RMT balloting for Industrial action on GWR

[whole diary]

[TaplowGreen]

Just read on another forum that Bruvver Lynch has written to the membership within GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) on this subject, over "proposed changes to ticket offices" amongst other issues.

Here we go again?

[ChrisB]

Link please?

[TaplowGreen]

Link please?

......since you said "please", here it is! 

https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/rmt-preparing-for-industrial-action-ballot-at-gwr.282365/

[GBM]

Our Ref: BR2/15/4
27 February 2024
CHANGES TO TICKET OFFICES – GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY
A formal document has been received from Great Western Railway (GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway)) management outlining the
company’s approach to station operations. While some points align with previous decisions made by the
Union’s National Executive Committee (NEC^» (National Exhibition Centre - about)), several proposed changes require urgent attention
After reviewing the company’s proposals and the report from your Lead Ofcer, the NEC has directed
me to launch a recruitment campaign within GWR to strengthen industrial support. This action is
necessary given the company’s failure to properly consult and negotiate with your Union. If you know a
colleague who is not yet a member of the RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers), please encourage them to join by clicking HERE,
calling 020 7387 4771, or using our Freephone number 0800 376 3706 and asking to speak to our
membership department.
In addition, the NEC has instructed me to prepare a ballot matrix for all Station Grade members within
GWR.
The industrial ballot will be in response to:
The proposed changes to Ticket Ofces
The unilateral ‘watering down’ of safety-critical duties of dispatch staff
Concerns regarding single stafng of gate line members.
If your job title, address, or workplace has changed recently, it is essential that you update your details.
You can do so by:

[ChrisB]

It concludes -

Frustratingly, GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) is using current legal loopholes under minimum service legislation to bypass public
 consultation. As a result, the NEC^» (National Exhibition Centre - about) has also instructed me to escalate our campaign by raising awareness
 among RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) members, the public, disability rights groups, and other vulnerable campaigning groups
 about the detrimental impact of these changes. This effort will build on the Union’s powerful ‘Save Our
 Stations’ initiative. Additionally, the Union is considering a coordinated national campaign to challenge
 similar threats across the railway network.
 I trust this keeps you advised, and I will continue to keep members updated on this situation.
Yours sincerely
Michael Lynch
 General Secretary

But no details as to what the changes GWR are making.

[ChrisB]

Our Ref: BR2/15/4
27 February 2024

Micky seems a tad behind the times too....

[TaplowGreen]

Seen on another forum - from Bruvver Dempsey - not sure if it's connected to the dispute on the original post, there seem to be a lot of them about! 


7th March 2025

Dear RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) Member

BREAKDOWN IN INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS, STATION GRADES - GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY

As you may be aware RMT went into dispute with the company regarding Rest Day Work rates of pay, Sunday rates of pay, and back pay to achieve parity with Driving grades who were given enhanced Sunday and Rest Day Work payments in 2024. The company has an agreement with the Unions to treat all grades equally, which it was in breach of, both with Joint Stations Divisional Council and On Trains Divisional Council.

This dispute arose as the company appeared to be dragging their feet over obtaining a Department for Transport mandate to negotiate and JSDC ran out of patience.

Station staff have been treated as poor relations to other grades for far too long.

GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) obtained a mandate in January and talks commenced; but the company brought forward plans similar to their Workplace Reform proposals which they wished to negotiate alongside the dispute issue. This included, under the banner of a '7 Day Railway', proposals that would mean significant changes to every member's Terms & Conditions, and see Sundays brought into the working week. There has been no mention of any significant compensation for our members in exchange for these huge concessions.

JSDC insisted that the company settle the outstanding dispute before any further negotiations took place, and the company returned to the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) for a mandate to do so. They returned with an offer which failed to even address the back pay issue, and only offered Safety Critical staff a Sunday enhancement, leaving Ticket Office staff, non-safety critical platform staff, TSSO staff, and Gateline staff offered nothing at all for Sunday working, and all Station Grades offered no enhancements for RDWK at all.

This in no way offered parity with the Driver's deal; it was a derisory offer that denigrates the vital work Station staff do, and was completely unacceptable to your Staff side representatives; we were unanimous in this. JSDC turned down the offer and the talks collapsed. We have expressed our willingness to talk to the company, but until the material dispute is settled, this is not possible.

It now appears that the company intends to press ahead with its desired reforms to current working practices without agreement from your representatives, and without first settling the current dispute.

JSDC remains open to continuing discussions with the company to find a way forward but we will not be bullied into accepting a settlement that does not respect the efforts our members make on behalf of the company, day in day out, in all weathers, on the frontline, delivering the best service we can.

[ChrisB]

So who is doing the bullying?

[IndustryInsider]

So who is doing the bullying?

Well, ‘management’ of course.  Who else?! 

We can now expect the RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) to get even more militant under Dempsey’s watch.  And it might be a long watch as he’s still quite a young man.

Not good news for the industry as a whole IMHO^▸ (in my humble opinion).  Though he is right about station staff being treated as a poor relation compared to other grades.

[TaplowGreen]

So who is doing the bullying?

We can now expect the RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) to get even more militant under Dempsey’s watch.  And it might be a long watch as he’s still quite a young man.

........with some pretty unsavoury associates to call on if people get out of line too! (I believe the gentleman in the picture with Bruvver Dempsey is dead, however I'm sure Vlad has plenty more where he came from to assist!)