NATIONAL UNION OF RAIL, MARITIME, & TRANSPORT WORKERS’

GENERAL SECRETARY: BOB CROW

NEXT BRANCH MEETING:

THE RAILWAY TAVERN, STRATFORD

THURSDAY 20TH MARCH 2008:

18.30 HOURS

BRANCH MEETING

FEBRUARY 2008

BRANCH NEWS ISSUE 1

FEBRUARY

2008

THIS WAS ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL Branch meeting, reasona-

bly well attended, especially by our comrades in LOROL, who

gave the Branch a lot to discuss, including issues over uni-

forms, local messing facilities, and management negotiation–

all of which should be familiar to London Eastern Railway

(’one’) staff. However, it was difficult to look at Liverpool

Street/ Stratford issues in the depth and breadth which they

deserved as the Secretary was the sole member from LER!

Yet there are many issues facing LER staff which need to be

resolved, and the Branch is the perfect platform to raise

them AND resolve them. Anyone raising an issue or a prob-

lem will be in friendly and supportive company, and the ad-

vice given will be the product of tears of experience of differ-

ent companies, different managements, and different ways

of dealing with things.

EDITORIAL

THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO SPEAK YOUR MIND ABOUT

YOUR WORK– WHERE YOU SPEND HALF YOUR WAK-

ING LIVES!- IN FRIENDLY AND COMFORTABLE SUR-

ROUNDINGS. BEING IN THE UNION IS ONLY HALF OF

IT– KEEPING THE UNION INFORMED IS THE OTHER

HALF! YOUR REPS’ CAN ONLY DEAL WITH WHAT THEY

KNOW ABOUT. SO COME AND TELL THEM!

Welcome to the first edition of East London Rail Branch

News, a monthly newsletter designed to keep all those who

were unable to attend their RMT Branch meeting in touch

with what went on.

Many thanks and fraternal greetings to all those who did

attend the last meeting on Thursday 21st February 2008.

They were from LOROL (London Overground Rail Opera-

tions Ltd, the ex-’Silverlink’ franchise) Arnold Randall (RPI,

Gospel Oak), Pauline Wilson (Station Assistant, Leytonstone

High Road), Terry Pope (Station Assistant, Leyton Midland

Road), and the Branch’s Assistant Chairman, John Clarke

(Conductor, Stratford Depot); from LER, the secretary, Ed

Shine (Revenue Protection Assistant, Liverpool Street), and

from Network Rail, Glenn Wallis (Signaller, South Totten-

ham box). Bro. Eric Cato represented our retired members,

and our guests were Pauline Akrill, Industrial Relations Offi-

cer at RMT Head Office, and our Council of Executives

member Derrick Marr. Apologies were received from Bros.

Ron Smythe (Revenue Protection Assistant, Liverpool

Street) and our Chairman, Dave Nubley, and Mushi Ali

(both Platform Staff at Liverpool Street).

The minutes of the last meeting were agreed as a true re-

cord. Arising from the minutes, it was noted that Bro. K.

Patel (Platform Staff at Liverpool Street) who had previ-

ously shown interest in an RMT-sponsored trip to Cuba has

since left employment with ’one’; Bro. Daniel Rouse (RPA

Liverpool Street) had successfully entered an IGP1 against

his transfer to Shenfield depot; Bro. Cato was rejected as a

delegate to the Black & Ethnic Minority Conference due to

his retired status; and Bro Wallis had been accepted as the

Branch’s delegate to the Annual General Meeting 2008.

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0626 EAST LONDON RAIL– BRANCH NEWS FEBRUARY 2008

CORRESPONDENCE

Items of particular interest to the Branch received in

February included both the receipt of our nomination

of bro Glenn Wallis as the Branch’s delegate to the

RMT’s 2008 Annual General Meeting and subsequently

a confirmation of his being accepted. So congratula-

tions to Glenn, and of course the Branch expects a

full report back of the main event of the year where

the democracy of the union is in action!

We were officially informed that the Branch’s pro-

posed name change from Great Eastern Rail to East

London Rail was passed by the General Grades Com-

mittee having been already approved by the Regional

Council. We did this to reflect the inclusive nature of

the RMT in covering different workplaces and the fact

that we represent all Grades in the Branch regardless

of employer or TOC franchise.

A circular was received from the General secretary

keeping us up-to-date with the proposed introduction

of a LER-run Revenue Protection Depot at Cambridge.

The Company has been trying to introduce new

grades which were not agreed under harmonisation

(which pretty clearly shows that their commitment to

that document is only when it suits them!); the RMT

have provisionally agreed this so long as there is no

on-train working. So all members should immediately

make their Rep or local Officer aware if they know of

any Meteor staff doing on train work.

Invitations were received to the RMT Political School

6-11 July 2008 in Doncaster. Guest speakers and the

RMT Parliamentary Group will be there speaking on

various topics of interest to trade Unionists, such as

international solidarity, the European Union, Political

Parties, the far right, and local campaigning. There

are only 12 places available so anyone who wants to

attend– and definitely can! -should contact the

Branch Secretary on 07940340128 ASAP.

