NERC Newsletter March 2024

North East Region

CONTACT US:

Your North East Regional Council can be contacted at:

NorthEastRegionalCouncil@rmt.org.uk

And on our X (Twitter): @RMTNorthEast

FIGHTING FOR A SAFE RAILWAY

Activists from the region joined a rally outside the Houses of Parliament on 28th February as part of RMT’s “Rail Cuts Cost Lives” campaign.

Speakers including Wansbeck MP Ian Lavery called on the Tories to ensure our railway has the funding it needs to run safely and effectively.

The dysfunctional government has decided to axe funding to Network Rail’s budget, and the company plans £1.2bn of cuts over the next 5 years - this is starting to become apparent in our region, with Darlington No.1 branch already raising concerns about MOM cover being cut back and York & District branch moving a resolution regarding the issue

These cuts will absolutely result in a less safe and less reliable railway, and we refuse to sit back and allow this government to play hard and fast with people’s lives in order to ensure their friends can continue to line their pockets

Our ageing rail network needs more investment, not less; it needs to be improved, and this can only happen by increasing investment, not cutting inspections and track renewals

Our members working for Network Rail have already reported an increase in cracked rails and crucially major issues with drainage – all members will recall the events which led to the Carmont rail disaster and the serious implications this will have

Members on TOCs will know how long it takes for issues to be resolved and the massive rise in infrastructureattributed disruption: this will drive people away from the railway as they believe it to be unreliable

We in the North East will continue to support this crucial campaign – we refuse to allow our railway to become less safe.

A MESSAGE FROM JAMIE DRISCOLL

Mayor of North Tyne, Jamie Driscoll, has always been a great ally to RMT, supporting our disputes and coming to many of our picket lines, from TOC disputes to cleaning strikes.

On May 2nd, Jamie will stand for election as a combined North East Mayor - as an independent candidate. RMT is proud to support him as he has done for us on so many occasions. He has a message to RMT members as the election approaches.

“The election for the new North East Mayor is on May 2nd. When I was first elected as North of Tyne Mayor in 2019, I promised to unite the region so we could get transport devolved I’ve kept that promise and from May 2024 the North East gets £6.1 billion and the power to control our own transport system. I’ve already worked with Government and Northumberland County Council to re-open the Ashington to Newcastle line, which will start taking passengers this year.

"If elected North East Mayor I will create a Total Transport Network across the region. Fully accessible with publicly controlled buses, extended Metro lines, integrated ticketing, increased active travel, capped fares and free travel for under-18s and students. I’ve got a plan to reopen the Leamside Line, through Gateshead and County Durham – we need further Government investment, but we can also lever in private investment from pension funds. Let’s remember that this is our money, sitting in pension funds. We want them to divest from fossil fuels, let’s give them something productive to invest in, like useful transport links that will revitalise our communities.

"My politics are simple, Britain should be run in the interests of the people who do the work. That’s why I’ve always stood shoulder to shoulder with the RMT in your campaigns to get a better deal for workers and passengers. We can have a transport revolution right here in the North East, but we need a mayor who you can trust to deliver."

Next branch meetings:

Teesside - Sunday 28th April, 1900 at Green Tree Pub, Middlesbrough

Newcastle Rail & Catering - Friday 19th April, 1800 at Marlborough Club, Newcastle (also on Zoom)

York & District - Monday 8th April, 1830 at Bar Convent Living Heritage Centre, York

Darlington - Monday 29th April, 1630 at the new East End Club, Darlington

Please make every effort to attend your local branch meeting - this is as always the best way to get up-to-the-minute information from your branch officials and activists. It’s a great way to explore getting more involved in RMT, and as always making sure your voice is heard.

TOC PAY TALKS IN PROGRESS

After TOC members agreed to accept the pay cut for 2022/23 in December, they were advised that pay talks for 2023/24 (last year) would recommence in February 2024.

As this region stated previously, the government is still hellbent on attacking the jobs, pay and conditions of rail staff, all dressed up under the auspice of “efficiency savings” – savings they claim they need to make, all the while protecting companies from any liability for their incompetent running of the rail network

It was clear then that TOCs would use these “talks” to undermine hard-won terms and conditions, and so it has come to pass

TOCs are seeking to bypass collective bargaining agreements, and are attempting to have you, the members, fund a paltry pay deal by selling off your leave and rest days, and submit to the enforcement of draconian sickness policies

Our members should not have to sacrifice anything for a pay rise when we see companies like Avanti milking the taxpayer, as they know they don’t even need to bother attempting to run a service and they’ll be rewarded handsomely Avanti even boasted of “free money ” from the DFT – utter contempt

Talks will be ongoing, but it should come as no surprise that TOCS, dictated to by the Rail Delivery Group, are already showing intransigence in rewarding hardworking staff, and attempting to make members’ working lives poorer We should be prepared to resist any proposals that are detrimental, and support our Company Councils and Regional Organisers as they move forward in representing our members.

