2015-05-15 Network Rail responds to RMT strike announcement (Department for Transport)

2015-05-15 Acas talks to go ahead Monday (RMT)

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date 15 May 2015
source RMT
type Press release

note Our Ref: BR6/0001

Dear Colleagues

INDUSTRIAL ACTION CALLED!

RATES OF PAY AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE 2015 – NETWORK RAIL

Firstly I would like to congratulate you all for the magnificent support you have shown for your union by returning a massive vote for strike action and action short of a strike. Despite this decisive vote by its staff, there has been complete silence from Network Rail. As a result the General Grades Committee has called members to take the action as outlined below: -

Network Rail members working in Operations, Maintenance, Bands 5 to 8 and Customer Services are instructed NOT TO BOOK ON FOR DUTY for any shifts that begin between the following times.

17. 00 hours Monday 25th May 2015 until 16.59 hours Tuesday 26th May 2015

In addition we have called the following action short of a strike.

From 00.01 hours Monday 25th May 2015 until 23.59 hours Tuesday 26th May 2015 members are instructed not to work any overtime, additional hours, extended shifts nor undertake any callouts.

There are no exceptions to this instruction, all Network Rail members (excluding Band 1 to 4 staff and Managers who have not been balloted) are instructed to take this action.

This dispute is about fair pay and job security. Their current offer would see your pay lag behind the rate of inflation and they have refused to extend the No Compulsory Redundancy for the last two years of the deal. We all know that Network Rail are determined to cut costs and Signallers and Maintenance staff will be incredibly vulnerable in the coming years, as the new Tory Government will be putting them under even greater pressure to make savage cuts.

Network Rail made a £1.2 billion profit last year, double the previous year, and we believe you deserve fair reward for the hard work and long unsociable hours you do to keep the network running. With a mandate for action so strong, Network Rail can be left in no doubt that RMT members are united and demand a substantially improved offer. I urge you to stand shoulder to shoulder with your colleagues and strongly support the action.

We demand nothing less than a substantially improved offer and hope the company will see sense and table an improvement. We will continue to seek talks with the company to resolve the dispute and I will keep members fully informed of developments.

SUPPORT YOUR UNION

SUPPORT THE ACTION

UNITY IS STRENGTH

Yours sincerely

Mick Cash
General Secretary

Helpline - Operating Hours

The National Helpline (0800 376 3706) will have extended operating hours during the dispute which are as follows: -

Monday 18th May until Friday 22nd May – 08.00 to 20.00

Saturday 23rd May and Sunday 24th May - 9.30 to 16.00

08.00 Monday 25th May until 20.00 Tuesday 26th May the Helpline will be open permanently.

Please note that these extended hours are to deal with queries from members relating to the Network Rail Dispute. Members are welcome to continue contacting the helpline during office hours for all other matters.

Railhub Archive ::: 2015-05-15 RMT-001