ssentiading trans fighting doo - rmt · a timetable for a final "implementation decision"...

FIGHTINGDOO

ISSUE NUMBER 5, VOLUME 19

Essential reading for today’s transport worker

MAY 2016

www.rmt.org.ukwww.rmmttt.ooorrrggg.uukk

INSIDETHIS

ISSUE

ARRIVA FIRE-SALETHREATPAGE 6

EU SEALS MASSRAIL PRIVATISATIONPAGE 10

TURNING THE TIDE PAGE 18

RMT 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 [email protected] 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 2016

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: may 2016 :: RMTnews

3

Conductors on Southern, part of theGoVia Thameslink Railway (GTR)

have been on strike against plans toextend Driver-Only Operation (DOO) toroutes in Surrey and Sussex.

GTR want to remove control over thedoors and the safety role of the guardsand has taken a threatening andbullying stance on this issue.

Experienced RMT officers have saidthey have never seen a railway companybehave so disgracefully towards theirstaff.

But conductors are standing firm andthey have the full support of RMT, localpoliticians of all parties as well as thewider trade union movement.

The union is also balloting membersat Scotrail in the fight to roll back DOOin the interests of safety.

RMT is also balloting station staffacross Southern GTR for industrialaction against cuts to services, jobs andstaff safety from the company’s plans toclose and downgrade ticket offices.

RMT is totally opposed to the closureor reduction in opening hours of ticketoffices, cuts in station staff jobs and theintroduction of lone working at stationsand the union will continue our fightagainst these attacks.

As we went to press the Scottishgovernment announced that the nextClyde and Hebrides ferry servicescontract has been awarded to theincumbent public sector operator,Caledonian MacBrayne.

This is a major victory for the unionand a successful defence of the principleof public ownership and operation oflifeline Scottish ferry services.

Polling has shown almost two thirdsof Scottish voters think CalMac ferryservices should remain publicly operatedand not handed over to corporate giantslike Serco.

Despite this victory for decent public

services the Tory government hashanded First Group a chance to cherry-pick open access rail services on the EastCoast in the name of profit whileignoring the public sector option onideological grounds.

The public sector was thrown off theEast Coast despite delivering bothfinancially and in service terms and nowwe have two private companies with thegreen light to whack up fares and milkthis inter-city service for every pennythey can get.

This wild-west, bandit capitalism onBritain's railways does nothing to tacklethe backlog of essential investment andmaintenance and does everything to linethe pockets of the speculators.

That is one of the reasons why thisunion is campaigning for a vote to leavethe European Union on June 23 and aleaflet from Trade Unionists Against theEU has been included with this issue ofRMT News.

The EU is nothing more than theregional arm of corporate globalisationthat demands all our public services andcontrol of the economy in general ishanded over to the world’s mostpowerful capitalist interests.

The EU is demanding theprivatisation of our ferry services andfor all rail services across the EU to behanded over to the corporate carpetbaggers that have done so much damageto the transport sector already.

RMT will be holding a day of actionalong with Trade Unionists Against theEU on June 15 across the country to getthe message out that if you want decentpublic services under democratic controlyou need to vote Leave.

Best wishes

Mick Cash

contents

When you have finished with this magazine give it to aworkmate who is not in your union. Even better, ask them tojoin RMT by filling in the application form opposite

FIGHTING DOO

Page 4 SOUTHERN STEPS UP ATTACKS ONSTAFF

Page 5 SOUTHERN BALLOT OVER JOB CUTSAND LONE WORKING

Page 6 ARRIVA FIRE-SALE THREAT

Page 7 NORTHERN RAIL VICTORY

Page 8TURNING THE TIDE

Page 9PARLIAMENTARY COLUMN

Page 10EU SEALS MASS RAIL PRIVATISATION

Page 12FIGHTING DRIVER-ONLY OPERATION

Page 14FIGHTING STATION CUTS ANDCASUALISATION

Page 16ENGINEERING SAFETY

Page 18TURNING THE TIDE

Page 20ORGANISING ROAD FREIGHT WORKERS

Page 23RESEARCH INTO SUICIDES ON THERAILWAY

Page 24RETIRED MEMBERS MEET

Page 25NO TO TTIP CD

Page 26AFTER THE BOMBINGS

Page 27PRESIDENTS COLUMN

0CROSSWORD

EDITORIAL


4

RMT switched the next strikedate for further action involvingguards on Govia ThameslinkRailways (GTR) Southern afterthe company stepped up attackson staff supporting the unioncampaign over the threat to therole of the guard and theundermining of rail safety.

Conductors on Southern tookstrike action last month againstGTR’s plan to extend DOO toroutes in Surrey and Sussex.GTR want to move mostConductors to a new ‘On BoardSupervisor’ grade, which has nocontrol over the doors, and doesnot include the safety role ofthe guard.

GTR has taken a threateningand bullying stance by takingthe company rail passes and carparking permits off Conductorsand their families andthreatened to deduct pay.

RMT switched the date in

response to the threatening andabusive stance the company hastowards members using theirbasic human right to strike.

Those threats include settinga deadline of May 20 for staffto sign up to the company plansregardless of the impact on jobs,working conditions and safety.

The union also launched afresh wave of campaigning tobuild public support for RMT’sfight with Southern over thefuture of safe staffing levels andsafe train operation.

RMT has written tothousands of councillors overGTR plans to remove allguards/conductors andintroduce Driver Only Operationon nearly all their servicesthrough Surrey, Sussex, and intoKent and Hampshire, includingthe numerous rural routes inthese counties.

Not only will this see the loss

of up to 400 decent rail jobs, ifenacted these proposals will bedetrimental for both passengerservice and safety and create amuggers paradise on theseservices.

Lib Dem councillor anddeputy mayor for Havant FaithPonsonby is the latest localpolitician to back RMT’scampaign.

“I use trains frequently totravel to Gatwick and London,and especially late at night, orin the event of an accident, theguard is a vital person to haveon board,” she wrote.

RMT general secretary MickCash said that Southern GTRshould be under no illusionsthat the union would bend tobullying and threats.

“We will be out therebuilding on the huge publicsupport we have alreadymobilised in a campaign that

pitches the demands forincreasing private profitsagainst safety on our railways.

“The company know thatthey are losing the public battleand have resorted to some ofthe dirtiest tactics seen in anindustrial struggle in Britain inmany years.

“They will not get away withthose attacks on basic humanrights.

“Southern GTR fleeces itspassengers for a fortune in faresfor unreliable and overcrowdedservices and RMT will not allowsafety to be the next thingsacrificed in the dash for fatterand fatter profits on this railfranchise.

“RMT is now looking to buildsupport from across the tradeunion movement for thisimportant fight which definesthe nature of industrial relationsin Britain in 2016,” he said.

SOUTHERN STEPS UPATTACKS ON STAFFUnion takes further action over theremoval of conductors from trains


5

Dear editor,In recent weeks I have been put underundue levels of pressure by managementof Govia Thameslink Railways, withtheir bullish attempts to threatenrepercussions for taking part in legalindustrial action.Having the employer threaten towithdraw an arbitrary amount of fundsfrom my pay should I take part in legalaction to protect my job and my ideal ofa safe railway is a burden. Management must be aware of theramifications of their frequentpamphleteering upon their workers.Management should not be running asafety-critical industry by inducing fearin its employees.The proposed changes to the role ofstation and on-board staff worry me as Iview them as another step towardsmaking the railways about the profitmargin and not about the safety of those

who travel on it. But it is not so muchthese changes that have caused mephysical distress. The manner in which we are beingthreatened, belittled and punished bythose we are supposed to have trust in,all for taking part in a legal process tokeep the railways safe, is equivalent tobullying. That there is no apparent means toredress this grievance as it is beingperformed by management who weshould be able turn to for theseproblems only adds to the struggle. On behalf of many rail staff across allgrades concerned by the actions of GTR,I hope there is justice and a resolutionto this issue.

Yours hopefully,A Conductor

RMT is balloting stationstaff across Southern GTR

for industrial action againstcompany plans to close anddowngrade ticket offices whichthreaten jobs and safety.

