couple of months ago. Even when annual Leave is being granted, jobs are re-maining uncovered. It has been claimed that this is due to the budget being expended on Agency staff leaving too little left for overtime pay-ments. The Secretary stated he believed it was a principle of both this Union and (in theory) the Company that overtime is offered within the depot first, not treating an Agency as first port of call. Bro Nubley informed the Branch that an LDC would be tasking place in the ‘near future’; and Bro Wallis reminded the Branch that a Rep can call a LDC at any time, and failure to respond on behalf of the Company would result in an automatic Failure to Agree.

The Secretary informed the Branch that, as a continuation of these points, there was a sever lack of transparency in promotion in both Re-tail and Revenue Protection departments- within the latter, for exam-ple- the creation of ‘Prosecution Officer’ grades, so-called ‘Senior Team Leaders” (both East and West Areas), and some sort of management post (of unknown title) to oversee the use of Meteor Agency staff cur-rently filled by an RPI. Likewise, the use of Meteor is enabling Revenue Protection management to conceal the current decimation of Liverpool Street depot; they are filling minuted posts and performing nearly all RPO duties. None of these positions were advertised; they appear to have been created to provide jobs for suitable faces, and either way were never negotiated with this Union. This denies staff the promotion rights they are due, parity of esteem amongst grades, and is discrimi-natory. There is also a member of platform staff, currently temporarily down-graded to the Gateline who has been promised the opportunity to move back to platforms when a post is advertised; however the Secre-tary is aware of another member of Gateline staff who has now started work on the platforms there without the position being advertised; which is an outrageous situation.

The Chairman commented that since these are minuted posts, then the Company is in breach of PTR&R and this should be dealt with at Company Council level. Bro Wallis also recom-mended a Branch Resolution that Revenue and Retail Company Council vigorously pursue this matter, failing which, these staff should be balloted: TO BE CONSIDERED NEXT MEETING.


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News & Politics

Newsletter: July, 2008