October 2023
REGIONAL NEWSLETTER
Issue 15
CONTACT US:
North East Region
Your North East Regional Council can be contacted at: NorthEastRegionalCouncil@rmt.org.uk And on our X (Twitter): @RMTNorthEast
KEEP FIGHTING: VOTE YES All TOC members should have now received their ballot papers. Papers must be returned by October 19th and EVERY vote is crucial. A yes vote provides your union with the leverage we need to help get a resolution for you and your colleagues. Look at our recent victory on London Underground: staff were faced with similar attacks but we achieved a massive success in winning them the pay and conditions they deserved. This was entirely due to those members voting YES and being prepared to take action to achieve what we are battling for. RMT are in continued talks with the RDG fighting for: A decent pay rise; To protect your terms and conditions; and job security. But due to the draconian anti-trade union laws in this country we must re-ballot members every 6 months. It is vital we win or we cannot fight against what is coming. We must achieve a 50% turn out and 40% of that must be yes for us to put on lawful industrial action. The government know that we still have the public on our side, therefore they are trying to force workers to come in by attempting to introduce minimum service level bills. These haven’t made it through into law yet, but it is only a matter of time if the Tory government get their way The RMT have put documents and proposals to TOCs, but it is up to them to respond and show goodwill in attempting to achieve an offer that can be put to the membership. That is why we must stand firm. You must vote YES. We may well have a new, more receptive government in eighteen months: but we cannot let that last eighteen months count for nothing. We know it is difficult – but it is called the struggle for a reason. Do not let employers tell you we have not achieved anything. Without this year of industrial action, the fourteen TOCs would have destroyed your terms and conditions long ago, and pushed through thousands of job losses. They would have closed every single ticket office a year ago, then followed that up with similar draconian cuts to catering, fleet engineering, train crew and every other grade. Your action has made a difference, but they want your job, and remember a percentage pay rise is worthless if you are unemployed six months down the line.
Keep the pressure on. You deserve a fair deal. Don’t let ANYONE tell you otherwise. RETURN YOUR BALLOT PAPER VOTE YES UNITY IS STRENGTH
If you have not yet received your ballot paper, contact ballot@rmt.org.uk and one will be sent out to you immediately - don’t delay!
EX-PRESIDENT HONOURED AT DARLINGTON NO.1 At the most recent Darlington No.1 branch meeting, Peter Pinkney was presented with his retirement gifts. A packed room heard from branch secretary Gary McTeer and Senior Assistant General Secretary Eddie Dempsey just how much Peter has done for RMT over the years, to much appreciation. From joining the union in 1990 to being President and leading the way during the dark times of Bob Crow’s death; Peter has always been a source of pride for the North East and many comrades from across the region turned out to see him honoured. We wish him well in his retirement and all the best for the future.
PROTESTS TO SUPPORT WORKERS AT CARLISLE SUPPORT SERVICES After alarming reports of a toxic workplace culture where bullying, harassment and intimidation are an every day occurrence, RMT will be protesting outside Northern Trains headquarters in York on Thursday 26th October (1100-1230), followed by a demonstration outside Leeds station (1400-1600). Carlisle Support Services provide gateline staff for stations run by Northern, and are yet another example of the scourge of outsourcing on the railway leading to poor working conditions for employees. Please support our members at these protests.
Next branch meetings: Teesside - Sunday 22nd October, 1900 at Green Tree Pub, Middlesbrough Newcastle & Gateshead - Friday 3rd November, 1830 at Marlborough Club, Newcastle York & District - Monday 6th November, 1830 at Bar Convent Living Heritage Centre, York Darlington - Monday 6th November, 1630 at the Old English Gentleman pub, Darlington Newcastle Rail & Catering - Friday 11th November, 1800 at Marlborough Club, Newcastle
RAIL GOURMET ON STRIKE Our hard-working members at Rail Gourmet have taken another day of industrial action to achieve a pay award that recognises their struggle and commitment. Outsourced catering crews such as these are amongst the lowest-paid workers on the railway: they wear the TPE uniform but are given none of the protections of their in-house colleagues, as well as much lower pay. Rail Gourmet made £1.4 million in profit last year, yet refuse to entertain the possibility of decent pay for its employees. RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch said: “The continuing intransigence by Rail Gourmet bosses is unnecessarily prolonging this dispute. Our members remain determined to continue their industrial campaign until they achieve justice on pay, sick pay, and are awarded a decent pension.” Friday 13th October was marked with picket lines at Newcastle and York; supported at Newcastle as always by Jamie Driscoll, Mayor of North Tyne.
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 Donald Graham - Org Unit Tel: 07753 748074 d.graham@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 North East Shipping: northeastshipping@rmt.org.uk North York Moors: north.moorsRail@rmt.org.uk Teesside: teesside@rmt.org.uk York & District: yorkdistrict@rmt.org.uk
Branch meeting dates will be communicated in local depots - if you have any concerns, please contact your branch representative.
REGIONAL OFFICES Thomas Steels House 49a Thorne Road Doncaster DN1 2EX Tel: 01302 760694 North East Shipping Office Unit 17 Cookson House River Drive South Shields NE33 1TL Tel: 01914 561308
SOCIAL MEDIA NERC Twitter: @RMTNorthEast Twitter: @RMTunion Facebook: www.facebook.com/RMTunion
RMT MEMBERS' HELPLINE: 0800 376 3706