Welcome to all RMT Arriva Trains Wales members
This website has been created in order to improve the information available to all members employed by ATW and will hopefully become a useful resource for our members.
Unity is Strength / Mewn Undeb Mae Nerth
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Latest News
- 18/11/08-A report on the Guards/Conductors Company Council meetings on 6th & 7th November 2008 can be found in the Guards section of the website.
- 17/11/08-Avantix Machine Upgrade (South only) further info can be found in the Guards section of the website.
- 14/11/08-Chester Branch RMT Next Meeting Thursday 4th December 2008 at the Town Crier Public House Chester commencing at 19.00hrs.
- 11/11/08- Cardiff Rail Branch Next Meeting Tuesday 18th November 2008 at The Sandringham Hotel St Mary's Street Cardiff commencing at 18.00hrs.
- 10/11/08- A new AT Seat Catering Section has been added to the webite
- 10/11/08-RMT Circular:
RATES OF PAY AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE 2008– ARRIVA TRAINS WALES
I write to advise members that a further and improved offer has been received from the company. This new pay offer has been considered by your Executive who have decided to hold a referendum on the offer of all RMT members employed by ATW other than Train Driver members with a strong recommendation to accept. Please find below details of the new offer tabled by the company:-
Year 1 - effective from 1 April 2008
Basic rate increase: 4.75%, or
£750 (whichever is the greater)
with an additional 0.5% on basic rate in part compensation for a move of the 1 April 2010 pay review date to 1 July 2010.
Please note: this would take the pay increase from 4.75% to 5.25%, or for those for whom £750 is the greater amount 0.5% on top of the percentage increase represented by the £750.
* Removal of the 75% training rate for new recruits to Station Staff grades
* Increase to the Maternity Pay Provision as follows:
- 12 weeks on full pay
- 12 weeks on half pay
- 15 weeks Statutory Maternity pay
Year 2 - effective from 1 April 2009
Basic rate increase: 3%, or
RPI plus 0.75%, or
£800 (whichever is the greater)
with an additional 0.5% on basic rate in part compensation for a move of the 1 April 2010 pay review date to 1 July 2010.
Please note: the RPI figure used for year two will be the most recent figure published before the review date.
Your Council of Executives (General Grades Committee) recommend that you vote ‘YES’ to accept this offer for the following reasons:-
· The pay offer is an above inflation pay increase and it includes an additional 0.5% increase in rates of pay for ALL non-Driver grades that was implemented for Drivers from July 2007.
· The pay offer will greatly improve rates of pay for lower-paid grades through two years of flat rate pay increase and abolition of the 75% training rate for new recruits to Station Staff.
· The moving of the anniversary date from 1 April to 1 July 2010 will enable an equalisation of anniversary dates, with all grades (including Drivers) as a move towards single table pay bargaining
Therefore, I am asking you to please complete the enclosed voting paper and return it to Union Headquarters in the Freepost envelope provided by no later than Thursday 20th November 2008.
VOTE ‘YES’ TO ACCEPT THE OFFER
Yours sincerely
Bob Crow
General Secretary
- 16/10/08-Arriva Trains Wales Pay Negotiations 2008
Both RMT and TSSA will shortly be conducting ballots for industrial action as a result in the breakdown in negotiations
We would like to remind all members of the following:
FACT: Arriva PLC have recently announced profits of £14.8m for their UK Trains Division this is up from £1.1m
FACT: Arriva PLC have recently increased their share dividend by 10%
FACT: Arriva Trains Wales revenue has increased by 12.3%
FACT: Arriva PLC operating profits have been announced at £76.3m and increase of some 44%!
FACT: Low paid Arriva Trains Wales workers are forced to rely on state benefits to supplement their incomes.