The union has been indiscussions with GTR over thecompany’s proposed changesto ticket office opening hoursand the introduction of stationhosts. However the removal of

ticket machines, a majorelement of the consultationhad been omitted from themain consultation document.

This is a very clear threatto services and members jobsand safety.

RMT general secretary MickCash said that both LondonTravel Watch and TransportFocus have knocked back theticket office closure plans on

GTR after RMT mobilised ahuge public campaign ofopposition.

“It now appears that notonly is GTR planning toignore the massive oppositionto their cuts but theconsultation itself wasfundamentally flawed andomitted a central aspect on thelocation of ticket machinesthat has severe consequences

for our members.“RMT is totally opposed to

the closure or reduction inopening hours of ticket offices,cuts in station staff jobs andthe introduction of loneworking at stations and theunion will continue our fightagainst these attacks on ourmember’s jobs, safety andliving standards,” he said.

RMT demanded thatScotrail roll back of the

introduction of Driver OnlyOperation after an appallingincident at Dumbarton Eastwhen a man fell between theplatform and moving trainleading to “life changing”injuries.

The incident happened on

a driver-only operated serviceat an unstaffed station and isthe latest shocking eventreinforcing union calls for theretention of the guard onScotrail trains and thestaffing of stations andplatforms.

RMT general secretaryMick Cash said that it was a

shocking incident that thatreinforces the unioncampaign to retain guards.

“It shows once again thatnot only is DOO a permanentsafety risk but that it alsoputs our drivers in animpossible situation.

“RMT awaits the outcomeof the full investigation into

the incident that is nowunderway but we want clearand immediate assurancesfrom Scotrail on the safety oftheir trains – assurances thatwe believe can only bemeaningful if they include arolling back of Driver OnlyOperation,” he said.

SOUTHERN BALLOTOVER JOB CUTS ANDLONE WORKING

ROLL BACK DOO ON SCOTRAIL

BULLYINGAT GTR


6

ARRIVA FIRE-SALE THREATAfire-sale of a sizable chunk

of Deutsche Bahn’s UKoperations has jacked up a newthreat to jobs and services, RMThas warned.

The proposed sell off of up toa 45 per cent minority stake inDeutsche Bahn's foreignacquisition arm Arriva andglobal freight logistics companyDB Schenker has now beenagreed by the DB SupervisoryBoard.

The sell-off plan impacts onall DB Schenker UK freightoperations and Arriva Railfranchises and servicesincluding Arriva Trains Wales,Chiltern Railways, CrossCountry, Grand Central, LondonOverground and Northern Rail.

RMT is warning that rail

workers in Britain employed byArriva or DB Schenker mayrapidly see their employer'sownership status transformed inover next three years.

This transformation will havedrastic consequences for railusers and workers since privateinvestors are notorious forexpecting very short termfinancial returns, often achievedthrough job and pay cuts aswell as fare rises.

The company has confirmeda timetable for a final"implementation decision" forthe part sale of Arriva DB byautumn this year.

The first tranche of shareoptions is expected to bring inabout €1.5 billion revenues in2017. For 2018, according

reports a further €2 billionproceeds of sell offs areexpected and more than €1billion again in 2019.

It is not clear who thepotential buyers would be butthe union has warned that itwill very likely to be the sameold mob of banks, hedge fundsand investors.

The proposed sell-off alsodemonstrates a fundamentalweakness of the privatisedfranchising model in that theownership, and solvency, of theparent company may changewithout the workers, theirunions, rail users or even thegovernment franchising bodyhaving any say in it.

RMT general secretary MickCash said that the looming fire

sale of a large chunk of DB’s UKrail assets to the same old gangof spivs and speculators had setthe alarm bells ringing for allArriva and DB Schenker staff.

“The deal that is being rackedup exposes the flakey andunstable nature of railfranchising that allows acompany to win a contract andthen sell off lumps of it at whatis nothing more than acorporate car-boot sale withoutany controls over who is gettinga slice of the action.

“RMT is alerting members tothese threats to counter the PRspin from the company and willrespond in robust fashion to anythreat to jobs and conditions,”he said.


7

Following rock solid strikeaction by members in the

Northern Rail customerrelations department, thecompany has agreed to securejobs for those affected.

Last year twelve memberssimultaneously faced a hugelyincreased workload and beingdowngraded by two grades.

Despite their own salariesbeing protected by P,T,R&R, themembers proceeded with the

action in defence of their futurecolleagues.

Following strike action RMTdiscovered that plans were inprogress to outsource thedepartment completely by TUPEtransferring the roles toCarillion at the point offranchise transfer instead ofthem being part of Arriva RailNorth.

This was intended to be keptsecret until the last minute but

an eagle eyed RMT memberspotted an advertisement forpositions in Sheffield withinCarillion to provide customerrelations work for Arriva RailNorth.

This extra time allowed RMTto enter successful discussionsto secure options ofredeployment in order thatmembers may continue workingwithin the train operatingcompany.

RMT general secretary MickCash said that he wished toplace on record on behalf of theentire union its recognition ofthe fortitude of these members.

“Their tireless resiliencealongside sterling work fromregional organiser MickyThompson and local rep AndyTallon has turned potentialsackings into a victory,” hesaid.

Around 1,500 Tube Linesmaintenance and engineeringstaff are being balloted for strikeaction over Night Tube pay andpensions.

The dispute is over thecompany’s refusal to discusspension issues until after theeventual launch of the NightTube operation.

There are also majorunresolved issues over NightTube staffing arrangements anda threat to undermine PRPagreements through Tube Linesrefusing to base budgets on thenegotiated levels of PerformanceRelated Pay.

The key issues at the heart ofthe dispute include the fact that

there are some importantdifferences between the LondonUnderground offer and the TubeLines offer which areunacceptable to RMT.

The wording in the LUL offerrefers to an “all-night passengerservice operation on a Fridayand Saturday night”, whereasthe Tube Lines offer refers to “a24-hour passenger serviceoperation”.

RMT Reps have soughtclarification on this point andmanagement admitted thatacceptance would mean agreeingto the principle of 24-hourrunning any night – this couldmean running more than twonights at Bank Holidays or

special events.LUL has also recruited more

staff where additional resourcesare needed but Tube Lines hassaid that all staff have to workon Night Tube and all rosterswill be changed to reflect this:“Full implementation of theSunday to Thursday rosters tosupport Night Tube Operations”.

Tube Lines came under theumbrella of TfL in 2011 andRMT reps have been demandingthat former Tube Linesemployees be given the samepension and travel rights asother LUL employees.

However Tube Lines isdemanding that a no-strikeclause be added to any

agreement. RMT general secretary Mick

Cash said that members werefurious at the cynical way thatTube Lines had attempted to tiein attacks on pensions with theoffer on Pay and Night Tube andover a thousand safety-criticalstaff had unanimously thrownthe whole package out.

“There are also majorunresolved issues over the TubeLines staffing arrangements forthe Night Tube.

“It is absolutely essential nowthat there is the earliest possibleresumption of serious andmeaningful talks on these issuesand the union is ready toengage in those talks,” he said

NORTHERN RAIL VICTORY

TUBE LINES BALLOT FOR ACTION

-


8

Earlier this month the TradeUnion Bill entered the

statute books.Despite a number of changes

the aspirations of this anti-union government toundermine trade union activityremains.

The original Bill includedprovision for the ending ofcheck off, the payment of tradeunion contributions throughthe paybill, and whilst thisparticular section was amendedto make it subject to agreementbetween the union andemployer, the very fact thatthis was being contemplated setalarm bells ringing.

This union has decided toencourage every membercurrently paying theirmembership via the wagepacket to transfer to DirectDebit subscription.

RMT is aware of thepotential threat of thewithdrawal of check-off havinghad this imposed on it in 1994by British Rail. For a time thishad a devastating effect onunion’s ability to provide a firstclass service.

Over time the union hasrecouped that position ofstrength and security of incomeand now the vast majority of

members pay theirsubscriptions directly from theirbank accounts.

Although this new threathas been put on hold, thecurrent pause gives the unionthe opportunity to remove thethreat completely. Placing thecollection of your contributionsin the hands of themanagement is no longerjustifiable or even convenient.Far more members are paiddirectly into their bankaccounts and the use of directdebit is now the norm.