We were informed that Network Rail Op’s , Customer

Service, Project, and Engineering staff may shortly be

in dispute over rates of pay and conditions ; and in

Lincoln, Signallers are to strike in support of a col-

league’s treatment and to defend PT&R agreements,

so watch this space!

NEXT MEETING: THURSDAY 20th MARCH 2008—RAILWAY TAVERN, ANGEL LANE, STRATFORD–

18.30 HOURS. PHONE 07940 340 128 FOR DETAILS OR EMAIL eastlondonrail@rmt.org.uk

A complete list of all the secretary’s correspon-

dence received is available at every Branch

Meeting or by emailing the secretary at:

eastlondonrail@rmt.org.uk

Station Assistant Terry Pope (LOROL, Leyton Midland Road sta-

tion) requested that Risk Assessments be done regarding the

12-hour lone-working shifts currently rostered for Sunday work-

ing. This is a recent introduction, and there are serious Health &

Safety implications: the line (Gospel Oak to Barking) runs

through some extremely deprived areas of north and east Lon-

don with all the social problems that stem from that; the

Branch agreed that at these stations two-person working,

whether through shift over-lap or otherwise, should be the

norm. It is an anomaly in that many of these staff were re-

cruited under Silverlink (with Silverlink contracts), but were not

on the list of TUPE’d staff; the Branch felt that, similarly to the

Sunday working issue, these members of staff are not being

treated fairly or equally with existing employees due to merely

being new, which is unacceptable.

The issue of employers’ continuing use of agency workers

arose, and a good point was made that since LOROL has pro-

vided them with the same uniforms, but a much poorer stan-

dard of training (on average three to four days for agency staff

rather than the three to four weeks given to employees), this

can get regular staff into confrontational situations with the

public. For example, if an agency worker has misinformed or

poorly treated a passenger, the passenger may ‘take it out’ on

the next staff member they see, assuming they are the same.

Bro. Arnold Randall made a similar point regarding the

‘Magenta’ Revenue Protection agency used by Silverlink/

LOROL. Management have called this– in the words of a LOROL

Customer Services Manager spoken to by Bro. Randall- a

‘quick-fix’. In this case, to ‘fix’ the fact that they need to ‘staff’

previously-unstaffed stations to fulfil their contract with TfL

which they cannot do with existing staff. It was suggested that

perhaps the company– like so many TOC’s– should be concen-

trating on recruiting well-trained, professional, full-time, and

directly-employed staff rather than resorting to ’quick-fixes’

which just so happen to be ‘on the cheap’ too. Which means

that TfL is happy because the franchise obligations are being

met; LOROL’s bean-counters are happy; the only losers are the

staff whose professionalism and conditions are being eroded

and the long-suffering travelling public who are getting half a

service.

LONE-WORKING ~ AGENCY STAFF

~ REVENUE PROTECTION ~ MESS ROOM FACILI-

TIES ~ UNIFORM ~ RESTRUCTURING

0626 EAST LONDON RAIL– BRANCH NEWS FEBRUARY 2008

3

NEXT MEETING: THURSDAY 20th MARCH 2008—RAILWAY TAVERN, ANGEL LANE, STRATFORD–

18.30 HOURS. PHONE 07940 340 128 FOR DETAILS OR EMAIL eastlondonrail@rmt.org.uk

Continuing with Revenue Protection issues, Bro Randall said they are still chasing their claim for a Time+¾ Sunday

rate, on account that the existing Time+½ was never agreed or written down (no document even now exists) and

therefore never superseded the original, higher, rate. Bro Wallis said that ticket issuing facilities have been re-

moved from RPI’s (agency and in-house) and Guards. This seriously reduces the number of options available to

RPI’s and leaves them with very little discretion– and such discretion is an integral part of following the Inspectors’

Handbook. It was noted that the company must have far more faith in the infallibility of their Oyster equipment

than experience suggests it deserves… If RPI’s are unable to issue tickets and passengers are unable to touch-in or

out, presumably they will deducted five pounds and risk a Penalty Fare: a situation which is as bizarre as it is pos-

sible.

Regarding ‘Magenta’ agency staff, LOROL claim they are committed to bringing these posts in-house; the Branch

agreed that if this was not resolved by the 22nd March 2008, a resolution would be proposed to take action on this

issue of fundamental importance.

Whereas Revenue staff used to work under the auspices of the Railway Act 1994 and associated legislation, now

they also issue Penalty Fares under TfL statutes too (e.g., the Greater London Authority Act 1999) but so far with-

out the necessary training in the new regulations. We have been unable as yet to ascertain how, if National Rail

Conditions of Carriage apply on LOROL services, how can TfL’s regulations run parallel? These are things that

LOROL management need to explain as without clarity there will be an increased risk of confrontation.