All RMT and TSSA are asking for is fairness and parity in relation to the pay claim and feel that it is unacceptable and immoral that fellow employees are awarded higher pay rises simply because they are from a different grade. Arriva PLC are currently reaping vast financial rewards which are as a direct result of the hard work and endeavours of both RMT and TSSA members, it is an insult that they feel it necessary to divide rail workers in the manner in which the company has so arrogantly done.USE YOUR VOTE AND VOTE YES FOR INDUSTRIAL ACTION
UNITY IS STRENGTH
If you have not received a ballot paper please call RMT Helpline 0800 376 3706 - 13/10/08-RMT to ballot ATW members for industrial action-to read please click here
- 13/10/08 Report on Guards/Conductors Company Council meeting held on 8/10/08 can be found in the Guards section of the site.
- 2/10/08 - RMT Circular:
TO ALL RMT BRANCHES REGIONAL COUNCILS AND REGIONAL OFFICES
Dear Colleagues,
RATES OF PAY AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE 2008 – ARRIVA TRAINS WALES
I write to advise you all of the following report which has been noted and adopted by the GGC and is as follows:-
“That we note the report has now been received from our Lead Officer (25th September 2008) and that no improved offer has been received from the company. Accordingly the GS is instructed to conduct a ballot of all our members employed by ATW covered by this pay claim (i.e. not Drivers) for strike action and action short of a strike in pursuit of our pay claim. Ballot papers to be returned no later than Tuesday 28th October 2008. All branches and regional councils to be informed.”
In line with this decision, I would be obliged if you could ask all local reps and activists to do an audit of Arriva Trains Wales members’ records as soon as possible and inform the Industrial Relations department of any changes.
I shall keep you all advised as matters progress.
Yours Sincerely
Bob Crow
General Secretary - 25/09/08 - ATW RPS Saver Scheme:
I have been requested by RMT Representatives and members to outline the RMT’s position regarding this scheme. First and foremost, the decision to participate or not is an individual one and it is clear staff will only be able to participate if they gain financially out of the scheme.
There is currently no RMT Policy for or against these schemes but this may change.
This scheme allows Companies to reduce their own, and their employees (although not all employees) National Insurance Contributions. This would seem to be a “loophole” under current legislation allowing “Salary Sacrifice” schemes to be implemented for this purpose. Other employers have introduced similar schemes and we believe this will continue until the Government choose to prevent it happening.
Concerns were expressed by RMT and some of the other Trade Unions at a recent Company Council meeting that this scheme is intended to reduce National Insurance Contributions to the Government and will ultimately reduce the ability to pay for Welfare Benefits. Train Operating Companies have benefitted greatly from state (taxpayers) subsidies since privatisation.
RMT issues with RPS saver scheme:
· We have registered our opposition to the fact that the scheme expects staff to opt- out instead of opting- in. We are also now aware that opt-out forms are not enclosed with the information being sent out and staff have to ask for them.
· There could be low paid staff that will not have the option of benefiting under this scheme. We believe the company should now consider some benefit for those staff to be paid out of the financial benefits that Arriva Trains Wales will receive from the scheme. We believe that Arriva stand to gain considerably more than their employees from this scheme and we have therefore requested detailed information on the financial benefits to the company but have still not received this.
· We believe ATW should give cast iron assurances that our members will not suffer any future detriment because of this scheme, and that any such detriment would be “made good” by Arriva Trains Wales although the scheme does provide some assurances.
· There is currently concerns about the need for members contribution rises in the company pension scheme and the RMT will be seeking any ‘windfall’ that ATW receive to be used productively for the benefit of the staff, particularly in the Pension area.
· We will be insisting on a joint review at Company Council within the 12 months.
The decision to stay in or opt-out is a personal one for each individual.
Brendan Kelly, RMT Regional Organiser, South Wales and the West
Following numerous requests by ATW managment for additional time to repond to a joint RMT, TSSA and UNITE proposal to move the 2008 pay claim forward it is with regret that we inform you that the ATW response has again failed to match the aspirations of the unions.
The matter will now be placed before the RMT National Executive for consideration and you will be informed in due course of any further developments. RMT remains available for further talks with ATW any point.