There are, in fact, manypositive reasons for members toswitch to direct debit:• RMT saves money by not

having to pay employers tocollect our subscriptionsand more money can bespent on improving services

• It allows the union to be infull control of itsmembership records andemployers will no longerhave access to any part ofthat information. At presentthey know who pays bycheck-off

• It reduces the threat of legalchallenges from employersduring disputes

• It provides continuity and

HAVE YOUSWITCHED?Switch you membership payments toDirect Debit from check-off toprotect your rights to representation


“The desire to improve the lives of workingpeople is why I remain absolutely againstthe Common Market, the ultimate CapitalistClub.”

“My objection in principle to the Europeanproject is about its implementation of thefree movement of capital and labour, theundiluted capitalism at the heart of theCommon Market project. Employersundermine wages and employmentconditions, shifting production to lowestcost countries.. the movement of capitaldrags labour with it.”

“I’ve never given up the fight against acapitalist club. I’ve voted against all themajor pieces of European legislation.

“I opposed Maastricht when John Major wasthe tenant in number 10 and the Treaties ofNiece, Amsterdam and Lisbon when TonyBlair and Gordon Brown got their feetunder the table in Downing Street. I supporta referendum now and I’d vote to quit.”

Dennis Skinner MP from Sailing close tothe Wind, 2014

“I am against the Treaty of Rome whichentrenches laissez faire as its philosophyand chooses bureaucracy as itsadministrative method.”

“Britain's continuing membership of theCommunity would mean the end of Britainas a completely self-governing nation andthe end of our democratically electedParliament as the supreme law makingbody in the United Kingdom.”

“The power of electors over their law-makers has gone, the power of MPs overMinisters has gone, the role of Ministershas changed. The real case for entry hasnever been spelled out, which is that thereshould be a fully federal Europe in whichwe become a province. It hasn't beenspelled out because people would neveraccept it.”

“I am an old parliamentary hand — perhapsI have been here too long — but I wasbrought up to believe, and I still believe,that when people vote in an election theymust be entitled to know that the party forwhich they vote, if it has a majority, will beable to enact laws under which they will begoverned. That is no longer true. Any partyelected, whether it is the Conservativeparty or the Labour party can no longer sayto the electorate, "Vote for me and if I havea majority I shall pass that law", because ifthat law is contrary to Common Market law,British judges will apply Common Marketlaw.”

If democracy is destroyed in Britain it willbe not the communists, Trotskyists orsubversives but this House which threw itaway. The rights that are entrusted to usare not for us to give away…”

The Late Tony Benn, various.

BENN ANDSKINNER SAY...

9

Parliamentary columnsecurity of income for theunion and RMT no longerhas to wait for theemployer to tell it who haspaid and how much hasbeen collected

• It removes the ability ofthe employer to use thewithdrawal of check-off asa weapon against theunion

RMT general secretary MickCash said that despite thewelcome reversals in the TradeUnion Bill the union hasrecognised that the threat toits income stream remains.

“It is in our hands toremove this completely andhave started this campaignencouraging members toswitch to DD.

“Having employers playany part in collecting ourmoney is no longer necessary,”he said.

To help members switch,RMT intends to make theprocess as easy as possible andwill soon be contacting everymember involved directlyinviting them to make themove. All that will be requiredis the completion of a DirectDebit instruction form, whichwill be returned to HO forprocessing.

Members will havecomplete control over whenthe DD comes out of theiraccount. Whether it is fourweekly or monthly, thedecision on what date it willapply will be yours.

The only change you willsee is the method of payment,everything else stays the same.

The benefits of switchingare substantial to both theunion and the individualmember. It gives total controlof payment to the only peoplewho need to be involved, theindividual member and theunion. No more middle men,no need to pay them.

One simple step can foreverremove the spectre ofwithdrawing the check offfacility and keeps us in controlof our income.

The message is simpleDon’t delay, Switch today.

In anticipation of theforthcoming EUreferendum we dedicatethis edition of theParliamentary Column tosome thoughts on thesubject by twoparliamentary and Labourmovement greats- DennisSkinner MP and the lateTony Benn.


10

The European Parliament’sdecision to back the openingup of all rail routes across theEU to competition for privateoperators was just one morereason to vote Leave on June23, RMT announced.

The European Parliamentrubberstamped the ‘marketpillar’ of the EU’s FourthRailway Package which meansthat train operators must havecomplete access to thenetworks of member states tooperate domestic passengerservices.

The European Council hadalready agreed that mandatorycompetitive tendering shouldbe the main way of awarding

public service contracts.RMT general secretary Mick

Cash said that the failed Toryprivatisation of rail overtwenty years ago using EUdirective 91/440 was nowbeing imposed on over 500million people by EU diktatwithout any real mandate.

“This rail package isdesigned to privatise railwaysacross Europe and its proposalsare remarkably similar to theMcNulty report on the futureof GB railways, imposingfurther fragmentation andattacks on workers.

“McNulty, the Torygovernment and the EU sharethe business-led mania for

EU SEALS MASS RAILPRIVATISATION Union calls for Leave vote after European assemblybacks rail privatisation for all 28 member states


11

privatisation and agree on theneed to jack up fares and attackjobs, pay and pensions to payfor it, no-one has voted for that.

“It is impossible to makechanges to this privatisationjuggernaut inside theundemocratic EU so the onlysolution is to get out by votingLeave on June 23,” he said.

European Union transportministers had already endorsedthe ‘political pillar’ of thepackage last October whichforces member states’ to open updomestic rail markets for profit.

The so-called market pillarseeks to impose mandatorycompetitive tendering for rail

contracts, with limitedexceptions, and open up closeddomestic rail networks.

The agreement, which is stillsubject to approval by theEuropean Council, was madebetween the parliament and theNetherlands presidency.

The new rules demand thatrailway companies have accessto the EU domestic passengerrail market from January 1 2019“in time for the railwaytimetables starting on December14 2020”.

The European Parliamentnews service said that, whilecompetitive bidding for publicservice contracts across the EU

may be phased in gradually, itwill be compulsory.

“Competitive bidding forpublic service contracts forpassenger rail services will bethe norm,” it stipulates, a movesupported by all the politicalgroupings in the assembly.

However in Britain theLabour Party, all transportunions and two-thirds of votersall support public ownership ofa network run as a publicservice.

RMT Parliamentary groupmember Kelvin Hopkins MPwarned that the core intentionof the Fourth Railway Packagewas designed to visit the

mistakes made in Britain on therest of the EU.

“Railway privatisation in theUK was a laboratory experimentthat was designed in the EU.

“It has been an expensivefailure which continentalgovernments would be foolish toimitate.

“Separating trains from trackand privatising train companiesto set up liberalised andallegedly competitive railoperations has been massivelyexpensive to taxpayers andpassengers.

“We have the highest fares inEurope and we know all aboutthe taxpayer subsidies,” he said.

EU TRANSPORTPRIVATISATION TIMELINE 1957 European Commission

establishes plan for a commontransport market run on thebasis of “free competition” andthe “principles of the marketeconomy” as written into theTreaty of Rome.

1965 The Council of Ministersproposes a common strategy to“ensure the implementation ofthe principles of the marketeconomy” in transport.

1972 Commission brings sea transportinto the common strategy tooperate on the “principles of themarket economy”.

1983 European Round Table ofIndustrialists (ERT) lobby groupwww.ert.be draws up plans forTrans-European TransportNetworks (TENs) strategictransport corridors completewith privatised railways.

1986 Single European Act enactedincludes plans for an internalEU market for goods and atransport infrastructure (TENs)as the physical backbone of theinternal market.

1991 EC introduces rail directive91/440/EEC on July 29 1991demanding the separation ofinfrastructure undertakings andoperations, open access for

international undertakings andthe introduction of track accesscharges.

1993 Tory government privatisesBritish Rail along the lines ofthe EU directive. The RailwaysRegulation 1992 introducedunder Section 2(2) of theEuropean Communities Act1972 in order to comply withthe directive.