Messing facilities at these newly staffed stations are also outrageously limited for the number of people now ex-

pected to use them. For example– no hot water at many stations, and one example was given where, the micro-

wave being switched on. it blew the power supply! And at Wanstead Park there are no lights working in the toilet

so a hand-held torch is required by users; likewise, the staff had to have their own whip-round in order to buy a

heater! These are almost Monty Python-style situations which would probably be funny if they were not so serious

by showing the contempt with which staff (both new and old) are held in by LOROL management.

A risk assessment was carried out on the GOB line on 21st January, as well as the above lack of messing facilities,

there was a lack of passenger information on ticket issuing facilities, and the Portocabins in use either are or will be

a health & Safety risk; Bro. Randall to raise this with management. Along with questions over the limited staff

travel facilities available and the shoddy uniforms, Bro Randall also raised the fact that the GOB and North

London Line needs Local Reps urgently– anyone interested should contact him 07961257608.

TICKETS £18–

FREE BAR

BUFFET

MUSIC

GUEST

SPEAKERS

CONTACT THE BRANCH SECRETARY FOR TICKETS:

ED SHINE– 07940340128; EMAIL eastlondonrail@rmt.org.uk

a

LIVERPOOL STREET GATELINE STAFF

The Branch has managed to obtain a copy of the Automatic

Gateline Safety Case which the Company for some years now

have been prevaricating on discussing (at at times, even deny-

ing its existence!). The Branch feels this can only be that if no-

one knows what is in the safety Case, LER cannot then be

proved to be in breach of it. Your Branch and Local Officers

and Local Reps will be going through this document with a fine

toothcomb, and any breaches will be automatically dealt with

at a higher level of this union. The Branch has already had

many reports– and complaints– about staffing levels on the

gateline; the frequently changing rosters; use of badly-trained

Agency staff; and the general profit-above-safety culture which

pervades throughout the running of this department. On the

latter issue (one of the most important) the main point is that

according to the safety case, if a number of the gates are out

of use, the whole array must be opened to prevent overcrowd-

ing and congestion. This is regularly over-ruled by local man-

agement. Rest assured, these matters are being taken further.

0626 EAST LONDON RAIL– BRANCH NEWS FEBRUARY 2008

4

NEXT BRANCH MEETING

direct attack on our members’ right show their

membership with pride. NXEA now insist that

RMT lanyards (neck-cords for I.D. badges,

whistles etc.) are not to be worn; many mem-

bers of staff seem to object to advertising a

bus company on their shoulders and as such

very few lanyards of any design are now

worn… however there has been an explosion in

the number of key rings, tie-clips, and badges

on show. East London Rail Branch congratu-

lates all members on their refusal to be told

how they can show off their membership of

this proud Union. Well done. It was also pro-

posed that research is done into the feasibility

of producing cravat-clips for our female mem-

bers.

The company have demonstrated time and

time again how they will lie to this Union and

our’ members and will ride roughshod over

agreements. So far they have not introduced

the NVQ Qualification which should be the

right of all members who wish to progress

themselves, and incidentally a requirement for

p r omo t i on , unde r t he so - ca l l ed

‘harmonisation’. And although keen enough to

create a new grade at their proposed Cam-

bridge Revenue Protection depot that was NOT

agreed under harmonisation and would have

created a lower starting rate for Revenue staff,

they have consistently refused– and seem

proud of their refusal– to adhere to what they

agreed in introducing the Level Two RPI Grade

which would be a seamless promotion struc-

ture. They are of course happy to have the

duties of this grade carried out by Level one

RPI’s at the lower rate. The only grades above

RPI’s as we speak are Team Leader and then

Prosecutions Officer (a managerial post), ef-

fectively a denial of prospects (as there are an

extremely limited number of these positions.

Likewise it can be argued that staff have been

recruited/ retained on false pretences and the

promise of promotion which does not exist.

Promotion prospects for RPI’s are thus slim as

in theory to be promoted they must do an

NVQ course which is NOT offered in order to

reach a Grade which does NOT exist! This is

hypocrisy and a breach of faith and will be dis-

cussed in depth at next months’ meeting.

THE WEEK AFTER THIS BRANCH MEETING

sees the ‘launch’ of National Express’ re-branded ‘one’ franchise as

‘National Express East Anglia’, an exercise, in the view of the

Branch, in cosmetic surgery if ever there was one. As usual in such

things there is plenty of money to be spent on re-liverying trains

and changing sign posts etc; but the Branch wondered whether the

same liberal spending would be shown when it came to dealing with

pay claims and improvement in staff conditions? It was considered,

of course, unlikely, and demonstrates the poverty of privatisation:

the only ‘job for life’ left on the railway nowadays appears to be for

Uniform designers and train decorators who are guaranteed work

every few years purely in order to replace what they did a few years

before! In any other business of course this would be considered

madness; but welcome to Railway Wonderland and keep an eye out

for a new board of directors… including the March Hare, a Mad Hat-

ter, and probably a Humpty Dumpty or two there as well!

On a more serious note, the new uniform regulations– which funnily

enough have not been agreed or negotiated with this Union– are a

‘one’ RE-BRANDING ~ AGENCY

STAFF ~ RPI PROMOTION ~

LIVERPOL STREET GATELINE