We have now reached a very difficult position in our discussions over pay for the general grades within ATW. RMT members have clearly stated by a massive majority in a referendum that the Company need to reconsider their position. In consultations the big issues for our members is 'fairness across all grades', 'Ending low pay' and ' A fair share in the financial success of ATW'. The current offer which has been rejected by our members needs to be improved in these areas.
In negotiations the Management view was that "they were there to represent the shareholders". Well clearly the Trade unions are here to speak for the workforce. There are very strong views being expressed by our members about ATW and this 'alienation' has been demonstrated clearly by the support given to Managers on strike. There is a real possibility that Industrial Relations could spiral downwards but it doesn't have to be that way. If ATW explain to Shareholders that on this occasion they need to listen to the hard working staff on the front line who actually deliver the profits then we can easily find a way through the current difficulties. The RMT national leadership will now make a decision on the way forward and regretably an Industrial Action ballot seems inevitable.
Union warns of company-wide ballot on pay
RMT, BRITAIN’S biggest rail union, today expressed its complete support for members of the Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA) in dispute with Arriva Trains Wales.
TSSA members employed as driver managers at the company are in dispute over the erosion of pay differentials and began a 24-hour strike at mid-day today (Tuesday September 16), in addition to bans on overtime and on-call work.
RMT has instructed its driver members at ATW to ensure that they do not undertake any duties normally carried out by their striking colleagues.
“RMT fully supports its brothers and sisters in TSSA who are in dispute with Arriva Trains Wales,” RMT general secretary Bob Crow said today.
“We have made it clear to the substantial number of RMT drivers at the company that they should undertake only their normal duties and that under no circumstances should they do work normally done by driver-managers.
“We have also made urgent representations to ATW to ensure that our members’ safety is not compromised in the event of any operational incident during the dispute, and we have urged the company to negotiate a settlement that is acceptable to driver-managers.
“There is also growing anger among our own members that Arriva Trains Wales has so far failed to table an acceptable pay deal, and I have no doubt that if ATW does not take seriously the rejection of its latest offer it will be facing a company-wide ballot.
“I am sure that where they can our members will show their support for their TSSA colleagues on picket lines, and it goes without saying that RMT will provide whatever practical assistance it can to its colleagues in dispute,” Bob Crow said.
ATW Management have been presented with a proposal that has been jointly put forward by the unions which it is hoped will move the situation forward and the company are currently in the process of investigating the proposal before responding formally by Tuesday 26th August 2008.
Should the response from ATW Management be in the unions view unsatisfactory the matter will be placed before the RMT National Executive where a decision will be taken as to the next course of action.
All unions in the meantime remain open to further negotiations at any time with the company.
RMT Representatives along with their colleagues from TSSA and UNITE met with Arriva Trains Wales Management on Thursday 14th August 2008 for further discussions in relation to the 2008 All Grades pay claim.
The meeting followed the overwhelming rejection of the proposed deal by members of all of the unions following recently conducted referendum ballots. The mass rejection of the deal centres around the difference of 0.5% awarded between Driver Grades and All Grades for the 2007 pay claim. Members of RMT, TSSA and UNITE have sent a clear message to their unions that they are not prepared to tolerate such divisive and unfair practices on the part of ATW and this was strongly conveyed to management by the union representatives.
Unfortunately the strength of feeling of the members at this point seems to have fallen on deaf ears with ATW and it is with regret that we report that there has been no significant progress at this stage. A further meeting has been convened for Thursday 21st August 2008 where it is hoped that the matter can be successfully concluded.
If however these talks prove to be unsuccessful all unions have left the company in the clear knowledge that a ballot for industrial action will be conducted.
585
Number Voting ‘Yes’
31
Number Voting ‘No’
554
Spoilt papers
0
The company will now be formally notified of the result of the referendum with the matter to be referred back to the RMT General Grades Committee no later that Wednesday 13th August 2008 unless an improved offer is made by the company.
This ballot result sends a very clear message to the ATW. RMT members are saying that ATW must now deal with this issue and that this group of grades are angry that they did not get the pay rise they should have got in 2007. They are not convinced by the Company arguments and there is now only way one forward.