2001 First Railway Package demands‘liberalisation’ of EU rail freight,implemented in Britain inNovember 2005

2004 Second Railway Packagedemands open access for alltypes of rail freight services by2006 and establishes aEuropean Railway Agency tooversee implementation of EUdirectives

2007 Third Railway Package demands‘liberalisation’ of passenger railservices requiring open accessin all EU member states byJanuary 1 2010.

2009 Lisbon Treaty removes thenational veto in over 60 newareas including transport,transferring decisions toQualified Majority Voting(QMV) allowing member statesto be outvoted.

2012 First Railway Package ‘recast’ toestablish a single Europeanrailway area and outlawsmember states from using the"holding model" to manage railinfrastructure and trainoperations within the sameparent company

2013 European Commission publishesa Fourth Railway Packagewhich requires the compulsorycompetitive tendering of all railservices.

2014 Member states are divided onthe Package and when theproposals reached the EuropeanParliament MEPs madeamendments but withoutproviding the legal right torenationalise.

2015 The European Council agrees onOctober 8 that mandatorycompetitive tendering should bethe main way of awardingpublic service contracts.

2016 The European Parliamentrubberstamps the ‘market pillar’of the EU’s Fourth RailwayPackage on April 21 allowingtrain operators complete accessto the rail networks of allmember states to operatedomestic passenger services.


12

FIGHTING DRIVER-ONLY OPERATION Train crewconference vowssupport for thosefighting to keepthe guard on thetrain

Train crew and shunting gradesmet in Liverpool in militantspirit, with delegates fired up tobuild the national campaignagainst Driver Only Operation(DOO).

Billy Kimm, Liverpool No 5opened the conference on behalfof the host branch with a callfor delegates to win their fellowworkers over to fighting backagainst DOO and not acceptingit as an inevitability.

Conference president PaulHowes told delegates that theyfaced an unprecedented attackon their grade via a “merry-go-round of franchises”.

Assistant general secretarySteve Hedley said that it wouldbe an historic conference as itwould formulate a strategyagainst DOO to be put intoaction.

He outlined the situation onthe various train operatingcompanies with regard to the

attack on the guard’s grade.Steve argued that the guard’srole is essential and thatmembers need to be shaken outof complacency and into action.

“Our strategy will be one ofindustrial action combined withpolitical activity. Bob Crowsummed it up. If you fight youmight lose, but if you don’tfight, you will always lose.”Steve said.

Proof that conference wasmore than just a talking shopcame in the form of animpromptu demonstrationagainst DOO by the entireconference outside LiverpoolLime Street Station. Aftermarching through the stationthey assembled on the stepsoutside chanting “No to DOO”,an action was covered in thelocal press.

RMT president Sean Hoyletalked about the forthcomingdraconian anti-union legislation


13

designed to make it verydifficult to get a legal ballotmandate for strike action.

Arguing that it means thatwe need to build even moresupport for action in theworkplace, he said “a workerthat cannot withdraw theirlabour is nothing more than amodern slave”.

Stuart Holt, Central andNorth Mersey, called for supportfor Martin Zee, a train guard onMerseyrail, who is facingprosecution after a passengerwas seriously injured whileboarding a train while thepower operated doors wereclosing.

He told delegates that brotherMartin is now facingprosecution under section 34 ofthe offences against the PersonsAct 1861, and a charge ofendangering railway passengersby wilful omission or neglect.He faces up to two years in jailif found guilty.

“Martin Zee went to workone morning and the next thinghe was arrested.

“He faces a three day trial in

July and the union needs tosupport him, it could happen toanyone in this room,” Stuartsaid.

Jeff Slee, national executivecommittee, said that the unionhad consistently supportedMartin Zee and will support andfund his case.

Rod Traynor, Wirral, toldconference that if the trial led toa guilty verdict then “it wouldmake guard self-dispatchunworkable under current dooroperation and self-dispatchprocedures leaving guards opento prosecution for doing theirjob”.

Conference called upon theunion to write to all trainoperating companies urging theenforcement of railway byelaw10 which states that no personshould enter or leave a trainwhile automatic doors areclosing.

Steve Shaw, NEC, reported onthat meetings had taken placearound the country over the lastyear building support foropposition to DOO.

John Tilley, North West

regional organiser, tolddelegates that currently everysingle station is staffed andevery train has a guard onMerseyrail.

The campaign against theintroduction of DOO locallymeant that 78 per cent ofpassengers are opposed toremoval of the guard.

Craig Johnston, reliefregional organiser (north),argued that RMT can win thecampaign against DOOnationally. “We can win becausewe are right, we are thecustodians of rail safety,” hesaid.

Guest speaker Colin Smith,ASLEF north-west and north-Wales regional organiser,received a warm welcome as hespoke in the wake of the recentaction of an ASLEF driver whorefused to support the extensionof DOO by not opening thedoors on a new larger 12 doorGatwick Express train.

He reaffirmed that ASLEFwas opposed to any extensionof DOO.

“We need to tell the public

that this is safety before profit,we can win this fight,” he said.

Darren Pilling, Liverpool No5, outlined the role of the railand transport unions in thedevelopment of the city.

Speaking about the historic1911 Liverpool transport strike,he explained how it had setdown the future of labourrelations in the city for morethan a century. Relating theconditions that trade unionistsstruggled in back then, to thestruggles of today he imploreddelegates to “remember thegiants on whose shoulders westand”.

Conference unanimouslyagreed that the union shouldwrite to all train operatingcompanies setting out theposition of opposing theextension of DOO anddemanding a safety criticalguard on all trains. Companiesthat intend to plough aheadwith DOO will find themselvesin dispute with RMT.

Next year’s Traincrew andShunters conference will be heldin Nottingham.

President Sean Hoyle unveils the new Liverpool banner

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: may 2016

14

FIGHTING STATIONCUTS AND

CASUALISATIONStation staff gradesconference vows to

fight attacks onplatform, ticket and

cleaning staff


15

Station staff and associatedgrades meeting in Warwickdiscussed threats to ticket officestaff, cleaners and the increasinguse of casual and agencyworkers.

Keith Miller, Central andNorth Mersey condemned thecasualisation of staff working inthe station grades role especiallyin the RO1 grade and cleaninggrades.

“This practice is clearlydetrimental to the rail industryas a whole and has major healthand safety implications as someof these staff do not have theexperience or full training to dotasks which regular staff havebeen trained to do and carry outon a regular basis,” he said.

Retiring conference presidentLinda Wiles said that casualstaff should be taken in house orlook at a way to put an end tothis practice altogether.

“Station staff, like othertransport staff, should bepermanent staff.

“We do our jobs well and wemake it look easy but withouttraining untrained staff can getinto trouble very easily,” shesaid.

Dave Marshall of theorganising unit said thatfighting casualisation was a realproblem which needed to befought at the workplace.

“We are here to defend allworkers if they are in the unionwhether they are on zero-hourscontracts or permanent staff.

“In order to get that strengthin the workplace we needtrained reps that can representthe interests of workers,” hesaid.

He said that branches neededto carry out mapping exercisesto find out how many people inthe workplaces and depots wereactually in the union.

“This can be done bymatching the rosters withmembership lists.

“The larger density ofmembership in the workplacewill reflect that the union has inthe workplace,” he said.

Ross Marshall, Central LineWest that it was increasinglycommon for management todirectly recruit new staff tosenior station grade jobs instead

of training and recruiting fromwithin existing grades.

“This has an effect on morale,promotional opportunities,career path and safety,” he said.

Conference called on theunion to ensure that all staffgets the opportunity forpromotion.

Ross Marshall also delegatesthat station staff wereincreasingly referred to ascustomer service or retail staffand are both trained andrecruited on that basis.

“This is contributing to thede-skilling and loweringprofessionalism of station staffas a railway grade.

“Station staff are a safety-critical railway grade and weneed to defend theprofessionalism and work role ofstation staff as railway staff,” hesaid.

Assistant general secretarySteve Hedley warned thatattacks on station staff includingticket office closures were allpart of the McNulty agendawhich were closely echoedEuropean Union plans for theindustry.