CONFERENCE SEASON BEGINS

The North East has been well-represented at both the RMT and TUC women ’ s conferences in February and March.

The RMT women ’ s conference, chaired by our regional Secretary Jessica Robinson, began the important job of reforming RMT’s Women’s Charter, where members can find model policies regarding women ’ s issues and commitments from the union to work towards a better working environment for all women. The conference also voted to send a resolution to AGM regarding women and the next General Election, which was brought to the conference by Darlington No.1 branch.

Jessica Robinson also moved two resolutions at the TUC women ’ s conference, one regarding the safety of women and girls on public transport and one regarding recruiting more female seafarers, both of which were carried unanimously. Jessica was subsequently elected to the TUC women ’ s committee, bringing a local North East voice to the national trade union movement

WORKING TO END THE SCOURGE OF OUTSOURCING FOR OUR CLEANERS

The North East region is honoured to host this year ’ s RMT Industrial Organising Conference o Transport Cleaning Workers in York on May 10th/11th.

The region continues to stand up and support a cleaning members who are disproportionally affected by outsourcing companies. These companies profit on exploitation, and siphon m required money away from public services.

Their business model exists by setting their pri as low as possible to win contracts, and they the attempt to drive down labour costs by slashing and smothering pay and conditions.

Between them, in 2022 these companies made £100million in profits and paid out almost £80million in dividends.

Cleaner members will know that they are facing a daily struggle just to survive – most will worry about paying their bills whilst the bosses continue exploiting them. Imagine going sick through no fault of your own and having to rely on the paltry Statutory Sick Pay; inexcusable in modern Britain. They cannot get decent pensions and face poverty in retirement.

RMT have committed to working with any incoming government who have promised to “ oversee the biggest wave of insourcing of public services for a generation,” with Teesside Branch Secretary John Hill recently attending an a joint union lobby of the Labour Party in March to put pressure on them to end the scourge of outsourcing. At the event, Labour pledged to bring all outsourcing cleaning companies in-house and encourage public ownership

Already the RMT has also begun lobbying the Labour Mayor of Liverpool to try and get cleaning inhouse on Merseyrail, and have worked with Sadiq Khan in London to attempt to persuade Transport for London to insource more than 2000 cleaners on London Underground.

We must ensure we continue to keep momentum going and put the same energy into achieving insourcing in our region: OUR CLEANERS DESERVE BETTER.

Any cleaner members who wish to attend the conference in May, please contact your Branch Secretary for a nomination.

PAY VICTORY FOR NORTHERN TRAVEL SAFE OFFICERS

RMT yet again have achieved a massive pay victory for our outsourced workers on the Northern franchise

Our valued Travel Safe Officers (TSOs) – thanks to your RMT negotiating team – have achieved a 10% pay award for all TSOs and Team Leaders for April 2024-March 2025

This shows yet again what can be achieved when we work together, and is a fair and just reward with no strings Please ensure that members working in these grades join the RMT so we can keep achieving these victories

REGIONAL CONTACTS

NERC CONTACTS

David King - Executive Member North East d.king@rmt.org.uk

Martin McCleary - Lead Recruiter North Tel: 07711 570848

berwickrail@rmt org uk

Tim Butler - Lead Recruiter South Tel: 07757 425859

yorkdistrict@rmt org uk

Jessica Robinson - Regional Council Secretary Tel: 07784 224412

jpleather89@gmail.com

We welcome contributions to this newsletter - if you would like to write an article, please contact any one of the officers above

BRANCH EMAILS

Bedlington: bedlington@rmt.org.uk

Berwick Rail: berwickrail@rmt.org.uk

Darlington: darlington1@rmt.org.uk

Hexham: hexhamrail@rmt.org.uk

Newcastle & Gateshead: newcastlegateshead@rmt.org.uk

Newcastle Rail & Catering: newcastlerailcatering@rmt org uk

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Branch meeting dates will be communicated in local depots - if you have any concerns, please contact your branch representative.