Once this unresolved issue gets sorted we can work with the Company to ensure this problem does not reoccur in future years. RMT strongly believe it would be better to deal with the annual pay and conditions claim by having all the trade unions at the same bargaining table. RMT, TSSA and Unite have proposed this to ATW and our sister union ASLEF for future years.
'Unity is strength' is not just a slogan it is a precondition for working people to achieve a fair deal for all."
On Monday 7th July 2008 The RMT All Grades Company Council along with representatives from TSSA and UNITE met with ATW Management to discuss the 2008 Pay Claim. At the meeting the company submitted what it considered to be its "best offer", a two year deal which consisted of the following:
Year 1 – 4.75% or £750 whichever is the greater ( ATW state that 319 staff would be affected by the £750)
Year 2 – RPI + 0.75%
Maternity Pay: This would increase to 12 weeks full pay instead of 6 weeks.
In addition to the offer the company formally declined to meet the 0.5% pay differential in respect of the final settlements for Drivers and All Grades pay claims for 2007. Both RMT and TSSA have written formally to ATW asking that this matter be dealt prior to this year’s pay talks but without any success.
Because the offer failed to address the 0.5% issue then unfortunately the offer has fallen short of the union’s aspirations even more so as there is again a difference between the offers put forward during both the ALL Grades negotiations and the Drivers Negotiations (Drivers offered 5% for 2008). The RMT is an All Grades Union and as such offers which only seek to divide the workforce are unacceptable and against both the aims and objectives of the union.
As a result of the meeting a joint statement will now be issued by RMT, TSSA and UNITE followed by a referendum ballot of all members within the three unions with a recommendation to reject the companies offer. This coordinated action is unprecedented within Arriva Trains Wales and is a strong sign of the union’s determination to secure the best possible deal for its members.
It is the intention of the RMT to conduct its referendum ballot of its members as soon as possible and we strongly urge all members to vote to reject the offer. The intention of the referendum is to send a clear message to ATW that our members will not accept unfair treatment. If ATW fail to respond to support for the joint Union position in the referendum then all three unions will move to organise Industrial Action ballots.
This action is proposed because of the unprecedented amount of pressure on RMT, TSSA and UNITE by members who have demanded we deal with this unfairness.
The RMT Regional Organiser has written to ASLEF on behalf of all the Trade Unions suggesting that we resume single table pay talks in the future to prevent divisive pay deals.
RMT Reps strongly Recommend
VOTE NO TO THE PAY OFFER
SUPPORT YOUR UNION
- 7th July 2008: Report of meeting with ATW Revenue Protection Inspector can be found in Guards Section of site
- 7th July 2008: Report on RMT Train Crew Conference 2008 - To read please click here
- 9th June 2008 Circular from RMT General Secretary Bob Crow
Dear Colleague,
DISMISSAL – C. GRANT – ARRIVA TRAINS WALES
Following correspondence from two South Wales Rail Branches regarding their extreme concern over the dismissal of Brother Colin Grant the union advised the company of the dispute situation that existed.
The dismissal was the result of a disciplinary hearing where he had been charged with a safety of the line incident, but his employment record had until that point been incident free. This dismissal was a further example of the draconian disciplinary methods increasingly being employed by the management of Arriva Trains Wales and members were further concerned that the company appear to have adopted a ‘one strike and you’re out’ policy.
Thankfully, the company have now seen sense and reinstated Brother Grant to his full position at an appeal hearing. The union have been successful in achieving our goal and the dispute has therefore been resolved.
The strength of feeling shown to management by Brother Grant’s colleagues was overwhelming and definitely an important factor in gaining this successful result. Management would have been in no doubt that should the result of the appeal been less favourable there would have been a positive result for action by RMT members.
I would like to congratulate all RMT members and officers in South Wales for the tremendous support they have shown to their colleague.
Yours sincerely,
Bob Crow
General Secretary