He said that in order to fightthese cuts the union needs toconstantly increase its density ofmembership across the trainoperating companies andLondon Underground.

“We have a situation nowwhere foreign state-backed traincompanies from Germany,France and The Netherlands aretaking over British railwayfranchises and taking the profitsout of the system to invest intheir own railways.

“This is because they areexploiting EU rail directives thatdemand competitive tendering,in other words the EU isinstitutionalising privatisation.

“That is why this union iscalling for a Leave vote on June23,” he said.

Chris Cuomo, Deptford saidthat a “magnificent” campaignby the union had saved 45 GTRticket offices from closure.

“Officers, reps and othermembers gave out thousands ofpostcards and, as a result, TravelWatch and Travel Focus rejectedthe proposals.

“However it is clear that GTRstill wants these closures andthis union must be prepared toballot for action to save thesepublic services,” he said.

Ronnie Crace, Camden 3 saidthat cleaners were being treatedin an appalling way with poorpage, no pension passes ordecent working conditions.

“These workers are vital inthe running of stations and forsafety yet they being treated likedirt,” he said.

Chris Cuomo said that allcleaners working for trainoperating companies and onLondon Underground should betaken back in-house.

He said that GTR wascontracting out their in-housetrain turnaround cleaners to thecleaning giant Churchill’s fromMay 1.

“While existing members willkeep their present terms andconditions under TUPE any newstaff employed on this contractwill be on lower wages andworse conditions,” he said.

Delegates called on the unionto fight for cleaning grades,fighting any outsourcingproposals and campaign to bringcleaning contracts back in-house.

Ronnie Hardman, Central andNorth Mersey said that manycompanies had phasedretirement programmes whichincluded gradually reducinghours in the run-up to leaving.

“This can be beneficial withpreparing for retirement andtrying to ease into a normalpattern after shift work.

“Such a policy would be apositive step for station grades,especially for those who donights, and we need to putpressure on companies thatdon’t have this facility,” he said.

ADIEU: Conference choir Linda Wiles retires


16

RMT member Garry Hassellwelcomed delegates to theBrighton on behalf of theBrighton and Hove districttrades council.

“This a strong trade unioncity and RMT and itspredecessor, the NUR, haveplayed an important part inensuring that the trades councilflourished and that good jobswere secured,” he said.

RMT president Sean Hoyletold conference that a recenttrip to Tebay on the 12thanniversary of the tragedy whenfour railway workers were killedby a runaway wagon on theWest Coast Main Line was oneof the most humbling of his life.

Whilst welcoming the factthat RMT had recently helpedforce through the introductionof a new secondary protection

system to give workers ‘one lastchance’ to escape fromrunaways, Sean remindeddelegates that it had come at aheavy price “when four workersleave to work and don’t comehome”.

John Joe Carruthers, CarlisleCity thanked conference for itslongstanding support for theTebay campaign and for themagnificent support fromLancaster City branch.

Steve Metcalfe, LancasterCity said that with one or twonotable exceptions localpoliticians had been useless onTebay. He praised the familiesand the union for theircampaigning work on the issue.

RMT assistant generalsecretary Mick Lynch said thatthe union faced manychallenges ahead.

“The safety of our memberson the track is the mostimportant thing we do.

“There should be consensusin the industry on how thatsafety happens.

“Safe Work Leader wasimposed on us and is notsuitable for the industry and ithas been a huge waste of moneyon training and IT, it is anational scandal.

“In the East Midlands wewere successful in getting theprogramme paused and it is alsonot being rolled out in the restof the country. This because ofthe fantastic job that was doneby our members in the EastMidlands,” he said.

Outlining how RMTmembership had increased overthe last year, Mick took theopportunity to explain how

important it was for the unionto know how many membersthere were in each workplace.

“Mapping is essential so thatwe know who is in the unionand where they are. When itcomes to disputes the matrixwill be in a good position as thework will be done,” he said.

Alan Jary, Norwich spoke ona unanimously-backedresolution on safety thatcondemned the fact that twoperson teams were often put onjobs when there was agreementthat they should have threeperson teams.

“Rosters are done for threeperson teams but if someone issick or on secondment then theydon’t budget for an extra personand we end up with two personteams,” he said.

Neil Sanders, Birmingham

ENGINEERING SEngineering grades conference discusstrackside safety and Tory attacks on theindustry in the name of austerity


17

said that if the union doesn’tfight then “two person teamswill become the norm and thegrade will be decimated,” hesaid.

Dai Hobbs, Newport Railexpressed outrage at the factthat Network Rail IP Wales andWestern have a regionalprocedure in place for planningwork on or near a line.

“We all work to the same rulebook and all face the same riskon a daily basis regardless ofwhich project, or which regionyou happen to be working on.This needs to be taken up withNetwork Rail urgently so we canseek the withdrawal of thisprocedure,” Dai said.

Chris Collins, LU Engineeringcondemned the derisory finerecently handed out to CarillionRail following the death of ScottDobson in December 2012.Scott, from Doncaster, wascarrying out maintenance worknear Saxilby, Lincolnshire, whenhe was struck by a passing train.

“His death highlighted allthat is wrong with privatisationand a cuts driven agenda that

leaves engineers facing risk ofdeath and injury whilst earningtheir wages.

“It seems every journeymatters but not every worker.

“There are also changes toroles and responsibilities forTrack Access in both NetworkRail and across LondonUnderground.

“We will not pay with ourblood so the fat cats and ToryMinisters can rake in more and

more profit,” he said.RMT general secretary Mick

Cash congratulated delegates ongetting such a strong turnout forthe conference. He tolddelegates that the FourthRailway Package, recentlyratified by the European Union,presented a severe danger to theindustry.

Mick explained that the EUwants to change the safetyregime and also make it

impossible to renationalise therailway.

He said that the union iscalling for a No vote in the EUReferendum on June 23 andimplored delegates to educatetheir colleagues and families asto the true nature of the EU andwhy the union is opposed to it.

“The EU can’t be reformedand we need progressivesocialist policies that we can’tget inside the EU,” Mick said.

G SAFETY

Mick Cash speaks


18

RMT’s Dover office, venue forthe 2016 Docks and Shipping

Grade’s biennial conference, wasdecked out in speciallycommissioned signage to markthe 50th anniversary of the 1966NUS strike.

This was an appropriate homefor the gathering as it was oneof the centres of the strike andthe port remains an RMTstronghold to this day.

Conference opened with areport from national secretarySteve Todd which set out thework of the union’s shippingsector over the past two yearswith a major focus on RMT’scampaigning activities in defenceof jobs, safety and workingconditions in the industry.

Steve emphasised the on-going fight to retain Calmac’sClyde and Hebrides operations inthe public sector and warnedthat a further threat to ScottishFerries would be posed by thescheduled retendering of theNorthern Isles services.

RMT has played in the fightto defend the threatenedmaritime offices and he paid a

tribute to all of the RMTbranches, activists and memberswho have been the front line inthe defence of the UK shippingindustry.

The Parliamentary eeport wasdelivered by Ian Mearns MP theunion’s new RMT’sParliamentary Convenor afterJohn McDonnell stood downafter taking over as ShadowChancellor.

He explained how the groupwas campaigning against thevindictive and class-based attackon workers by the Torygovernment and their TradeUnion Bill.

“These Tories claim to bepatriotic and then they go andsell off our national assets tooverseas speculators and allowthe wholesale flagging out ofBritain’s once-proud shippingindustry,” he said.

A major debate developedaround a motion from the Doverbranch on how shippingcompany’s abuse agreedrostering patterns enabling themto open the door to social-dumping of cheap labour on an

industrial scale. Delegates calledon the union to step up its long-term and on-going campaign inthis crucial area.

A motion on mental healthawareness in the maritimeindustry led to a discussionwhich highlighted just howcrucial this subject has becomeand the importance of strippingaway the taboos that surround it.

Speakers made it clear thatmental health and well-beinghas to be factored in centrally innegotiations and should beraised directly as an issue withall companies that the union isin contact with.

During the debate it waspointed out by a number ofdelegates that the “two on, twooff” work pattern in the shippingindustry increases the isolationof workers, cutting them offfrom direct contact with friendsand family and creating apressure cooker effects wherestress builds up to the pointwhere it becomes a major healthissue.

Conference congratulated theunion for the pioneering work

that it has been involved inthrough training and educationcourses that put mental healthcentre stage as a workplace andtrade union issue. The motionwas carried unanimously.

Portsmouth branch’s motionon the potential dilution of thesafety culture in the shippingindustry through theintroduction of a “tick-box”approach which doesn’t followestablished reporting formats andlanguage sparked off aninteresting discussion on theconstantly changing threats andchallenges facing safety reps.

Delegates called on the unionto remain constantly vigilant indealing with sharp practicesfrom the employers side.

A raft of other motions,covering subjects as diverse asthe Maritime Labour Convention,digital subscriptions to theMorning Star, recruitment andthe National Port AdvisoryCommittees were all carried bythe conference.

Garry Hassell from the HeadOffice safety team gave a well-received report, focusing on the

TURNING THE TIDE This year’s docks and shipping grade’s conferencecelebrates the 50th anniversary of the 1966 NUS strike

impact of fatigue in theshipping industry and the waythat it creeps up and threatenssafety against a backdrop oflong hours and pressure fromthe employers.

National president SeanHoyle spoke about the CalMaccampaign and how the unionhad used every opportunity,including Nicola Sturgeonsappearance at the STUC, toconfront the SNP governmentover the threat to the ferries inScotland and how thatcampaign goes on following therecent elections.

That message was backed upin a debate on the floor ofconference with delegatesslamming the “hypocrisy” of theSNP and its efforts to hidebehind EU directives when itcomes to tendering publicservices.

ITF inspector Darren Proctorgave a sharp and alarmingpresentation, backed up withgraphic images, on his workalong the south coast enforcingbasic regulations.

This shocking catalogue ofabuses included crews beingunpaid for months on end,working long hours in appallingconditions without PPE andwithout hot water, fresh food,bed linen and washing facilities.It was a reminder of just whatflagging-out and socialdumping has unleashed acrossthe industry on the ships ofshame.

With the EU Referendumlooming, general secretary MickCash dedicated a large sectionof his contribution to theconference to the union’s callfor a vote to leave.

Mick explained that out of470,000 seafarers in Europeanwaters only 40 per cent were EUnationals, making a mockery ofclaims that the EU institutionsare somehow there in defence ofworkers’ rights when in factthey have presided over socialdumping in the shippingindustry on a mind-blowingscale.

He took the conferencethrough the union’s history ofopposition to the EU since 1979and said that arguments fromthe beginning that the EU was

nothing more than a club forthe rich, the powerful and theelite were as strong today asthey ever were.

Conference concluded with apresentation by Jim Jump, theauthor of the union’s booklet“Turning the Tide” on thehistory of the 1966 NUS Strike.Jim took the conference throughthe build up to the action, the

impact of the strike itself and itslong term consequences for thetrade union movement and theshipping industry itself.

The booklet had beenenthusiastically received by theunion and Mick Cash thankedJim for his hard work whichmeant that anyone seeking anunderstanding of the 1966 strikeand its impact on industrial

relations in the sixties andseventies can find it right attheir fingertips.

Chair Brian Reynolds closedthe conference by thankingDover branch for their excellentwork in hosting the event andensuring its smooth runningand discussion is now underwayas to where delegates willreassemble in 2018.


19

GLASGOW MAYDAY: RMT members on the May Day march in Glasgow say Keep CalMac Public. Polling has shown almost two thirdsof Scottish voters think CalMac ferry services should remain publicly operated and not handed over to corporate giant Serco.


20

Road freight membersgathered in Portsmouth

under the conference’s new titleof national road freighttransport industrial organisingconference for the first time andwere tasked with the objectiveof transforming the event intoan effective and cohesive part ofthe union’s wider organisingstrategy.

This was a theme that wasdeveloped by assistant generalsecretary Mick Lynch in hisspeech to delegates.

He challenged those inattendance “to have a frankdiscussion on how we improvemember numbers andconference attendees” in orderthat the conference can developa wider appeal.

“The task of the conferenceunder the rules is to organise,the rules compel the conferenceto come up with strategieswhich the union has toimplement.

“We don’t need to just recruitmembers but we need to service

them and own the workplace somembers feel there is a presencealongside them” said Mick.

he also spoke about some ofthe issues currently facing roadfreight members such asdriverless vehicles.

“Stagecoach is buying andordering driverless buses, so itwill happen and road freightcompanies are developingconvoys with one persondriving at the front, thistechnology will change theindustry and is an obviousthreat to members’ jobs”, mobilephone use, tachographs, in-cabCCTV and self-employment anddriver franchises,” he said.

Mick was asked by delegateMark Woods about the use ofhealth and safety legislation incampaigning for changes to thecurrent working-timearrangements.

Mick said that that this couldbe used and that we are alsopushing for a charter to specifya maximum number of driverworking hours and for a driver

care package. Mick also spokeabout the need for a policy onself-employment as employersseek its introduction across theboard and specifically withinthe road freight industry.

Mick also urged theconference liaison committee tocome up with ideas for the wayforward to increase memberdensity and conferenceparticipation.

Andy Blackman, London,Anglia and Midland RoadTransport said that “peopledon’t realise RMT is involved inroad freight and we need to domore”, a point with which Mickagreed but said that change “hasto come from the membership; arebrand or different ideas can beconsidered but they need tocome from the shop floor”.

RMT president Sean Hoylewelcomed delegates to his homecity.

He spoke about people’smotives for joining a unionsuch as for self-interest orworkplace protection but said

we need to recruit for the widerissues.

“Go out and talk to yourcolleagues, urge them to sign upand join.

“We need a good membershipdensity to take on thecompanies and we are amember-led organisation;nothing happens without theirdemocratic bidding,” he said.

Mark Broadfield, Leeds Goodsand Cartage called for the unionto pursue Freightliner forpayments for outstanding ADR(Hazardous Work).

This work which requiresmembers to undertake specifictraining that is renewable everyfive years and means that amembers has to remain withtheir cargo at all times is aservice for which Freightlinercharges a premium rate, but forwhich, it refuses to pass on thispremium in the form of higherpayments to drivers.

Whilst these payments havelong been promised they havenot been delivered.

ORGANISING ROADFREIGHT WORKERS


21

RMT union learning repJohn Richards received theNetwork Rail ULR of the YearAward in York recently.

Wendy Hall from TPSTraining, who has been workingwith several signallers on theirLearn IT Workplace Diplomas,presented the award.

John said that he was verypleased and proud to be

recognised for his work.“This was only possible

through the comradeship,support and hard work of myfellow ULR Chris Brown.

“We both work together forthe common good and are bothjustifiably proud that when welook around our workplace,people say hello and we think'that person has now got a good

quality qualification, becausewe made it happen'," he said.

Wendy Hall said that it wasa pleasure to visit lots ofdifferent locations around thenetwork, supporting the learnersand helping them to achievehigh standards andqualifications.

“This starts a new interest inlearning and, besides, how

many people get to eat theirlunch in the National RailwayMuseum next to the FlyingScotsman every week?" shesaid.

John and Chris are lookingforward to working with otherULRs around the wider area inspreading the Learn IT diplomaand other learning opportunitiesto even more members!

Mark called for the union tosend a message to Freightlinerthat they pay up or we stopmoving this type of traffic.

Graham Keeble, Leeds Goodsand Cartage said that his depotwill not use agency staff for thiswork even if they have ADR asthe company would then nothave the requisite additionalinsurance. Furthermore somedrivers can be starting these jobsfour hours earlier and losingthat time because of the natureof this hazardous work and asthe goods are meant to be keptin sight at all times memberscan’t take breaks.

Mark Broadfield alsoproposed that the union take upwith Freightliner why there is adifference between the LGVcontract the RMT agreed and the

one Freightliner managementare applying to members.

He explained that “membershave been hoodwinked byFreightliner as they haven’tadhered to the LGV contractwhere agency workers wouldbecome a thing of the past.

“Freightliner has failed torecruit the required numbers ofstaff and they appear to beusing an earlier, inferior andnon-accepted LGV contract. Weneed a clear agreement with thecompany and for it to beadhered too,” he said.

Clinton Woodburn,Birmingham Engineering saidthat he had been part of thismeeting with management andthey say it was discussed butthat no decision was made.

“Why did the NEC agree to

this contract?” he asked.Mick Lynch replied that

“there at least 15 differentversions of this contract and themanagement may not have beentruthful with us.

“They want to set one groupof workers against another solet’s not allow this to happen inthis forum.

“This agreement hasn’tachieved what it was set out todo and we need to clarifydefinite answers and get definiteactions.”

Graham Keeble said that “themeeting will try to divertattention onto another versionof the contract” whilst MarkNeal, Birmingham Engineeringsaid that “companies like agencystaff as they can write 50 percent costs off to tax.

“The contact is an increase inhours for less money,” he said.

Neil Brownridge, Leeds Goodsand Cartage also proposed to askFreightliner why RMD/LGVdrivers, who are the lowest paid,aren’t given a paid days leavefor hospital appointments whilsttrain drivers are.

“A train driver who has anappointment in work time willbe granted paid leave whereas aRMD/LGV driver has to go intowork before and afterappointments. I

“f there is a delay in a pick-up then the driver has to missan appointment,” he said.

Delegates agreed that thisdisparity should be addressedand that RMD/LGV driversshould also get the day off.

LEARNING AWARD


22

RESEARCH INTO SUICIDESON THE RAILWAY


23

Suicides on the rail networkhave a significant impact onmembers.

Of the estimated 6,000suicides a year that areregistered, around 4.5 per centhappen on the railway.

The industry is already doinga significant amount to reducesuicides on the network but inJune 2015 it sponsored researchby Middlesex University and theUniversity of Westminster witha view to answering thequestion “Why do people chooseto take their lives on the G.B.rail network?”

In January 2016 an interimreport was published by theresearch group. Its key findingsbased upon questionnaires andinterviews with circa 1200vulnerable and suicidal people(some of whom had looked totake their lives on the railway)as to why they may choose therailway to take their lives were:• Perceived lethality – many

believed they wouldcertainly be killed when

struck by a train

• Familiarity – frequent use orliving near the railway madesome more aware of it as ameans of lethality

• Environment – privacy andease of access. Interestinglysome said they would notchoose the railway for thisreason because they wereaware of the increased effortby rail staff to intervene insuicide attempts.

The research comes to an endin October this year with thefinal report being shared withthe industry shortly afterwards.However consideration isalready being given to theinterim findings particularlyaround ‘playing down theperceived lethality of thenetwork’.

Interestingly this is the firstresearch of its type dedicated tothe issue of suicides on therailway in this country. In theirdesire to learn more about thisphenomenon the research team

is asking railway workers whohave a view on suicideprevention or an in depthknowledge of a particularlocation where they feel morework could be done to stopsuicides to get in touch.

Ian Stevens, who heads upthe industry’s suicide preventionprogramme said that “I’m keenfor as many rail staff to getinvolved with the research aspossible.

Our prevention programme isoutstanding because we are allcommitted to it and looking fornew ways to prevent suicides.

“This research provides uswith another opportunity to dothat by drawing on theexperience of our people whofeel they have someunderstanding of the issuebecause of their personalexperiences. In particular theresearchers are looking tocapture insights into the sort ofbehaviours that may alert youto someone contemplatingsuicide; the training you may

have received to help managesuch events; any barriers theremight be to you helpingsomeone in need; and ideas youmay have about practicalsolutions to reduce theopportunity and incidence ofattempted suicide on therailways.

If you would like to shareyour thoughts and take part inthe research an onlinequestionnaire is available.Access to it can be gained bytypingbit.ly/railwaysuicidesurvey intoyour browser. The informationprovided will be anonymousand viewed only by experiencedresearchers.”

Ian added: “Thequestionnaire takes about 20minutes to complete. This mightseem like a long time but yourinput might save a colleaguefrom a lifetime of trauma.”

If you would like any further informationabout the project, please feel free tocontact Emily Hawkins [email protected] or Ian Noonanat [email protected].

Research seeks to identify why people choose to take their liveson the railway and asks for the support of rail industry staff.


24

Around fifty retired membersgathered recently in Doncasterto discuss issues of importancenot only to existing retiredmembers but for futuregenerations of workers.

As a result there was astrong sense of uniting ourgenerations in struggle fordignity in retirement. Pensions– whether occupational or Stateare under attack as shownunder the New State Pension,where some could get less thanthe system applicable up toApril 6 this year.

The feeling is that many

have been taken in with theresult being that futurepensioners must pay more,work longer, and get less.

So how have we beentricked? – a majorunrecognised prong attackbegan in the run-up to theLisbon summit with theEuropean Union’s ServiceDirective Pension Provisionprogramme.

Their documernt ‘an Appealfor Reform’ urged EU states tolift retirement ages, stop earlyretirement and encourageindividuals to save for their

retirement through tax breaksand private pension provision.

It went on “if they are notreformed soon, public pensionsystems in many EU memberstates pose a threat to thecompetitiveness of theEuropean economy”, so there’sa thought when we aredeciding how to vote on June23.

Other issues gettingattention includeddiscrimination against retiredpeople, the effects of inferiormedication results from feeprescription in Scotland, the

loss of provision of meal onwheels, reduction in busservices, the effects of soaringhouse prices on pensioners andthe health benefits of walking.

The retired RMT section iscontinually active not only inretired matters but also plays akeen role in organisingmembers.

We encourage generationalunity with our young memberssection and the working classmovement at large throughrepresenting our union onretired organisations nationallyand Internationaly.

RETIREDMEMBERS MEETRMT retired member committeechair Tony Donaghey reports fromtheir annual conference


25

No to TTIP is a call to armsagainst a deal between the EUand the United States whichseeks to impose huge financialpenalties for any policy notdeemed to be in the interestsof transnational corporations.

The Transatlantic Trade andInvestment Partnershipincludes a provision called the‘investor-state disputesettlement’ which allowsprivate companies to suenation states if they feel a lawhad lost them money on theirinvestment.

TTIP will enablecorporations to launch endlesslegal battles, potentially forbillions of pounds, in thename of future lost profits, akind of corporate feudalism.

Bob and Tony would nodoubt have been campaigningvery hard and loudly againstthis affront to nationalsovereignty, independence anddemocracy as well as to thiscountry’s membership of theEU: all the things in fact thatthey dedicated their lives to.

Today the EU is a very realthreat to our NHS and otherpublic services that are justseen as cash cows formonopoly capital. That otherweapon used so effectivelyagainst workers, massunemployment, is on the risewhich takes away the mostfundamental right of all, theright work.

EU court rulings anddiktats are constantlyremoving workers’ rights tocollective bargaining and anymeaningful tools to defendthemselves. As Bob and Tonyremind us, the EU was built todefend the system it promotes,capitalism, not the interests ofworkers.

TUAEU salutes theirmemory with this collection ofsongs which, each in theirown way, celebrate the lives oftwo giants of the labour andtrade union movement.

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Trade Unionists Against the European Union proudly presents... No to TTIP - a 12-song CD celebrating the lives of Bob Crow and Tony Benn. As you might expect it is also a call to arms against the proposed Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership between the EU and the United States which is designed to abolish national democracy in the interests of corporate profit.

TONY BENN, ROY BAILEY, DAVE SWARBRICK, CALLUM BAIRD, BRIAN DENNYCRAFTING FOR FOES, RED WEDDING, PHIL BURDETT, MILK BOYS, BANNER THEATREMICK DENNY, FRAN FOOTE & ADAM REES, POL MAC ADAIM

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NO TO TTIP!Trade Unionists Against the EuropeanUnion proudly presents No to TTIP: a12-song CD celebrating the lives ofBob Crow and Tony Benn.


26

I have been talking withBrussels transport workers andtrade unionists in the aftermathof the March 22 Daesh/ISbombings which killed 32people and injured hundredsmore. Amidst the newsreporting and politicaldemagogy, it is important thattheir voices are heard.

Two workers died in theBrussels airport bombing - oneworking on check-in, the otherin baggage handling. Otherswere injured, and still morewere traumatised by what theyexperienced: helping the injuredand dying, seeing body partsamong the baggage. At least 14passengers also perished.

I was told that once theairport had been attacked, thedecision was taken to close theMetro, but the chaotic andfragmented administration ofBrussels’ public transport didnot get the message out. Half anhour later, the second wave ofexplosions hit Maelbeek Metrostation, killing a further 16people. This need not have

happened.The Metro station that was

bombed was unstaffed, and thedriver of the Metro trainsurvived. The absence of staffmust surely have delayedraising the alarm and helpingthe casualties. Maelbeek is notthe largest or the busiest stationon the Brussels Metro, but it isthe nearest to the US embassy.

Two weeks on from theattacks, the Metro was runningonly until 19:00 and somestations, such as the Bourse(pictured), closed altogether.

Transport employers areproviding counselling, but notenough for everyone who needsit.

Workers are scared to returnto work - because of thetrauma, but also because theyhave little confidence in thesecurity measures provided bytheir employers. Securityequipment is inadequate andoutdated. There are a lot ofaccess points to the airport, andtrade unionists demonstrated tothe employers that people could

get in to secure areas withinvalid passes.

So when managementwanted to open the airport afterthe attacks, the airport policewent on strike. The press andpoliticians complained about theaction, blaming the unions, butthe strike won a deal, withsecurity measures includingmore staff deployed at theairport entrances, and luggagescanned there rather than onlyat departure.

Three weeks on from theattacks, air traffic controllersstayed away from work,phoning in sick because theyare not confident in their safetyat work.

This is ‘wildcat’ action wasencouraged but not officiallyorganised by their union. Over50 flights were cancelled on themorning of Wednesday April 12.The action was portrayed in themedia as a dispute about a risein the pre-retirement age from55 to 58, but it was as much todo with safety fears.

The Belgian Prime Minister

condemned the action asdamaging to the country’simage. He is cynically using theactions of terrorists to pressureworkers into putting themselvesat risk and delaying their well-earned retirement.

One Brussels airport workerasked me: “When does itbecome normal again?” I wasnot as close as others were othe London transport bombingson July 7 2005, but I am notsure that it ever does becomenormal to go to work under theshadow of terror attacks. I thinkI’d worry if it did.

I do know that without ourtrade unions, transportemployers would expect workersto clean up and turn up, evenwith corners cut and inadequatesafety. And that for workingpeople in areas of the worldwhere violent Islamists arestrong, where there are otherterror groups or despoticregimes, or where war is raging,the fear of attack is ever-present.

AFTER THE BOMBINGSRMT member Janine Booth talks toBrussels transport workers after theMarch 22 terrorist attacks


27

President’s column

Offshore members working in theNorth Sea have seen their termsand conditions coming underattack like never before.

Unscrupulous bosses are takingadvantage of the current lower oilprices by using this as anopportunity to rewrite agreementsthat were fought for over manyyears.

The 3:3 IS NOT FOR MEcampaign has really highlightedthe true relationship between theemployers and employees.

Workers being forced to stayoffshore for weeks longer, just sothe bosses can save money ontransportation and cut staffinglevels.

A culture of fear is becoming thenorm with many too scared toraise concerns, including healthand safety issues.

Thousands of fellow workers arebeing kicked out of their industryevery week, the adage of “Safetybefore Profit” needs to beremembered more than ever.

Recently, we had yet anothertragedy involving the Airbus 225Super Puma when 13 moreworkers lost their lives in theNorth Sea. The previous tragedieswith the same Airbus Super Pumahave left members with noconfidence in these aircraft at all.

Currently David Winder is runningan online petition to the CivilAviation Authority demanding theremoval of all Airbus 225 SuperPumas NOW!

Nearly 27,000 have already

signed up, but the response fromthe CAA is to inform all that thiscan only be decided at aEuropean level…maybe that willchange after June 23?

I also attended the Docks andShipping biannual generalmeeting, marking the 50 yearanniversary of the Seaman’sstrike. The Turning the Tidebooklet covers the veryinteresting history surrounding the1966 dispute and what reallystruck me was what littleprogress we have made sincethen.

Merchant Shipping was exemptfrom the 1976 Race Relations Actand this hasn’t changed underthe Equality Act 2010 today.Today we have Ukrainianseafarers sailing betweenPortsmouth and the ChannelIslands who are paid £2.40 anhour. This type of situation isbeing repeated right around ourisland and we are told that is thisis totally legal. We need to takecontrol to stop this exploitationand “social dumping” of non-domicile labour.

This will be my last column beforewe vote in the EU referendum sohere are some reasons for votingLeave:

European Union rail policiesfurther entrench rail privatisationand fragmentation. That will meanmore attacks or jobs andconditions and EU law will makeit impossible to bring all of railback into public ownership.

The EU has promoted

undercutting and social dumpingleading to the decimation of UKseafarers. The same is nowhappening in the offshore sector.EU directives also require thetendering our public ferryservices.

It’s a myth that the EU is in favourof workers. In fact the EU isattacking trade union rights,collective bargaining, jobprotections and wages. EU courtshave ruled that employers’ rightsto ‘establishment’ overruleemployment rights, allowingcompanies to bring in cheaplabour in order to increase theirprofits by supressing wages.

The EU is forcing member stateswhich have received EU“bailouts” to remove workers’rights and now France is doingthe bidding of the EuropeanCommission by removing basicworkers’ rights enshrined in theconstitution. However workersare fighting back everywhere anda Leave vote is part of thatstruggle.

We need to leave the EU to endausterity. The EU has used theeconomic crisis to imposeausterity and privatisation onmember states. Instead ofprotecting jobs and investment,EU austerity is driving UKausterity, that’s why Tories likeDavid Cameron support stayingin.

We must to stop the attack onour NHS. The Transatlantic Tradeand Investment Partnership (TTIP)trade agreement being negotiatedbetween the EU Commission and

the United States will promote bigbusiness at the expensegovernment protections andpublic service organisationsincluding our NHS!

Environmental regulations,employment rights, food safety,privacy laws and many othersafeguards will also be secondaryto the right of corporations tomake even bigger profits by suingstates and their electedgovernments.

Vote Leave on June 23.

“The world suffers a lot. Notbecause of the violence of badpeople. But because of thesilence of the good people.”Napoleon Bonaparte

In Solidarity

Sean Hoyle

EU attacks: French protesters march this month against the use of the French constitution's Article 49,3, allowing the government to bypass parliament and force throughcontroversial anti-worker laws.

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH


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cuba ad

The 14th annual RMT Garden Party for Cubain association with Cuba Solidarity CampaignWednesday June 15, 2016. 7.00pmMaritime House, Clapham, London SW4 0JW

£15Ticket

North Yorkshire Moors Railway RMT branch will be unveiling their new banner at the upcoming Durham Miners Gala in July.(left to right) Brother Dave Tibbett, branch chairman Paul Wickham, sister Tamsyn Naylor, branch secretary Gerry Bacon and finally Steve "mushroom" Elliott.

NORTH YORKSHIRE MOORS NEW BANNER


ACROSS1 Trickery (10) 8 Alleviate (7)9 Depart (5) 10 Penchant (5) 11 Thane's domain (7) 12 Calculate (6)14 Trinket (6)16 Made up creature (7)17 Annoyance (5) 19 The world's most

populous state (5)20 Unlimited (7)21 Generous (10)

DOWN1 Selflessness (4,9)2 Diacritic mark (5)3 Small hole (6) 4 Pivot (7) 5 Lofty in style (13) 6 Gravel (4)7 Ascetic (5) 12 Ornate (6) 13 Too old (7) 15 Improvise (4,2) 17 Military chaplain (5) 18 Not difficult (4)

£50 PRIZECROSSWORD

The winner of lastmonth’s prize crosswordis L Standing, Cheadle.

Send entries to PrizeCrossword, RMT, UnityHouse, 39 Chalton Street,London NWI IJD by June 15with your name and address.

Winner and solution in nextissue.

Last month’s solution...

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ssentiading trans fighting doo - rmt · a timetable for a final "implementation decision"...

Documents